LAMINAR AIR FLOW

BASIC PRINCIPLES

May, 2006
What is Laminar Airflow ?

 Laminar airflow exists when molecules of air

move at the same speed in a parallel direction.

 This laminar flow prevents air and suspended

particles from changing direction (turbolence)
What is “Class 100” ?

 The class of laminar airflow determines the

maximum number of particles in a given
volume of air.
 Class 100 is a U.S. Federal Standard (209e)
which states that in a cubic foot of air there is a
maximum of 100 particles with dimensions of
0.5 to 5 microns diameters, but none with a
diameter of 5 microns or greater
What is a “Class 100 Laminar Flow”
Cabinet ?

 A Class 100 Laminar Flow cabinet is obtained

when, in the presence of laminar airflow, the
particle contamination in 1 cubic foot of air
does not exceed 100 parts with a diameter
range of 0.5 to 5 microns. In addition, the
laminar air velocity must be within 0.35 to 0.55
m/sec. (U.S. Federal Standard 209e).
What is horizontal and vertical
laminar flow ?

 In horizontal laminar flow, a horizontal flow of air

passes over the work area towards the operator.
This has the advantage that particle contamination
from equipment or the operator’s hands does not
fall onto the work surface.However horizontal flow
does not offer operator protection, and for this
application a vertical flow of air from the top of the
cabinet to the work surface is required.
What is a HEPA Filter ?

 A HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter is

a fiberglass filter sealed with epoxy resin into
an aluminium frame.
 Its efficiency must be higher than 99.995%
MPPS (= 99.999 % DOP with 0.3 microns
particle size) to ensure a performance
exceeding the requirements of EN1822,
Federal Standard 209e, BS 5295, VDI 2083
What is a Microbiological Safety
Cabinet?

 Microbiological Safety Cabinets are designed

to give operator and environmental protection
when handling dangerous biological material.
 It is important to distinguish between “laminar
flow cabinets” which provide a particle free
work area and “Microbiological Safety
Cabinets” which give operator and
environmental protection
What type of biological hazards
exist ?

 The Dangerous Patogens Advisory

Group of Department of Health and
Social Security (DPAG, DHSS - UK) and
the Center for Disease Control (CDC -
USA) have defined four groups of
biologically hazardous organisms
What type of biological hazards
exist ?

 Group 1 CDC (C - DPAG): Organisms are

most unlikely to cause human disease
 Group 2 CDC (B1 - DPAG): Organisms may
cause human disease, but are unlikely to
spread to the community and effective
treatment is usually available.
What type of biological hazards
exist ?

 Group 3 CDC (B1, B2 - DPAG): Organisms

may cause severe human disease and may
spread to the community, but effective
treatment is usually available.
 Group 4 CDC (A - DPAG): Organisms cause
severe human disease that may spread to the
community, and no effective treatment is
available
What type of Biological Safety
Cabinets are available ?

 The European Norm EN12469 defines three

types of Microbiological Safety Cabinets (MSC)

 Class I
 Class II
 Class III
MSC Class I

 It is an open-fronted safety cabinet with room

air flowing in to provide containment, and an
HEPA filter on the exhaust.
It gives operator and environmental protection
but no product protection.
 Suitable for Group 1, 2, 3 organisms (CDC) or
B1,B2, C (DPAG)
MSC Class I
MSC Class II

 It is an open-fronted safety cabinet with drawn

in air, a vertical laminar airflow over the work
surface and an HEPA filter on the exhaust.
It provides operator, environmental and
product protection
 Suitable for Group 1, 2, 3 organisms (CDC) or
B1,B2, C (DPAG)
MSC Class II
MSC Class III

 It is a totally enclosed gas-tight cabinet, where

the operator will use glove ports to gain
access. Air is drawn into the cabinet and
exhausted through HEPA filters, while the
whole unit is under negative pressure.
 It provides operator and environmental
protection
 Suitable for Group 1, 2, 3, 4 organisms (CDC)
or A,B1,B2, C (DPAG)
MSC Class III
US Classification according with NSF 49
(National Sanitation Foundation)

This norm has divided the Class II cabinets in

four types according to the different air circuit:
 CLASS II A2
 CLASS II B1
 CLASS II B2
 CLASS II B3
CLASS II A2

 30% of air is exhausted to the room and 70% is

recirculated.
 Air barrier speed = 0.4 m/sec
CLASS II B1

 70% of air is exhausted, pulled through

dedicated exhaust duct into facility exhaust
system;and 30% is recirculated.
 Air barrier speed = 0.51 m/sec
CLASS II B2

 100% of air is exhausted, pulled through

dedicated exhaust duct into facility exhaust
system.
 Air barrier speed = 0.51 m/sec
CLASS II B3

 30% of air is exhausted to a facility exhaust

system and 70% is recirculated.
 Air barrier speed = 0.51 m/sec