Information on
Safety cabinets

Special care is required when carrying out genetic engineering or microbiological work on biological or hazardous substances: Safety cabinets are used to protect employees from infectious material, but also to protect the work object from contamination. They prevent the spread of organisms, spores and aerosols. Alternative names are sterile cabinet, sterile chamber or flow (derived from "laminar flow cabinet").

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Differentiation from fume cupboards and cleanroom cabinets

In contrast to fume cupboards, biological safety cabinets only offer protection against particles and aerosols. The filters do not protect against vapour and gaseous hazardous substances. Cleanroom workbenches only provide product protection and do not serve to protect the worker.

Protection classes and mode of operation

Biological safety cabinets are divided into three protection classes:

Biological safety cabinet, protection class I: Personal protection

The front of the safety cabinet is open and ambient air is drawn over the work surface through the work opening. The generated air flow transports aerosols and particles to a filter. Part of the filtered air is returned to the work area. Protection class I serves exclusively to protect the worker: If the airflow can flow unhindered, the worker is protected except for their arms and hands, which are inside the housing. Product protection is not provided.

Biological safety cabinet, protection class II: Personal protection and product protection

The front window of Class II safety cabinets is partially open. In a vertical laminar downdraft, part of the air flow is directed to extraction openings at the edges of the work surface. The other part of the ambient air drawn in is fed to the filter and cleaned before it comes into contact with the work material. If the laminar flow is disrupted and the internal and external air is mixed by vortices, sensors trigger an alarm. Protection class II protects workers as long as sufficient air is extracted from the safety cabinet and the laminar air flow is not obstructed. Arms and legs are not protected. The work objects or products in the safety cabinet are protected from contamination.

Biological safety cabinet, protection class III: increased personal protection, product protection and environmental protection

Class III safety cabinets are fully enclosed systems that are pressurised. They have permanently installed gloves and airlocks (also known as glove boxes) through which tools and work materials are introduced. Supply air and exhaust air are filtered and regulated in such a way that a negative pressure is created inside. This ensures that no potentially contaminated internal air escapes through any leaks. As a closed system, protection class III offers workers and their surroundings a high level of protection against airborne hazardous substances and also protects the work object from contamination.

Equipment and accessories

Microbiological safety cabinets have a modular design so that they can be flexibly adapted to different requirements. The interior is made of stainless steel or other suitable materials and can be removed for cleaning. Suitable bases, ergonomic footrests and laboratory chairs make working easier.

The safety cabinets can be equipped with suitable accessories as required, for example with electrical sockets and media connections for air, gas or vacuum. IV hanging rails with hooks allow IV bags to be hung up or stored during work in pharmaceutical applications. Germicidal UV lamps are used for decontamination and sterilisation.

FASTER offers various accessories for the safety cabinets.