Solutions for installing Microbiological Safety Cabinets in low height rooms the easy way.

Floor to ceiling height of a laboratory is key to ensuring correct operation and user safety of a Microbiological Safety Cabinet (MSC).

Most laboratories are built with a suitable ceiling height in mind to accommodate large equipment such as ultra-low temperature freezers, fume hoods and MSC’s, where the ceiling height is often 2.3m+. However often when converting offices or none-laboratory designed rooms into laboratories, the ceiling height can be an issue.

So what solutions are available?

A recirculating MSC is the most common type of cabinet, making up around 75% of the market compared to ducted cabinets which are about 25%. A recirculating cabinet recirculates the air in the room through the cabinet and HEPA filters with air exhausted from the top of the cabinet. The space at the top of the cabinet is therefore critical to its passing commissioning.

We advise customers with single blower units, where one fan controls both the downflow and exhaust airflows, you need 100-200mm of space above the cabinet. With the Faster cabinets, SafeFAST Classic D and SafeFAST Premium, these cabinets are dual blower which means they have a separate fan to control the downflow and exhaust. Cabinets with this design require less space above the cabinet and can pass commissioning with as little as 50mm on top.

To aid with low ceiling heights we also offer a range of stands at different fixed heights depending on the total height available. Our smallest stand is 700mm which allows a recirculating unit to be suitable for rooms with a height of 2.25m.

Another solution available is for when cabinets are ducted rather than recirculated. To duct a cabinet, you have either a thimble or a hard duct connection. For height restricted rooms that require a ducted cabinet we can put the duct connection on the side of the cabinet rather than the top. With a 700mm stand cabinets can be installed in a room of 2.2m.

BUT IF YOU STILL HAVE HEIGHT ISSUES…

Faster has just launched the SafeFAST Junior, which is available in mainland UK from Biopharma Group.

The SafeFAST Junior compared to a standard SafeFAST Classic is 2020 mm in height with stand. It is also worth noting that the depth and width remains the same as that of a standard cabinet, only the height changes the dynamics of the unit. This cabinet would need to be connected to ducting as it is a single fan unit.

As always, where the cabinet is to be sited should always be considered, especially if the cabinet is to go on a laboratory bench rather than a support frame or stand. It is also extremely important to measure the available space accurately and allow for any ceiling mounted lights which may impinge on the space or any air-conditioning vents. To learn more about placement recommendations and requirements for optimum performance of safety cabinets, take a look at this post on positoning MSCs.

To discuss your low height ceiling rooms please contact our Biopharma Group airflow equipment specialists