Cabina Esco Cytoculture Cytotoxic-4

ESCO ®
CYTOTOXIC SAFETY CABINET
USER & SERVICE MANUAL
Esco CYT Manual Version 1.1 / Released 7 Jan 2005

Specifications subject to change without notice
WELCOME NOTE FROM ESCO
Congratulations! You have just purchased one of the finest cytotoxic safety cabinets available. It
is a pleasure to welcome you to the growing number of customers who own and operate Esco
safety cabinets. For your convenience all exposed exterior and interior surfaces of this products
has been decontaminated and wiped down in a controlled clean environment. Protective
coverings on stainless steel and plastic surfaces, where present, have also been removed.
Your new Esco Cytotoxic Safety Cabinet includes many unique features and exciting
improvements to simplify maintenance, enhance safety and improve ergonomics. These include:
• An ergonomic 10 degree angled front for a more comfortable working posture
• A new user-friendly SentinelTM microprocessor-based control and alarm system which
simplifies operation and enhances user safety
• ULPA filters efficient to >99.9999% for better operator and product protection
• A single piece stainless steel work tray and work zone liner which are easier to clean
• A double side wall design with negative pressure plenums for additional safety
• Work zone lighting with an intensity above 1000 lux / 94 foot candles in normal lab lightning
condition, using 5000k fluorescent lamps for greater comfort and less glare
• A raised armrest design which prevent accidental obstruction of the front inflow air grille
• A retrofit system that allows optional accessories to be easily fitted later in the field
Please read this manual to familiarize yourself with the proper installation, operation, and
maintenance of the cabinet. For pharmaceutical customers, additional IQ/OQ/PQ documentation
is available on request.
We recommend that this manual, together with the factory test report, be kept near the cabinet for
convenient reference by operators and qualified maintenance personnel.
If you have any questions that are not addressed in this manual, please do not hesitate to reach
us by e-mail at biotech@escoglobal.com or give us a call at +65 65420833.
With warm regards from Singapore,
Lim Lay Yew

Chief Executive Officer
21 Changi South Street 1 Singapore 486777 Phone: +65 65420833 Fax: +65 65426920
Visit our website at biotech.escoglobal.com
E-mail: biotech@escoglobal.com Website: biotech.escoglobal.com
Article I.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents 1
Safety Warning and Limitation of Liability 5
Declaration of Conformity 6
Freight Claim Information 7
Warranty Terms and Conditions 8
Corporate Profile Biotechnology Equipment Division 9
A. USER SECTION
I. Basic Product Information 12
II. Unpacking Your Cabinet 17

2.1 Step-by-Step Procedure 17
2.2 Packaging Contents 19
III. Installing Your Cabinet 20

3.1 Installation Requirement 20
3.1.1 Side Dress Panel Removal 21
3.2 Installation Requirement – Extracts from BS 5726 22
3.3 Case Study: Choosing the Best Installation Location 25
3.4 Optional Retrofit Kits 26
3.5 Installing Your Cabinet 27
3.6 Environmental / Electrical Condition 28
3.7 Performance Validation 29
IV. Operating Your Cabinet 30

4.1 Sentinel® Control System 30
4.1.1 Software Self-Reset 32
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
4.1.2 Hardware Reset 32

4.2 Menu Options 33
4.2.1 Settings (Clock, Timer, and Units) 34
4.2.2 Calibration 36
4.2.3 Administrator Access and PIN 36
4.2.4 Setting the Mode (Normal and Maintenance) 38
4.3 Starting the Cabinet 39
4.4 Working in the Cabinet 42
4.4.1 Proper way to handle spillage 43
4.4.2 Working Ergonomics 43
4.5 Cleaning and Shutting Down the Cabinet 44
V. Maintaining Your Cabinet 46

5.1 Maintenance Schedule 46
5.2 Safety Labels in the Cabinet 47
5.3 User Monthly Maintenance Schedule 53
B. SERVICE SECTION
I. Maintenance by Service Personnel 55

1.1 Airflow Verification and Cabinet Re-Certification 55
1.2 Cabinet Airflow Balancing 57
1.3 Calibration of the Sentinel™ Controller 59
1.4 Software Updating 59
1.5 Sash Position Detection 60
1.6 Operation Mode Summary 61
1.7 Replacement of Filter 62
1.8 Replacement of Blower 64
1.9 Replacement of Fluorescent Lamp and UV Lamp 65
1.10 Replacement of Airflow Sensor 65
1.11 Decontamination Procedure 66
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
1.11.1 Warning of Formalin Exposure 66

1.11.2 Common List of Equipments Used 66
1.11.3 Appropriate Protective Clothing 67
1.11.4 Common Apparatus 67
1.11.5 Common Preparation Steps 67
1.11.6 Decontamination Process 68
1.6.6.1 Formaldehyde – Ammonia Combination 68
1.6.6.2 Paraformaldehyde – Ammonium Bicarbonate Combination 70
1.11.7 Completion Steps 72
1.11.8 Validation of Decontamination Procedure (Optional) 72
II. Product Specification 73

2.1 CYT-4 Mechanical drawing 74
2.2 Electrical Schematics Drawing for 230 Volt - 50 Hz (Europe / Asia) variant 75
2.3 Electrical Schematics Drawing for 115 Volt - 60 Hz (America) variant 76
2.4 Technical Specification Summary 77
2.5 Sentinel™ Control Diagram 78
III. Troubleshooting 79
3.1 Electrical and Mechanical Troubleshooting 79
3.2 Software Troubleshooting 83
Copyright Information 84
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3
APPENDIX
Replacement Parts List 86
Appendix A
Biosafety Levels Classification 88
Appendix B
Introduction to Biohazard Safety Cabinet 89
Appendix C
KI-Discus Test 94
Appendix D
UV Lamps in Laminar Flow and Biological Safety Cabinet 97
Appendix E
Exhaust Ducted Class II Safety Cabinets 101
Appendix F
Reference Materials 105
Log Record 107
Defect Reporting Form 111
TABLE OF CONTENTS
4
SAFETY WARNING
• The use of any hazardous material in the cabinet requires that it be monitored by an industrial hygienist, safety
officer, or other qualified individual.
• Explosive or flammable substances should never be used in the cabinet unless a qualified safety professional
has evaluated the risk.
• If chemical, radiological or other non-microbiological hazards are present, protective measures should be
employed. Operation should be monitored by a suitably trained individual.
• The cytotoxic symbol on the front panel of the cabinet indicates the presence of cytotoxic
substances that pose a threat to human health.
• This cabinet is suitable for agents classified under biosafety levels 1 to 3. Please refer to Appendix A for more
information on biosafety levels. It should not be used with any agents of an unknown nature and / or extremely
hazardous materials.
• The cabinet may be used for biosafety level 4 agents, if placed in a negative pressure area and when the
operator is wearing a full body positive pressure isolation suit.
• This cabinet is suitable to be used for cytotoxic substances because the V-Bank filter underneath the work tray
can be safely changed providing that the blower is kept on. (NB: cytotoxic substances cannot be inactivated by
conventional formaldehyde decontamination).
• Read all instructions before proceeding and observe the installation procedure and environmental/electrical
requirements.
• In this manual, important safety related points will be marked with this symbol.
• If the equipment is used in a manner not specified by this manual, the protection provided by this equipment
may be impaired.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
The disposal and / or emission of substances used in connection with this cabinet may be governed by
various local regulations. All users of this cabinet should familiarize themselves with any regulations that apply in
their locality and comply with them. Esco’s liability is limited with respect to user compliance with such
regulations.
SAFETY WARNING
5
Declaration of Conformity *
In accordance with EN 45014:1998
Manufacturer: Esco Micro Pte Ltd

21 Changi South Street 1
SINGAPORE 486777
Tel: +65 65420833
Fax: +65 65426920
declares in our sole responsibility that the product:
Equipment : Cytotoxic Safety Cabinet

Model : CYT-4A1, CYT-6A1
in accordance to the following directives:
• 72/23/EEC : The Low Voltage Directive and its amending directives

• 89/336/EEC : The Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive and its amending directives
has been designed to comply with the requirements of the following Harmonized Standard:
• Low Voltage : EN 61010-1 (2001)

• EMC : EN 61326 (2002) Class B
• Design/Performance Criteria: EN 12469 (2000) Class II Microbiological Safety Cabinet
More information may be obtained from Esco’s authorized distributors located within the EU and a list of these
parties and their necessary contact information is available on request from Esco.
Lim Lay Yew

Chief Executive Officer
* Applicable only to 220-240 VAC 50 Hz cabinets
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
6
FREIGHT CLAIM INFORMATION
Esco inspects each product for defects before shipment. Esco products are then carefully packed in compliance
with carrier regulations and thoroughly inspected before leaving our plant. Responsibility for their safe delivery is
assumed by the carrier upon acceptance of the shipment. Occasionally damage occurs in transit. Claims for loss
or damage sustained in transit must be made upon the carrier.
Please remember that you are responsible for all freight claims and the cost of all replacement pieces for each
shipment you accept. Inspect each shipment very carefully before acceptance.
Carefully inspect each pallet or crate upon arrival. If a shipment is found to be damaged upon delivery, be sure to
have the driver/carrier note all damage details on the delivery receipt. This is essential or your claim may be
denied. Also if pallets are stacked, please note "Stacked Pallets" on the delivery receipt (pallets are not stacked
when shipped, unless otherwise stated for certain products). Esco is not responsible for pallets stacked at carrier
terminal. Any unloading difficulties or damages due to stacked materials are carrier's responsibility.
If freight damage is discovered, please refer to the following guidelines in order to process and effective freight
claim:
ACCEPTED FREIGHT WITH NOTED/VISIBLE LOSS OR DAMAGE

• Any external evidence of loss or damage must be noted on the freight bill or delivery receipt and signed by the
courier's agent or delivery driver
• (NOTE: Failure to properly describe evidence of loss or damage may result in the carrier refusing to honour a
claim)
• Contact delivering terminal to arrange for a claim form and inspection report to be faxed or mailed to you
• Notify Esco Micro Pte Ltd regarding which items need replacement
• Keep all damaged items and packing material until claim is resolved between you and the carrier
ACCEPTED FREIGHT WITH CONCEALED LOSS OR DAMAGE

When a damage or loss is discovered during unpacking:
• Contact the carrier immediately upon discovery of damage and request for inspection by the carrier's agent.
• Carrier will determine inspection needs based on value and time elapsed
• Notify Esco regarding which items require replacement
• Esco will fax to you an order acknowledgment that includes value of items for claim (less freight amount)
• Esco will invoice you for replacement materials
• Esco standard payment terms will apply
UNACCEPTED FREIGHT
• If substantial damage is noted upon inspection you have the right to refuse part or all of a shipment. Do not
unpack pallets or crates with damaged materials. Individual items cannot be refused. You must refuse the
entire pallet or accept the freight with noted damage (see above)
• Esco will handle all freight claim procedures and process a replacement order for your company for the
damaged pieces at no charge. (if the original order was shipped under CIF terms i.e. Esco had covered the
insurance)
NOTE: Any correspondence with Esco regarding loss or damage must be accompanied by a copy of the shipping
carrier's report. Esco will not accept returns that have not been authorized.
In the event of accepted freight with damage or loss, notification of loss or damage must be sent to the
carrier within 10 days of receiving the freight. Notification outside the 10-day time frame may result in
shipping damage claim being denied.
FREIGHT CLAIM INFORMATION

7
WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Esco warrants that this equipment will perform according to the specifications for 3 years from the date of
purchase. With exceptions noted below *, this 3 years warranty applies to all parts and components of this
equipment (* 3 years except consumable items – filter, light tubes, UV tubes, pre-filters)
Esco's liability under this warranty shall be limited to repair or replacement of the equipment at Esco's option, and
under no circumstances shall Esco be liable for the equipment damage arising out of or in any way connected
with the failure of the equipment to perform as set forth herein. This limited warranty is in lieu of all other
expressed or implied warranties, including those of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
In the event of a defect, a malfunction or failure during the warranty period, Esco will repair or replace, at its
option, the product or component therein which upon examination by Esco shall appear to be defective, or not up
to factory specifications. The purchaser must pay any transportation or labour expenses incurred in removing and
returning the product to the service centre.
Esco cannot be held responsible for malfunctions, damage to people or property to non-compliance, poor or no
maintenance or improper use of the cabinet.
This warranty shall not apply to any Esco product or part thereof which has been subject to misuse, abuse,
accident, shipping damage, improper installation or service and testing, or damage by fire, flood, or acts of God. If
the serial number of this product is altered, removed or defaced as to be illegible, the warranty shall be null and
void in its entirety.
The use of non-Esco parts and/or parts not supplied directly by Esco or our authorized distributors, including but
not limited to maintenance parts, spare parts, replacement parts, system components and/or system accessories,
shall void all expressed or implied warranties.
To obtain warranty service, the defective product or part(s) must be returned to Esco or an authorized Esco
Factory Service Centre along with a proof of purchase. It is mandatory, upon purchase, for the user to
register receipt of the equipment with Esco online at http://www.escoglobal.com/warranty. Alternatively,
the user can also complete the warranty registration form which can be found within this manual.
Please take note that when returning the defective product or part(s), you must first obtain a return authorization
(RA) number from Esco and it must be noted on the documents accompanying the return. The defect reporting
form can be found in this manual.
WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS

8
CORPORATE PROFILE BIOTECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT DIVISION
A History of Clean Air Device division draws from the broad base predominantly oriented towards the
Manufacturing Since 1978 … of resources of the group which is international marketplace, with
In 1978, Esco was founded also engaged in other fields of clean sales in more than 60 countries. A
to provide clean air solutions for the air equipment technology. network of international distributors
emerging high-tech industrial and Today, more than 20,000 and partners allows us to provide
life sciences industries. During Esco laminar flow, biohazard safety quick and responsive local service
those early years, our expertise with and other clean air cabinets are in and support.
clean air technology was also use in the field with some
applied towards the construction of installations dating back to the Sophisticated Production
laminar flow clean air devices. 1980s still in operation. Capabilities
Esco supplies many high- Today, Esco’s production
tech industries with critical capabilities for our laboratory
equipment that help keep products, equipment products are centralized
people, and processes free from in a 3,900 m 2 / 42,000 sq. ft facility
contamination. For example, our separate from our Singapore
cleanroom construction components corporate headquarters.
Biohazard safety cabinets
help pharmaceutical manufacturers This state-of-the-art
(today a core offering of Esco
meet GMP standards, keeping the fabrication centre houses the latest
Biotech) and fume hoods were also
drugs they produce clean. Our CNC (computer numerically
designed and manufactured during
laminar flow mini-environments help controlled) sheet metal machinery
the early 1980’s thus expanding the
microelectronics manufacturers and is highly automated to ensure
company’s scope in the field of
increase product reliability and that all products produced are of a
containment technology. That same
yields. In the laboratory, high quality with less human
period also saw the first exports of
researchers use our safety cabinets intervention. An advanced powder-
locally developed and proven clean
for clinical biological research in coating process is also operated in-
air technology by Esco. In 1985, in-
order to develop vaccines for
house sheet metal fabrication
dangerous diseases. In a small
capabilities were established.
way, Esco contributes towards
Eventually, the
these essential technologies that
Biotechnology Equipment Division
have become the backbone of our
was formed to focus on the design
modern lives.
and manufacturing of laminar flow,
The Esco Biotechnology
biohazard safety and other HEPA-
house to ensure an aesthetic finish
Equipment Division is a highly
filtered cabinets for the laboratory.
on all Esco laboratory equipment
focused manufacturer of laminar
Our unique background in industrial
products. Esco is committed to
flow, biohazard safety and other
cleanroom and contamination
making continuous investments in
HEPA-filtered cabinets for the
control technology differentiates us
fabrication technologies to ensure
laboratory with a history of quality
from our competitors who are solely
superior quality and total customer
cabinets since 1978. We are
laboratory equipment suppliers. The
satisfaction.

The laboratories are ISO 14001 Environmental

World-Class Research and
equipped with the latest Management System
Development
instruments, properly calibrated and Esco also practices
At Esco, continuous
maintained: particle counters, air responsible corporate citizenship by
research and development is a
velocity meters, flow visualization demonstrating a firm commitment to
corporate policy realized through
devices, KI discus testing the environment. Many Esco
tangible investments in personnel,
apparatus, electrical safety products are designed for low
equipment and facilities. Currently,
analysers, light/noise level/vibration energy consumption, while our
1 out of every 2 non-production staff
meters and cabinets are also constructed of
at Esco works in a research and
microbiological/containment test easily recyclable stainless steel.
development position.
instruments.
Visitors are welcome to visit
the Esco Biotech Equipment
ISO 9001 Quality Management
Technology Centre located in
System
Singapore at our worldwide
At Esco, quality and
headquarters, which features a
customer satisfaction are our top
demonstration laboratory,
priorities, which is why the company
conference / training facilities for
operates under an ISO 9001 Commitment to the Global
visitors, and various testing
certified quality management Marketplace
laboratories in which state-of-the-art
system. Extensive quality control Esco regularly participates
research and tests are continuously
and testing is carried out at all steps in numerous major international,
conducted into improving the
of the design and production regional and national industry trade
performance of our products.
process. shows and exhibitions, both directly
and indirectly with the regional
distributors. For the updates on
Esco’s upcoming events and
exhibitions, visit our website
section:
http://biotech.escoglobal.com/trades
hows.htm

E-mail: biotech@escoglobal.com Webite: biotech.escoglobal.com
USER SECTION
11
CHAPTER 1
BASIC PRODUCT INFORMATION
Class II cabinets provide product, operator and environment protection. They are suitable for general
microbiological work with agents assigned to biosafety levels 1, 2, or 3. (For more details please refer to
Appendix A and Appendix B) Class II cabinets are recommended for most applications and are the most
common and cost-effective systems available on the market today.
AIRFLOW PATTERN INSIDE THE CABINET
1. Inflow: room air flows into the front

grille on the work tray. It does not
enter the work zone to prevent
product contamination.
2. First-stage filtration: the inflow

stream travels through the front
grille on the work tray and meet
the downflow stream entering from
the back grille. The combined
stream flows through the V-Bank
HEPA filter underneath the tray.
3. After this filtration, the air flows

through the back air column, and
then surrounding the positive
plenum with negative pressure
before going to the fan inlet.
4. The fan creates a positive

pressure inside the plenum.
Because of the V-Bank filter, the
air inside plenum is free from
contaminants. Even if the V-Bank
filter leaks, and there is a leakage
in the positive plenum, the leakage
will be pulled by the surrounding
negative pressure back into the
plenum.
5. Approximately 35% of the air from

plenum goes out to the room
through the exhaust ULPA filter
that will retain the contaminant
from going out, in case the V-Bank
filter leaks, and the remaining 65%
goes through the downflow ULPA
filter, creating a re-circulated
stream of clean laminar air flow to
protect the product inside the
cabinet.
6. A small portion of air goes into the

side capture zone to prevent dead
air corner in that area.
Chapter 1 – Basic Product Information

USER SECTION 12
SAFETY
At Esco, your safety is our paramount objective. This vision is fully realized in the Cytoculture Class II with many
features to bring your safety to the next level:
• Shaped inflow air grille, combined with the raised front armrest, eliminates the possibility of the operator
blocking the air perforations. (which may compromise safety)
• Aerodynamically designed front airflow intake zone eliminates turbulence and the possibility of loss of
containment. In addition, potential air leakages are prevented by the enhanced side capture zone
• Latest minipleat seperatorless H14 ULPA filters operating at a typical efficiency of 99.9999% at MPPS, 0.3
and 0.12 microns for best product and operator protection for exhaust and downflow filters.
• Minipleat separatorless V-Bank H13 HEPA filter operating at a typical efficiency of 99.99 % at MPPS for the
first stage of filtration before the air is filtered again by the ULPA exhaust and downflow filters. The positioning
of the V-Bank filter enables it to be changed when the cabinet is still running, preventing the certifier’s
exposure to the cytotoxic agents that can’t be inactivated by formalin decontamination.
• The top of the cabinet is sloped to prevent the dangerous practice of objects being placed on top (which may
disrupt cabinet airflow)
• Easily accessible integrated paper catch in the air return area in order to prevent wipes and other materials
from being drawn into the blower system
• Dynamic Chamber TM plenum design surrounds contaminated areas with negative pressure plenums thus
preventing possible filter seal/gasket and cabinet carcass leaks
• Double side wall is under negative pressure plenum, in the event of both internal and external walls are
punctured, there will still be no leakage of contamination from the cabinet
• Audible and visual alarms for unsafe sash positions
• Sash glass must be fully closed before UV lamp will activate
• Red colour-coded access panels to electrical system and filter/blower internal plenum to caution users of the
potentially dangerous/contaminated parts
• Automatic pre-purge and post purge cycles ensure correct cabinet operation and operator safety
• Permanent steel plenum which is less prone to leaks and resistant to decontamination agents
• Electro galvanized steel sheets utilized for cabinet outer shell for greater rust resistant properties
• Biocote ® anti-microbial powder coating is now employed resulting in enhanced operator and product
protection by minimizing microbial contamination of internal and external surface of the cabinet. However,
Biocote ® surfaces are not replacement for good cleaning practices.

USER SECTION 13
PERFORMANCE
The cabinet is precisely engineered to deliver the required performance anytime you need it
• Intelligent blower system which automatically compensates to maintain airflow as the filter loads. This unique
feature eliminates the need for constant speed control adjustment and ensuring optimum performance
• Sentinel microprocessor control system monitors all critical cabinet airflow parameters and alerts the operator
through audible/visual alarms in case of any malfunction. Airflow sensors employed are also temperature-
compensated
• Angled downflow filter to deliver better uniformity over the work zone
• Externally adjustable damper for easier air balancing without accessing contaminated areas
• ISO Class 3 work zone air cleanliness
• Horizontal blower mounting design avoids direct filter pressure and guarantees better airflow uniformity
• Temperature compensation to improve the accuracy of the of airflow sensor.
CLEANABILITY
The issue of cleanability is important to ensure easy and proper decontamination procedures
• Work tray edges are radiused for better containment and easy cleaning
• Attractive single-piece inner liner means the interior work zone of the cabinet is easy to clean and does not
have any crevices or joints for potential contaminants to collect.
• Lower drain spillage trough fabricated in one single piece eliminating any joints that could potentially result in
the leakage of contaminated liquids
• No screws are present on the front and sides of the cabinet, inside the work zone, and below the work surface
in the drain pan thus making the entire assembly visually appealing and all exterior and interior surfaces easy
to clean
• Lower drain spillage trough has wide open angles (superior to radii) for maximum cleanability
• Easily disassembled sash track to allow cleaning behind the sash.
• The sidewall is closed which enhances cleanability – there are no perforations, air return slots, or hard to
reach hidden areas where contaminants can accumulate. Especially unique is the single joint between the
side wall liners and the lower drain pan which is sealed rather than left open as is usually the case with other
designs

USER SECTION 14
OPERATOR COMFORT
The features incorporated in this cabinet allow for greater operator comfort and better working condition:
• Sleek, ergonomically styled 10 degree sloped front control panel to eliminate glare and increase operator
reach into the work zone with less physical strain
• Frameless UV resistant laminated glass sash enables maximum visibility without causing uncomfortable glare
• 5000k fluorescent lamp provides 1000 lux of work zone lighting for less glare and greater operator comfort
• Electronic ballast for fluorescent lighting resulting in lower heat output, higher energy efficiency, increase
reliability and service life and most importantly zero-flicker
• Large 230 mm / 9 inch work access opening from the work surface level allows easier access into the work
zone.
• Electrical outlet (optional) on the side walls (one retrofit on each side) for easier reach
• Service fixture (optional) offset and staggered for easier reach and access
• Germicidal UV lamp is placed out of operator's direct line of sight
• Depth of front air grille is minimized to bring the work zone closer to the user and thus, improve reach.
• 2 optional electrical outlet provisions are provided on the sidewalls (one on each wall) for easier reach instead
of on the back wall
EASE OF SERVICE
When it comes to service, we design the cabinet to allow the minimum amount of personnel possible to perform it
while at the same time also keeping the downtime as short as possible.
• All cabinet electrical system with the exception of the fan motors are located outside contaminated areas and
can be accessed without the need of decontamination
• Easy filter access through the front part of the cabinet to minimize downtime
• Lifting grip position for filter and blower maintenance on front cover access
• Unique hinged front panel
• Convenient hand tool kit and extra fasteners is supplied with every cabinet
• Maintenance mode has been introduced for maintenance, filter scanning and decontamination purposes
• Blower hour meter and UV hour meter
COST SAVING
It is possible to achieve a balance between excellent performance and reasonable operating cost. Therefore,
Esco utilizes the permanently lubricated direct drive centrifugal blower, energy-efficient external rotor type design

USER SECTION 15
TESTING
Each individual unit shipped is extensively tested for performance and safety and delivered with a detailed test
report and certificate of performance. Testing performed at our factory laboratory includes:
• Airflow velocity (inflow velocity, downflow velocity, and downflow uniformity)
• Airflow pattern visualization (smoke visualization)
• Operator comfort tests: noise, light, vibration
• Filter integrity (PAO aerosol challenge)
• Containment / Operator protection (KI-Discus)
• Pressure retention / Soap bubble leak
• Electrical safety to IEC61010-1
Additional units are also randomly selected on a statistical sampling basis and re-tested using research-grade
instrumentation and additional test protocols at our dedicated Product Development Laboratory.
Esco performs testing in accordance with more than 20 of the world’s most recognized standards, of local,
regional and international scopes. In particular, testing in our laboratory is most frequently conducted based on:
• EN12469:2000. Performance Criteria for Microbiological Safety Cabinets
• NSF49:2002. Class II Biohazard Safety Cabinetry
• IEST-Recommended Practices
An NSF-Accredited Biohazard Cabinet Field Certifier is available in-house full-time to supervise all testing work.
Please refer to chapter 2 of SERVICE SECTION for detailed product specification.

USER SECTION 16
CHAPTER 2
UNPACKING YOUR CABINET
This chapter aims to provide relevant information on how to handle the cabinet properly upon receipt. Failure to
follow the following instructions may damage the cabinet. We strongly advise you to read this chapter carefully
before proceeding further. Relevant information on Warranty Terms and Conditions can be found on page 8.
2.1 STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE
1. Inspecting the crate

Upon receipt of your new cabinet, inspect the crate. If there is any visible damage to the exterior of the
crate please refer to Freight Claim Information on page 7.
NB: Some cabinets may be packed with corrugated carton instead of a wood crate, in which some of the
following instructions would not apply.
2. Moving the crate
a. The crate is designed to protect our cabinet from any foreseeable circumstances. However, excessive
impact onto the crate may also damage the cabinet. Prevent any direct impact or hitting to the crate
when moving.
b. When lifting the crate, please always ensure that the floor jack or mechanical lift truck has always
entered fully under the crate in order to achieve stability. Failure to do so will increase the risk of the
crate falling off the floor jack or mechanical lift truck during handling. Please use a suitable extension
bar when the situation arises.
Fig. 1 Moving the Crate Using Extension Bar
3. Opening the crate

a. Use a hammer or crowbar to open the top panel carefully. Be aware of exposed nails.
b. Remove the front panel, followed by the two side panels, and finally the back panel.
c. All the retrofit kits are packed separately and placed on top of the cabinet.
These items are listed on the packing checklist pasted on the crate. Please check
the packing checklist carefully to make sure that all items have been included.
Remove them from the top of the cabinet before proceeding further.
If you did not receive one or more retrofit kits listed on the packing checklist, or if any of the items are
damaged, please contact your distributor or Esco Micro Pte Ltd immediately for further instructions.
Please refer to section 2.2 for complete listings of items (aside from the retrofit kits) included with your
cabinet.
Chapter 2– Unpacking Your Cabinet

USER SECTION 17
4. Removing the packaging material

a. The cabinet is protected by styrofoam and shrink wrap.
b. The cabinet is secured with straps and metal bars to the pallet.
c. Remove the styrofoam & shrink wrap but leave the strap & bars securing the cabinet to the pallet intact.
d. If you find any damage during this stage of unpacking please refer to Freight Claim Information on
page 7.
e. It is the best practice to leave the cabinet secured with straps to the pallet to facilitate ease and safety in
handling until the cabinet is located near its’ final position or up to the point where the sheer size of the
pallet makes it impossible to move it around. At this point, remove the metal bars and strap, and turn this
cabinet 90° to make it standing vertical.
1. Be careful. The cabinet is heavy. When the cabinet is turned, there is a tendency for it to
slide from the pallet as well. Several people are required to lift this cabinet to standing
position and to stop the cabinet from sliding from the pallet.
2. Choosing the best location for your cabinet in order to achieve optimum operating
performance of your cabinet is determined by a number of factors. Please refer to the next
chapter for some guidelines.
5. Moving the cabinet

a. When lifting the pallet with the cabinet secured to it, please always ensure that the floor jack or
mechanical lift truck has always entered fully under the pallet. This is to increase the stability of the
cabinet and reduce the risk of the cabinet falling down. Please use extension bar when necessary.
b. During the moving of the cabinet, please ensure there is enough distance between the supports of pallet
and the ground. Dragging the pallet against the ground (at one side or otherwise) will damage the pallet
and possibly your new cabinet.
6. Removing the strapping

a. Remove the strapping by cutting it at a safe position to prevent any scratch on the surface of your new
cabinet.
b. Do not discard the packaging material for your cabinet until you have checked all of the components,
installed and tested the unit.
Before metal bars & straps removed Removing the strapping After metal bars & straps removed
7. Lifting the cabinet by forklift:

a. The cabinet is not designed to support its own weight at the centre portion for extended periods.
However, lifting the cabinet by mechanical lift truck in the centre is allowable, as long as the bar on the
bottom front of the cabinet is installed. This cabinet is shipped with this bar installed from the factory.
After the cabinet is positioned on the intended location, remove this bar by unscrewing the bolts on the
left and right side. If this bar is not removed, then the user’s leg clearance becomes uncomfortable.
Store this bar for future relocation. When the cabinet is relocated using forklift, this bar MUST be re-
installed.

USER SECTION 18
b. Always lift up the cabinet with enough distance in between the fork of the mechanical lift truck and the
center of the cabinet.
Suggested distance: 50 cm for 3 ft and 90 cm for 4ft and above.
• For your safety, the installation on the cabinet must be performed by qualified personnel (your
distributor).
• The side panel should not be used to lift the cabinet as it is not a structural component. Please
lift via the back edge or remove the side panels and lift via the side edges. (For information on
removing the side panels, please refer to the next chapter).
• Remove the 2 screws at the back of the cabinet securing the sash, and remove the bottom front
support bar before operating the cabinet.
Esco Micro is committed to protect the environment. Please

re-use the pallet if possible, and /or dispose the packaging
materials and crate in a proper manner. Please hammer any
exposed nail on the crate surface prior to disposal.
• Use this bar to lift the cabinet on the
2.2 PACKAGING CONTENTS center using forklift
• Remove this bar before the cabinet is
The following items are included together with your manual:
used
1) Test certificate
2) Test report
In case this manual and/or test report is lost or misplaced, Esco retains a copy in our files. A replacement copy
can be obtained by contacting Esco Micro Pte Ltd and stating the cabinet model, serial number and a brief
description of the information desired.
3) 1 bag containing fasteners replacement
4) 1 M4 screwdriver and 1 M8 spanner for maintenance and service
5) 1 yellow screwdriver for adjusting the speed control
6) 2 biohazard stickers
7) 1 drain valve and 1 Loctite® 242
Loctite is a registered trademark of Henkel K GaA (Germany).
The following items are permanently attached to the cabinet in a Ziploc bag:
1) Test report
2) Electrical diagram

USER SECTION 19
CHAPTER 3
INSTALLING YOUR CABINET
3.1 INSTALLATION LOCATION REQUIREMENT
Installation location of the cabinet is very important to

avoid the airflow alarm activation and the danger of
containment loss, causing operator and/or product
protection failure due to the external airflow
disturbance. The cabinet inflow velocity is relatively
small compared to the possible airflow disturbance
caused by door opening, person walking, or air
conditioner outlet as shown on the chart.
As a general rule of thumb, the cabinet must be

installed in a proper distance and orientation from the
aforementioned airflow disturbances and also from
other cabinets. The details on the proper cabinet
installation location can be referred to the extracts
from British Standard BS 5726- PART 2:1992 (printed
with permission).
Other factors that need to be observed during

installation of Esco Labculture Class 2 cabinet:
3.1.1 Exhaust filter area especially susceptible to disruptive air currents or air drafts. Sufficient clearance of 40
cm (minimum) is recommended between the highest point of the cabinet and the ceiling. If the distance is
less than 40 cm, the airflow alarm system may require re-calibration.
3.1.2 However, for a proper exhaust filter leak scanning purposes, a minimum distance of 50 cm is
recommended
Esco does not guarantee whether this distance is sufficient. It has to be verified by
the local distributor or service company in the actual place of use.
3.1.3 Please permit adequate space behind the cabinet for cleaning, removing side panel screws, maintaining
the counterweight system, and for performing decontamination procedure.
3.1.4 A far away position from any source of heat sources (heaters, fan converters, etc.) for optimum operating
conditions. Please refer to the environmental/electrical conditions on the next page for more detailed
information
3.1.5 The main electrical plug on the power cord must not be blocked by any object to allow easy access to the
plug.
3.1.6 Electrical surge protector & back-up power supply (UPS) is recommended for better protection. If UPS is
not used and there is a power failure, the operator must take immediate action to prevent the danger of
potential containment failure.
3.1.7 If necessary, to provide easier access to the installation site, the side panel and back aluminium profile
can be removed to reduce the overall width of the cabinet to approximately 787 mm. Detail instructions
on this step can be found on the next page.
Chapter 3 – Installing Your Cabinet

USER SECTION 20
21
3.2 INSTALLATION LOCATION EXTRACTED FROM BS 5726
The following article is Esco recommendation extracted from British Standard BS 5726- PART 2:1992:
To avoid disturbances to the safety cabinet and its operator, consideration should be given to the following:
a) The distance from the plane of the aperture to any circulation space should be at least 1000 mm, so as
to preserve a zone undisturbed by anyone other than the operator – see figure 1a.
b) The distance between the front aperture and a bench opposite it should ideally be at least 1500 mm –
see figure 1b. However, containment performance is not likely to be affected if this distance is reduced,
for instance to enable an operator to use the bench behind whilst working at the cabinet. In this case
operator movement over a smaller distance may cause less air disturbance. With such procedures their
effect on containment should be measured by relevant operator protections factor tests.
c) There should be no opposing wall (or other obstruction likely to affect the airflow) within 2000 mm of the
front aperture – see figure 1c.
d) Safety cabinets should not be installed in positions where they are likely to be affected by other items of
equipment. In particular the distance to the aperture of an opposing safety cabinet, fume cupboard, or
the edge of a local exhaust ventilation outlet should be not less than 3000 mm – see figure 1d.
e) Any room air supply diffuser should not be within 1500 mm of the front aperture. If there are large
numbers of safety cabinets in a laboratory this recommendation may be difficult to comply with, but
where diffusers have to be placed in close proximity to a safety cabinet, their discharge velocities and
therefore air handling rates will need to be low.
f) A safety cabinet should not be positioned with either side closer than 300 mm from a wall or similar
obstruction – see figure 1e.
g) Large obstructions (e.g. and architectural column) projecting beyond the plane of the aperture should not
be within 300 mm of the side of the safety cabinet – see figures 1f and g.
h) Doorways should not be within 1500 mm of the aperture or within 1000 mm of the side of the safety
cabinet – see figure 1h – except where a door includes air transfer grills in which case protection factor
testing should be carried out to ascertain a suitable distance.
The position of a safety cabinet should satisfy the spatial requirements (e.g. vision, lighting and convenience of
access) of the operator and personnel working nearby. When a cabinet is installed on a bench top, the leading
edge should be flush with or slightly overhanging the edge of the bench top.
Note 1: Typical problems and their solutions are illustrated in figure 2.
Note 2: There should not be an open space between the leading edge of the cabinet and the front of the bench
as this may create turbulence in front of the aperture. It also provides an obstacle which could adversely affect
airflow across the cabinet face

USER SECTION 22
Key to figures 1 and 2

USER SECTION 23

USER SECTION 24
3.3 CASE STUDY: CHOOSING THE BEST INSTALLATION LOCATION
This example shows different possibilities of cabinet placement inside the room along with the comments:
Fig. 3 Examples of the influence on cabinet airflow from room design and ventilation
Picture explanation:
No.1 The location of Cabinet 1 is appropriate to avoid excessive air movements from the surrounding.
No.2 Cabinet 2 is too close to the doorway and could be influenced by the air inlet.
No.3 The airflow of cabinet 3 could be influenced by the air inlet.
No.4 Cabinet 4 is too close to the doorway.
No.5 Cabinet 5 is well-sited providing that the adjacent return air grille does not influence cabinet airflow.
The above diagram illustrates the influence on cabinet airflow from room design and ventilation systems. It is not
intended to depict a typical installation. The location of such a number of cabinets in a small room, or in close
proximity, is not recommended.

USER SECTION 25
3.4 OPTIONAL RETROFIT KITS
1. IV Bar with 6 hooks

For IV bags filling applications
2. Service Fixtures (both European and American style fixtures available), to provide supplies of gas, vacuum,
water and compressed air to the cabinet. For vacuum fixture, please install a filter between the work zone and
the fixture. Please refer to the diagram on page 21 on how to remove the side dress panel to install the
service fixtures.
3. Germicidal UV Lamp
For germicidal decontamination
4. Electrical socket/GFCI outlets (total 6A rating for all outlets in cabinet)

To allow users to use electrical devices, such as ultra-sonic bath, hotplate and electronic weighing scale
inside the work-zone. For 115 V cabinets, the GFCI outlets will shut off in the event of earth leakage (0.4mA –
0.6mA).
5. Thimble (non air-tight) exhaust collar.
6. Formalin vaporizer (for decontamination)
7. Base storage cabinet
8. Armrest padding
9. Ergonomic footrest
10.Ergonomic adjustable lab chair

USER SECTION 26
3.5 INSTALLING YOUR CABINET
1. Please refer to the unpacking your cabinet on section 2.1 step no.7 on lifting the cabinet.
2. Inspect your cabinet carefully, should you find any defect please refer to the Freight Claim Information on
page 6 and our Warranty Terms and Conditions on page 8.
3. The 2 screws securing the counterweight (behind the cabinet) for shipment should be removed before the
sash can be moved. After this step, move the sash to the normal operating height.
4. Wipe down the interior and exterior of the cabinet with water or a mild household detergent.
5. Connect cabinet to the main power supply with the supplied power cable. The fan is automatically switched
on. PLS CHECK PANEL message is displayed; please check that all LEDs and buzzer are on for 6 seconds.
Leave the blower on for 3 minutes (warm-up timer – the default duration is 3 minutes, however, this may be
adjusted – refer to section 4.2.1.2).
6. Each cabinet requires its own dedicated 11.5 Ampere (115 Volt cabinet) or 4 Ampere (230 volt cabinet)
power outlet which should not be shared with other appliances. For some cabinets with 2 power inlets
- one for the power outlets in the work zone (auxiliary power outlet) and another for the cabinet blower
and electrical systems, both power inlets should be connected to their own dedicated power supplies.
7. Prior to use, this cabinet should be certified by a qualified certifier. Under normal operating conditions, the
cabinet should be recertified at least annually and when moved or serviced.
For more on info on performance validation/certification please refer to the next section 3.7
8. The 2 cytotoxic decal included together with this manual can be pasted on the door leading to your biohazard
laboratory.
Chapter 3: Installing Your Cabinet

USER SECTION 27
3.6 ENVIRONMENTAL/ELECTRICAL CONDITIONS
This cabinet is designed to be used under the following conditions:
1. Indoor use
2. Altitudes up to 2000 meters or 6600 ft
3. 20% - 60% relative humidity
4. Temperature range from 20 deg C to 30 deg C (68 deg F to 86 deg F).It is recommended that the temperature
in the laboratory be maintained within +/-2 deg C under all conditions
5. It is recommended that the voltage fluctuation doesn't exceed +/- 2% of the nominal voltage at all times, or
else an electrical power stabilizer can be installed.
6. Installation Category: II
Installation category (over voltage category) defines the level of transient over voltage which the instrument is
designed to withstand safely. It depends on the nature of the electricity supply and its over voltage protection
means. For example, in CAT II, which is the category used for instruments in installations supplied from a
supply comparable to public mains such as hospital and research laboratories and most industrial laboratories,
the expected transient over voltage is 2500 V for a 230 V supply and 1500 V for a 120 V supply
7. Pollution Degree: 2.0
Pollution degree describes the amount of conductive pollution present in the operating environment. Pollution
degree 2 assumes that normally only non-conductive pollution such as dust occurs with the exception of
occasional conductivity caused by condensation.
8. UPS is recommended for better protection. If UPS is not used and there is a power failure, the operator must
take immediate action to prevent the danger of potential containment failure.
9. The main electrical plug on the power cord must not be blocked by any object to allow easy access.
10.The leakage current for all electrical outlets combined should not exceed 2.0 mA.
11.During the voltage dips & short interruptions immunity test, flicker of the fluorescent light and UV light was
observed when the voltage dips and short interruption were being applied on the ac mains port of the cabinet
and self-recovered after the test. The cabinet is considered to meet performance criteria B in voltage dips &
short interruptions immunity test based on above observation.

USER SECTION 28
3.7 PERFORMANCE VALIDATION/CERTIFICATION
After installation and prior to use, cabinet performance must be validated and certified to factory standards. It is
recommended that this is performed only by a qualified technician who is familiar with the methods and
procedures for certifying biological safety cabinets. The testing methods and equipment required are specified on
the test report.
3.7.1 THE IMPORTANCE OF PERFOMANCE VALIDATION/CERTIFICATION
Studies conducted in New York State have estimated that 50,000 to 70,000 workers around the world, die each
year from chronic occupational diseases resulting from past exposures to toxic substances. (New York
Committee for Occupational Safety and Health)
1. A significant percentage of end-users are largely ignorant, uninformed, or relaxed about the safety
specifications and availability of testing.
2. Relying on velocity measurement or simple airflow visualization for deciding safety of cabinets is
insufficient.
3. Standardized test procedures and certifications ensure confidence in tests conducted and ensures safety of
the cabinets.
3.7.2 RE-CERTIFICATION
After the initial certification, the cabinet shall be recertified (please refer to Service Section Chapter 1 Section 1 for
more details)at the following situations :
1. Relocation of cabinet
2. Undetermined cause of airflow alarm
3. When the performance is suspected
4. Major maintenance or service (filter changing, blower changing, etc.)
5. After the exhaust damper is adjusted
6. At least annually or 6 months for safety cabinets with more critical applications (for example work with
agents assigned to biosafety level 3)
It is recommended that airflow alarm is calibrated during recertification.
3.7.3 DISCLAIMER
The perfomance and safety of the cabinet, while rigorously evaluated at the factory, cannot be guaranted once
after transit and installation. Therefore the on-site testing is always recommended.
3.7.4 REFERENCES FOR QUALIFIED CERTIFIERS

1. NSF Accredited Class II Biosafety Cabinet Field Certifiers
Please see http://www.nsf.org/Certified/Biosafety-Certifier for more information
2. I.A.F.C.A – member certifying company
Please see http://www.iafca.com/listview.html for more information
3. Your distributor
4. Esco Micro Pte. Ltd.

USER SECTION 29
CHAPTER 4
OPERATING YOUR CABINET
A biological safety cabinet, when used in conjunction with good microbiological techniques, provide an effective
containment system. This chapter aims to provide the user with the basic operation of the cabinet and
recommended working practices.
4.1 SENTINEL® CONTROL SYSTEM
Fig. 4 Sentinel® Keypad User-interface
1. Fan Button
To turn on and turn off the fan
Please kindly refer to section 4.2.3.2 for information on setting the Fan PIN
2. Light Button
To turn on and turn off the light
Light goes on automatically when sash is at the operating position (READY state)
Light goes off automatically when sash is at SASH ALARM state.
3. Socket Button
To turn on and turn off the electrical socket (retrofit kit)
Electrical outlet can be controlled fully in any sash position. The maximum rating of all the outlets in the
cabinet is 5 A. In case of overloading, the circuit breaker will trip. Disconnect the device from the outlet
and reset the circuit breaker in the electrical control box (inside the front panel) by pressing its button.
The leakage current for all electrical outlets combined should not exceed 2.8 mA.
Fig. 5 Screen confirms electrical outlet is on
Fig. 6A Screen confirms electrical outlet is off
Chapter 4 – Operating Your Cabinet

USER SECTION 30
Fig. 6B Circuit breaker position

4. UV Button
To turn on and turn off the UV lamp (optional retrofit kit)
• UV lamp can only be activated when the sash window is fully closed. Since the sash is capable
of filtering UV rays, users are protected from the harmful UV rays.
• UV Timer is provided to control the duration of the decontamination process. Please refer to section
4.2.1.4 for further information.
• UV Hour Meter is provided to monitor the working hours of UV lamp. Please refer to section 4.2.3.5
for further information.
Appendix D provides comprehensive information on the usefulness and effectiveness of UV light against
various microbes.
5. Up and Down Arrow Button

• To move upwards and downwards the menu options
• To increase and decrease corresponding value inside one of the menu options
• To start, stop and reset timer
• To move the sash window up and down with the red button pressed (only for motorized window
Press and hold the red button while pressing either the ▲ or ▼ will cause the sash
window to slide up or down. This is a safety feature to ensure that both of the operator’s
hands are outside the cabinet to prevent the window from hitting the operator’s hands.
Handheld stop clock is not allowed to be brought into the working space, as it might be a source of
contamination. For this purpose, TIMER is provided and functions as a stop clock ONLY in READY state.
It is displayed in HH:MM:SS format. Sash position and airflow velocity is monitored during timer mode.
User can start by pressing UP arrow button and it will start counting. Pressing UP button again will stop
the timer. User can then press UP button again to resume the timer. During this time, pressing DOWN
button will take the user out of the timer mode, and “Timer Reset” message is displayed.
Fig. 7 Screen display when timer is running
Fig. 8 Screen display after timer is reset

6. Set or Mute Button
• To choose the menu or sub-menu currently displayed on the LCD screen
• To proceed to the next step or sequence inside one of the menu options
• To turn the alarm sound off (only in fully open state during normal mode)

USER SECTION 31
7. Menu Button
Alarm is disabled when you enter menu options
• To enter and exit from the menu options
• To go back to the previous level of the menu options
• To access maintenance mode from ERR.MSWITCH and AIRFAIL! error condition
Some of the menu options allow the user to customize the cabinet for better working experience. Please
kindly refer to section 4.2 for detailed explanations for each menu options.
Before operating the cabinet, please ensure that you have set the Admin PIN (0009 by
default) and Fan PIN (0001 by default). Refer to section 4.2.3.1 and 4.2.3.2 for further
instructions.
The Admin PIN has higher priority and can be used to control the fan (override Fan PIN).
Please contact Esco should you forget your ADMIN PIN.
Concept of Different Sash Window States
1. The sash window should be fully closed when the cabinet is not in use. This helps keep the work zone interior
clean. The sash window also provides a protective barrier in case the UV lamp is used.
2. The sash window should ALWAYS be in the normal operating height at all times when the cabinet is used.
Even if the cabinet is left unattended, but the blower is on, the sash window should never be moved from the
normal operating height, unless during loading or unloading of materials/apparatus into the cabinet
3. The alarm will be activated whenever the sash window is moved from the normal operating height.
4. Whenever the sash window is moved to the correct height from a higher or lower position, the light will
automatically be turned on as a signal to the user.
5. The sash window may be opened to its maximum position for the purpose of loading/unloading of
materials/apparatus into the cabinet. When the sash window is fully opened, the alarm sound may be muted
(will be automatically sounded again after 5 minutes to remind the user that it is not safe to work in the
cabinet) and the light will be turned on to facilitate cleaning.
4.1.1 SOFTWARE SELF-RESET
Sentinel® is equipped with watchdog timer. The timer is running on the background and will detect any possible
software malfunction. Once the malfunction occurs, the timer will reset the system. During system reset (which
will take approximately 30 seconds), the cabinet will undergo warm-up cycle; blower is on but light and electrical
outlet is off. After reset, the system will resume as per normal operation. Note that no data is erased or reset to
the default values.
4.1.2 HARDWARE RESET
Sentinel® can also be reset by pressing RESET button available on the main board; refer to Product
Specification on chapter 2 of SERVICE SECTION for exact position.
This hardware-reset function can be used in case of controller malfunction, e.g. blank LCD for more than 5
seconds. After RESET button is pressed, the system will restart. Note that no data is erased or reset to default
values after hardware reset.
Do not press RESET button during normal usage, as it will disrupt the operation of the
cabinet, thus the safety of operators.

USER SECTION 32
4.2 MENU OPTIONS
When you are entering menu options, the alarm will sound to indicate that the microprocessor is
not monitoring the operation of the cabinet and as such will not give any airflow or sash position
alarms. No further warnings will be given. Therefore, it is highly recommended for the customer to
set the ADMIN PIN, which will restrict unauthorized access to the menu. Please refer to section
4.2.3.1 for further details. The default ADMIN PIN from the factory is 0009.
Please refer to the following diagram for complete reference to all menu options available. Press UP or DOWN
button to move through the menu options. The user is strongly advised to exit from the menu options after making
any changes in order to prevent unauthorized access to the menu.
SET TIME
WARM UP
POST PURGE
SETTINGS
UV TIMER
VELOCITY UNIT
TEMP UNIT
SET CONSTANT
CALIBRATION ZERO SENSOR
CALIB SENSOR
MENU
NEW ADMIN PIN
NEW FAN PIN
ADMIN A/F MONITOR
RESET B/H/M
RESET UV/H/M
RESET DEFAULT
NORMAL
SET MODE
MAINTENANCE

USER SECTION 33
4.2.1 SETTINGS (CLOCK, TIMER, AND UNITS)
Press SET to enter the SETTINGS menu. Use the UP and DOWN button to move through the available options.
Press MENU to go back to the previous level.
4.2.1.1 SET CLOCK (TIME)

Users can set time of the day by increasing the hour and minute. The correct time will be maintained even after
the cabinet was turned off.
Press SET button to enter the SET TIME menu. The hour display will blink.
Press UP or DOWN arrow button to choose the correct hour display. Press SET. The minute display will blink.
Press UP or DOWN arrow button to choose the correct minute display.
Press SET button to confirm the changes.
Fig. 11 Display sequence to set time
4.2.1.2 WARM UP TIMER

Before the fan is fully functioning, there will be a period of warm-up. This is to ensure that the sensors, the fan,
and the control system are stabilized, as well as purging the work zone of contaminants. The default setting is 3
minutes and user can set it up to 15 minutes.
Press SET button to enter the WARM UP menu. The minute display will blink.
Fig. 12 Display sequence to set warm up time
4.2.1.3 POST PURGE TIMER

After the user switches off the fan, there will be a period of post-purge. This feature is to ensure all residual
contaminants are purged from the work zone. The default setting is 0 minute and user can set it from 0 minute to
15 minutes. Setting it to 0 minute will disable this feature.
However, it is recommended to purge the cabinet by leaving the fan on for around 3 minutes after the work is
complete.
Press SET button to enter the POST PURGE menu. The minute display will blink.

USER SECTION 34
Fig. 13 Display sequence to set post purge time
4.2.1.4 UV TIMER
To switch off the UV light automatically after a fixed period, UV TIMER menu can be used. The UV TIMER can be
set up to 18 hours. By default, this feature is disabled. UV light, then, has to be switched off manually.
Press SET button to enter the UV TIMER menu. The hour display will blink.
Press UP or DOWN arrow button to choose the correct hour display. Press SET. The minute display will blink.
Fig. 14 Display sequence to set UV timer
4.2.1.5 AIR VELOCITY UNIT SELECTION

Using this option, user can convert the air velocity unit from meter per second (m/s) to feet per minute (fpm) and
vice versa. This will affect the display of the airflow when the fan is running, and display of calibration velocity.
Press SET button to enter the VELOCITY UNIT menu.
Press UP or DOWN arrow button to select the desired measurement unit.
Fig. 15 Display sequence to select velocity unit

USER SECTION 35
4.2.1.6 TEMPERATURE UNIT SELECTION

Using this option, user can convert the temperature unit from Celsius to Fahrenheit and vice versa. This will affect
the display of the exhaust temperature.
Press SET button to enter the TEMP UNIT menu.
Press UP or DOWN arrow button to select the desired measurement unit.
Fig. 16 Display sequence to select temperature unit

4.2.2 CALIBRATION
Press SET to enter the CALIBRATION menu. Use the UP and DOWN button to move through the available
options. Press MENU to go back to the previous level.
4.2.2.1 SET CONSTANT

Every sensor manufactured by Esco has a specific Sensor Constant which is used for temperature compensation
performed by the temperature sensor. For more information, please refer to Microprocessor Calibration section of
the Test Report.
4.2.2.2 ZERO SENSOR

This option is to let the controller record the specific sensor output voltage and correspond it to 0m/s or 0fpm.
Please refer to Microprocessor Calibration section of the Test Report for details on how to use this feature.
4.2.2.3 CALIB SENSOR

This option allows proper calibration and operation of the airflow sensor alarm. There will be three points to be
calibrated, namely inflow fail point, inflow nominal point, and downflow nominal point. Details of this option can be
found in Microprocessor Calibration section of the Test Report.
a. Calibration must be performed by qualified personnel.

b. Calibration should be done when the airflow alarm accuracy is suspected and at least
once in a year.
4.2.3 ADMINISTRATOR ACCESS AND PIN
Press SET to enter the ADMIN menu. Use the UP and DOWN button to move through the available options.
Press MENU to go back to the previous level
4.2.3.1 NEW ADMIN PIN

ADMIN PIN restricts access to MENU functions, including service functions, like calibration. User must enter four-
digit PIN before accessing MENU. Admin PIN has higher priority and can be used to control the fan (override Fan
PIN).
ADMIN PIN can also be used to switch to Maintenance Mode from ERR.MSWITCH and AIRFAIL! Error condition.
The default PIN is 0009. Setting PIN to 0000 will disable this feature. Please follow the following steps to set a
new ADMIN PIN.
Press SET button to enter the NEW ADMIN PIN menu. The first-digit display will blink.
Press UP or DOWN arrow button to choose the desired first-digit number.
Press SET. The second-digit display will blink.
Press UP or DOWN arrow button to choose the desired second-digit display.
Repeat steps until the fourth-digit display has been chosen.

USER SECTION 36
Fig.17 Display sequence to set admin PIN
4.2.3.2 NEW FAN PIN

FAN PIN restricts access to fan control. User must enter four-digit PIN before switching fan on or off. As such, it
can restrict access to operating the cabinet by unauthorized personnel. It will also prevent authorized shutdown of
the cabinet when continuous operation is required. Note that continuous operation is recommended for better
safety. FAN PIN is also needed to disable the alarm when the sash is fully raised and cleaning needs to be
performed.
It is recommended that the FAN PIN is issued only to personnel authorized to use the cabinet.
The default PIN is 0001. Setting the PIN to 0000 will disable this feature. Please follow the following steps to set a
new FAN PIN.
Press SET button to enter the NEW FAN PIN menu. The first-digit display will blink.
Press UP or DOWN arrow button to choose the desired first-digit number.
Press SET. The second-digit display will blink.
Press UP or DOWN arrow button to choose the desired second-digit display.
Repeat steps until the fourth-digit display has been chosen.
Fig.18 Display sequence to set fan PIN
4.2.3.3 A/F MONITOR

Whenever the air velocity falls below the fail point, the air fail alarm will be triggered. This option is used to
enable/disable alarm. By default, this feature is enabled
Press SET button to enter the A/F MONITOR menu.
Press UP or DOWN arrow button to enable or disable the A/F MONITOR.
Fig. 19 Display sequence to set alarm setting feature

USER SECTION 37
Disabling the air fail alarm is not recommended for normal operation. However, this may be
necessary during exhaust collar or ducting system installation.
4.2.3.4 RESET BLOWER HOUR METER

This option is used to reset the blower hour meter. The blower hour meter indicates how long the blower has
been in operation. Maximum counter is set at 9999 hours. The counter value can be checked from maintenance
mode. The value can also provide some help in setting up maintenance schedule, including filter changing.
Please refer to the SERVICE SECTION for more details.
4.2.3.5 RESET UV HOUR METER

This option is used to reset the UV hour meter. The UV hour meter indicated how long the UV lamp has been
used. Maximum counter is set at 9999 hours. The counter value can be checked from maintenance mode. Please
reset the UV hour meter after each UV replacement.
4.2.3.6 RESET DEFAULT

User can reset the default setting by choosing this option. The features being reset are WARM-UP period (3
minutes), POST-PURGE period (0 minute), UV TIMER (0 min), UNIT SELECTION (m/s), ADMIN PIN (0009), and
FAN PIN (0001). Note that the calibration setting is not reset to prevent the cabinet being unsafe to use.
Press SET button to enter the RESET DEFAULT menu
Press SET button to confirm the reset
4.2.4 SETTING THE MODE

Press SET to enter the SET MODE menu. Use the UP and DOWN button to move through the available options.
Press MENU to go back to the previous level.
4.2.4.1 NORMAL MODE

This is the default operation mode. Every time the cabinet is restarted, this mode will be activated by default.
4.2.4.2 MAINTENANCE MODE
This mode should only be used during maintenance by qualified personnel.
The maintenance mode can be used for some of the following purposes:
1. Calibration/ Performance validation
2. Filter scanning
3. Decontamination
4. Checking of input/output diagnostics
Please refer to Microprocessor Calibration section of the Test Report for more details.

USER SECTION 38
4.3 STARTING THE CABINET
1. Prepare a written checklist of materials/apparatus necessary for immediate usage.
2. Turn off the UV lights (if it is being used) as soon as you enter the work location. Turn on the blower and raise
the sash (default FAN PIN is 0001). Leave the blower on for 3 minutes (warm-up timer – the default duration is
3 minutes, however, this may be adjusted - refer to section 4.2.1.2). If the cabinet is just being plugged to the
electrical power source, PLS CHECK PANEL message is displayed; please check that all LEDs and buzzer
are on for 6 seconds.
3. Wash hands thoroughly using germicidal soap. Wear gloves for hand protection. Gloves should be pulled over
the knitted wrists of the gown rather than worn inside. Double gloving may be necessary for higher risk work.
4. Put on a clean long-sleeves laboratory coat. A solid front, back closing lab gown provides better protection of
personal clothing than the traditional lab coat. A disposable gown should also be considered when higher risk
work is involved.
5. Adjust the seating position so that the user's face is above the front opening. Adjustable stool is
recommended. Please refer to section 4.4 about ergonomics for more info.
6. Open the sash window to its maximum position. Thoroughly surface-decontaminate the work surface, side
walls, back wall, drain pan, and internal surface of the window using 70% ethanol (or other disinfectant
depending on materials used in the cabinet). Do surface decontamination as well to the UV lights and
electrical outlet when present.
Do not use any disinfectant containing chlorine-based substance as this may cause corrosion of the
stainless steel surfaces.
7. Surface-decontaminate all materials/apparatus before loading them into the work zone. Load and arrange the
materials/apparatus to minimize the movement of contaminated items over clean items by segregating the
contaminated items from the clean items into two equal areas, one on the left, and one on the right to provide
best protection against cross contamination.
8. Put all the material/apparatus approximately 10 cm (4 inches) behind the sash window, whenever possible.
• Never use the cabinet to store supplies or laboratory equipment. Placing

excessive materials in the work zone may affect the airflow and containment
capabilities of the cabinet
• Do not block the front and back air grilles by any material/apparatus
Fig. 9 Material/apparatus blocking the front and back air grilles

USER SECTION 39
• Avoid use of toxic, explosive, or flammable substances within the cabinet unless
the use has been specifically approved by a safety professional
• Never operate the cabinet when any alarms are activated
• Minimize the use of syringes or other sharp objects within the cabinet
10. After all the material/apparatus is arranged, adjust the sash to the normal operating height and allow the
blower to run for another 3 minutes in order to purge the work zone of contaminants.
11. Minimize room activity (personnel movements, closing and opening of doors, etc.) as these external airflow
disturbances may affect cabinet airflow and containment.
The user is strongly discouraged from using a gas Bunsen burner in the cabinet due to the
airflow disturbance caused by the thermal currents from the burner - which may compromise
cabinet performance.
However, when the need for a Bunsen burner is established and approved by the safety officer
then it should be operated at the right side of the work zone.
The airflow sensor on Esco cabinets when installed in the work zone will be mounted on the left
side and operating the burner at the right side will prevent any disruption to the cabinet airflow
monitoring system. Please also refer to the operating instructions and warnings supplied with any
gas service fixture retrofit kit supplied by Esco.
Fig. 10 Blackened filters due to carbon residue caused by usage of Bunsen burner inside the cabinet
Should the use of Bunsen burner is unavoidable, then the recommended burners:
1. Manufacturer: Integra Bioscience

Product: Fireboy plus
Web page: http://www.integra-biosciences.com/fireboy_plus_1_e.html
Comments:
The advantage of this burner is that the flame is automatically cut off by
either a time delay, or when the footswitch is not activated. This ensures that
the burner operates for a minimum duration at the full flame setting required
for sterilization and therefore minimizes the effect the burner has on the
cabinet airflow. In addition it is very safe and reliable (compared to simple
bunsen burners) through excess- temperature protection, flame monitor and
alarm display.

USER SECTION 40
2. Manufacturer: Waterpik
Product: TOUCH-O-MATIC® Bunsen Burner
Web page: http://professional.waterpik.com/ViewCoreProductNow.cfm?ProductID=76&Appl=4
Comments:
The advantage of this burner is that the flame is automatically

reduced as long the operator removes his / her hand from the
platform - the flame will be increased when the operator places
his / her hand on the platform (during this time, the flame is
large enough for sterilization). Therefore, the effect on cabinet
airflow is minimized to a large extent (as compared to a
constant setting burner always operating at a high setting for
sterilization).
3. Manufacturer: Kendall Healthcare, Oxford brand

Product: Bacticinerator
Web pages:
http://www.kendallhq.com/ (Laboratory catalog, page 54) http://www.kendallhq.com/catalog/ifu/Bacti1.pdf
Comments:
This unique product enables sterilization of inoculating loops and other

small tools used within laminar flow and safety cabinets by an electric
process. This means there is no disruption to the cabinet airflow by
thermal currents
4. Product: Glass bead / hot bead electric sterilizers

Sample manufacturers:
http://www.dent-eq.com/glassbead.html
http://www.finescience.com/fst/ResEqpGrp/18000-45.html
Comments:
These sterilizers are compact enough to be placed

inside laminar flow and safety cabinets. In addition,
since no flame is used, the thermal currents
generated are minimal.

USER SECTION 41
4.4 WORKING IN THE CABINET
1. User should always set the sash to normal working height (READY state) before starting any experiments.
If the alarm indicator light blinks accompanied by the alarm sound, discontinue work immediately and
follow the proper shutdown procedure on the next section 4.5. The user can then refer to the
troubleshooting section (SERVICE SECTION, CHAPTER 3).
If calibration has been performed properly, the LCD will show the downflow velocity (indicated by D) and the
inflow velocity (indicated by I) as it is monitored by the airflow sensor. Sash alarm will be triggered if inflow
velocity falls below its failing point.
2. Keep the front and back air grilles unobstructed by arms or objects.
3. Work from clean to dirty by following the segregation of clean and dirty materials/apparatus as described in the
previous section. Work with one specimen at a time, recap before moving to the next specimens.
4. Work as far into the cabinet as possible, at least 150mm/6 inches back from the front air intake grille. Hold
open tubes and bottles as horizontally as possible to avoid spillage. Discard empty tubes and bottles into the
collection bags inside the cabinet immediately.
5. Use convenient pipetting aids. Do not mouth pipette. Use horizontal pipette discard pans containing
appropriate disinfectant inside the biohazard safety cabinet. Do not use vertical pipette discard canisters on
the floor outside the cabinet. Biohazard collection bags should be placed inside the cabinet.
6. In the case that streaking loops are to be sterilized to prevent cross-contamination of biological materials, an
electrical incinerator is recommended.
7. Surface-decontaminate before removing any potentially contaminated items from the interior.
• Never operate your cabinet while the sash alarm indicator is on

• Do not change the cabinet original blower speed unless the change is required by a
decrease in measured air velocity. Adjustment should be made only by a qualified
technician
• Do not operate the cabinet if fan fails to run
8. If you need to remove items from the biohazard cabinet or introduce new items, move in the cabinet in a slow
and controlled manner. Move arms in and out of the work zone opening slowly and in the direction
perpendicular to plane of the work zone opening. The rapid movement of arms in a sweeping motion may
disrupt the air curtain and may disrupt the air barrier and induce contaminants out of the cabinet. Be sure to
surface-decontaminate first when removing arms from the cabinet.
9. A disinfectant detergent has the advantage of detergent activity, which is important because extraneous
organic substances frequently interfere with the reaction between micro organisms and the active agent of the
decontaminant.
10.Wipe the top work surface tray and the drain pan below the work surface, with a disinfectant and wait for
another 10 to 15 minutes. Remove excess disinfectant from the tray and drain pan by wiping with a sponge or
cloth soaked in a decontaminant. Be careful not to spill disinfectant on the V-Bank filter underneath the tray.
11.Discharge the wiping cloth or sponge into an appropriate container and autoclave. After the spillage is
cleaned, discard your outer gloves and replace with a new pair. Allow the cabinet to purge for several minutes
and autoclave all contaminated materials (including gloves, cloth, and sponge). Decontamination (with
formaldehyde) may be necessary after a spillage where inaccessible surfaces may be contaminated.

USER SECTION 42
12.Place aerosol-generating instruments as far into the interior of the cabinet as possible.
13.Clean materials should be at least 150 mm away from aerosol generating objects to minimize the chance for
cross contamination.
14.Hold lids/covers above dishes/sample plates in order to prevent impingement of downward air.
15.Put air turbulence generating equipment such as centrifuge, blender, or sonicator towards the back of the
cabinet, and stop other work while the equipment is operating.
16.If a vacuum line is present, protect the building vacuum system from biohazards by placing a cartridge filter
between the vacuum trap and the source valve in the cabinet.
17. When the sash is fully closed, the blower should be turned off to prevent overheating. NB: FAN PIN or ADMIN
PIN is needed. This is a safety feature to prevent unauthorized personnel from shutting down the cabinet.
4.4.1 SPILLAGE
In case of spillage, use absorbent pads or towels to cover the spill area, and then soak it with 10%
bleach. Wait for 10 to 15 minutes before cleaning the affected and surrounding area (and
equipments) with the appropriate disinfectant. Generally a 1% solution of an iodophor
decontaminant (Wescodyne or equivalent) is effective against most viruses, fungi, vegetative
bacteria, and most non-encysted amoeba.
4.4.2 WORKING ERGONOMICS
During the operation of your cabinets, you will be more likely to do it in the sitting position.
Advantages of sitting position:
1. The physiological energy cost and fatigue are reduced
2. It provides the body with a stable support
However, sitting position also has some drawbacks:

1. Limited working area
2. Possible risk of being constrained in a fix posture for a long time
3. One of the most stressful position for the back
Fortunately, it is possible to create a more comfortable and healthier working condition by following these simple
steps:
1. Ensure there is enough space for your leg and feet
2. Keep the lower back comfortably supported by your chair. Adjust the chair or use a pillow behind your back
when necessary
3. Position your fleet flat on the floor or a footrest. Don't dangle your feet and compress your thighs
4. Vary your sitting position throughout the day. Don't sit in one fixed posture all day
5. Eyes , some guidelines:
a. Give your eyes frequent breaks. Periodically look away from the work area and focus at a distant point.
b. Keep your sash and glasses clean
c. Eliminate glare and reflections on the sash
6. Arrange and position your frequently used work materials to minimize the possibility of straining yourself
7. Exercise regularly
Esco provides some ergonomics accessories such as:

a. Armrest padding
b. Lab chair
c. Footrest
Please contact your local distributor or Esco for further information.

USER SECTION 43
4.5 CLEANING AND SHUTTING DOWN THE CABINET
1. It is recommended that the cabinet be operated continuously whenever possible to ensure

containment and cleanliness. NB: airflow studies have shown that air from the cabinet may escape after the
fan has been turned off, due to thermal currents from the interior of the cabinet. If the user chooses to turn the
cabinet off at the end of a work session, the following procedures are recommended.
2. Discard all biohazard waste into the biohazard bags (including the outer gloves if double gloving was
employed). Seal biohazard bags and dispose properly. (waste should be autoclaved, if appropriate)
3. Surface-decontaminate all materials/apparatus using 70% IPA and remove them from the cabinet.
4. Wipe the work surface, side walls, back wall, and drain pan with clean wipes, followed by water and mild
antibacterial detergent. Do not use any disinfectant containing chlorine-based substance. For periodical
cleaning behind the sash window, remove the sash window track by unscrewing the bolt at both ends of the
sash track, and lift the sash window as shown below:
5. Rinse the detergent with water and clean wipes until there is no traces of detergent left.
6. Wipe the work surface, side walls, back wall, and drain pan again with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) or other
disinfecting agents listed below:
Disinfecting Agents
• For stainless steel, all common disinfecting agents except chlorine-based agents are suitable.
• For powder coated surfaces, all common disinfecting agents are suitable. However, the cabinet has been
specifically evaluated for use with the following:
a. 1N hydrochloric acid
b. 1N sodium hydroxide
c. 1% quaternary ammonium compound
d. 5% formaldehyde
e. 5,000 ppm hypochlorite
f. 2% iodophor
g. 5% phenol

USER SECTION 44
h. 70% ethyl alcohol
• Other types of disinfecting agents may also be selected depending on the type of agents used during the
operation of the cabinet.
Ethylene Paraformaldehyde Quarternary Phenolic Chlorine Iodophor Alcohol Formaldehyde Glutaraldehyde
Oxide (gas) Ammonium Compounds Compounds Compounds (ethyl or (liquid)
Compounds isopropyl)
Vegetative + + + + + + + + +
bacteria
Bacterial + + x x +
spores
Lipo viruses + + + + + + + + +
Hydrophylic + + x + x x + +
viruses
Tubercl + + + + + + + +
bacilli
HIV + + + + + + + + +
HBV + + x + x x + +
Table 1 Disinfecting Agents and Their Effectiveness Against Different Type of Contaminants
+ denotes very positive response

x denotes a less positive response
blank denotes a negative response or not applicable
7. Leave the blower on for 3 minutes in order to purge airborne contamination from the work area. (0 minute is
the default factory setting, to change the duration of the post-purge cycle please refer to section 4.2.1.3)
8. After the blower is off, turn off the light and fully close the sash window. Activate UV lamp (when UV is
present) for 50 to 60 minutes to decontaminate the interior of the cabinet. It is not recommended to leave the
UV overnight as excessive usage of UV light will shorten the lamp life. The UV lamp used in Esco cabinets
has a life period of 8000 hours. As a rough guideline, the UV light should be replaced annually to maintain its
effectiveness. (UV timer is disabled by default, please refer to section 4.2.1.4 for information on setting the
UV timer)
• Eyes and skin should not be exposed to direct ultraviolet light, close the sash window
fully before activating the UV lamp
• Ultraviolet light should not be relied upon as the sole decontaminating agent
• Check the UV interlock regularly for correct operation
• The use of UV lamp in biological safety cabinets is explicitly discouraged in all major
international standards and recommendations. Please refer to Appendix D for more
information
9. Remove laboratory coat and gloves carefully and wash hands using germicidal soap thoroughly.
NOTE: FORMALDEHYDE DECONTAMINATION
It is the responsibility of the user to ensure the cabinet is properly decontaminated according to the nature of the
pathogens being used, in the following situation:
a. before moving/relocating cabinet
b. when changing the type of work being done in the cabinet
c. before accessing contaminated areas for service, i.e. filter replacement
Decontamination is frequently performed by means of formaldehyde fumigation.

For more information please refer to the section 1.11 of SERVICE SECTION

USER SECTION 45
CHAPTER V
MAINTAINING YOUR CABINET
5.1 MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Please kindly follow the suggested maintenance schedule in order to maintain your Esco cabinet at its optimum
performance.
Daily
1. Thoroughly surface-decontaminate the work surface, side walls, back wall, and internal surface of the window
using 70% ethanol (or other disinfectant depending on materials used in the cabinet). Do not use any
disinfectant containing chlorine-based substance as this will cause corrosion to steel and stainless
steel resulting in irreparable damage to the cabinet structure. Do surface decontamination as well to the
UV lights and electrical outlet when present. When cleaning the interior, the operator should not insert any part
of his/her body into the work zone (except hands).
2. Alarm verification upon starting the cabinet.
Weekly
1. Thoroughly surface-decontaminate the drain pan using 70% ethanol (or other disinfectant depending on
materials used in the cabinet).
2. Check the paper catch for retained materials.
Paper catch location is behind the back wall
Monthly
1. Using a damp cloth, clean the exterior surfaces of the cabinet, particularly the front and top of the cabinet, to
remove any accumulated dust.
2. Check all the service fixtures (when present) for proper operation.
3. All daily activities.
Quarterly
1. Inspect the cabinet for any physical abnormalities or malfunction. Check both fluorescent tubes to ensure that
they are functioning normally.
2. When particularly difficult spots on stainless steel must be removed, MEK (methyl-ethyl-ketone) may be used.
In such cases, wash immediately afterwards with clean water and liquid detergent using a polyurethane cloth
or sponge. Regular cleaning of the stainless steel surface will preserve and maintain its attractive surface
factory finish.
Annually
1. Have the cabinet recertified by a qualified certification technician.
Please refer to performance validation/certification section on Chapter 3 section 3.7
2. Replace the UV lamp, when present
3. All quarterly activities
Biannually
1. Replace the fluorescent lamps
2. All annual activities
Chapter 5 – Maintaining Your Cabinet

USER SECTION 46
5.2 SAFETY LABELS IN THE CABINET

The user should annually inspect the condition of the labels and re-order if necessary.
No LABEL ILLUSTRATION ORDER CODE
1 Access panel warning 5012
2 Cytotoxic warning 5143
3 Sash height warning 5015
4 Electrical hazard 5004
5 Exhaust damper warning 5100
6 Certification warning 5146

USER SECTION 47
Note: the leakage current for all

electrical outlets combined
should not exceed 2.0 mA, to
7 Outlet warning 5147
ensure that accessible parts
are not hazardous live in
single fault condition
8 Service caution 5150
9 Drain valve 5003
10 Grounding 5085
Speed control
11 5007
Voltage test point

12 (For 115 Volts cabinets 5122
only)
13 Glass certificate 5141

USER SECTION 48
14 Cabinet power inlet 5148
15 Auxiliary power inlet 5149
16 Cabinet serial number None
17 Airflow setpoint None
18 UL Logo To be determined
(115V only)
19 Sampling port 5018
Front side indicator of

20 5035
downflow diffuser

USER SECTION 49
21 Airflow sensor 5001
22 Seal label 5094
23 Made in Indonesia 5116
24 Electrical diagram 5098
25 Test report 5099
26 Cabinet airflow 5016
27 QC seal 5013

USER SECTION 50
28 Filter scan 5026
29 Sash Height 5006
Note: This sign is silk-screened on the front right sash

track. If the ink fades,replacement label can be ordered
Please refer to the drawing on the next page on label position on the cabinet.

USER SECTION 51
5.3 USER MONTHLY MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Model:___________________ Year: ________________
Serial No:________________
Clean exterior Check all service Operator Manager

Month
surface fixtures Signature Signature
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Daily
1. Surface decontaminate work zone

2. Alarm verification upon starting the cabinet
Weekly
1. Surface decontaminate drain pan

2. Check paper catch
Quarterly
1. Check for malfunction; check that fluorescent tubes function normally

2. Remove spots on stainless steel surface using MEK
Annually
1. Re-certification
2. Change UV lamp (when present)
Bi-annually
Replace fluorescent lamps
This form may be used by the lab manager/safety officer to enforce the user
maintenance schedule

USER SECTION 53
SERVICE SECTION
CHAPTER 1
RE-CERTIFICATION AND MAINTENANCE BY SERVICE PERSONNEL
1.1 AIRFLOW VERIFICATION & CABINET RE-CERTIFICATION
Re-certification must be performed on: Please refer to the test report on the detailed method
1. New installation and equipments to perform the certification testing. The
2. Relocation of cabinet original test report is packed along with this manual.
3. Activation of airflow alarm with undermined cause The copy of the test report is inside the plastic bag
4. When cabinet performance is suspected pasted adjacent to the electrical control panel.
5. At least once in a year (if agents of Biosafety Level 3 or above are used, the interval is 6 months)
The steps to perform certification:

1. Turn on the cabinet for ≥10 minutes to allow the speed control to reach 99% of the target voltage output.
2. Check if the LCD displays the nominal inflow and downflow according to the test report. If the LCD display
is within +/- 0.02 m/s from the nominal inflow and nominal downflow, proceed to step 3, or else:
a. Open the electrical control panel.
Copy of
Test Report
Caution ! Remove the screws

Gas spring. using the black
Will swing the screwdriver provided
front panel
upwards
Remove the thumb

screw by hand
b. Plug the voltmeter probes to the Motor Voltage Sampling Port, as indicated by the white circle on the
pictures below. The port location and shape is different between 230 and 115 / 100 V cabinets.
Speed control of 230 V cabinet Speed control of 115 V and 100 V cabinet
Plug the voltmeter to the blue and red (old Plug the voltmeter to the Motor Voltage Test
model is blue and black) wires joined by a Point, port “M” and “N”. Adjust the speed
white open-end connector. Adjust the speed control by turning the knob. No screwdriver
control using the yellow screwdriver provided. required for this adjustment.
Chapter 1 – Maintenance by Service Personnel

SERVICE SECTION 55
c. If the motor voltage is different than the Nominal Motor Voltage written on the Test Conditions
Documentation Sheet in the Test Report, then the speed control need to be adjusted so that the motor
voltage matches the Nominal Motor Voltage in the Test Report. Your building supply voltage may be
different than the supply voltage in Esco Test Lab. This supply voltage difference will roughly double
the blower voltage difference, creating a more significant airflow discrepancy. To measure the building
supply voltage:
Building supply voltage of 230 V cabinet Building supply of 115 V and 100 V cabinet
Plug one voltmeter probe to the LIVE terminal Plug the voltmeter to the Building Voltage Test
block (red wires), and the other probe to the Point, port “L” and “N”
NEUTRAL terminal block (blue wires)
For example:
Esco factory Your laboratory

Building supply voltage 230 V 220 V
Motor (blower) voltage 135 V 118 V
In this case, the motor voltage must be increased from 118 volt to 135 volt by turning the speed control
clockwise, to match the motor voltage given from the factory. Please note that the difference in motor
voltage is always greater than the difference between the building supply voltage. Therefore, for this
case it is not enough to increase the motor voltage by 10 volt like the building supply voltage
difference, but instead we need 18 more volts.
d. Check the exhaust damper opening. Make sure the seal is not broken and the opening length matches
the figure given on Calibration page 3 of the test report. Also check that sensor housing is not blocked.
Check damper opening using measuring tape Check if the sensor housing is blocked or not

SERVICE SECTION 56
3. Using thermo-anemometer, check the inflow and downflow velocity of the cabinet to make sure that:
a. The inflow and downflow velocity is within 0.025 m/s from the nominal point given in the test report. If
the deviation is more than 0.025 m/s, adjust the speed control to get the nominal inflow and downflow
setpoint. If only one of either nominal inflow or nominal downflow can be achieved by speed control
adjustment, then the cabinet need re-balancing.
b. The inflow and downflow velocity is within 0.02 m/s from the velocity displayed on the LCD (Note that
the LCD only display the velocity in 2 decimals, but the maximum deviation allowed by NSF is 0.025
m/s). If the velocity displayed on LCD is still more than 0.02 m/s, then the microprocessor need to be
calibrated. Please refer to the Microprocessor Calibration section of the Test Report.
4. Perform the airflow smoke pattern test according to the test report
5. Perform the filter leak test
6. Perform site installation assessment test
7. Perform these optional tests as required:
a. Operator comfort tests: light, noise, and vibration
b. KI Discus test for operator protection (Please refer to Appendix C)
c. Electrical safety test
d. UV intensity test
Esco conducts training courses on the validation and certification of biohazard safety cabinets. If you are
interested you are most welcome to contact your distributor or Esco.
1.2 CABINET AIRFLOW BALANCING
The cabinet inflow and downflow has been balanced at the factory. This balance could be compromised if:
1. One of the filters is loaded faster than the other.

After some period of usage, more dust and particles will get trapped on the filter, so the pressure drop
across the ULPA filters will increase, which is also referred to “filter loading”. Typically both filters will get
loaded at the same time, although this may not always be the case.
2. Either one of both of the filters are changed due to damage or loading. When the filters get loaded with
particles, increase the speed control voltage output until the air fail alarm stopped. After several years,
when the speed control has reached the maximum voltage and the airflow is not enough, replace the filters.
The cabinet inflow and downflow is balanced by adjusting the damper opening and speed control output:
1. Increasing the speed control will increase BOTH of the inflow and downflow with velocity ratio of
approximately 2:1 (the inflow is more sensitive to the voltage change)
2. Increasing the damper opening will increase inflow and decrease the downflow, because the purpose of the
damper is to block the exhaust filter to reduce inflow and increase downflow.
• Speed control voltage change must be balanced by changing the damper opening. This is a
delicate process and should only be performed by qualified personnel.
• The microprocessor must be re-calibrated if there is any damper adjustment being made
Please refer to Microprocessor Calibration section of Test Report for further details on cabinet airflow balancing.

SERVICE SECTION 57

SERVICE SECTION 58
1.3 CALIBRATION OF SENTINEL™ CONTROL

The idea of calibrating the controller is to let the controller record particular output voltages from the airflow
sensor and correspond them to fail and nominal points of air velocity. After the calibration is completed, the
control will be able to show the air velocity when the fan is running. All the shipped cabinets have been factory-
tested and calibrated.
When is calibration needed?

• Unknown cause of airflow alarm
• During annual re-certification
Please refer to the test report, calibration section for the details of the calibration steps, equipment, and other
testing procedures. The calibration must be done in the maintenance mode.
1.3.1 Sentinel control display in maintenance mode
DISPLAY DESCRIPTION
1. C104A V2.0 Software version
2. M.: Maintenance Mode
3. M.SWITCH_0: ON/OFF Magnetic switch 0 at J3
4. M.SWITCH_1: ON/OFF J10
5. M.SWITCH_1: ON/OFF J11
6. FAN: ON/OFF Fan status
7. WARM UP: XX Warm up time
8. PURGE:XX Purging time
9. B/H/M:XXXX Blower hour meter
10. LIGHT: ON/OFF Light status
11. SOCKET: ON/OFF Socket status
12. UV: ON/OFF UV status
13. UV TIMER:XXXX UV timer
14. UV/H/M:XXXX UV lamp hour meter
15. A/F MONITOR:D/E Airflow monitor status (enable or disable)
16. ADC_A/F : XXXX ADC value of current air-velocity sensor
17. ADC_D/Z: XXXX ADC value of down-flow zero point
18. D/N_VEL: XXXX Nominal downflow air velocity
19. ADC_I/F: XXXX ADC value of inflow fail point
20. ADC_I/N:XXXX ADC value of inflow nominal point
21. ADC_TEMP: XXXX ADC value of temperature sensor
22. TEMP : 00 °C/F Current temperature (Celsius or Fahrenheit)
23. T_CONS: 050 Temperature compensation formula constant
• ADC stands for Analog to Digital Conversion
1.4 SOFTWARE UPDATING
WARNING: SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE WILL CAUSE CALIBRATION DATA TO BE ERASED FROM
YOUR SYSTEM. ENSURE THAT THE SYSTEM IS RECALIBRATED AFTERWARD
As time progresses there might be changes and upgrades on the software embedded into the Sentinel® control.
A software update, via Internet download is possible by purchasing a toolkit from Esco at a nominal cost.
The software update is not mandatory unless for safety reason. Any update on the software will be posted on
website (http://biotech.escoglobal.com/support/sentinel).

SERVICE SECTION 59
1.5 SASH POSITION DETECTION
Magnetic-Switch is used on Esco cabinet in order to help control system to detect the position of sash window.
The relationship of magnetic-switches and sash position for LA2 cabinet is shown blow.
The lower side of sash is able to be moved in the range shown in left side. Three magnetic-switches are shown in
the right. The principle is:
Magnetic- Magnetic- Magnetic- Description

Switch 0 Switch 1 Switch 2
Close Open Open Sash is fully opened, ALARM is given
Open Close Open Cabinet sash is at nominal height, ready to use
Open Open Close Sash is fully closed, UV can be operated
Open Open Open SASH is at unsafe state, ALARM is given
Rest Condition ERR.MSWITCH detected
There is a basic principle of sash position detection, 2 or more magnetic-switches are not supposed to be closed
at the same time. If the situation raised, user must check the condition of magnetic-switch. If displayed message
is not matching the sash position, please check the position of respecting magnetic switch by remove sash profile.

SERVICE SECTION 60
1.6 OPERATION MODE SUMMARY
Sash Position Function Available Normal Mode & Airfail Alarm On Normal Mode & Airfail Alarm Off Maintenance Mode
Sash Position Detection Yes Yes No
Yes, with WARM UP & PURGING Yes, without WARM UP & PURGING
Yes, with WARM UP & PURGING time, time, time,
Fan Control FAN PIN required FAN PIN required no PIN required
Light Control Yes Yes Yes
Socket Control Yes Yes Yes
UV Control Interlocked Interlocked Yes, no UV timer
READY
MENU Access Yes, ADMIN PIN required Yes, ADMIN PIN required Yes, no PIN required
Pressing Set button Simple Diagnostic Message Simple Diagnostic Message Complete Diagnostic Message
Timer Yes Yes No
Current Time Display Yes Yes No, "(!)" displayed
Air Velocity Display Yes No, "FAN ON" displayed Yes
If not calibrated, displaying "ERR.CALIB"
Air Fail checking Yes, Alarm if air fails No No
Sash Position Detection Yes Yes Not Applicable
Message Displayed "SASH ALARM" "SASH ALARM" Not Applicable
Current Time Display Yes Yes Not Applicable
Alarm Yes, not mutable Yes, not mutable Not Applicable
SASH ALARM
Y, with WARM UP & PURGING time, Y, with WARM UP & PURGING time,
Fan Control FAN PIN required FAN PIN required Not Applicable
Light Control No No Not Applicable
Socket Control Yes Yes Not Applicable
UV Control Interlocked Interlocked Not Applicable
Message Displayed "FULLY OPEN" "FULLY OPEN" Not Applicable
Current Time Display Yes Yes Not Applicable
Alarm Yes, mutable for 5 minutes Yes, mutable for 5 minutes Not Applicable
Yes, with WARM UP & PURGING
FULLY OPEN
Yes, with WARM UP & PURGING time, time,
Fan Control FAN PIN required FAN PIN required Not Applicable
Light Control Yes Yes Not Applicable
UV Control Interlocked Interlocked Not Applicable
SWITCH OFF Fan requested Yes Yes Not Applicable
Message Displayed "UV MODE" "UV MODE" Not Applicable
UV MODE Fan Control No No Not Applicable
Light Control No No Not Applicable
UV Control Yes Yes Not Applicable
61
WARNING: 2 PEOPLE MAY BE REQUIRED TO CHANGE FILTER ON 6 FT CABINET
The 2 ULPA filters under normal usage and barring an accident (a puncture), do not need replacement
until the inflow /and downflow velocity cannot be maintained at the specifications required by the test
report even though the fan has been set to maximum speed.
The cabinet does not have to be decontaminated to change the exhaust and downflow filters because
the V-bank filter should block all the microbiological contaminants.
1.7 REPLACEMENT OF FILTER
A. Exhaust and Downflow Filters
SERVICE SECTION
1. Remove the screws from bottom of blue panel and lift up

the blue panel.
Caution: the front panel is equipped with gas spring which
will open the front panel automatically
2. Move sash window to the lowest position
3. Remove filter access panel using “+” screw driver
4. Remove cover on positive plenum box
5. Using a #13 spanner, loosen the nut until the frame
collapsed all the way down together with the exhaust filter
6. Remove exhaust filter by sliding out from front
7. Using the #13 spanner, tighten the nut until the positive air
plenum box is lifted up and clear from the downflow filter
8. remove the downflow filter by sliding out from the front
9. To replace filter, repeat the above method in reversed
sequence
62
B. V-Bank Filter
The cabinet must undergo recertification after filter changing.
1. Before the filters are removed from the cabinet, their contaminated faces should be taped off using plastic film
or cardboard or some other suitable material. This will minimize the risk of personnel in the event the
decontamination was not thorough.
2. The blower must be running when the lower access cover is opened and the V-Bank filter is changed to help
protect the technician from exposure to cytotoxic agents captured by the V-Bank filter.
3. Used filters should be disposed following local regulations. They may have to be incinerated as medical waste.
They should be double bagged and appropriately labelled following removal from the cabinet. Refer to
Limitation of Liability on page 5
4. Proper personnel protective attire should be worn when removing used filters (a disposable gown, gloves, face
mask, hair and shoe covers are appropriate). These should be disposed after the procedure. Proper hand
washing after the procedure is also necessary.
5. Before the new filters are installed, all surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned of silicon and/or adherent gasket
material. The new filter should be carefully handled and examined prior to fitting. It is important that the filters
and the gaskets be checked for leaks prior to use.
The use of non-Esco parts and/or parts not supplied directly by Esco or our authorized distributors,
including but not limited to maintenance parts, spare parts, replacement parts, system components
and/or system accessories, shall void all expressed or implied warranties.

SERVICE SECTION 63
1.8 REPLACEMENT OF BLOWER

1. Check the replacement parts list at the end of this manual.
2. Please follow the steps described on the filter replacement diagram above.
3. Take out the blower housing and unscrew the bolts that secured the blower to the blower housing.
4. Please take the following steps before installing the replacement, to avoid any leakage in the cabinet.
1. Ensure that each cable has been soldered as shown in the picture below.
2. Silicon each cable that has been soldered.
3. Combine each cable that has been siliconed together using silicone

SERVICE SECTION 64
1.9 REPLACEMENT OF FLUORESCENT LAMP

1. Check the replacement parts list at the end of this manual.
2. Disconnect the electrical connections.
3. Remove the 2 screws from the bottom of blue panel and lift up the blue panel.
Caution: The front panel is equipped with a gas spring which will open the front panel automatically.
4. The fluorescent lamp(s) is located behind the blue panel. Disconnect the old one(s) and replace with
the new one(s).
REPLACEMENT OF UV LAMP
1. Check the replacement parts list at the end of this manual
2. Disconnect the electrical connections
3. Take out the old UV lamp by rotating it 90o counter clockwise and pull downward
4. Install the new UV lamp by pushing it upward and rotate 90o clockwise.
1.10 REPLACEMENT OF AIRFLOW SENSOR

1. Disconnect the airflow sensor cable connector. Keep the temperature sensor in it’s place.
2. Remove the 2 screws that join the sensor housing to the cabinet as shown below:
Airflow
sensor
Temperature
sensor
3. Lift the sensor housing and unscrew the old airflow sensor to release it from the sensor housing.
4. Screw in the new sensor. Make sure that the arrow sticker on the sensor tube is pointing “up”, the
sensor holes are perpendicular to the airflow direction, and the distance between the outer sensor hole
is 5.5 cm from the sensor housing wall as shown below:
5. When re-installing the sensor housing, please make sure that there is no gap between the housing and
the filter as shown below:
When installing the airflow sensor,

please watch the airflow direction

SERVICE SECTION 65
1.11 DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURE

A complete decontamination kit is available from Esco with all materials, equipment and supplies
required to carry out decontamination for safety cabinets.
Decontamination should be performed under these following conditions:

• Before replacing the V-Bank filter. If the V-bank filter is not leaking then the blower housing, exhaust filter,
and downflow filter should not be contaminated. The microbiological contaminants should have been filtered
by the V-Bank filter.
• After and accidental spill where inaccessible surfaces may be contaminated
• Before performance validation and re-certification, especially when the cabinet has been used with Biosafety
Level 3 agents
• Before cabinet relocation
1. Decontamination should only be performed by qualified personnel

2. Decontamination will remove the microbiological agents but NOT the cytotoxic agents. If
the cabinet has NOT been used for microbiological agents, only for cytotoxic agents,
then decontamination is NOT required prior to changing the V-Bank filter
1.11.1 WARNING ON FORMALIN EXPOSURE
The decontamination is frequently performed by means of formaldehyde fumigation or paraformaldehyde de-

polymerisation
1. External contact can cause irritation to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes
2. Inhalation in small concentration can cause coughing, nausea, and diarrhoea
3. Inhalation in large concentration can cause convulsions, coma, and death
4. Long term exposure can cause cancer
According to OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (USA), the Formaldehyde exposure limit:
• PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LEVEL (PEL): 0.75 ppm for 8 hr TIME WEIGHTED AVERAGE (TWA)
• SHORT TERM EXPOSURE LEVEL (STEL): 2 ppm for 15 minutes exposure, 4 times a day, minimum of 60
minutes between exposures.
Care should be taken when working with formaldehyde which is "reasonably anticipated to
be a human carcinogen" (IARC 1982, 1987, 1995).
Personnel should be given adequate training and local safety regulations should be observed. Following links
provide general guidelines on formaldehyde safety:
• Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR) Formaldehyde - 1910.1048, OccupationalSafety and Health Standards,

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), U.S. Department of Labor
http://www.osha.gov
• OSHA Formaldehyde Fact sheet (PDF format)

http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/formaldehyde-factsheet.pdf
Ammonia is used to neutralize Formaldehyde. Based on OSHA, the exposure limit:

Ammonia STEL: 35 ppm for 15 minutes exposure, 4 times a day, minimum of 60 minutes between exposure
1.11.2 COMMON LIST OF EQUIPMENTS USED
1. Device to measure the formaldehyde concentration

Formaldemeter® 400 has been found to be suitable and can be obtained from:
PPM Technology (UK)
http://www.ppm-technology.com

SERVICE SECTION 66
2. Device to measure the ammonia concentration

Dräger®-Tubes and Accuro® pump has been found to be suitable:
Drägerwerk AG (Germany)
http://www.draeger.com/index.html
Tubes with a measuring range of 0-100 ppm are recommended
3. Spore strips (optional)
1.11.3 APPROPRIATE PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
1. A solid front, back closing, full body, long-sleeved disposable lab gown is recommended.
2. Disposable Shoe covers
3. Disposable surgical/PVC gloves for hand protection. Gloves should be pulled over the knitted wrists of the
gown rather than worn inside. Double gloving should be considered.Gloves should be worn while handling
the formalin and ammonia solutions. Nitrile gloves, which exhibit a high resistance to formaldehyde and are
less prone to cause allergic skin reactions as compared to latex should be used.
4. Full-faced mask with a disposable dust and

mist respirator. The face shield should be
wiped clean with a suitable tissue and water
after each use.
1.11.4 COMMON APPARATUS

a. Beaker
b. Measuring cylinder
c. Tape (3m-3939 is recommended)
d. Air-tight bag that can enclose the entire cabinet (can be ordered from Esco)
e. Measuring tape
f. Biohazard waste bag
g. Hand-drill, screwdriver, and socket key (M4 and M5)
1.11.5 COMMON PREPARATION STEPS
1. It may be suitable to conduct a safety briefing for all personnel in the laboratory where the cabinet is sited prior
to carrying out the procedure. Suitable materials may be obtained from Esco.
2. Access to the laboratory should be restricted during the procedure.

A warning sign should be posted on the door of the lab to warn all
personnel (a suitable label is available from Esco). No personnel
should enter the lab until the procedure is complete and the
formaldehyde concentration has been verified to be within safe
limits.
3. Prior to starting the procedure, contingency plans should be made in case there is a breach in the cabinet seal
and formaldehyde escapes into the surrounding environment. The room ventilation design should be
understood and the appropriate equipment should be available to vent the formaldehyde (for example by
means of connecting a flexible hose via a small exhaust fan to vent the vapour into an adjacent fume hood).
Special care should also be taken in case air from the laboratory is re-circulated to other parts of the building
in which case a formaldehyde breach could necessitate the evacuation of other areas in the building.

SERVICE SECTION 67
4. Measure the length, width and height of the air tight bag that enclosed the whole cabinet to get the volume. If
any ductwork is used, the volume must also be taken into account for the calculation of the chemicals needed.
1.11.6 DECONTAMINATION PROCESS
There are 2 alternative combinations of decontaminants and its neutralizer which commonly used:
1. 37% formalin solution (HCHO) and 25% ammonia solution (NH4OH) as neutralizer
2. Paraformaldehyde and ammonium bicarbonate (NH4CO3) as neutralizer
The process involved will be slightly different and both will be discussed in detail.
Alternatively, instead of neutralisation there can also be other ways to cancel out the effect of formaldehyde /
paraformaldehyde such as:
* connect a temporary duct to the cabinet and exhaust the gas to a fume cupboard
* connect a temporary duct to the external atmosphere using a temporary form connection
* if the cabinet itself is ducted, the existing duct connection can be used to exhaust the gas
However, it is important to ensure compliance with the local law and regulations.
1.11.6.1 FORMALDEHYDE – AMMONIA COMBINATION
Additional apparatus needed: Vaporizer – minimum 2; 1 for each chemical solution
1. Calculate the amount of formalin and ammonia needed based on the volume obtained on no.4 in the
previous section 1.11.5
* Formalin amount (ml) : Total volume (m3) x 60 ml/m3

The combined solution is to be diluted using the same amount of water
60 ml of formalin plus 60 ml of water should be vaporized per cubic metre of volume obtained (based on EN
12469). It is possible to reduce the amount needed to 15 ml of formalin and 15 ml of water in which longer
formalin residence time may be required for the method to be effective; spore strips should also be used to
verify the effectiveness.
* Ammonia amount (ml) :

Steps to get exact reaction
a) Known Volume of formalin (37% solution of formaldehyde, weight / volume, in water) is A ml
b) Determine the weight of the formaldehyde element present in the formalin solution from known volume
= A ml / 100 ml x 40 gr = B gr (assumption is that 40 grams of formaldehyde element are present
in 100ml of water)
c) Determine the number of moles of formaldehyde from the weight

= B gr / 30.026 gr = C mole
d) Determine the number of moles of ammonia required to react with the above number of moles of
formaldehyde
4 / 6 x C mole = D mole
e) Determine the weight of ammonia equivalent to the above number of moles of ammonia
= D x 17.03 gr = E gr
f) Determine the volume of ammonia solution (25% solution) required

= E gr / 0.25 gr/ml = F ml
In other words: Approximately 100ml of formalin (37% w/v solution) requires 60ml of ammonia (25%
solution) for complete reaction – as recommended by EN12469

SERVICE SECTION 68
Note: a) 45 ml formalin = 0.6 mole formalin

b) 6 mole formalin reacts with 4 mole ammonia
c) 37% formaldehyde contains 40 gr of formaldehyde in 100 ml of the solution
d) formalin molecular weight = 30.026 gr
e) ammonia molecular weight = 17.03 gr
f) ammonia density for 25% ammonia solution = 25% x 0.91 kg/L
(1 L solution = 0.91 kg of ammonia and water)
2. As formaldehyde is typically non-penetrating, cabinet does not have to be pressure tight.

Completely enclose the cabinet using a plastic bag and ensure air-tightness inside the enclosure by
utilizing tape in all appropriate places. Pay special attention to the power supply cables.
Please pay special

attention to the cables.
Ensure that they are

taped properly so that
there are no leakages
3. Wear the appropriate protective clothing (Refer to section 1.11.3 above)
4. Thoroughly surface-decontaminate the work surface, side walls, inner back walls, drain pan, and interior
surface of the window using 70% ethanol or other disinfectant depending on the user's requirement. Do
not use any disinfectant containing chlorine-based substance. Do surface decontamination as well
to the UV lights and electrical outlet when present
5. Pour formalin to a measuring cylinder to get the correct volume based on the calculation; then pour it into
the vaporizer.
5. Add same volume of water into the vaporizer
6. Close the vaporizer opening and make sure it is in OFF condition
7. Pour ammonia into another vaporizer with the amount based on calculation.
8. Put both vaporizers on the table tray of the cabinet.
9. Surface decontaminate the cap of the aerosol sampling port before removing the cap
Remove the cap as to ensure formaldehyde penetrate the entire inner surface
Do not open the cap while the blower is on and the cabinet unsealed
10. Connect the formalin vaporizer to the electrical outlet inside/outside

the cabinet work zone.

SERVICE SECTION 69
11. Turn on the formalin vaporizer
12. Turn on the cabinet blower for 30 seconds to allow formalin vapour to reach all areas when the formalin is
25 %, 50 %, and 75 % evaporated. When the evaporation is 100% completed, turn on the cabinet blower
again for 90 seconds.
13. Allow the formalin vapour a minimum contact time of 6 hours inside cabinet, preferably over night.
14. Scan the formaldehyde concentration in room air when entering the room.
15. Turn on the ammonia vaporizer.
16. Turn on the cabinet blower for 30 seconds to allow ammonia vapour to reach all areas when the
ammonia is 25 %, 50 %, and 75 % evaporated. When the evaporation is 100% completed, turn on the
cabinet blower again for 90 seconds.
17. Allow the ammonia gas a minimum contact time of 1 hour inside the cabinet / plastic bag.
18. See completion steps section 1.11.7
1.11.6.2 PARAFORMALDEHYDE – AMMONIUM BICARBONATE COMBINATION
Additional apparatus needed:

* Heating device (e.g. frying pan)
* aluminium foil
• Check temperature and humidity. The inside cabinet work zone should be at room
temperature greater than 210C with 60% to 85% relative humidity. Use the hot plate to
heat the beaker of water until the desired temperature and humidity are achieved
• Without the proper relative humidity, the formaldehyde gas will not be effective. The
mode of entry of formaldehyde into the living organisms is through the cell wall by the
absorption of water
1. Calculate the amount of paraformaldehyde and ammonium bicarbonate needed based on the volume
obtained on no.4 in the previous section 1.11.5
* Paraformaldehyde amount (gram) : Total volume (m3) x 11gram/m3
* Ammonium bicarbonate amount (gram) :

a) Determine the stoichiometric amount of ammonium bicarbonate to neutralize the resulting
formaldehyde gas with ammonia gas
b) Weigh the ammonium bicarbonate so that its weight is 10% greater than the weight of the
paraformaldehyde used to ensure completion of the reaction.
2. As formaldehyde is typically non-penetrating, cabinet does not have to be pressure tight.

Completely enclose the cabinet using a plastic bag and ensure air-tightness inside the enclosure by
utilising tape in all appropriate places. Pay special attention to the power supply cables.

SERVICE SECTION 70
Please pay special

attention to the cables.
Ensure that they are

taped properly so that
there are no leakages
3. Wear the appropriate protective clothing (Refer to section 1.11.3 above)
4. Thoroughly surface-decontaminate the work surface, side walls, inner back walls, drain pan, and interior
surface of the window using 70% ethanol or other disinfectant depending on the user's requirement. Do
not use any disinfectant containing chlorine-based substance. Do surface decontamination as well
to the UV lights and electrical outlet when present
5. Spread the paraformaldehyde evenly over the heating surface of the heating device
The auto ignition temperature of paraformaldehyde is 3000C (5720F)
6. Another heating device is place on the work tray for the ammonium bicarbonate. The ammonium
bicarbonate should be separated from the air in the cabinet until needed
Two examples of how the separation can be achieved:
Example 1:
Spread the ammonium bicarbonate evenly over the heating surface of the heating device. Cover the top
of the device with aluminium foil in such a way as to prevent the ammonium bicarbonate from reacting
with the formaldehyde during decontamination
The aluminium foil can be placed to allow the escape of ammonia gas when heated or provision can be
made to remove the aluminium foil remotely at the start of the neutralization phase
The removal technique must not allow unsafe levels of formaldehyde to escape the cabinet.
Example 2:
Seal the cabinet using plastic with gloves as an integral part of the sheet of plastic. The ammonium
bicarbonate is placed in a sealed container inside the cabinet.
At the neutralization phase, the person performing the decontamination reaches into the cabinet without
breaking the seal by using the gloves.
The ammonium bicarbonate is removed from the sealed container and spread evenly over the heating
surface of the heating device. The heating device is energized and the ammonium bicarbonate is heated
and releases ammonia

SERVICE SECTION 71
7. Surface decontaminate the cap of the aerosol sampling port before removing the cap.
8. Connect the heating device for paraformaldehyde to the electrical outlet outside the cabinet work zone
9. Turn on the cabinet blower for 30 seconds to allow formalin vapour to reach all areas when the formalin
has been 25 %, 50 %, and 75 % de-polymerized. When the evaporation is 100% completed, turn on the
10. Allow the formaldehyde gas for a minimum contact time of 6 hours inside cabinet, preferably over night.
11. Scan the formaldehyde concentration in room air using the when entering the room
12. Connect the heating device for ammonium bicarbonate to the electrical outlet inside/outside the cabinet
work zone
13. Turn on the cabinet blower for 30 seconds to allow ammonia vapour to reach all areas, when the ammonia
has been 25 %, 50 %, and 75 % evaporated. When the evaporation is 100% completed, turn on the
13. Allow the ammonia gas a minimum contact time of 1 hour inside the cabinet / plastic bag.
14. When cleaning up, you may find residual paraformaldehyde (white powder) on the surfaces. To remove
this, use ammonia in warm water and wipe down the affected surfaces. The paraformaldehyde will
dissolve in water and be neutralized by the ammonia.
15. See completion steps section 1.11.7
1.11.7 COMPLETION STEPS
1. Check the ammonia concentration in room air.

2. Check the formaldehyde concentration in room air at the end of the decontamination cycle, prior to
resuming work on the cabinet.
During this procedure, until the area is determined to be safe, a full face gas mask equipped with a
formaldehyde canister, should be worn. The filter for the mask must be selected for the appropriate level
of formaldehyde exposure. It must also be replaced regularly following the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Check the formaldehyde and ammonia concentration inside the cabinet.
4. Take out the plastic bag that enclosed the cabinet.
5. Remove all the apparatus from inside the cabinet.
6. Remove disposable gown and gloves carefully and wash hands using germicidal soap thoroughly.
1.11.8 VALIDATION OF DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURE (OPTIONAL)
1. Place some Bacillus subtilis var.niger spore strips inside the cabinet:
* work surface/table tray
* drain pan
* downstream HEPA filter Spore strips on work surface
2. Place the similar strips outside the decontamination room for positive control
A suitable source may be obtained form the following: STS duoTEK, Inc., USA
http://www.stsduotek.com/bio-indicators.html
3. Remove all the spore strips and place in Trypticase-soy broth and incubate for 7 days at 37oC.
4. If there is no growth of bacteria inside the broth (the broth remains clear), the decontamination procedure
has been successfully verified.

SERVICE SECTION 72
21 Changi South Street 1 Singapore 486777 PHONE +65 65420833 FAX +65 65426920
E-MAIL biotech@escoglobal.com WEBSITE biotech.escoglobal.com
CHAPTER II
PRODUCT SPECIFICATION
CONTENTS:
1. Technical Specification Summary Table
2. Engineering Diagram of Each Cabinet Size
3. Electrical Schematics of Each Power Rating Variant
4. Microprocessor Specification
Chapter 2 – Product Specification

SERVICE SECTION 73
74
75
76
General Specifications CYT-4AX CYT-6AX

External Dimensions (L x W x H) 1420 x 780 x 2190 mm / 55.9” x 30.7” x 86.2” 2030 x 780 x 2190 mm / 79.9” x 30.7” x 86.2”
Internal Work Zone (L x W x H) 1260 x 603 x 670 mm / 49.6” x 21.3” x 26.4” 1870 x 603 x 670 mm / 73.6” x 21.3” x 26.4”
Designed to comply and exceed the requirements of:
DIN12980: Laboratory Equipment Cytostatic Workbenches: Requirements, Testing
EN12469: Performance Criteria for Microbiological Safety Cabinets
Standards Compliance
Air cleanliness: ISO 14664.1 Class 3, IEST-G-CC1001, IEST-G-CC1002 and other equivalent requirements
Filter performance: IEST-RP-CC034.1, IEST-RP-CC007.1, IEST-RP-CC001.3 and EN1822
Electrical safety: IEC 61010-1 / EN 61010-1 / UL 61010A-1 / CSA C22.2 No. 1010.1-92
Average Airflow Inflow Initial setpoint: 0.45 m/s or 90 fpm (audible / visual alarm will activate at 0.40m/s or 80fpm)
Velocities Downflow Initial setpoint: 0.30 m/s or 60 fpm
Inflow 460 cmh / 270 cfm 680 cmh / 400 cfm
Airflow Volumes
At Initial Airflow Downflow
780 - 910 cmh / 460 - 535 cfm 1160 - 1350 cmh / 680 - 794 cfm
Velocity (65%)
Setpoints Exhaust (35%) 460 cmh / 270 cfm 680 cmh / 400 cfm
ISO14644.1 Class 3, US Federal Standard 209E Class 1 / M1.5, AS1386 Class 1.5, JIS B9920 Class 3, BS5295
Cleanliness Within Working Area
Class C, Class M10,000 as per KS27030.1 and equivalent classes of VDI2083 and AFNOR X44101
HEPA filter with integral metal guards and filter frame gaskets; fully compliant with EN 1822 and IEST-RP-
First Exhaust Filter (V-Bank)
CC001.3 requirements. Typical efficiency: 99.99% at 0.3µm
ULPA filter with integral metal guards and filter frame gaskets; fully compliant with EN 1822 and IEST-RP-
Downflow Filter
CC001.3 requirements. Typical efficiency: 99.9997% at MPPS; 99.9998% at 0.3 and 0.12µm
ULPA filter with integral metal guards and filter frame gaskets; fully compliant with EN 1822 and IEST-RP-
Second Exhaust Filter
CC001.3 requirements. Typical efficiency: 99.9997% at MPPS; 99.9998% at 0.3 and 0.12µm
<61 dBA <65 dBA

Noise Level According to EN12469
The above measurements were taken at initial blower speed setting (with clean filters)
Figures are subjected to acoustic properties of test environment
Light Intensity >1000 Lux / >93 foot candles, measured at work surface level (zero background) as per NSF49 test grid
Maximum Usable Workzone Depth 510 mm / 20” (does not include the 110 mm / 4.3” front air grille)
Maximum Usable Work Area
0.64 sqm / 6.89 sqf 0.95 sqm / 10.22 sqf
(excludes front air grille)
Main Body Construction 1.5mmt / 0.06” / 16 gauge electro-galvanized steel with white oven-baked epoxy powder-coated finish
220-240VAC /
Maximum Power 1595W / 6.93A 1631W / 7.09A
50Hz 1Ph
Consumption /
Current 110-130VAC /
1630W / 13.6A 1666W / 13.88A
60Hz 1Ph
Chapter 2 – Product Specification 77

SERVICE SECTION
2.8 SENTINEL CONTROL SYSTEM
Mains Input Voltage: 100-240VAC

Mains Input Frequency: 50/60Hz
Sentinel® Control Input Voltage: 7.5VDC
Max input current: 500mA
Electromagnetic interference
Hardware requirement:
PSC, forward curve fan
Fluorescent light
Three microswitches
Sentinel® Control, comprising of main board, relay board, interface board, and 1x16 LCD screen
UV light
Airflow sensor, Input 12VDC, Output: 0-5VDC
Keypad and dual output SMPS
SMPS I/P (PIN1)

+7.5V
KEYPAD CON HARDWARE RESET

(JP1) (PIN1) SW1
BATTERY BACKUP FOR

RTC (BT1)
JTAG CON J9
JP5 (PIN1) self

LCD CON (J5) (PIN1) powered
DB9 CON P1
(PIN1)
RE LAY CON
(J8) (PIN1)
DIGITAL I/P CON

ANALOG I/P CON
(J11-J12)
(J1-J4)
Fig.31 Sentinel Control Diagram

SERVICE SECTION 78
CHAPTER III
TROUBLESHOOTING
The following section will help you to solve some of the common problems that might occur during the operation
of the cabinet. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Esco.
3.1 ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL TROUBLESHOOTING
Warning
1. Electrical hazard. Please study the electrical circuit diagram carefully before start, The
electrical diagram is located inside the electrical panel, behind the front panel.
2. This cabinet must be certified after installation, if the cabinet is moved, when the
performance is suspected, and at least once in a year (6 months if BSL-3 agents are used).
Problem Possible Causes Corrective Action

Check for electrical power at the wall outlet
Power failure
If circuit breaker is tripped, please check electrical components and
connection before reset the breaker.
Check whether electrical cord has been connected properly
Check for SMPS output of 7.5VDC at its output terminal. If no voltage,

please check the incoming power supply to SMPS. If the output
voltage of SMPS is less than 7VDC, replace the SMPS
Wrong electrical
connection Check whether there is 7.5VDC supply to main board. Using
multimeter, probe J13 on the main board with the terminal nearer to
the edge of the board as negative terminal.
Check whether there is 7.5VDC supply to relay board. Repeat step 1
Cabinet does and 2 for J1 on the relay board with terminal nearer to the edge as
not start negative terminal
Restart cabinet several times, if the following three conditions still
persist, then the main board is spoiled
Spoiled Main Board 1. All LEDs on the membrane are always off
2. LCD displays nothing
3. No sounds from Relay Board
Please replace the main board
Relay Board is spoiled if the following conditions exist
1. Main Board works properly
2. FRC cable between main board and relay boards are properly
Spoiled Relay
installed
Board
3. All the connectors and fuses are correct and good
4. None of FAN, LIGHT, SOCKET, and UV can be controlled
Please replace the relay board.
Please switch on FAN by pressing FAN button first, enter the FAN
Fan is Off
Motor is silent PIN is required. The green LED above the FAN button will illuminate.
1. Switch off the cabinet.
Blown fuse 2. Check for F1 fuse on the relay board. If the fuse blown, replace
with new ones. Temporary solution: take out F5 fuse, put on F1
Chapter 3 – Troubleshooting
SERVICE SECTION 79
1. Switch off the cabinet.

2. Check LS1 relay on the relay board. Ensure that C-NC connection
is closed and C-NO open.
Faulty relays
3. Check K1 relay mounted on the electrical box. Ensure that C-NC
connection is closed and C-NO open.
4. Replace the faulty relay(s).
1. Short out control by placing jumper wire directly across the
connections to the two speeds control leads.
Faulty speed 2. If the fan operates, the speed control is defective. Call your
control distributor for replacement.
3. If the fan does not run, the speed control doesn't have the
problem.
1. Blower was overheated.
2. Wait for 30 minutes and try again. Ensure that no hazardous
Auto-thermal cut-off
materials inside the cabinet.
3. Replace blower if problem persists.
1. Disconnect two motor leads at the motor. Connect a proper AC
voltage source directly to the motor.
2. f the motor starts to run, the problem is in the wiring connection.
Motor failure Refer to blown fuse or faulty relay section.
4. If the motor does not run, the motor is defective. Replace the
motor.
No airflow, burning
smell, possibly also
Disconnect and measure the capacitance, replace faulty capacitor.
humming noise Æ
Faulty capacitor
Connection Check whether LCD FRC has been inserted properly to its socket on
problem the main board.
Blank LCD Adjust the potential meter (next to the connector to Relay Board ) on
Contrast problem
main board to achieve the best contrast.
Connect a good LCD to LCD port of main board, if good LCD works,
Spoiled LCD
then the old one is spoiled. Replace the old one.
1. Check whether the green plastic cable from keypad has been
inserted properly into the interface board.
Connection
2. Check whether the interface board has been connected to the main
problem
board through an FRC. The triangle sign on the female connector
Inoperative
indicates that PIN is corresponding to PIN 1 of male connector.
buttons
Spoiled Cable
and/or Interface Replace them one by one, to check which part/parts is/are spoiled,
Board and/or replace it with the good one.
keypad
1. Using multimeter, probe the motor voltage sampling port as
Airflow Failure described in the Re-certification section of this manual. This is to
- alarm is Low building supply measure the voltage supplied to the blower.
triggered (this voltage 2. If the building supply voltage is lower than the test report value,
could be due adjust the speed control to get blower output voltage as stated in
to either the Test Report – Test Conditions Documentation Sheet.
hardware or
If the building supply voltage has fluctuations higher than the stated
software Fluctuating Voltage
tolerance (+/- 2%), connect the cabinet to a voltage stabilizer.
External air Ensure that there is no external source of winds, like air conditioner,
interference window, door opening, or people walking fast near the cabinet.
Blocked cabinet Ensure that the front and back air grille inside the cabinet are not
grille blocked, and the cabinet is not excessively loaded.
SERVICE SECTION 80
Sensor Failure / Air Flow Sensor failure / misalignment

Sensor 1. Check the sensor connection.
misalignment 2. Important: ensure that the sensor is not blocked at all, and its
through-hole is perpendicular to filter’s surface.
3. Using multimeter, check the sensor’s output voltage at channel
AIN1 and J1. The voltage increases with the increase of airflow.
Replace the sensor.
4. Call your distributor if the three steps does not solve the problem
Temperature Sensor Failure

1. Check the sensor connection
2. Using multimeter, check the sensor’s output voltage at channel
Airflow Failure AIN4 and J4. 0.01V represents one Celsius Degree. Replace
- alarm is temperature sensor is not so.
triggered (this
could be due to Motor failure Check the motor. Refer to motor silent section
either hardware
or software Plug in the multimeter to the Motor Voltage Sampling Port. Turn the
Speed Control to increase the blower voltage by approximately 10
volts until the alarm is turned off, the LCD shows nominal airflow
reading. The sensor will take about 1-2 minutes before it can register
Filter loaded a new airflow setting.
Note: The cabinet must be certified at least annually.
If the blower is already operating at maximum voltage and the airflow

alarm is triggered, then the filter must be changed.
Faulty/ inaccurate Re-calibrate the microprocessor.
calibration Warning: this step should be done by an authorized person.
Others Please refer to software troubleshooting section for more information.
Loose motor or 1. Check the tightness of the screw holding the impeller. Check the
Excessive fan
impeller wheel tightness of all impeller and motor mounting bolts.
noise
mounting 2. Check the capacitor, and replace if necessary.
Sash in SASH 1. Raise the sash to READY position/working height.
ALARM or UV state 2. Switch on light by pressing LIGHT button.
Check LS7 relay and F7 fuse on the relay board. Replace blown fuse
Faulty relay if so. Ensure that C-NC connection is closed and C-NO open.
Light always Replace the faulty relay board. Call your distributor for details.
OFF
1. Check the connection between relay board, fluorescent lamp
Connection
ballast, and female connector at side of electrical box.
Problem
2. Check the connection at lamp holder.
Faulty light Replace the faulty light.
1. Lower the sash to UV mode position (fully closed). If UV mode is
Sash not in UV not displayed on the LCD, please refer to the Magnetic Switch
state troubleshooting section.
2. Switch on UV light by pressing UV button.
UV Light Faulty relay if so. Ensure that C-NC connection is closed and C-NO open.
always OFF Replace the faulty relay board. Call your distributor for details
1. Check the connection between relay board, UV lamp ballast, and
Connection
female connector at side of electrical box.
Problem
2. Check the connection at UV lamp holder.
Faulty UV light Replace the faulty UV light. Note: typical UV light life is 8000 hours
SERVICE SECTION 81
Faulty relay if so. Ensure that C-NC connection is closed and C-NO open.
Replace the faulty relay board. Call your distributor for details
Electrical
Socket always 1. Check the connection between relay board and female connector
Connection
OFF at side of electrical box
Problem
2. Check the connection at socket
Faulty electrical Replace the electrical socket
socket
Leaking downflow Decontaminate the cabinet and change the downflow filter. Re-certify
filter the cabinet after the new filter has been installed.
Contaminated Adjust the speed control and / or damper to get the nominal inflow
samples Low airflow
and downflow as stated in the test report.
Blocked air grille Make sure the front and back air grille are not blocked.
Aerosol-generating
Put the aerosol-generating objects such as centrifuge, sonicator, and
objects are too
vortex generator on the back 1/3 of the cabinet
close to the front
Contaminated Patch the leaking filter with 3M DP-100 glue. The patched area
lab should not exceed 4% of the total filter area. Check for leakage. If the
Leaking exhaust
filter is still leaking, decontaminate the cabinet and change the
filter
exhaust filter. Re-certify the cabinet after the new filter has been
installed.
1. The cabinet must be re-certified during new installation, when the performance is suspected,
when the airflow alarm is activated without known cause, and at least once in a year (6 months if
BSL-3 agents are used).
2. If the filter(s) are changed the cabinet must also be re-certified. If new exhaust and downflow
filters are installed in the same time, adjust the speed control voltage and the damper opening to
the original value stated in the Test Report – Sentinel™ Calibration Report and check the airflow.
If the inflow & downflow does not match with the nominal point specified in the Test Report,
adjust the speed control and damper as necessary.
Note: This procedure must be performed by trained personnel only
ADDITIONAL NOTES ON AIRFLOW VELOCITY ISSUE DUE TO SUPPLY VOLTAGE AND FREQUENCY
Where the actual supply voltage or frequency on site may differ from test conditions in Esco factory, small
deviations within the allowed operating conditions (blower voltage difference of not exceeding 2%) will not have
any detrimental effect on cabinet performance and the user may disregard re-adjusting the speed control.
However, the user can compensate for these by the following methods:
a. If the cabinet is still brand-new, the filter has never been used (clean filter), and the on-site supply frequency
is the same as recorded above, then the user can re-adjust the speed control to ensure that motor voltage
(measured with a voltmeter) corresponds to the value recorded in Test Report – Test Conditions
Documentation Sheet
If the cabinet has been used for some time (filter starts to get loaded with particles), or if supply frequency, or both
the supply voltage and frequency are different than the value recorded in the Test Report then:
b. The user may adjust the speed control until the LCD displays the nominal airflow velocity as indicated in the
Test Report – Sentinel™ Calibration Sheet. Note that the Esco Smart Control system should be allowed to
“warm-up” for at least 10 minutes before the speed control adjustments are made.
SERVICE SECTION 82
Checking the Sensor Output
3.2 SOFTWARE TROUBLESHOOTING

Error Codes Explanation Corrective Action
Check for faulty Magnetic switch(es)
1. Press MENU button and key in ADMIN password if any. Pressing SET
button to read diagnostic message
2. Three Magnetic Switches
a. Switch_0 (J3) ON when sash is fully opened, there is a 7.5V at J3
port
b. Switch_1 (J10) ON when sash is at nominal height, the DIN1 and J1
are shorted
MAGNETIC switch c. Switch_2 (J11) ON when sash is fully closed, the DIN2 and J11
error; This error are shorted
ERR.MSWITCH happened when d. If all Switches are off, the sash is at SASH ALARM position
there are more than 3. Check the position of switch and signal at main board respectively
1 Switch is activated. (magnetic switches can be found after removing sash profile)
4. Remove any magnetic devices near the cabinet
Check for faulty main board of Sentinel® control

1. Switch off the system
2. Remove the connection from J3, DIN1, J10,
DIN2, and J11.
3. Switch on the system
3 If the LCD does not show “SASH ALARM”, the main board is faulty.
1. Check for inflow velocity using anemometer
2. If the inflow actually drops below the fail point (see Calibration section
for exact number), adjust the speed control to achieve blower output
voltage as stated in Calibration certificate. WARNING: this step should
Airflow Error:
be done by authorized person
happens if FAN
3. If the inflow still above the fail point,
button is pressed
a. Press menu and key in ADMIN password to switch to
when airflow falls
MAINTENANCE mode
ERR.AIRFAIL below fail point.
b. Press SET button to read diagnostic message.
Switch on FAN again
c. Check whether Constant and Temperature are correct. If Constant is
and wait it to be
not correct, please change constant to factory setting. If temperature
stable before
is incorrect, please check the wire connection and temperature
troubleshooting
sensor. Call your distributor to replace spoiled parts if any.
d. Check the wire connection and air-flow sensor. Call your distributor
to replace spoiled parts if any
WARNING: this step should be done by an authorized person
Controller is not yet Calibrate the controller. Refer to Calibration section for details. WARNING:
ERR.CALIB
calibrated this step should be done by an authorized person
SERVICE SECTION 83
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Copyright 2004 Esco Micro Pte Ltd. All rights reserved.
Esco Micro Pte Ltd

21 Changi South Street 1
Singapore 486777
The information contained in this manual and the accompanying product are copyrighted and all rights are
reserved by Esco Micro Pte Ltd. Esco Micro Pte Ltd reserves the right to make periodic minor design changes
without obligation to notify any person or entity of such change.
Sentinel™ and Labculture™ are registered trademark of Esco Micro Pte Ltd
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
84
APPENDIX
REPLACEMENT PARTS LIST

The use of non-Esco parts and/or parts not supplied directly by Esco or our authorized distributors, including but not
limited to spare parts, system components and/or system accessories, shall void all expressed or implied warranties.
PARTS LIST FOR CYT-4A1 (4 FEET, 220-240V, 50HZ)
No. Per
Item Item Code Description
Cabinet
MECHANICAL REPLACEMENT PARTS
1199X457x66mm ULPA
EQR/SP-FTR-31A 1
Eff: >99.999%, dP: 125Pa @ 0.45m/s
457 x 762 x 93mm ULPA
EQR/SP-FTR-32A 1
1. FILTER Eff: >99.999%, dP: 96Pa @ 0.45m/s
1050 x 330 x 292mm HEPA
EQR/SP-FTR-54A 1
Eff: >99.99%, dP: 84Pa @ 1300 cmh
EQR/EL-BL-D4E250CA-
2. BLOWER BLOWER, CENTRIFUGAL, D4E-250 1
230V
LAMINATED GLASS 1366 x 730 mm x 6.76mm
3. LAMINATED GLASS EQR/GL-61 1
(3mm + 0.76 PVB + 3mm)
ELECTRICAL REPLACEMENT PARTS
COMPLETE ELECTRICAL PANEL 220-240VAC
1. ELECTRIC MODULE EPA-H10 1
EPA WITH SPEED CONTROL 10A
1.1. SPEED CONTROL* EQR/EL-KH706-0155- SPEED CONTROLLER 10A 1
065
1.2. BALLAST* EQR/EL-BAL-TP4/32IS ELECTRONIC BALLAST 1
1.3. UV BALLAST* EQR/EL-BAL-EBP30 UV BALLAST 1
1.4. RELAY* EQR/EL-REL-JQX220 RELAY 10A/2POLE, 220-240V 1
2. AIRFLOW ALARM AND CONTROL SYSTEM
2.1. MEMBRANE* EQR/EL-MC06 MEMBRANE 1
2.2. MAINBOARD* EQR/EL-MC01 MAINBOARD 1
2.3 RELAY BOARD* EQR/EL-MC02 RELAY BOARD WITH CABLE 1
2.3.1 FUSE EQR/EL-FUSE- 5A QUICK ACTING F5AL250V FUSE 5

F5AL250V
2.4 INTERFACE BOARD* EQR/EL-MC03 INTERFACE BOARD WITH CABLE 1
2.5 LCD* EQR/EL-MC04 LCD WITH CABLE 1
2.6 SMPS* EQR/EL-MC05 SMPS 1
2.7. AIRFLOW SENSOR* EQR/EL-SA ESCO AIRFLOW SENSOR 1

2.8. TEMPERATURE EQR/EL-SA-TEMP TEMPERATURE SENSOR 1
SENSOR*
3. CAPACITOR* EQR/EL-CCAP-14MF CBB 60 CAPACITOR 1
4. FLUORESCENT TUBE EQR/EL-TUB-4F32W FLUORESCENT TUBE 4FT, 2
5. UV TUBE EQR/EL-TUB- UV GERMICIDAL TUBE 3FT 1

UV30F30W
6. CIRCUIT BREAKER EQR/EL-CB-10A CIRCUIT BREAKER 10AMPS, WITH KNURL NUT 1
7. MAGNETIC SWITCH EQR/EL-MC-BS2011 MAGNETIC SWITCH 4
8. MAGNET EQR/EL-MC-MAGNET MAGNET STRIP 2
* Item is included on complete main replacement electrical panel. However it may be replaced individually if required.
(exception: membrane (2.1) and LCD (2.5) must be ordered together)

86
PARTS LIST FOR LA2-4A2 (4 FEET, 110-130V, 60HZ)
No. Per
Item Item Code Description
Cabinet
MECHANICAL REPLACEMENT PARTS
1199X457x66mm Eff: >99.99%
EQR/SP-FTR-31A 1
dP: 125Pa @ 0.45m/s
457 x 762 x 93mmEff: >99.99%
1. FILTER EQR/SP-FTR-32A 1
dP: 96Pa @ 0.45m/s
1050 x 330 x 292mm HEPA
EQR/SP-FTR-54A 1
Eff: >99.99%, dP: 84Pa @ 1300 cmh
EQR/EL-BL-D4E250CA-
2. BLOWER BLOWER - CENTRIFUGAL 1
115V
LAMINATED GLASS 1366 x 730 mm x 6.76mm
3. LAMINATED GLASS EQR/GL-49 1
(3mm + 0.76 PVB + 3mm)
ELECTRICAL REPLACEMENT PARTS
ELECTRICAL PANEL EPB WITH
1. ELECTRIC MODULE EPB-SL5 1
SPEEDCONTROL PCSL5H
EQR/EL-INFITEC- 1
1.1. SPEED CONTROL* SPEED CONTROLLER PCSL5H, 25A
PCSL5H
1.2. BALLAST* EQR/EL-BAL-TP4/32IS ELECTRONIC BALLAST TP4/32IS UNIVERSAL 1
1.3. UV BALLAST* EQR/EL-BAL-EBU120 UV BALLAST 1
1.4. RELAY* EQR/EL-REL-JQX30A RELAY 30A 120V 1
2. AIRFLOW ALARM AND CONTROL SYSTEM
2.1. MEMBRANE* EQR/EL-MC06 MEMBRANE 1
2.2. MAINBOARD* EQR/EL-MC01 MAINBOARD 1
2.3 RELAY BOARD* EQR/EL-MC02 RELAY BOARD WITH CABLE 1

EQR/EL-FUSE-
2.3.1 FUSE 5A QUICK ACTING F5AL250V FUSE 5
F5AL250V
2.4 INTERFACE BOARD* EQR/EL-MC03 INTERFACE BOARD WITH CABLE 1
2.5 LCD* EQR/EL-MC04 LCD WITH CABLE 1
2.6 SMPS* EQR/EL-MC05 SMPS 1
2.7. AIRFLOW SENSOR* EQR/EL-SA ESCO AIRFLOW SENSOR 1

2.8. TEMPERATURE
EQR/EL-SA-TEMP TEMPERATURE SENSOR 1
SENSOR*
3. CAPACITOR* EQR/EL-CCAP-40MF CBB 60 CAPACITOR 1
4. FLUORESCENT TUBE EQR/EL-TUB-4F32W FLUORESCENT TUBE 4FT, 2

EQR/EL-TUB-
5. UV TUBE UV GERMICIDAL TUBE 3FT 1
UV30F30W
CIRCUIT BREAKER , 16AMPS, WITH KNURL
6. CIRCUIT BREAKER EQR/EL-CB-16A 1
NUT
7. MAGNETIC SWITCH EQR/EL-MC-BS2011 MAGNETIC SWITCH 4
8. MAGNET EQR/EL-MC-MAGNET MAGNET STRIP 2
* Item is included on complete main replacement electrical panel. However it may be replaced individually if required.
(exception: membrane (2.1) and LCD (2.5) must be ordered together)

87
APPENDIX A
BIOSAFETY LEVELS CLASSIFICATION
Biosafety Level 1
Practices, safety equipment and facilities appropriate for work with defined and characterized strains of viable
micro organisms not known to cause disease in healthy adult humans. The laboratory is not necessarily
separated from the general traffic patterns in the building. Work is generally con-ducted on open bench tops using
standard microbiological practices. Special containment equipment or facility design is neither required nor
generally used. Laboratory personnel have specific training in the procedures conducted in the laboratory and are
supervised by a scientist with general training in microbiology or a related science. A biohazard safety cabinet is
generally not required for work involving these agents.
Biosafety Level 2
Practices, safety equipment and facilities appropriate for work done with a broad spectrum of indigenous
moderate-risk agents present in the community and associated with human disease in varying severity. It differs
from biosafety level 1 in that (a) laboratory personnel have specific training in handling pathogenic agents and are
directed by competent scientists; (b) access to the laboratory is limited when work is being conducted; (c)
extreme precautions are taken with contaminated sharp items; and (d) certain procedures in which infectious
aerosols or splashes may be created are conducted in biological safety cabinets or other physical containment
equipment. A Class I or Class II biohazard safety cabinet is highly recommended for work involving these agents.
Biosafety Level 3
Practices, safety equipment and facilities appropriate for work done with indigenous or exotic agents with a
potential for respiratory transmission which may cause serious and potentially lethal infection.
More emphasis is placed on primary and secondary barriers to protect personnel in the contiguous area, the
community, and the environment from exposure to potentially infectious aero-sols. A Class I or Class II biohazard
safety cabinet is required for work involving these agents.
Biosafety Level 4
Practices, safety equipment and facilities appropriate for work done with dangerous and exotic
agents which pose a high risk of life threatening disease. May be transmitted via the aerosol route, and for which
there is no available vaccine or therapy. Members of the laboratory staff have specific and thorough training in
handling extremely hazardous infectious agents and they understand the primary and secondary containment
functions of the standard and special practices, the containment equipment, and the laboratory design
characteristics. They are supervised by competent scientists who are trained and experienced in working with
these agents. Access to the laboratory is strictly controlled by the laboratory director. The facility is either in a
separate building or in a controlled area within a building, which is completely isolated from all other areas of the
building. A specific facility operations manual is prepared or adopted. A Class III biohazard safety cabinet is
required for work involving these agents.
APPENDIX A: BIOSAFETY LEVEL CLASSIFICATION

88
APPENDIX B
INTRODUCTION TO BIOHAZARD SAFETY CABINET
The biohazard safety cabinet (also known as biological safety cabinet or microbiological safety cabinet) plays a
significant role in many pharmaceutical, clinical, microbiological and industrial laboratories. Its basic function is to
protect the operator and the environment from biological hazards that would otherwise pose a threat to human life
during microbiological work.
At Esco, we encourage all our customers and non-customers alike to learn more about the function and operating
principles of the biohazard safety cabinets available in the market today. We believe that this process will aid our
customers in choosing the best cabinet to meet their specific real-world needs, in order to facilitate an increased
level of safety in the laboratory for the betterment of science and industry.
Major International Standards
International standards play an important role in harmonization and ensuring that cabinets meet established
industry guidelines for safety and performance. Consequently, it is important for all users of safety cabinets to
understand the scope and application of these standards which may often be referred to. The following are some
common international standards:
American Standard NSF 49:2002

The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International is a non-profit organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Standard 49 has been widely adopted not only in the United States but also around the world. The NSF 49 only
applies to Class II biological safety cabinets.
European Standard EN 12469:2000

The European Norm 12469 is the latest international standard developed as a direct consequence of the
European Union’s harmonization efforts. It replaces previous standards such as the German standard DIN 12950,
the British standard BS 5726 and the French standard NF X44-201. The EN 12469:2000 has been adopted
officially as a national standard in all member nations of the EU. It applies to Class I, Class II and Class III
cabinetry.
Australian Standard AS 2252

The AS 2252 is the Australian standard for biohazard safety cabinetry. It has also largely been adopted as a
national standard in nearby New Zealand. It applies to both Class I and Class II cabinetry with a focus on cabinet
construction, design and performance. Australian standard cabinets incorporate twin blowers and are largely
different from European and American “type” models.
Japanese Standard JIS K 3800:2000

The JIS K 3800 was derived from the NSF49, and used only in Japan. Same like NSF 49, JIS K 3800 only applies
to Class II biological safety cabinets.
ISO Standard 14644 and US Federal Standard 209E

The US Federal Standard 209E which has been replaced by ISO 14644 in the US but still used in some countries
defines the clean air classifications. It is important to note that these standards do not apply specifically to
biohazard safety cabinetry. Biohazard safety cabinet provides product protection in the form of a laminar stream
of clean air within the work chamber, therefore these standards may sometimes be referred to.
APPENDIX B: INTRODUCTION TO BIOHAZARD SAFETY CABINET

89
Biohazard Safety Cabinet Classes
Esco manufactures a complete range of biohazard safety cabinetry to meet the varying demands of your unique
applications. All cabinets have been designed to meet and exceed major international standards for biological
safety cabinet.
Fortunately for all laboratory users, the cabinet classification has largely become harmonized across the world.
The common cabinet classifications that you may encounter:
Class I Biohazard Safety Cabinet
The Class I cabinet has the most basic and rudimentary design of all biohazard safety cabinetry available today.
A stream of inward air moving into the cabinet contains aerosols generated during microbiological manipulations.
It then passes through a filtration system that traps all airborne particles and contaminants. Finally, clean,
decontaminated air is exhausted from the cabinet. The filtration system usually consists of a pre-filter and a HEPA
(High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter.
Although the Class I cabinet protects the operator and the environment from exposure to biohazards, it does not
prevent samples being handled in the cabinet from coming into contact with airborne contaminants that may be
present in room air. Naturally, there is a possibility of cross-contamination that may affect experimental
consistency. Consequently the scope and application of Class I cabinets is limited and it is largely considered
obsolete.
All Class I biohazard safety cabinets are suitable for work with microbiological agents assigned to biological
safety levels 1, 2 and 3.
Class II Biohazard Safety Cabinet
When most people refer to biohazard safety cabinets in general, they are usually referring to Class II safety
cabinets. The different types of Class II cabinet available today are largely defined by the NSF Standard 49. In
comparison, the EN 12469:2000 and the AS 2252 do not define Class II safety cabinet sub-types. It is important
to note that the NSF 49 deals only with Class II biohazard safety cabinetry and it does not apply to the Class I and
Class III cabinets.
Like Class I safety cabinets, Class II cabinets have a stream of inward air moving into the cabinet. This is known
as the inflow and it prevents the aerosol generated during microbiological manipulations to escape through the
front opening. However, unlike Class I cabinets, the inflow on Class II cabinets flows through the front inlet grille,
near the operator. None of the unfiltered inflow air enters the work zone of the cabinet, so the product inside the
work zone is not contaminated by the outside air. A feature unique to Class II cabinets is a vertical laminar
(unidirectional) HEPA-filtered air stream that descends downward from the interior of the cabinet. This
continuously flushes the cabinet interior of airborne contaminants and protects samples being handled within the
cabinet from contamination and is known as the downflow.
Near the work surface level, the downflow splits with some air flows to the back air grille and the remainder flows
into the front air grille. All Class II cabinets have a common air plenum from which a portion of air is exhausted
from the cabinet after HEPA-filtration. The remainder is HEPA filtered and re-circulated within the cabinet as the
downflow.
The differences between the various Class II cabinets available lie primarily with the percentage of air exhausted
to that of air re-circulated from the common air plenum. In addition, different Class II cabinets have different
means of cabinet exhaust. Some cabinets may exhaust air directly back to the laboratory, while others may
exhaust air through a dedicated ductwork system to the external environment.
Despite these differences, all Class II cabinets, like Class I cabinets, protect both the operator and environment
from exposure to biohazards. In addition, Class II cabinets also protect product samples from contamination
during microbiological manipulations within the cabinet interior and are all suitable for work with agents assigned
to biological safety levels 1, 2 and 3.

90
Class II Type A Biohazard Safety Cabinet
The Class II Type A biohazard safety cabinet is the most common Class II cabinet. It is also the most common
safety cabinet of all the different types available. It has a common plenum from which 30% of air is exhausted,
and 70% re-circulated to the work area as the downflow.
Type A cabinets exhaust air directly back to the laboratory, and they may contain positive pressure contaminated
plenums. When toxic chemicals must be employed as an adjunct to microbiological processes, these cabinets
should not be used. Exhaust HEPA filtration only removes airborne aerosols including biohazards, and not
chemical fumes.
The different nomenclature used by various standards and the inflow requirement:
Standard Origin The standard nomenclature Minimum inflow requirement (m/s)
NSF 49:2002 USA Class II Type A1 0.38
NSF 49:2002 USA Class II Type A2 0.50
JIS K 3800:2000 Japan Class II Type A/B3 0.40
EN 12469:2000 European Union Class II 0.40
AS 2252 Australia Class II 0.40
The Class II Type A1 has the positively-pressurized contaminated plenum bordering the ambient environment,
and therefore is less safe than the Class II Type A2 that has a negative pressure surrounding the positively
pressurized contaminated plenum. In case there is a leakage on the positive plenum, the leaking aerosol will be
pulled by the negative pressure back to the positive plenum, and it won’t leak outside. Because of the safety
issue, the Type A1 design is now considered obsolete. In the A2 cabinet, about 70% of air from the positive
plenum is re-circulated as downflow, and the remaining 30% is discharged to the lab through the exhaust filter.
Most of the modern European, Japanese, and Australian Class II cabinets incorporate airflow recirculation and
exhaust ratios similar to Class II Type A2 cabinet along with the negative pressure isolated plenum operate in the
same principle as the NSF Class II Type A2 cabinet, but with lower inflow velocity requirement.
The Class II Type A cabinet typically exhausts the air into the lab. However, a thimble duct can be installed on top
of the exhaust filter. Connected to an external blower, this ducting system extracts the exhaust air outside the
building. In NSF 49:1992, this self-balancing class II cabinet that is connected to a thimble duct is called Class II
Type B3. On the 2002 revision, the B3 nomenclature was eliminated and the cabinet is simply called Class II
Type A2 with thimble ducting. However, the JIS K 3800 who adopted NSF 49:1992 still uses this B3
nomenclature in their 2000 revision.
The purpose of the ducting system is to discharge the toxic chemicals used inside the cabinet to the outside
environment. The HEPA filter used in this cabinet can only filter the microbiological agents, but not chemical
fumes. These chemical fumes can not be filtered by the HEPA filter and would otherwise increase in
concentration in the limited space of the laboratory (as in the case of the Type A cabinet without thimble ducting).
By exhausting air to the external environment, chemical fumes are diluted many times over in the atmosphere
and become harmless. This is similar to the working principle of a laboratory fume hood.
Nevertheless, even if the thimble ducting is used in this cabinet, 70% of the air is re-circulated, so 70% of the
toxic chemicals are also re-circulated until the cabinet’s internal blower is turned off so all the chemicals are
extracted by the external blower. If this chemical re-circulation is undesirable, a type B cabinet can be used.
The thimble ducting has holes, as opposed to no holes in the hard ducting used in Type B cabinet. The purpose
of these holes is to prevent over-suction from the external blower that can make the inflow become too strong and
downflow too weak, eliminating the product and cross contamination protection feature of the cabinet. If the
external blower suction is too strong, it will pull the ambient air through the thimble holes, instead of through the
exhaust HEPA filter.

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Class II Type B Biohazard Safety Cabinets
The main difference between Type A and Type B cabinet is: Type B cabinets must be operated with an external
blower and it exhausts air to the external environment via a dedicated ductwork system. Without the external
blower, the cabinet’s internal blower will blow the air (and microbiological agents) inside the work zone through
the front operator, towards the operator’s face, creating a dangerous situation. This cabinet is not self-balancing
in the sense that its’ own blower can only create downflow and the cabinet relies on the external blower to create
inflow.
The Type B cabinet is an American-style cabinet and it is not recognized by the European and Australian
standard. In Europe and Australia, a “Type A2” cabinet is connected to a thimble ducting to extract the chemical
fumes outside. Alternatively, an optional activated carbon filter can be installed on top of the exhaust HEPA filter
to absorb the chemical fumes before the exhaust air is discharged to the lab.
This is done in some cases when users do not want to incur the cost of having to install a dedicated ducting
system. However, for safety reasons, Esco encourages you to ensure that the activated carbon filters are suitable
and effective in the filtration of chemicals you may be using within the cabinet. In cases when especially toxic
chemicals are involved, a standard Type B cabinet is strongly recommended.
On all Type B cabinets, environmental protection may be enhanced by installing a scrubbing system between the
exhaust of the biohazard and the final exhaust point outside the building to neutralize the chemical fumes present
in exhaust air.
As per the NSF 49 and JIS K 3800 standard, all Type B cabinets must maintain an average inflow air velocity of
more than 100 fpm (0.5 m/s).
An ordinary fume hood does not contain HEPA filters to remove biohazard contaminants in the exhaust.
Therefore all work involving biohazards should be performed in a biohazard safety cabinet, and not a fume hood,
in order to prevent biohazards from contaminating the environment. General laboratory work involving chemicals
normally performed in a laboratory fume hood should not be performed in a biohazard safety cabinet.
Although Type B cabinets are commonly used when chemicals are involved in your work processes, they
theoretically provide an increased level of safety as compared to other Type A cabinets. By exhausting air directly
to the external environment, they provide an additional “fail-safe” in the event that the regular exhaust HEPA-
filtration ceases to function.
Harmful biohazards that would otherwise have a theoretical possibility of gathering within the limited space of the
laboratory (assuming the exhaust HEPA filter fails to maintain containment) are diluted many times over in the
external environment.
However, this perceived benefit must be weighed against the additional cost involving in setting up and installing
a dedicated ducting system, which can be difficult considering the regulatory requirements in many countries.
The following recommendations for all Class II Type B safety cabinets should also be observed. Blowers on
laboratory exhaust systems should be located at the terminal end of the ductwork. They should be properly
balanced to deliver correct airflow without the cabinet. When feasible, exhaust blowers should also be connected
to the emergency power supply.
As a failure in the exhaust blower may not be apparent to the user, Class II Type B cabinets must employ
interlocking to ensure that if the exhaust blower fails, the main blower in the cabinet is shut down automatically
and without delay. This is to prevent a situation in which the main blower pressurizes the cabinet interior and
causes biohazard agents to escape without filtration into the general laboratory environment.

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As per the NSF 49 and JIS K 3800 standard, Type B cabinets are further divided into the following sub-types:
Class II Type B1 Biohazard Safety Cabinet
The Class II Type B1 biohazard safety cabinet was originally specified by the American National Cancer Institute.
It has a common plenum from which 70% of air is exhausted, and 30% re-circulated to the work area as the
downflow. Type B1 cabinets also have a dedicated exhaust feature that eliminates re-circulation when work is
performed towards the back within the interior of the cabinet. Toxic chemicals employed as an adjunct to
microbiological processes should only be employed if they do not interfere with work when re-circulated in the
downflow.
Alternatively, work should be performed in the “directly exhausted” portion towards to back of the cabinet interior
with tracer quantities of such chemicals.
Type B1 cabinets have been largely replaced by the relatively recent Type B2 cabinets. Consequently, they are
largely considered obsolete. However Type B1 cabinets exhaust less tempered air from the laboratory and are
cheaper to operate as compared to Type B2 cabinets.
Class II Type B2 Biohazard Safety Cabinet
In the Class II Type B2 cabinet all inflow and downflow air is exhausted after HEPA filtration to the external
environment without recirculation within the cabinet.
Type B2 cabinets are suitable for work with toxic chemicals employed as an adjunct to microbiological processes
under all circumstances since no re-circulation occurs. In theory, Type B2 cabinets may be considered to be the
safest of all Class II biohazard safety cabinets since the total exhaust feature acts as a fail-safe in the event that
the downflow and/or exhaust HEPA filtration systems cease to function normally.
Although such theoretical benefits may be minimal in practice, Class II Type B2 cabinets may be recommended
for applications such as toxicology and cytotoxic drug preparation when an increased level of safety is desired. Of
course, this assumes that the cost of a Class III biohazard safety cabinet rules it out as an option.
Class III Biohazard Safety Cabinet
The Class III biohazard safety cabinet provides an absolute level of safety, which cannot be attained with Class I
and Class II cabinets. All Class III cabinets are usually of welded metal construction and are designed to be gas-
tight. Work is performed through glove ports in the front of the cabinet.
During routine operation, negative pressure relative to the ambient environment is maintained within the cabinet.
This provides an additional fail-safe mechanism in case physical containment is compromised.
On all Class III cabinets, a supply of HEPA filtered air provides product protection and prevents cross-
contamination of samples. Exhaust air is usually HEPA filtered and incinerated. Alternatively, double HEPA-
filtration with two filters in series may be utilized.
Materials are transferred into the cabinet using a pass-through unit installed at the side of the work area. Class III
cabinets usually exhaust air back to the laboratory; however, air may also be exhausted via a dedicated ductwork
system to the external environment.
When a dedicated ductwork system is employed, they are also suitable for work employing toxic chemicals as an
adjunct to microbiological processes.
All Class III biohazard safety cabinets are suitable for work with microbiological agents assigned to biological
safety levels 1, 2, 3 and 4. They are frequently specified for work involving the most lethal biological hazards.

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APPENDIX C
KI-DISCUS TEST
SECTION A: INTRODUCTION, AND OPERATOR PROTECTION FACTORS
The KI discus test is defined in the European Standard for microbiological safety cabinets, EN12469:2000 as a
test method for validating the operator protection capabilities of the cabinet.
Before we go into detail about the KI discus test, let us first examine the different factors that influence the
operator protection capabilities of any microbiological safety cabinet:
1. Directional air flow - in any Class I or Class II safety cabinet an air curtain flowing from the laboratory into the
front of the cabinet always exists in order to prevent biological hazards from escaping from inside the work zone
of the cabinet where these hazards may be manipulated.
The performance test related to this aspect is the air flow smoke pattern test, during which the manufacturer
ensures that air is flowing inward (into the cabinet from the laboratory) at all positions in the work access opening
without any reflux or backflow. This test is a qualitative test.
2. Controlled air velocity - in any Class I or Class II safety cabinet the velocity of the air curtain flowing from the
laboratory into the front of the cabinet (the "inflow") must be of a controlled magnitude. Excessive inflow velocity
can result in undesirable turbulence that can cause contaminated matter to be "swept" out of the cabinet work
zone (through the open front of the cabinet). On the other hand, an inflow velocity which is too low will not be able
to sufficiently prevent particles from escaping the interior of the cabinet (i.e. the particles could escape the interior
of the cabinet easily with very low "escape velocity").
Each safety cabinet operates within a performance envelope that is determined by the manufacturer by extensive
testing. The inflow velocity of the cabinet must fall within this performance envelope (velocity range) in order for
the cabinet to deliver optimum protection for the operator.
The physical performance test related to this aspect is the inflow velocity measurement test during which the
inflow velocity is measured and reported quantitatively (typically in meters per second or feet per minute).
3. Exhaust filtration - clearly since there is an air curtain entering the front of the safety cabinet, by conservation,
some air must also exit the system. In all safety cabinets this exhaust airflow is filtered through high efficiency
HEPA / ULPA filters. These filters collect practically all particulate matter in the exhaust air stream on the filter
media, therefore preventing any biological hazards from escaping into the laboratory.
The performance test related to this aspect is the exhaust HEPA filter leak test. During this test the filtration
system is "challenged" by a test aerosol (the test aerosol is generated using an aerosol generator placed in the
air stream before the exhaust filter). The concentration of test aerosol before the filter, and after the filter, is
measured and compared (this involves "scanning" the entire exhaust face of the filter at a very slow rate passing
the probe above the filter face). The percentage of aerosol that passes through the filter in other words the
penetration is then reported.
The above 3 factors work together in tandem. When one or more factors are compromised the entire safety
performance of the cabinet is also degraded. For example a cabinet may have perfect exhaust filtration, but if the
directional air flow of the cabinet is compromised and there is turbulence, biological hazards may very well be
leaking out from the interior of the cabinet through the work access opening.
APPENDIX C: KI-DISCUS TEST

94
SECTION B: THE 4TH TEST, OR MICROBIOLOGICAL OPERATOR PROTECTION TEST
Since the 1970s when the first major international standards for biological safety cabinets, such as the NSF49
(USA), were published, the industry also adopted a final / additional test method to validate the operator
protection of the cabinet. This test method is known as the microbiological method for validating operator
protection, or sometimes simply the "operator protection" test. This 4th test method supplements the above 3
methods in the following ways:
1. The microbiological operator protection test uses actual microbes. Since a safety cabinet is built for
manipulating microbes, this provides a very realistic test taking into account other factors which cannot be
measured using test methods 1 - 3 above.
2. Assuming the exhaust filters are leak free, the microbiological test measures, to a large extent, the leakage of
microbes escaping the interior of the work zone through the work access opening of the cabinet. Since every
Class I / Class II has an open front, there is bound to be some "leakage" of microbes during operation through
this route. No test except the microbiological operator protection test measures this aspect. (The air flow smoke
pattern test, on the other hand, is purely qualitatively whereas the microbiological operator protection test is
quantitative).
3. The microbiological operator protection test supplements and complements the other 3 methods and is the
most complex and demanding test. Since it provides a quantitative indication of the operator protection level of
the cabinet, it can also be used by the manufacturer as a type-test to determine the optimal inflow air velocity of
the cabinet design.
The microbiological operator protection test method involves the generation of a bacterial aerosol (containing
millions of miniscule particles of bacteria) INSIDE the work zone of the cabinet, while air samplers are operated
outside the cabinet. The positions of the nebuliser (the device generating the bacterial aerosol) as well as the air
samplers, in addition to the duration of the test are defined strictly in the standards.
The downside of the microbiological operator protection test method is that results take days to obtain and
preparation for the test is extremely complex requiring highly trained personnel and special equipment.
Consequently it is impractical for use a field-test for a cabinet installed in a laboratory in the real world.
SECTION C: THE KI DISCUS TEST
As an alternative to the microbiological operator protection test method the European Standard EN12469:2000
recognizes the KI discus test. Unlike the microbiological operator protection test, the KI discus test is rapid
(results can be obtained within 15 minutes of beginning the actual test) and portable - therefore making it
extremely useful as a field-test.
The principle of the KI discus test is similar to that of the microbiological operator protection tests. In the KI discus
test a "spinning disc" apparatus aerosolizes KI (potassium iodide) solution into very small fine particles. The
spinning disc rotates at a very high speed (thousands of rpm) and liquid is continuously deposited onto its surface
by a peristaltic pump, discharging millions of fine particles inside the work zone of the cabinet.
At the same time, a metal cylinder is introduced into the cabinet, simulating the airflow disturbance caused by an
arm of the operator, while air samplers are collecting air from outside the cabinet. Again, the duration of the test
as well as the positioning of the apparatus are strictly defined in the standard.
The air samplers draw air through special filter paper, which, at the end of the test, is immersed in palladium
chloride solution. Any potassium iodide particles which escaped through the front of the cabinet during the test
show up on the filter paper as small brown dots, which are then examined and counted using a magnifying glass.
The KI discus test shows excellent correlation with the microbiological test method for operator protection. In
addition to being a more rapid substitute test method for the microbiological operator protection test in the
research laboratory, the KI discus test is also extremely useful for validating the actual containment performance
in-situ of the biological safety cabinet, a point which is examined in the next section.

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SECTION D: THE NEED FOR IN-SITE KI DISCUS TESTING
What many users sometimes do not realize is that the performance of the safety cabinet depends greatly on the
nature of the installation as well as proper positioning of the cabinet in the laboratory. For example, the inflow air
velocity from the laboratory into the cabinet is often of a very low magnitude (around 0.5m/s for example) and this
can easily be disrupted by airflow turbulence in the room, for example, an air-conditioning outlet / diffuser.
A safety cabinet may meet all performance criteria in the manufacturer's laboratory after production, as well as in
the testing lab of the independent certification agency, but may very well fail to deliver adequate protection on-site
when it is actually installed. (It is important to understand that testing conditions in the manufacturer's laboratory
as well as the laboratory of the certification agency are ideal test conditions which sometimes do not correlate
with real-world conditions).
As we have covered above, the KI discus test (like the microbiological test for operator protection) is a
containment tests. A safety cabinet can also pass all the other 3 performance tests (air flow smoke pattern, inflow
velocity, and filter integrity) but fail the containment test.
This simple fact, when combined with variables caused by real-world conditions (installation and positioning of the
cabinet) create a dangerous combination - the user may feel completely safe if the cabinet has been certified by a
local certification company for air flow smoke pattern, filter integrity and inflow velocity etc. (these are very basic /
common tests), but he or she may still not be adequately protected because of other factors, such as external
airflow disturbances.
The only way to be sure there are no external airflow disturbances is to conduct an on-site containment testing
(note, other containment tests for related containment equipment such as the ASHRAE 110 test for fume hoods
DO NOT show a correlation with the microbiological test method and are hence unacceptable, in fact the KI
discus test is steadily gaining industry acceptance as a more sensitive test compared to the conventional SF6
tracer gas test for fume hoods) individually, for every safety cabinet installed.
Clearly then with the microbiological test method an impracticality, the only alternative is the KI discus test.
The KI discus test not only serves as "confirmation" that the first 3 basic tests (airflow smoke patterns, inflow
velocity, filter integrity) have been properly performed, but also validates containment of the cabinet (which the 3
tests do not validate directly and / or quantitatively) AND takes into account possible ambient airflow
disturbances, to deliver an overall performance "grade" in terms of operator protection, of the cabinet.
SECTION E: KI DISCUS SERVICES
Despite the rapidity of the test method, the KI discus test requires considerable investments in personnel and
equipment. Esco is proud to be the only manufacturer in Asia-Pacific region equipped to perform this test, under
Esco Biotech Certification (our service division) for customers of our microbiological safety cabinets.
In fact, feedback from many local Singaporean customers indicates that our ability to perform the KI discus test
(in addition of course to the high quality of our products as well as independent certification) is often a key factor
in their decision to choose only Esco biological safety cabinets.
The effects of exposure to biological hazards are often insidious and symptoms may not manifest
themselves for years. Thus for your safety and protection, remember to ensure that your cabinet is KI
discus tested at least once a year (or in the event of cabinet relocation, filter changing, or other
mechanical / electrical service).

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APPENDIX D
UV LAMPS IN LAMINAR FLOW AND BIOLOGICAL SAFETY CABINET
Introduction
Ultraviolet light is part of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum, and is divided into 3 wavelength ranges: UV-C, from
100 nanometers (nm) to 280 nm; UV-B, from 280 nm to 315 nm; and UV-A, from 315 nm to 400 nm.
The germicidal ultraviolet lamp emits high intensity ultraviolet radiation concentrated around the wavelength of
253.7nm (i.e. "UV-C radiation"). 95% of the radiation emitted by germicidal lamps is at this wavelength which also
happens to be in the region of maximum germicidal effectiveness.
Before laminar flow cabinets were developed in the 1960s and 1970s, biologists in the laboratory used dead air
boxes constructed of plastics with nothing more than an UV lamp in them to keep the interior of the box sterile.
The UV lamp would be turned on to decontaminate the interior of the box, switched off, leaving the box ready for
use. Of course we have come a long way since then - the dead air box system was rudimentary and without any
positive pressure airflow (from inside the box to the outside) contaminated room air could easily have been
induced into the box again.
Naturally as the use of laminar flow cabinets become increasingly popular UV lamps were also incorporated on
these new clean air devices for their germicidal properties. Typically in a laminar flow or biological safety cabinet
the UV lamp is activated while the cabinet is not in use to keep the interior of the work zone clean and
decontaminated (for example throughout the night until the user returns the next day to use the cabinet again).
Modern cabinets have also improved on this feature and some have UV timers to allow the user to control the
decontamination cycle (for example to turn the lamp on for a few hours, then shut it down, instead of leaving it on
the entire night) in order to conserve lamp life (these lamps have a rated lifespan after which effectiveness rapidly
deteriorates).
However, in the late 1970s and 1980s as the use of laminar flow and biological safety cabinets became
increasingly prevalent; manufacturers became increasingly aware of the detrimental effects of the UV lamp when
used on these cabinets. It is the purpose of this technical paper to discuss the negative effects of using UV lamps
in modern laminar flow and biological safety cabinets, in the hope that this will educate users, purchasers, and
anyone involved in laminar flow or biological safety cabinet technology, to ensure better safety all for laboratory
users.
1. The use of the UV lamp in laminar flow and biological safety cabinets is explicitly discouraged in all
major international standards and recommendations. May we refer the reader to the following references:
a. NSF Standard 49 for Class II Biohazard Safety Cabinetry

"UV lighting is not recommended in Class II (laminar flow) biosafety cabinetry. If requested by the purchaser, it
shall be installed in such a manner that it does not reduce the required performance (of the cabinet) ... UV
irradiation can cause erythema of skin and eye damage." (Section 5.25.2)
b. European Standard EN12469:2000 for Microbiological Safety Cabinets

"Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is not recommended for use in safety cabinets. However, if requested, it should be
installed in such a manner that it does not affect the airflow and containment performance of the cabinet." (Annex
A Section 2)
c. Australian Standard AS1386.5 for Clean Workstations (Laminar Flow Cabinets)

"It is recommended that the use of UV-lamps be avoided. The need for UV-lamps should first be established by
the user. Special safety precautions need to be in use for protection of personnel, products and materials. There
is a potential for misuse of UV-lamps with resulting injuries and deleterious effects of pharmaceutical products."
(Section 5.12)
d. Australian Standard AS2252.1 for Class I Biological Safety Cabinets

"Installation of UV lamps is not recommended ..." (Section 4.7)
APPENDIX D: UV LAMP
97
e. Australian Standard AS2252.2 for Class II Biological Safety Cabinets

f. Australian Standard AS2567 for Laminar Flow Cytotoxic Drug Safety Cabinets
g. American CDC Publication "Primary Containment for Biohazards: Selection, Installation and Use of Biological
Safety Cabinets"
"Ultraviolet (UV) lamps are not required in BSCs" (Page 26)
2. Personnel safety issues
a. Exposure to UV radiation can cause erythema of skin and eye damage.
b. In addition the cabinet needs to be properly equipped with UV-filtering materials (front / side covers) and proper
interlocking mechanism to prevent exposure, which increases the overall cost and complexity of the cabinet.
When one considers all this additional extra precautions need to be taken, plus the facts concerning the
ineffectiveness of the UV lamp (see below), clearly the reasons for not using the UV lamp are compelling.
c. Some UV lamps also contain mercury and breaking the lamp can result in undesirable exposure to this toxic
compound.
d. UV radiation is also reflected off some surfaces like stainless steel, which means additional safety precautions
need to be taken as well. A front cover / night door must always be utilized on a cabinet when UV is employed to
prevent UV exposure of other personnel in the laboratory when the UV lamp is activated.
e. One of the problems in working with UV radiation is that the symptoms of overexposure are not immediately felt
so that persons exposed do not realize the hazard until after the damage is done.
f. Germicidal UV lamps produce ozone which can also be toxic in high concentrations.
3. Performance degradation of the cabinet
a. Ultraviolet radiation can potentially degrade materials in the cabinet such as certain plastics (when they may be
used) and sealant (such as RTV / silicone) used to ensure joints / seams are airtight. In the most extreme /
dangerous situation for biological safety cabinets, this could cause critical joints to degrade, in turn resulting in
other performance issues: loss of pressure tightness integrity (potentially allowing biological hazards to escape
through these seams), or allowing contamination to accumulate in these joints posing a cleanability /
decontamination problem.
While Esco ensures that all materials in our cabinets are resistant to ultraviolet radiation, this may not be the case
for other manufacturers. In addition, clearly by eliminating this extra performance
variable (i.e. not using an ultraviolet light) especially after considering the other detrimental effects of the UV
lamp, the long-term overall performance of the cabinet can be better ensured.
b. Airflow interference and turbulence. When UV lamps are installed as a permanent fixture in the work zone
(which is usually the case for reasons of convenience) they cause unnecessary airflow turbulence which can in
turn disrupt product and cross contamination protection. In other words the UV lamp causes turbulence which
disrupts the laminar / unidirectional nature of the air stream, which is critical to maintaining proper cabinet product
/ cross contamination performance.
As detailed in many of the international standards above, the cabinet is tested with the UV lamp in place in order
to ensure that it does not degrade this performance aspect. Again, while Esco ensures this by conducting
rigorous testing in our in-house research laboratory, this may not always be the case for other manufacturers.
APPENDIX D: UV LAMP
98
In conclusion, while it is reasonable to say that the UV lamp largely has no effect on the product protection and
cross contamination protection of the cabinet, it is also very reasonable to conclude that by eliminating this
variable the overall performance of the cabinet can be increased - especially when the other factors in this
document as considered as a whole.
4. Ineffectiveness of the UV lamp on modern laminar flow and biological safety cabinets
When considered in the modern perspective of laminar flow and biological safety cabinet technology, the
ultraviolet lamp on the whole in generally ineffective for the following reasons:
a. The laminar flow or biological safety cabinet should be operated 24 hours a day (an economic possibility
especially when some of Esco's latest energy efficient models are used) to ensure complete sterility, eliminate
lengthy startup times, and keep the work zone ready to use at all times, prevent non-decontaminated biological
hazards from escaping the work zone from the interior in the case of safety cabinets. When this recommendation
is observed the ultraviolet lamp becomes irrelevant.
b. The ultraviolet lamp to a large extent has become largely a fallacy among users of laminar flow and biological
safety cabinets today. Again when one considers the way in which these lamps are used this easily becomes
apparent.
As mentioned above usually the operator will shut down the blower, install a front / night cover (when available),
then turn on the UV lamp. The work zone is then "decontaminated" (or so the user believes) overnight, and the
next day when he / she returns to the lab the UV lamp is turned off, and the lamps deactivated. Clearly since the
front / night cover is not totally air-tight during this interval the cabinet could already be contaminated before the
user has a chance to start the fans, thus rendering whatever "decontamination" that took place in the night
useless.
In some extreme situations, UV lamps are used without front / night covers which not only pose a safety risk, but
also make the use of the lamp ridiculous. In other words the user turns the lamp on, exits the laboratory, returns
the next day and shuts the lamp down. Even during the "decontamination" at night of the cabinet by the lamp the
user did not realize that air in the room was already moving into the cabinet thus contaminating all exposed
surfaces, thus negating the use of the lamp.
c. Presence of surface contamination in the work zone

During the period when the blowers are shut down, the front / night covers installed, and the UV lamp activated,
clearly there is ample opportunity for contaminated room air to infiltrate and contaminate the work zone. UV lamps
are ineffective as long as any surface contamination (dust particles etc.) is present as UV has limited penetrating
power.
d. The lamp does not decontaminate all surfaces in the cabinet

On some cabinet designs, the placement and design of the lamp means that not all surfaces in the cabinet are
exposed to UV radiation. This is especially the case for biological safety cabinets where the lamp on all cabinet
designs does not decontaminate the critical contaminated air return plenum beneath the work surface.
In addition, occasionally some users (disregarding manufacturer recommendations) may store objects inside the
cabinet. When this is the case the UV lamp is totally ineffective for these shadowed areas.
e. The lamp must be cleaned regularly (to remove surface dust on the glass surface of the lamp) for maximum
effectiveness but this aspect is often ignored by users which therefore degrades the performance of the UV lamp.
APPENDIX D: UV LAMP
99
5. The UV lamp encourages bad working practice
The lamp encourages bad working practice by giving users a "false sense of security". While manufacturers like
Esco constantly emphasize that when the lamp is used it is ONLY an aid to surface decontamination, some
users, lulled into a sense of security, may disregard usual surface decontamination practices
In other words before using the cabinet they believe the work zone is clean and do not wipe down with for
example 70% alcohol. After using the cabinet they also disregard the wipe down process which is especially
important on biological safety cabinets.
When one considers that the UV lamp, for the reasons stated above, is ineffective, this work habit (or the lack
thereof) and false sense of security that the UV lamp encourages in users, is detrimental to the performance of
the cabinet.
6. Lack of validation
a. UV lamps are not changed when they have to

As mentioned above, UV lamps have a specific life cycle and need to be changed after a certain number of hours
to maintain effectiveness (radiation intensity). Unfortunately not many service companies have the capability to
check the intensity of the UV lamp and consequently the user may persist in using a lamp which has already
become ineffective.
b. The effectiveness of the UV lamp cannot be validated

There does not exist a single convenient technique that is widely employed for validating the effectiveness of the
UV lamp after every decontamination cycle. The best option that exists is the use of a special decontamination
paper "strip" that changes appearance after exposure to sufficient radiation, but this is not employed by many
cabinet users.
c. Lack of consistency in validation technique

Even when the service company may check the intensity of the UV radiation, there exists a general lack of
validation technique in the industry. For example even the NSF49 does not have a performance test for validating
this aspect of the cabinet. Consequently validation technique often depends on the service company and is not
reproducible throughout the industry. Furthermore many service companies simply take one reading in the centre
of the work zone which clearly does not suffice given the fact that the user is expecting the UV lamp to be
effective in decontamination all work zone surfaces. But then clearly measuring the UV intensity at all work
surface positions is impracticality.
APPENDIX D: UV LAMP
100
APPENDIX E
EXHAUST DUCTED CLASS II SAFETY CABINETS
Introduction
The Class II Type A2 safety cabinet is the most common Class II cabinet (and for that matter the most common
biological safety cabinet) design in use. Depending on local regulations, in some countries alternative cabinet
designs (such as Class I, Class II Type B2, or Class III etc.) may be used, but nevertheless the Class II Type A2
cabinet is still the most common and this statement in general holds true anywhere in the world.
Class II Type A2 cabinets are defined in the American National Standard NSF49. From a common plenum, these
cabinets re-circulate 70% of air in the cabinet as the HEPA-filtered downflow, while 30% is exhausted through
HEPA filters. In Europe however, a Class II Type A2 cabinet is simply known as a Class II cabinet. Note, the
European standard EN12469:2000 does not define a Type A2 cabinet, but the European standard Class II
general definition simply happens to correspond most closely with the American Type A2 definition.
For a further discussion of the different types and classifications of safety cabinets, please request for the
separate Esco Technical Paper on the subject.
WHY EXHAUST DUCTING IS REQUIRED
Class II Type A2 (or simply Class II as we shall refer to them in this paper) safety cabinets may be exhaust
ducted under the following circumstances:
1. When a higher degree of protection from biological hazards, beyond that provided by a standard room-exhaust
Class II cabinet, is required. Remotely exhausting a Class II cabinet means that in case of failure of the exhaust
HEPA filter the cabinet exhaust is still remotely discharged to the atmosphere rather than back into the laboratory
(a contained space in which hazards can quickly build up and cause harm to personnel).
In other words if the cabinet exhaust filter fails, operator protection is still maintained although environmental
protection is compromised (although it is arguable that when the biological hazards are discharged to the
atmosphere they are diluted many times over in the environment and become harmless).
It must be noted however that when additional protection is required alternative solutions also exist such as
double exhaust filters, and that remotely ducted a cabinet also has the potential to cause problems of its own,
which are discussed below in this paper.
2. More commonly, when protection is required from chemical vapors which may be generated inside the cabinet
(in some applications volatile chemicals must be used inside the safety cabinet as an adjunct to microbiological
work). These chemical vapors are not contained or filtered by the exhaust HEPA filter (remember that HEPA
filters only remove aerosols or particulates). This is provided the chemical vapors do not interfere with work in the
safety cabinet when they are re-circulated in the downflow air, and that they are used in tracer (small) quantities.
Note when used in large quantities the fact that the Class II (Type A2) cabinet re-circulates a large portion of air
(approximately 70%) can result in a safety risk due to excessive vapor build up in the work zone.
For this application alternative solutions (apart from having the exhaust duct the cabinet as discussed in this
document) also exist such as exhaust carbon filtration. Carbon filters are able to remove chemical vapors by the
process of adsorption. However, they are not effective for all compounds. In addition, monitoring precautions
must be taken to detect filter saturation and change the filters at a suitable interval. Esco manufactures modified
Class II cabinets with carbon filters; please contact us for more information.
Alternatively, other measures may be recommended such as the use of Class II Type B2 cabinets. For more
information on this subject, please request for the Esco technical paper comparing the chemical handling
properties of Class II Type A2 and Class II Type B2 cabinets.
APPENDIX E: EXHAUST DUCTING

101
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF EXHAUST DUCTING
The decision to exhaust duct a Class II cabinet should not be taken lightly, and should be weighed against the
following considerations:
1. Proper installation of the exhaust system. When a Class II cabinet is remotely ducted it becomes totally
dependent on the exhaust system for safe operation. Any fault in the exhaust system causing a restriction in the
exhaust flow can decrease the inflow velocity of the cabinet therefore affecting cabinet safety.
It is reasonable to suggest that the safety of a cabinet when remotely exhausted is only as safe as its remote
exhaust installation - even the safest cabinet can become unsafe if the exhaust system is improperly installed.
Typical requirements for installing the exhaust system are reviewed below in the document.
Therefore in some situations it may very well be safer to forego the extra complexities inherent in remotely
exhausting the safety cabinet.
2. Additional cost. Remote ducting a Class II cabinet means that tempered air (air which is conditioned, heated /
cooled and filtered for the comfort of people working in the laboratory) will be removed from the laboratory
resulting in additional operating costs. Note that recently there has been increasing interest in using variable air
volume (VAV) systems in industry to minimize the amount of tempered air removed from the laboratory by ducted
safety cabinets. For example the VAV system could be configured to reduce the amount of exhaust air when
there is no one using the safety cabinet. Very importantly, it must be emphasized that for the hazards involved in
safety cabinets such VAV systems are not recommended.
When the need to remote duct the safety cabinet has been established, certain safety precautions in ensuring the
success of the exhaust system installation should be taken.
METHODS OF EXHAUST DUCTING
Let us first review the various ways a safety cabinet may be remotely ducted, and then proceed to outline typical
site requirements for the ideal (safest) type of installation:
1. Using an air-tight (hard ducted) connection with remote exhaust fan. The safety cabinet is equipped (either
through on-site modification / retrofitting, or by the manufacturer from the factory) with a discharge outlet
connected in an air-tight manner to the cabinet exhaust. The discharge outlet (for example 10" in diameter) is
then connected to the exhaust system.
The method of installation was widely employed on older Class II cabinets should not be used for reasons of
safety. In this method the safety cabinet's internal air flows are influenced by the exhaust system, in other words
the inflow velocity of the cabinet is totally affected by the remote exhaust system. Consequently the exhaust
system parameters not only have to be carefully specified before the installation, but the exhaust system itself has
to be continuously adjusted once a year at least to ensure inflow velocity in the cabinet is within manufacturer
specified parameters.
For example, if one were to increase or decrease the "speed" of the exhaust fan, the internal air balance of the
cabinet would be affected. In the worse situation in case the exhaust fan were shut down completely the inflow
velocity in the cabinet would drop drastically thus affecting safety.
As per NSF49:2002, air-tight connections are prohibited for safety reasons on Class II Type A2 cabinets. All old
cabinets fitted with this type of exhaust system should also be field refitted / upgraded to a non-airtight exhaust
system.
The primary advantage of this method of exhaust connection is that is reduces the amount of tempered air taken
from the room by the exhaust system (on the other hand with the non airtight exhaust system some "auxiliary" air
is taken in from the room above the cabinet by the exhaust connection) thus lowering operating costs.
2. Using a non air-tight (thimble) connection with remote exhaust fan. This method is identical to hard ducting
above except that the exhaust connection on the safety cabinet has slots allowing air to be taken in from the

102
room. During normal operation with the remote exhaust system running all air flowing across the cabinet's
exhaust HEPA filters are taken through the exhaust connection with some extra makeup air taken in through the
slots from the laboratory. This is the modern method of exhaust ducting safety cabinets and is also the safest
method for the following reasons.
Firstly, using this method the safety cabinet's internal air flows are "allowed" to operate "independently" of the
exhaust system. Regardless of any fluctuation in the exhaust system the internal cabinet air balance ratios are
maintained.
In case the remote exhaust fan is (for whatever reason) accidentally shut down, the safety cabinet is able to
maintain its inflow velocity by exhausting air back to the room. If the cabinet is being used with tracer amounts of
chemicals this compromises the operator's protection from chemical vapors. However, protection from biological
hazards is maintained. Arguably this is a better solution than in the case of the hard ducted cabinet where no
protection exists at all in case of failure of the exhaust system.
On the other hand in case the remote exhaust fan's "speed" is increased accidentally, a thimble-ducted cabinet's
internal air balance ratios will also not be affected (the amount of air intake through the slots of the thimble will
simply be increased). On the other hand with hard ducted cabinets the inflow velocity will increase and cause
possible product contamination (i.e. contaminated laboratory air will bypass the cabinet front air grille and flow
into the work zone).
3. In some cases when the duct run is short there have been instances in which the cabinet is directly connected
to the exhaust duct using a booster fan or in some cases no booster fan at all. These methods are used in cases
when it is impossible to mount an exhaust fan at the exhaust system discharge point (i.e. on top of the building).
In both these cases the internal cabinet air balance is adjusted either by adjusting exhaust fan setting, or when a
single fan cabinet is used adjusting the internal cabinet damper, to compensate for the increased airflow
resistance in the ductwork). It must be emphasized that these methods are to be severely discouraged for the
following safety reasons:
a. If no booster fan is used, then the exhaust ductwork has to have an airtight connection with the cabinet. This
result in all the safety problems of airtight exhaust connections (see point 1 above). In addition in this method the
exhaust duct is placed under positive pressure which means the exhaust ductwork has to be completely sealed
and airtight, otherwise chemical hazards could escape through seams in the exhaust duct back into the
laboratory.
b. If a booster fan is used (i.e. the exhaust connection interface can be non-airtight / thimble type), the safety risks
present with airtight exhaust connections are mitigated. However, this method also places the exhaust ductwork
under positive pressure resulting in the safety problems discussed above.
On Esco Class II Type A2 cabinets, airtight connections (whether with a remote fan as in point 1 or direct
connection as in point 3A and 3B) are not encouraged for the safety reasons discussed above. For these same
safety reasons these types of exhaust connections are also not available in our standard product line. On special
request they made be custom built with the understanding on the part of the user that we are not responsible for
any resulting safety issues.
IDEAL SITE REQUIREMENTS FOR REMOTE EXHAUSTING CLASS II TYPE A2 CABINETS
1. Dedicated exhaust ductwork system, which discharges all exhaust air to the environment without any
recirculation back into the building air supply system.
2. Thimble / non airtight cabinet exhaust connection with a gasketed front access removable cover so that the
exhaust filter can be scanned for leaks without having to disconnect the cabinet from the exhaust system. The
exhaust connection should also be designed so as to allow access for servicing the cabinet without causing
physical obstruction (i.e. damper adjustments / electrical maintenance). Lastly the connection should also be
designed to allow the exhaust port of the cabinet to be sealed off during decontamination (this can be

103
accomplished by sealing off the air gap slots themselves if the exhaust collar interface with the cabinet is air-tight,
and then closing the air-tight damper above the cabinet - or alternatively sealing off the cabinet exhaust outlet
itself).
3. Remote exhaust fan mounted at the discharge point (i.e. on the building rooftop) in order to place the duct
under negative pressure. The exhaust fan and ducting system must be correctly sized to provide for adequate
exhaust volume at the cabinet exhaust port (typically cabinet exhaust volume + 15% extra volume taken in
through the air gap connection + extra safety factor). Pressure losses in the duct run must be calculated properly
and a safety factor incorporated. The exhaust volume for each Esco Class II cabinet is detailed clearly in our
literature as the exhaust / inflow air volume.
Note: a Class II Type A2 cabinet's internal fan is able to exhaust air from inside the cabinet across the exhaust
HEPA / ULPA filter to the ambient space immediately above the filter (i.e. to the laboratory). However the internal
fan in the Class II Type A2 cabinet is not able to exhaust the air in a duct run of any length (even a short duct run,
without an external fan, will cause a decrease in the cabinet inflow). Since this is the though it should be noted the
remote exhaust fan DOES NOT need to have the capacity to "pull" air across the cabinet exhaust filter (this work
is "handled" by the internal cabinet fan) and that the external exhaust fan only needs to be sized to take into
account the pressure loss in the duct run, and to a certain extent, a minute amount of pressure loss taking in air
through the air gaps in the thimble / exhaust collar connection.
4. Means near the cabinet (i.e. exhaust damper or frequency inverter) to throttle / adjust the exhaust flow. This is
used by the cabinet certifier to adjust the slot / air gap intake velocity (additional air intake through the non airtight
exhaust connection on top of the cabinet) to a suitable value. For easy access it must be mounted near the
cabinet (i.e. damper above the cabinet).
5. If necessary, an airtight damper should be provided to allow sealing off the cabinet for decontamination. On the
other hand in certain situations it may be sufficient (depending on the design of the exhaust collar) to simply seal
off the cabinet exhaust port directly - thus an air-tight damper is not required.
6. A means to prevent backflow in the exhaust ducting for safety (in the most extreme situation backflow in the
duct could push air from inside the cabinet through the cabinet work access opening thus exposing the laboratory
to contamination inside the cabinet). This is most commonly accomplished using an anti blow-back or anti
backflow valve fabricated in plastic mounted on top of the cabinet, allowing visual verification from inside the
laboratory of proper exhaust operation.
Special Note
1. Exhaust volumes for Cytoculture Class II cabinets:

4ft cabinet, 418cmh
6ft cabinet, 615cmh
For remote exhaust fan air volume sizing, use above exhaust volume + 15% air gap air intake + extra safety
factor (20% is recommended). Then, use this air volume to calculate pressure loss in the ductwork (this part must
be handled by the distributor).
2. If your company does not have experience with exhaust ducting Class II Type A2 cabinets, attendance at an
Esco service training seminar is mandatory. In addition, you will need to have special instrumentation available (at
least a calibrated thermo anemometer) - which is something that is also covered during the training seminar. The
initial commissioning of Class II Type A2 cabinets consists of at least taking downflow / inflow velocity
measurements and additional tests (such as HEPA filter leak tests) are always recommended. Please contact us
for information on the next available seminar. Alternatively, you may also speak to us about special services (at
additional cost) such as on-site commissioning by an Esco engineer who can travel to your customer's site. See
our literature for more information regarding the on-site commissioning checks that need to be performed.

104
APPENDIX F
REFERENCE MATERIALS
FILTRATION TECHNOLOGY
Introduction to Contamination Control and Cleanroom Technology .2000. Matt Ramstorp. Wiley-VCH. Weinheim.
Cleanroom Technology. Fundamentals of Design, Testing, and Operation. 2001. Whyte.W. Wiley, West Sussex,
England.
IEST-RP-CC001: HEPA and ULPA Filters.2002. Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology, Illinois,
USA.
IEST-RP-CC007: Testing ULPA Filters.2002. Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology, Illinois, USA.
IEST-RP-CC021: Testing HEPA and ULPA Filter Media.2002. Institute of Environmental Sciences and
Technology, Illinois, USA.
IEST-RP-CC034: HEPA and ULPA Filter Leak Tests.2002. Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology,
Illinois, USA.
BS EN 13091: Biotechnology. Performance Criteria for Filter Elements and Filtration Assemblies. 2000. British
Standards, UK.
CLEAN AIR TECHNOLOGY
ISO 14644: Cleanrooms and Controlled Environments.2000. International Organization for Standardization,
Switzerland.
IEST-G-CC1001: Counting Airborne Particles for Classification and Monitoring of Cleanrooms and Clean
Zones.1999. Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology, Illinois, USA.
IEST-G-CC1002: Determination of the Concentration of Airborne Ultrafine Particles.1999. Institute of

Environmental Sciences and Technology, Illinois, USA.
IEST-G-CC1003: Measurement of Airborne Macro Particles.1999. Institute of Environmental Sciences and

Technology, Illinois, USA.
IEST-G-CC1004: Sequential Sampling Plan for Use in Classification of the Particulate Cleanliness of Air in
Cleanrooms and Clean Zones.1999. Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology, Illinois, USA.
BIOLOGICAL SAFETY
BS EN 12741: Biotechnology. Laboratories for Research, Development, and Analysis. Guidance for
Biotechnology Laboratory Operations. 1999. British Standards, UK.
BS EN 12128: Biotechnology. Laboratories for Research, Development, and Analysis. Containment Levels of
Microbiology Laboratories, Areas of Risk, Localities, and Physical Safety Requirements. 1998. British Standards,
UK.
Anthology of Biosafety I. Perspectives on Laboratory Design.1999. Richmond, J.Y., American Biological Safety
Association. Illinois, USA.
Anthology of Biosafety II. Facility Design Consideration.1999. Richmond, J.Y., American Biological Safety
Anthology of Biosafety III. Application of Principles.1999. Richmond, J.Y., American Biological Safety
APPENDIX F: REFERENCE MATERIALS

105
SAFETY CABINETS
BS EN 12469: Biotechnology. Performance Criteria for Microbiological Safety Cabinet. 2000. British Standards,
UK.
BS EN 12296: Biotechnology. Equipment. Guidance on Testing Procedures for Cleanability. 1998. British
Standards, UK.
BS EN 12297: Biotechnology. Equipment. Guidance on Testing Procedures for Sterilizability. 1998. British
Standards, UK.
BS EN 12298: Biotechnology. Equipment. Guidance on Testing Procedures for Leak Tightness. 1998. British
Standards, UK.
National Sanitation Foundation Standard Number 49 for Class II (Laminar Flow) Biohazard Cabinetry. 2002.
National Sanitation Foundation, Michigan, USA.
AS2252.2: Class II Biological Safety Cabinets. 1994. Australia.
AS2567: Cytotoxic Drug Safety Cabinets. 1994. Australia.
AS2639: Cytotoxic Drug Safety Cabinets. Installation and Use. 1994. Australia.
AS2647: Biological Safety Cabinets. Installation and Use. 1994. Australia.
JIS K3800: Class II Biological Safety Cabinets.2000. Japan.
SABS 0226: Installation, Post-Installation Tests and Maintenance of Microbiological Safety Cabinets. 2001. South
Africa.
WEBSITES
1. www.nsf.org
NSF International
2. www.escoglobal.com
Esco Micro Pte. Ltd.
3. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpb/lcdc/biosafty/docs/index.html
Health Canada - Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines
4. http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/biosfty/bsc/bsc.htm
Centre for Disease Control – Primary Containment for Biohazards
5. http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/biosfty/bmbl4/bmbl4toc.htm
Centre for Disease Control – Office of Health and Safety – Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical
Laboratories
6. http://www.osha.gov
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, USA
7. http://www.absa.org
American Biological Safety Association
8. http://www.cetainternational.org and
http://www.cetainternational.org/links.htm
Controlled Environment Testing Association and Related Links
APPENDIX F: REFERENCE MATERIALS

106
E-mail: biotech@escoglobal.com Website: www.escoglobal.com
LOG RECORD
Installed By:
Cabinet
Date :_____________________
Model:______________
Serial
Company :_____________________
Number:______________
Responsible Person:_____________________
1. This log record should be used by the operator to record any new agents/bacteria/viruses that has been
introduced to the cabinet during its operation, problems encountered, etc.
2. Any decontamination procedure performed by either the user or the technician should be recorded down.
3. Please also record any major maintenance procedure performed by the service technician, for example:
filter changing, recertification, UV lamp replacement, etc.
User Supervisor
Date Event
Signature Signature
LOG RECORD
107
User Supervisor
Date Event
Signature Signature
LOG RECORD
108
User Supervisor
Date Event
Signature Signature
LOG RECORD
109
Date User Supervisor

Event
Signature Signature
LOG RECORD
110
DEFECT REPORTING FORM
To submit your warranty claim or to obtain a Return Authorization (RA) number, please complete this defect reporting form
and return it to Esco by fax or postal mail.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Model Number : ___________________________________________________________________________________
Serial Number : ___________________________________________________________________________________
Date of Purchase : ___________________________________________________________________________________
CUSTOMER INFORMATION
Company : ___________________________________________________________________________________
Address : ___________________________________________________________________________________
: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone : ___________________________________________________________________________________
Fax : ___________________________________________________________________________________
Email : ___________________________________________________________________________________
NAME OF ESCO DISTRIBUTOR

Contact : ___________________________________________________________________________________
Company : ___________________________________________________________________________________
Country : ___________________________________________________________________________________
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ERROR

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WHEN DID THE ERROR OCCUR*

Transport Damage / Unpacking / Assembly / Routine Operation
RETURNING PRODUCTS/PARTS*
Under Warranty / For Service or Repair / For Replacement / Credit Note Requested
Name/Date: ________________________ Signature: _________________________
DEFECT REPORTING FORM

117
ESCO ®
E-mail: biotech@escoglobal.com Visit our website at biotech.escoglobal.com

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Cabina Esco Cytoculture Cytotoxic-4

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ESCO ®

CYTOTOXIC SAFETY CABINET

USER & SERVICE MANUAL

Esco CYT Manual Version 1.1 / Released 7 Jan 2005

With warm regards from Singapore,

Lim Lay Yew

I. Basic Product Information 12

II. Unpacking Your Cabinet 17

III. Installing Your Cabinet 20

IV. Operating Your Cabinet 30

4.1.2 Hardware Reset 32

V. Maintaining Your Cabinet 46

I. Maintenance by Service Personnel 55

1.11.1 Warning of Formalin Exposure 66

II. Product Specification 73

Replacement Parts List 86

Log Record 107

Defect Reporting Form 111

Manufacturer: Esco Micro Pte Ltd

declares in our sole responsibility that the product:

Equipment : Cytotoxic Safety Cabinet

in accordance to the following directives:

• 72/23/EEC : The Low Voltage Directive and its amending directives

• Low Voltage : EN 61010-1 (2001)

Lim Lay Yew

* Applicable only to 220-240 VAC 50 Hz cabinets

FREIGHT CLAIM INFORMATION

ACCEPTED FREIGHT WITH NOTED/VISIBLE LOSS OR DAMAGE

ACCEPTED FREIGHT WITH CONCEALED LOSS OR DAMAGE

FREIGHT CLAIM INFORMATION

WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS

WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS

CORPORATE PROFILE BIOTECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT DIVISION

Corporate Profile Biotechnology Equipment Division 9

The laboratories are ISO 14001 Environmental

Corporate Profile Biotechnology Equipment Division 10

AIRFLOW PATTERN INSIDE THE CABINET

1. Inflow: room air flows into the front

2. First-stage filtration: the inflow

3. After this filtration, the air flows

4. The fan creates a positive

5. Approximately 35% of the air from

6. A small portion of air goes into the

Chapter 1 – Basic Product Information

• Audible and visual alarms for unsafe sash positions

• Sash glass must be fully closed before UV lamp will activate

Chapter 1 – Basic Product Information

• ISO Class 3 work zone air cleanliness

• Temperature compensation to improve the accuracy of the of airflow sensor.

• Easily disassembled sash track to allow cleaning behind the sash.

Chapter 1 – Basic Product Information

• Germicidal UV lamp is placed out of operator's direct line of sight

• Unique hinged front panel

• Blower hour meter and UV hour meter

Chapter 1 – Basic Product Information

Please refer to chapter 2 of SERVICE SECTION for detailed product specification.

Chapter 1 – Basic Product Information

2.1 STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE

1. Inspecting the crate

2. Moving the crate

Fig. 1 Moving the Crate Using Extension Bar

3. Opening the crate

Chapter 2– Unpacking Your Cabinet

4. Removing the packaging material