BSL-2 HVAC Systems: Once-Through or Recirculated Air?

摘要

Any pharmaceutical facility that handles biological agents (e.g., pathogens or genetically modified organisms) must employ appropriate biocontainment precautions. Laboratory and manufacturing areas are assigned a designation of Biosafety Level 1 through Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-1 through BSL-4), reflecting the relative danger of the agent(s) to laboratory personnel, the workplace environment, and the surrounding community. Associated with each biosafety level classification are certain design, operating, and personnel training measures — from standard microbiological practices and no special containment or design for BSL-1, to complete isolation with strict access control, separate ventilation and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, personnel training, etc., for BSL-4. Here we focus on BSL-2, the most common design for large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing plants.