Clean Air Solutions

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Saturday, September 24, 2016

Biosafety Labs and the Meaning of Biosafety Levels A Report by Camfil Air Filtration Experts

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Camfil air filtration products meet the tough standards that are required to make sure a biosafety lab is exactly that, safe.

A biosafety lab is a specialized research laboratory that deals with infectious agents. Some are designed for research, while others are performing some kind of production activity, but proper protection is of the utmost importance for the safety of everyone working in and around a biosafety lab. Protection is not only important for those working in a building with a biosafety lab, but also for the environment and the community around the laboratory.

The protection that is required for any biosafety laboratory is defined by what are known as biosafety levels. There are four levels, which are determined by the types of agents or organisms that the laboratory is working with. As the biosafety level increases, there are more requirements and constraints added to the necessary safety precautions that must be followed.

Biosafety Level 1

Level one is the lowest level. This level applies to work with agents that are considered to be a minimal threat to both lab workers and the environment. Microbes handled in this level are not known to consistently cause disease in healthy adults and present minimal potential hazard to laboratory personnel and the environment. An example of a microbe that is typically handled in a BSL-1 is a nonpathogenic strain of E. coli.

These types of labs are not generally isolated from the rest of the building and research is conducted on laboratory benches without the use of any special containment equipment. Lab personnel are trained for the specific projects they are working on, and supervised by a trained scientist or microbiologist. Standard practices including immediate decontamination of any spills and daily decontamination of the lab are all that is usually required to protect workers and the environment.

Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2)

Level 2 covers any type of work with agents that are associated with human disease. These would include infectious or pathogenic organisms that pose a moderate threat. The equine encephalitis virus or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) would be examples of specimens that require biosafety level 2.

Under biosafety level 2, great care is taken with anything that could potentially puncture the skin, such as needles or broken glass. In addition, access to the lab is more restricted. Those with any type of lowered immune system function may be denied access. Labs must also provide specialty safety equipment and facilities such as an autoclave for decontamination, an eyewash station, and lockable self-closing doors along with biohazard warning signs at any access point.

Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3)

A lab requiring biosafety level 3 would be working with agents that are very strictly controlled, and often must be registered with government agencies. Microbes handled in BSL-3 can be either indigenous or exotic, and they can cause serious or potentially lethal disease through respiratory transmission. One example of a microbe that is typically worked with in a BSL-3 laboratory is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis.

In addition to everything that is done at levels 1 and 2, more protective barriers are employed in a level 3 lab. On top of protective clothing, and even respirators if necessary, facility design is also a major factor. Laboratory facilities should employ self-closing double door access that is separated from general building hallways and corridors. Ventilation systems in this type of lab must provide a one way directional airflow that draws air into the lab from clean areas and does not allow any recirculation. Typically, exhaust systems use high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.

BioSafety Level 4 (BSL-4)

Level 4 is the highest levels of safety and protection. Labs operating under biosafety level 4 are dealing with agents that are considered to be extremely dangerous and pose a very high risk of life threatening disease. Infections caused by these microbes are frequently fatal and without treatment or vaccines. A laboratory conducting experiments with a virus such as Ebola and Marburg viruses would be required to maintain biosafety level 4 requirements.

In addition to all other requirements, these labs are usually in a separated building or even in a completely isolated area. Anyone entering is required to change clothes up entrance and undergo a shower before exiting. Protective clothing is stepped up, requiring sealed air supplied suits. Ventilation systems must also be set up to completely filter all exhaust air leaving the facility through particulate filters capable of removing any toxic agents from the air. For this reason, a HEPA filter is used on the supply air in the unlikely event of reversed air flow. On the exhaust, redundant two-stage HEPA filters are used.

A Common Factor for All Four Levels

In all cases, filtration of the air both coming in and going out of a laboratory is incredibly important. Air entering the lab needs to be clean in order to prevent contamination of any work that is being conducted. Air exiting the lab needs to be filtered to keep potentially harmful, or even deadly, substances and organisms from harming people and the environment outside.

Camfil’s air filtration products meet the tough standards that are required to make sure a biosafety lab is exactly that, safe. There is no room for mistakes when so much is on the line. In addition to producing and developing award winning, industry leading air filtration products for more than 50 years, Camfil has developed partnerships with the leading biosafety and laminar flow cabinet manufacturers. We are very familiar with the technical requirements for this industry. The HEPA product of choice for the industry is Camfil’s MEGALAM and Absolute filters.

Media Contact:

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post Biosafety Labs and the Meaning of Biosafety Levels A Report by Camfil Air Filtration Experts appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

from Air Filters for Clean Air

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

The Key to Controlling Airborne Contamination in Food Processing

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Camfil provides a full range of air filtration systems designed specifically for the sensitive needs of the food and beverage industry

Air Filter Leader Camfil Discusses Airborne Contamination in Food Processing

In the food and beverage industry, contamination is always a high priority concern. Small mistakes in handling, preparation, and even in the cleaning of the environment where food comes into contact with surfaces can cause disastrous results that can potentially affect hundreds of thousands of people.

Often overlooked is the threat from another source of food contact: air.

Air is an Ingredient in Food

Outdoor air can naturally carry anywhere from 200 to 1500 bacteria per cubic meter. The natural defense mechanisms in our living bodies respond to most potential hazards from these bacteria with ease. However, that’s not always the case with food as anyone who has left meat sitting out on the kitchen counter for too long can surely confirm. Add to this the fact that an air handling system pushing tens of thousands of cubic meters of air per minute can pull 15 million bacteria per minute or more into a building, and you’ve got cause for serious concern.

Proper Filtration can Help Prevent Catastrophic Contamination

Governmental agencies regulating the food industry do not provide a comprehensive list of recommended filtration levels for all the various foods processed in today’s world. While there are some guidelines offered, the ultimate decision as to what level of filtration is required is left up to individual facilities.

Plant personnel should work with qualified professionals to determine the metrics of potentially harmful bacteria in the air outside their plant as well as what’s generated within the facility and recirculated. This identification will guide in selecting the level of filtration efficiency necessary to provide a safe processing environment. Refer to the most recent ASHRAE® Merv rating chart for an understanding of capture efficiency levels.

Equipment and Filter Configuration

While there is a wide variety of air handling equipment in service throughout the food industry, the typical equipment is a rooftop unit which contains a heating or cooling element and two stages of filtration. Often times, the heating element is at the front of the unit while the cooling element is sandwiched between the two filtration stages. These heating and cooling elements can be a source of moisture which must be controlled as well as moisture from the outside environment, rain or snow. A major source of moisture is from exhaust vents located near the air handling unit’s intake hood. If the air handling unit is not equipped with moisture separators, filter performance suffers.

The first stage of filtration is often referred to as the prefilter. Historically, this has usually been a coarse filter with a lower Merv rating and limited service life. This filter’s main function is to remove large debris and to protect any heating or cooling coils immediately downstream. New advancements in filter technology is allowing higher Merv rated filters with extended service life to both protect the downstream equipment, assist in removing excess moisture and begin the process of readying the air for food contact.

The second stage, or the final filter, is the critical one in terms of food safety. It has two vital functions which it must perform continuously while in service. This filter must both capture the size and percentage of particles identified as harmful to the particular process while at the same time, maintaining a low pressure drop so airflow is not compromised.

Filter Selection

There are many filters on the market today which are labeled with higher efficiency ratings such as Merv 13, 14 or even 16. However, once put into service, these filters loose capture efficiency and can drop to unacceptably low Merv ratings for a food or beverage facility. To avoid this, select filters which publish their Merv – A rating which is a test standard designed to mimic real life conditions. A simple Merv 14 filter can actually drop in efficiency as low as a Merv 11 while a Merv 14A filter will maintain that Merv 14 efficiency for its entire service life.

Similarly, in order to gain an understanding of a filter’s consistent airflow potential, request the full ASHRAE® 52.2‐2007(B) Test Results w/Appendix J report and carefully compare DHC (dirt holding capacity) figures at recommended final pressure drop. This will give insight into the ability of a filter to provide adequate airflow as it begins loading with dirt.

Camfil Products Stop Contamination

Camfil provides a full range of air filtration systems designed specifically for the sensitive needs of the food and beverage industry. Camfil air filters are capable of removing microscopic particles from the air to help ensure the highest level of protection while at the same time, maintaining the lowest average pressure drop to sustain proper airflow.

The superior engineering techniques and raw materials that deliver these critical results also provide increased cost savings over competitive products by providing a significantly longer filtration service life, reduce the quantity of filters that need to be ordered and disposed of, and significantly reduce the power consumption of fans and circulation equipment.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post The Key to Controlling Airborne Contamination in Food Processing appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

from Air Filters for Clean Air

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

How to Get Higher Acceptable Indoor Air Quality Anywhere – Introducing City M Air Purifier

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Clean air is possible anywhere with the City M Air purifier from Camfil

The quality of the indoor air we breathe is a concern for everyone, especially those in urban environments where contaminant and particle levels are higher due to nearly constant exposure to things like automobile and truck exhausts, construction, and fumigation.

Unfortunately for most people, when it comes to the quality of the air in the buildings where they spend most of their time, they are at the mercy of the ventilation systems in those buildings and have no say as to how those systems operate, or whether or not they can be improved. In other cases, building managers may want to do something to improve indoor air quality, but financial and architectural constraints make it difficult, or even impossible, to improve or renovate the existing HVAC systems.

Clean Air is Possible Anywhere

The City M Air purifier from Camfil is designed specifically to alleviate these problems. The City M is a standalone air filtration device with a small footprint of only 13 x 13 inches, and about 30 inches tall. This small, but highly efficient, air purifier can actually bring the air quality in a 10-foot by 10-foot room up to levels that would meet the standards of a pharmaceutical manufacturing cleanroom. There are 6 different speed settings, ranging from 22 to 256 cubic feet per minute, which will allow you to run the system at a low speed to maintain air quality, or set a higher speed to quickly clean sudden odors or contamination.

With it’s small size and high efficiency, the City M air purifier can be used just about anywhere. It is a perfect solution to supplement the ventilation system in any area, permanently or temporarily.

Home – Rest easy knowing you and your family are breathing air free of contaminants and pollution. Eliminate the breathing difficulties associated with Asthma or other respiratory problems.
Schools – Purify the air in kitchen or eating areas, or individual classrooms such as science labs.
Medical/Hospitals – Clean the air in waiting rooms or individual patient rooms reducing the chances of transfer of airborne illnesses.
Hotels – Remove odors from recently used rooms or purify air for guests with special needs.
Office – Maintain a clean and healthy environment for better health and higher productivity.

Industrial Strength in a Small Space

The City M is capable of removing 99.95% of particles from the air, all the way down to .3 microns in size. To help you visualize the size of these particles, .3 microns is about 1/300 of the diameter of a single human hair. These are particles that are small enough enter the lungs and even enter the bloodstream when they are inhaled. In addition to removing nearly all particulate matter from the air, the City M’s filtration system will also remove harmful gases such as ozone, organic gases, VOCs, and even fumes from vehicle exhaust.

This amazingly high level of filtration is accomplished by using two absolute true HEPA filters placed on either side of approximately seven pounds of activated carbon. The HEPA filters are actually the exact same filters that Camfil produces for critical applications and industrial processing. Each filter is individually certified to remove at least 99.95% of particles in the air .3 microns and larger. While the Absolute HEPA filters take care of the particles in the air, the activated carbon handles the removal of harmful gases and odors.

The City M provides true industrial level air filtration in any location. No matter where you use it, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that the air you are breathing is absolutely free of harmful particles or gases that could damage your health or that of your friends, family or coworkers.

Cleaner Air Doesn’t Mean High Costs

Not just efficient when it comes to cleaning the air, the City M air purifier is designed to be cost efficient when it comes to filter life and energy consumption, too. Camfil filters use, on average, 40 to 50% more filter media, producing filters that last 1 ½ to 2 times longer than competitive products while the City M itself uses 50% less energy than competitors’ products. It uses only 5 watts of power on its lowest setting, and 55 watts on the highest. That’s less than your average light bulb!

Better Indoor Air Quality is Possible for Everyone

Whether it is in your home or your place of work, it is possible for you to take control and improve the environment where you spend most of your time. By improving the quality of the air you breathe, you reduce the risk of allergies, respiratory problems, and even serious conditions like heart and lung disease. You can literally be breathing cleaner, healthier air in a matter of minutes.

Media Contact:

Lynne Laake

Camfil Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post How to Get Higher Acceptable Indoor Air Quality Anywhere – Introducing City M Air Purifier appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

from Air Filters for Clean Air

Monday, September 12, 2016

A Look Inside Life Science Cleanrooms By Air Filtration Leader Camfil USA

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

A cleanroom is a specially constructed environment designed to maintain low levels of airborne pollutants such as dust, aerosol particles and microbes.

Cleanrooms are commonly used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical and microelectronic products as well as for many types of scientific research and life science industries.

Cleanrooms are classified at different levels, designated one through nine by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Each ISO cleanroom level allows for a certain number of particles of a certain size per cubic meter of air. Higher ISO levels allow for more contaminants in the air, with ISO class 1 being the cleanest and class 9 being the equivalent of natural, unfiltered air.

To illustrate the difference between ISO classifications, the natural air in a typical urban environment contains about 35 million particles that are .5 microns or larger in size, per cubic meter. Air of this quality would be allowed in an ISO class 9 environment. In an ISO class 1 environment, there must be 0 particles of .5 microns or larger and only 12 particles of .3 microns and smaller, per cubic meter. This is, obviously, a tremendous difference. To give you an idea of just how small these particles are, an average human hair has a diameter of about 75 microns. Even something as small as a single red blood cell is about 5 microns in size.

Meeting the various levels of air purity needed for different classes of cleanrooms is achieved through constant filtering of the air that enters and circulates within the area. The cost of moving and filtering the air in the environment is a significant part of the overall costs associated with operating a cleanroom. Design of the air filtration system, as well as the filters that are chosen for use with it, can have a big impact on energy consumption.

Air quality is maintained through the use of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and/or ultra-low penetration air (ULPA) filters. Outside air entering the area is, of course, filtered, but recirculated air must be filtered as well to eliminate any contaminants that may have been introduced into the air from within the cleanroom environment.

In order to keep the filtered air clean, strict protocols must be followed. Cleanrooms make use of specialized furniture and alternative versions of common items like pens and pencils to reduce the amount of internally introduced contaminants to the absolute minimum. Personnel working within the clean room might have to do anything from just wearing special shoes to undergoing “air showers” and using full body, air supplied suits depending on the class of cleanroom they work in.

Camfil Products Can Make A Difference

For more than fifty years Camfil has been a leading supplier of air filtration products and services to the Life Science Industry. Today, Camfil is clearly recognized as the leading global air filter supplier to the industry.

Many of our clients have multiple facilities located around the world. Camfil is viewed by many of the largest manufacturers as a partner and is well positioned to support their air filtration needs on a local and global basis.

Major investments have been made in our R&D facilities located around the world to develop products specifically for the Life Science industry. It is common for us to work in close collaboration with our customers to meet, and often exceed, their most demanding air filtration requirements. Camfil air filter products represent the very best in air filtration technology and energy efficiency. We can help you achieve higher levels of air purification, while simultaneously reducing operating costs.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com