HEPA VS ULPA WHICH FILTER SHOULD YOUR BIOSAFETY CABINET USE? NuAire, Inc. | 2100 Fernbrook Lane | Plymouth, MN 55447 | U.S.A. | www.nuaire.com

HEPA VERSUS ULPA: Which Filter Should Your Biosafety Cabinet Use? A biological safety cabinet (BSC) is one of the most important pieces of equipment in virtually every laboratory that handles low-to-moderate risk biological materials. A BSC maintains a safe environment for personnel, and prevents cross-contamination of the work product in industries such as large healthcare providers, testing facilities, or pharmaceutical manufacturers. Among the many important components determining the effectiveness of a BSC, the most critical is the air filter. HEPA vs. ULPA Filters There are two primary types...

HEPA Versus ULPA: Which Filter Should Your Biosafety Cabinet Use? Class II Type A2 Negative Pressure Biosafety Cabinet Airflow There are several types of BSCs but all share a common opera- tional principle. Blowers force air through the cabinet to create a work area under negative pressure relative to the surrounding environment. This area of negative pressure isolates materials (product protection) inside the cabinet. A concept from fluid dynamics known as “Bernoulli’s principle” can describe the creation of negative pressure due to the movement of air within a BSC. Bernoulli’s principle states,...

HEPA Versus ULPA: Which Filter Should Your Biosafety Cabinet Use? Airborne particulate such as dust or mold spores is prevented from passing through a HEPA filter by collision with filter media fibers, as well as electrostatic attraction, causing the particles to become trapped inside the filter. for both HEPA and ULPA. The European Union’s EN 12469 BSC The filter is integral to the safety and protection of personnel and standard applies European Standard EN1822-1. Each has a differ- of the materials in the work space. Without the filter, air pass- ing over the work space could pick up contaminants,...

HEPA Versus ULPA: Which Filter Should Your Biosafety Cabinet Use? ULPA FILTERS BSC Standard NSF/ANSI 49 NSF/ANSI 49 EN12469 Filter Type ULPA Type F ULPA Type K ULPA U15 Standard NSF/ANSI 49 specifies the use of type C or J HEPA filters in a BSC. Under testing method IEST-RP-CC001, a type ULPA refers to an air filter using fabrication technology similar to C HEPA filter must remove particles of 0.3 microns in size that of a HEPA filter, but with different performance standards. with an efficiency of at least 99.99 percent. A type J HEPA fil- Like HEPA standards, ULPA standards vary in their definitions....

HEPA Versus ULPA: Which Filter Should Your Biosafety Cabinet Use? thickness will increase the amount of air that can pass through, but that can increase the size of the BSC. The difference in amount of air that can pass through a ULPA Readers should note that HEPA and ULPA filters are also specified in ISO 29463-1:2017 but this does not alter the meaning of this article. Choosing Between HEPA and ULPA The distinction between HEPA and ULPA style filters can be unclear given the range of testing methods per BSC standard. For example, a filter that is 99.995 efficient at a most penetrating particle...

COMPLETE YOUR LABORATORY Add and Extend Your Lab’s Capabilities NuAire manufactures scientific laboratory equipment and compounding pharmacy airflow products, which provide personnel, product, and environmental protection in critical research facilities throughout the world. Continue your journey with the NuAire family by completing your laboratory with the full suite of NuAire quality products. Laminar Airflow Workstations Compounding Isolators Biosafety Cabinets NU-608 CLASS I ANIMAL Animal HandlingBEDDING DISPOSAL CABINET Stations Polypropylene Fume Hoods and Casework i. NSF/ANSI 49-2016:...