Preface:

This is the first edition of CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z316.3, Biological Containment Cabinets: Installation and Field Testing.

Scope:

1.1
This Standard applies to the installation and testing of Class I and II biological containment cabinets. Such cabinets are designed to control and eliminate particulates and aerosols generated by routine laboratory manipulations.

This Standard provides criteria for testing and uniform procedures for conducting the identified field tests. The tests are intended to provide on site reassurance that the cabinet may be expected to control particulates and aerosols to the degree determined by certification tests done on this cabinet by the manufacturer. Tests undertaken in accordance with this Standard do not necessarily ensure acceptable performance unless the cabinet itself has been designed and constructed to a performance Standard such as NSF 49. It is fundamentally assumed that the equipment specifications, factory test report, and case history file will be provided by the manufacturer or user of the cabinet for comparison to the on site test results.

1.2
Successful testing would not imply the suitability of the application of the specific cabinet. When biological containment cabinets are also used for the containment of nonbiological hazards, other specific tests of the cabinet and the exhaust system (ie, the containment system) may be required. Requirements for these evaluations are not specifically addressed in this Standard.

1.3
Class Ill biological containment cabinets, clean air benches, and fume hoods without HEPA filtration are not considered by this Standard.

1.4
Adjustments and/or repairs (eg, minor repairs of leaks in filters, motor speed adjustments) may also be undertaken in consultation with the user of the equipment prior to the final testing in order to return the performance parameters to their initial condition.
Note: Imperial units have been utilized in this Standard for some values consistent with current practice in the industry. Values indicated in parentheses are intended to be approximate conversions.