Click here to see used and refurbished Nuaire Class II Type B1 biosafety cabinets from American Instrument Exchange.
We sell lots of biosafety cabinets here at American Instrument Exchange, the majority of which are either Class II Type A2 or Class II Type B2 models. But every now and again we’ll have a customer looking for the harder to find, more unusual Class II Type B1.
Like all Class II biosafety cabinets, Class II Type B1 models protects personnel, product, and environment from microbiological contaminants or sterile pharmacy compounding. The open front with inward airflow provides personnel protection with the downward HEPA-filtered laminar airflow protects the products on the bio cab worksurface. The HEPA filtered exhaust air ensures that air recirculated back into the environment is clean and non-harmful.
Type B1 cabinets must have a minimum average inflow velocity of 100 fpm through the sash opening. They have HEPA-filtered downflow air composed mostly of uncontaminated recirculated inflow air and exhaust most of the contaminated downflow air through a dedicated duct that exhausts outside after passing through a HEPA filter. Essential function of a B1 model is a cross between a Type A2 and a Type B2 bio cab. Similar to a Type A2 the inflow and the front part of the downflow are pulled into the front airflow grill that leads to a space under the work surface through which they can flow towards the rear of the cabinet. From there, the air travels up a vertical channel to the plenum at the top of the cabinet. This plenum is connected to the supply HEPA filter below it and routes the air through that HEPA filter towards the work zone as downflow. The Type B1 cabinet’s internal blower-motor powers this circuit of air that comprises 30% of the air flowing through the cabinet. However, the Type B1 cabinet has to be connected to an external blower that will power another circuit of air that occurs in tandem. This external blower pulls the back part of the cabinet downflow into another airflow grill, at the back of the work zone, and through its own vertical channel up to a second plenum. This plenum is connected to the exhaust HEPA filter through which that external exhaust blower now extracts this air before continuing to pull it towards itself through the ductwork. This flow of air comprises the remaining 70% of the air flowing through the cabinet.
So what type of work necessitates a Class II, Type B1 biosafety cabinet? Well, like a Type A2 the Type B1 is suitable for work involving agents treated with minute quantities of toxic chemicals and tracer amounts of radionuclides if the chemicals or radionuclides won’t interfere with the work if recirculated in the downflow air. But the B1 models can also be used for work involving minute quantities of toxic chemicals and tracer amounts of radionuclides required as an adjunct to microbiology applications, provided that the work is done in the directly exhausted rear portion of the cabinet.
If you’re looking for Class II Type B1 biosafety cabinet please consider giving us a call about a used and refurbished model. We provide sales for lab equipment internationally, and service for equipment and biosafety cabinets throughout New England. Thanks!
American Instrument Exchange has been a reliable source for used laboratory and scientific equipment for over 50 years, buying and selling equipment since 1969. Our surplus lab equipment is reconditioned for many types of laboratories, including biotech, biomedical, medical research, chemical, pharmaceutical, and university and hospital research laboratories. All lab equipment listed on our website is in stock and ships from our 30,000 square foot warehouse in Massachusetts. Our facilities include a fully equipped shop with highly trained technicians who thoroughly test each instrument before it reaches your laboratory. Please visit our website at https://www.americaninstrument.com/.