Biological Safety Cabinets – Your First Line of Defense in Lab Containment

What is a Biological Safety Cabinet?

A Biosafety Cabinet (BSC)—also known as a biological safety cabinet or microbiological safety cabinet—is a ventilated enclosure designed to protect lab personnel, the environment, and the integrity of sensitive samples when working with potentially infectious or biohazardous materials. BSCs use HEPA filtration and controlled airflow to contain aerosols, making them the go-to solution where safety and sterility are essential.

BSCs serve as the biological equivalent of a fume hood, offering the added benefit of air filtration to remove microbial contamination—unlike laminar flow cabinets or traditional hoods, which do not protect the product or environment from pathogens.

Understanding the Classes and What They Protect

Class I

• Protects personnel and environment only, not the samples—which remain exposed to room air.
• Uses inward airflow through a front opening, with HEPA-filtered exhaust.

Class II (Most Common in Labs)

• Designed to protect personnel, environment, and product simultaneously
• Delivers filtered air downward over the work surface and HEPA-filtered exhaust.
• Subdivided into five types—A1, A2, B1, B2, and C1—differentiated by exhaust methods and airflow design.
• Typically used with BSL‑1 through BSL‑3 agents and, in special cases, within BSL‑4 labs when paired with protective suits.

Class III

• Offers maximum containment—a fully sealed, gas-tight enclosure.
• Operated through built-in gloves, with materials passed in/out via airlocks or autoclaves. Used exclusively in BSL‑4 labs.

Why a Biological Safety Cabinet is Essential

BSCs are vital engineering controls in laboratories handling biological agents—whether you're working with bacteria, viruses, cell cultures, or other sensitive biomaterials. They deliver a safeguarded workspace, ensuring both user safety and sample integrity without compromising speed or functionality in lab operations.