OPERATOR'S MANUAL BIOPROtect II JR Vent to ... - Baker Company

About the HEPA Filters
The HEPA filter is one of the essential components of a biological safety cabinet. It is the shield which
stands between the environment and the experimental agent. Some questions that the user should ask
regarding the use of chemical agents in the BIOPROtect II JR are as follows:
• Are these chemicals, either singly or in combination, able to attack filter components?
• Are these chemicals potentially toxic to the operator? Is there any combination of two or more which
could be toxic? If the cabinet is being correctly used and only the operator’s hands and arms are
inside the machine, then toxicity or irritation could occur through skin penetration. A proper
evaluation of toxicity must deal not only with onetime exposure, but also with the effect of many
small exposures over a period of time.
• Are these chemicals explosive or flammable? If so, they should never be used in your cabinet. With
a buildup caused by recirculation of air, an explosion can be the result of a motor spark or a burner
operation in the work area.
• In cases where chemical carcinogens, mutagens or teratogens are to be used, the risks should be
carefully weighed in choosing a cabinet. Where the exhaust effluent contains a contaminant, it may
need treatment.
• The life of a filter is determined by how it is used and how often. Under normal laboratory
conditions, you can expect up to five years of use. However, misuse or a heavy dust load within the
cabinet will shorten any filter’s lifetime. Bunsen burners and misuse of chemicals will also shorten
the useful life.
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