Biosafety in the laboratory - VIB

Belgian requirements for A1-A4 animal houses
1. Equipment and technical requirements
Specifications
Containment level
A1 A2 A3 A4
1 The animalarium is separated from not required required required required
other working zones in the same
building or is located in a separate
building
2 Entry via an airlock not required recommended required required (with three
compartments)
3 Doors that can be locked required required required required
4 Doors that close automatically not required required required required
5 Windows that cannot be opened not required not required, required required
buth windows should
(able to withstand
be closed during
breaking)
experimentation
6 Airtight laboratory that enables not required optional required required
decontamination with a gas
7 Building designed in such a way recommended required required required
that accidental escape of animals
is avoided
8 Observation window or equivalent recommended recommended required required
system that enables one to see who
is working in the laboratory
9 Decontamination facilities for the required (sinks) required (sinks) required (sinks near required (sinks and
personnel the exit or in the shower, the latter fitted
airlock) shower: with a chemical sprinkler
recommended in case use is made
of isolation suit fitted
with positive air pressure)
10 Sinks that can be operated not required recommended required required
non-manually
11 Coathooks or changing room for required required required required
the protective clothing
12 Tubing fitted with a system that not required not required recommended required
prevents backward flow of fluids
13 Separate room for the stocking of recommended required required required
clean cages, feed and caging material
14 Surfaces resistant to decontaminants, required required required required
impermeable and easy to clean (cages, benches) (cages, benches, (cages, benches, (cages, benches,
floor) floor, walls, ceiling) floor, walls, ceiling)
15 Facility for the washing of cages required required required required
16 Automous electricity backup system not required not required recommended required
17 Fire alarm (not taking into account not required not required required required
local fire regulations)
18 System that enables communication not required not required required required (nonwith
the outside world
manual operation)
VENTILATION
19 Input airflowsystem separated from not required not required recommended required
adjacent laboratories
20 Extract airflowsystem separated from not required optional recommended required
adjacent laboratories
21 Input and extract airflowsystem not required optional required required
interconnected to prevent accidental
overpressure
22 Input and extract airflowsystem can be not required optional required required
closed using valves
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Biosafety in the laboratory