CAS BioMAT 1, Manual, Page: 5 / 29

Cabinet Siting – 1.3
The siting of your Safety Cabinet is extremely important. Air currents and the movement of
people in the laboratory can adversely affect the performance.
Safety Cabinets should be sited away from;
Ø
Doors and windows which open
Ø
Draughts caused by ventilation and air conditioning units
Ø
Pedestrian traffic routes
Ø
Other safety cabinets or fume cupboards
Ø
Adjacent fridge & Incubator doors
These points are of particular relevance to class 2 safety cabinets. The diagram shown below
indicates some suggested locations for the correct siting of safety cabinets and highlights some
situations which should be avoided.
3 4
2
1
HORIZONTAL
LAMINAR FLOW
SUPPLY GRILLE
Position 1 - An acceptable site not affected by disruptive air currents
Position 2 - Well sited
Position 3 - Poorly sited if windows open – If not it should be a safe distance
from the cabinet opposite.
Position 4 - Poorly sited – can be affected by air currents from the opening door,
through traffic and the horizontal laminar flow workstation sited
directly opposite.