EuroFlow EF and EF/B
Biological Safety Cabinet
UM-EFAB-EN10.doc
74
Appendix IV: Efficiency test of the HEPA filters
BIOLOGICAL DANGER
BE CAREFUL!!
Before starting service with the cabinet a written declaration “that the
cabinet is decontaminated” must be present. The responsible person
(laboratory supervisor) will decide if the cabinet has to be decontaminated so
that when servicing the installation and the HEPA-filters there is no danger
for the service engineer, labour personnel, the laboratory and the
surroundings of the cabinet. If necessary disinfect the installation. For more
information
Appendix II: Disinfection on page 67
.
CYTOTOXIC DANGER
When cytotoxics are used, see
§2.5 Cytotoxic danger (EF/B only) on page
10.
Only the responsible safety officer (biological safety officer or the responsible
examiner) can decide if this procedure is valid or not. Additional standard
operation procedures can be necessary.
Requirements
According to the norm EN 12469:2000 HEPA filters must meet a few requirements.
Efficiency test by means of a particle counter
The downflow, exhaust and first filter must have an efficiency of 99,995% . A locally measured
value can be a factor 10 higher,
≤
0.05%.
Efficiency test with a photometer
The downflow, exhaust and first filter must have an efficiency of 99,99%. Any locally measured
value must be
≤
0.01%.
When a HEPA filter does not meet the EN 12469:2000, it is allowed to repair it. However the
surface of the reparation must not be more than 5% of the total surface of the HEPA filter.
When this does not have sufficient effect the HEPA filter must be replaced as described in
Appendix III: Replacement of the HEPA filters
on page 68
.
Test aerosol
In an EF cabinet, the test aerosol for the downflow and exhaust filter can be added through the
working area (
Figure 36,
Pos. A). The 100% measure point upstream concentration for the
downflow filter as well as the exhaust filter is positioned under the work area (
Figure 36,
Pos. B
and
Figure 38
). The downflow filter and the exhaust filter can be scanned (
Figure 36,
Pos. F and
D).
In an EF/B cabinet, the test aerosol for the first HEPA filter can be added through the working area
(
Figure 37,
Pos. A) for each HEPA filter section separately.
