Basic Documentation

Table Of Contents
Laboratory Ventilation Codes and Standards
Siemens Industry, Inc. 126
Topic Requirement(s) Commentary
Periodic
Inspection
and Testing -
Canada
(Continued)
with the room under continuous pressure, apply bubble solution to areas to be
tested (joints, corners, sealed penetrations, etc.) or, by using audible leak location
method, locate audible leaks (electronic sound detection equipment option);
identify places where bubbles are found;
after repair of leak, retest as required.
5.3 Air Handling Systems
Various components of a containment room's air handling system require
commissioning. Manufacturers' requirements for airflows for BSCs must be met.
Integrity testing of HEPA filters must be performed to ensure that they do not contain
leaks in the filter media, the gasketing or the seal to the filter housing. This filter
housing test is performed by challenging with a known particulate concentration and
scanning for percentage of penetration downstream of the filter. Ductwork systems
should be pressure decay tested to confirm that specified leakage rates are not
exceeded. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Standard N510
Testing of Nuclear Air Treatment Systems, 1989, reaffirmed 1995
(2)
, gives procedures
for testing the leak-tightness of ducts and plenums. The performance of room pressure
control systems must meet the design intent (e.g., negative pressures
must be maintained).
The following testing requirements and acceptance criteria must be satisfied for
certification of laboratories.
Air Handling Systems - Containment Level 3 (CL3) Testing Requirements:
1. Classes I and II BSCs to be tested in situ in accordance with NSF/ANSI 49-
2002
(3)
or CSA Z316.3-95
(4)
.
2. Class III BSCs to be tested in situ in accordance with the Laboratory Safety
Monograph, NIH 1979
(5)
and BS EN 12469-2000
(6)
.
3. Interlocks (that is, Class II Type B2 BSC internal cabinet supply fan and
exhaust fan) to be tested in accordance with NSF/ANSI 49:2002
(3)
to ensure
that internal supply fan shuts off whenever exhaust fan fails.
4. Alarms to be tested for detection of BSC and/or exhaust fan failure by
simulation of alarm conditions.
5. Integrity of HEPA filters installed into supply as method of backdraft protection
and exhaust ductwork to be tested in situ by particle challenge testing using
the scanning method according to IEST-RP-CC-006.2 (section 6.2)
(7)
.
Acceptance criteria: particle penetration not to exceed 0.01%. Small in-line
filters need not be in situ scan tested maintenance program to include visual
inspection and regular replacement.
(Continued on Next Page)