Basic Documentation

Laboratory Ventilation Codes and Standards
Siemens Industry, Inc. 58
Topic Requirement(s) Commentary
Biosafety
Level 2
ASHRAE, 2011 Handbook - HVAC Applications, Laboratories, Pg. 16.17,
Containment Laboratories:
Biosafety Level 2 is suitable for work involving agents of moderate potential hazard
to personnel and the environment. Laboratory access is limited when certain work is
in progress. The laboratory may be cleaned easily and contains a sink for washing
hands. Biological safety cabinets (Class 1 or II A2) are used whenever
• Procedures with a high potential for creating infectious aerosols are
conducted
• High concentrations or large volumes of infectious agents are used.
Most biomedical research laboratories are designed for Bio-safety Level 2.
However, the laboratory director must evaluate the risks and determine the correct
containment level before design begins.
Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention publication: Biosafety in Microbiology and Biomedical Laboratories,
(BMBL) 5th edition 2009:
Biosafety Level 2 builds upon BSL-1. BSL-2 is suitable for work involving agents
that pose moderate hazards to personnel and the environment. It differs from BSL-1
in that: 1) laboratory personnel have specific training in handling pathogenic agents
and are supervised by scientists competent in handling infectious agents and
associated procedures; 2) access to the laboratory is restricted when work is being
conducted; and 3) all procedures in which infectious aerosols or splashes may be
created are conducted in BSCs or other physical containment equipment.
National Sanitation Foundation, NSF 49 -2008, Biosafety Cabinetry: Design,
Construction, Performance and Field Certification
3 Definitions
3.3.2 Biosafety Level 2 Practices, equipment, and facilities are applicable to
clinical, diagnostic, teaching, and other facilities in which work is done with the broad
spectrum of indigenous moderate-risk agents present in the community and
associated with human disease of varying severity. With good microbiological
techniques, these agents can be used safely in activities conducted on the open
bench, if the potential for producing aerosols is low. Hepatitis B virus, human
immunodeficiency virus, the salmonellae, and Toxoplasma spp. are representative
of microorganisms assigned to this containment level. Biosafety Level 2 is
appropriate when work is done with any human-derived blood, body fluids, tissues,
or primary human cell lines where the presence of an infectious agent may be
unknown. (Laboratory personnel working with human-derived materials should refer
to the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard for specific required precautions.)
The vast majority of biological laboratories
operate at BSL-2.
NSF essentially repeats the BSL 2 definition
from the BMBL.