Basic Documentation

Table Of Contents
Laboratory Ventilation Codes and Standards
Siemens Industry, Inc. 60
Topic Requirement(s) Commentary
Biosafety
Level 3
(Continued)
National Sanitation Foundation, NSF 49 -2008, Biosafety Cabinetry: Design,
Construction, Performance and Field Certification
3 Definitions
3.3. 3 Biosafety Level 3 Practices, safety equipment, and facility design and
construction are applicable to clinical, diagnostic, teaching, research, or production
facilities in which work is done with indigenous or exotic agents with a potential for
respiratory transmission and that may cause serious and potentially lethal infection.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, St. Louis encephalitis virus, and Coxiella burnetii are
representative of the microorganisms assigned to this level. Primary hazards to
personnel working with these agents relate to autoinoculation, ingestion, and
exposure to infectious aerosols.
At Biosafety Level 3, more emphasis is placed on primary and secondary barriers to
protect personnel in contiguous areas, the community, and the environment from
exposure to potentially infectious aerosols. For example, all laboratory
manipulations should be performed in a BSC or other enclosed equipment, such as
a gas-tight aerosol generation chamber. Secondary barriers for this level include
controlled access to the laboratory and ventilation requirements that minimize the
release of infectious aerosols from the laboratory.