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Technology Report

February, 2005

Siemens Industry, Inc. Page 1 of 10

BSL-3 Laboratories

Architectural and Mechanical Design Considerations

The potential threat of bio-terrorism and concern

over the possible spread of other naturally occurring

infectious diseases, such as SARS, has initiated

government funding programs for biological

laboratories and research programs associated with

infectious diseases protection. As a result, many

new biological laboratories are being planned and

will be constructed in the coming years. To qualify

for government funding, biological laboratories must

be designed, constructed, and operated in

accordance with strict safety requirements.

This report addresses the physical design factors for

a Biological Safety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory,

including ventilation requirements, in accord with a

consensus of current safety standards and best

design practices for ensuring occupant health and

safety.

Classification of Biological

Laboratories

Biological laboratories are normally classified

according to the hazard posed by the organisms

intended to be present in the laboratory. The

classes, called Biosafety Levels, are established and

described along with the specific safety

requirements in the standards and guidelines listed

below. Architects and mechanical system designers

need to focus on the aspects of biosafety that lie

within their scope of responsibility.

The four main classes help the biosafety community

communicate requirements and practices. They do

not capture the full range of variation among

facilities. When the laboratory director (or another

responsible individual) establishes the policies for a

particular laboratory, it is with reference to a risk

assessment conducted specifically for that lab. The

result may combine features that cross the

boundaries of biosafety levels. Consequently, there

is no all-encompassing description of all BSL-3

laboratories. An individual BSL-3 facility may include

features typical of other biosafety levels.

Primary Biological Laboratory Safety

Standards and Guidelines:

 Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical

Laboratories (BMBL)

Published by the U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services (U.S. Centers for Disease

Control)

 ARS – CSREES – ERS – NASS Manual

Document 242.1M-ARS

Published by U.S. Department of Agriculture

 The Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines

Published by Health Canada

 Laboratory Biosafety Manual

Published by the World Health Organization

Biological laboratory classifications include:

 Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1)–This is the lowest

biological laboratory hazard classification and

applies to laboratories involving only low risk

activities. Biosafety Level 1 activities may also

be conducted within a general chemical

laboratory.

In actuality, few biological

laboratories are designed, constructed or

intended to be used as a BSL-1 laboratory.

 Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2)–This classification

applies to laboratories handling organisms and

agents with an elevated risk in comparison to

BSL-1. It is the minimum hazard level that a

hospital, clinical or public health laboratory is

required to meet and currently covers the largest

percentage of existing biological laboratories.

Although some substances present in category

BSL-2 are infectious, work can be done on

tables or benches if the potential for airborne

transfer of infectious pathogens (germs) is very

1. Where biological operations are conducted in a chemical

laboratory, the room design and associated building

mechanical systems need to address the safety

requirements for a chemical laboratory.

Document No. 1

49-997

Summary of content (10 pages)

PAGE 1
Technology Report February, 2005 BSL-3 Laboratories Architectural and Mechanical Design Considerations The potential threat of bio-terrorism and concern over the possible spread of other naturally occurring infectious diseases, such as SARS, has initiated government funding programs for biological laboratories and research programs associated with infectious diseases protection. As a result, many new biological laboratories are being planned and will be constructed in the coming years.
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low. However, BSL-2 laboratories increasingly utilize biological safety cabinets for greater worker protection. All room surfaces and fixtures (HVAC grills, lights, wall switches, etc.) in a BSL-2 laboratory room must be able to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Provisions must also be made for sterilization of all room apparatus and the decontamination of all biological waste material.
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controlled as required by the substances present and provide for worker comfort. 4 5. Walls, ceilings, floors, and fixtures should be smooth, easy to clean, impermeable to liquids and resistant to chemicals and disinfectants normally used. Ceilings constructed of gypsum board are preferable to conventional lay-in ceiling tiles. A continuous cove floor that curves up at the wall is desirable. Exposed piping and ductwork should be avoided.
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20. A facility monitoring and control system should annunciate and automatically summon an appropriate response to emergencies such as a fire, hazardous spill, injury, and the activation of a room emergency shower or eyewash station. A first-aid area or a room suitably equipped and readily accessible for immediate treatment should be in proximity to the laboratory suite. 21. Laboratory security should be maintained with adequate room access controls and intrusion detection systems.
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facilitate proper preventive maintenance and regular testing. Figure 2 shows the normal entry and exit (NEE) routes for laboratory workers. Entry consists of passing through the normal entry and exit and proceeding to their respective locker room. Workers then remove their outer garments and secure personnel items that are difficult to decontaminate.
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MD MEN'S NORMAL ENTRY & EXIT ROUTES MR MS ML NORMAL ENTRY ROUTE NAL MG WG WL WS WR WOMEN'S NORMAL ENTRY & EXIT ROUTES WD Figure 2. BSL-3 Biological Laboratory–Normal worker Entry and Exit Routes. Figure 3. BSL-3 Laboratory Workers with Respirators Working at a Biological Safety Cabinet. Page 6 of 10 Siemens Industry, Inc. Document No.
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To leave the laboratory suite, a worker first enters the washroom and proceeds to the de-gowning room where they remove their outer protective garments and place them into a container for disposal or sanitizing as appropriate. Then, they must disinfect any personal items that were with them inside of a laboratory room (eye-glasses, hearing aids, etc.
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Double door interiors are maintained at a lower negative pressurization level as indicated by a single negative sign (-). Although not specifically required, it is desirable to use electrically interlocking doors so that only one door may be open at a time. This helps maintain containment even when a door is opened. Differential Pressure Monitors Differential Pressure Monitors are located at doorways where lab users can confirm proper pressurization.
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0 M MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT ROOM JANITORIAL & MAINTENANCE CLOSETS SUPPORT ROOM M AUTOCLAVE ROOM M P E R S O N N E L C O R R I D O R MD M MR MS ML M M MG M WG 0 WL WS WR WD M I N T E R N A L C O R R I D O R M M M LABORATORY ROOM LABORATORY ROOM LABORATORY ROOM M SPECIMEN ENTRY KEY: 0 M S E R V I C E C O R R I D O R NO PRESSURIZATION (NEUTRAL) SLIGHT NEGATIVE PRESSURIZATION (0.01 TO 0.05 INCHES W.C.) INCREASED NEGATIVE PRESSURIZATION (0.06 TO 0.10 INCHES W.C.
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corridor. Exhaust air from the laboratory suite, laboratory rooms, fume hoods and biological safety cabinets must not be re-circulated to other rooms or parts of the facility, even when HEPA filtered. As with chemical fume exhaust, the air exhausted from biological laboratories must be discharged outside of the building and dispersed in a manner that does not pose a hazard to persons, other buildings, or allows entrainment into building fresh air intakes.