Within the scientific, pharmaceutical and clinical applications, it is essential to have spaces that are free of bacteria or microorganisms that can contaminate the workspace.
The laminar flow hoods are thosetools that allow to obtain a sterile and safe area for any need that is required inside a laboratory. They can be: Horizontal and Vertical. Basically it constitutes a space, which,
This type of equipment is used for certain processes where extreme control of contamination is needed.through a specific air treatment, allows working in an area with strict control of non-road particles.
Normally, these systems are used for microbiological control procedures, packaging process, sterile filling, etc. but in no way should they be used for processes in which strains of contaminating biological agents are involved, whether they are known or not. For these cases there are biological safety cabinets, prepared for the protection of the product / process, the operator and the environment.
To understand the purpose of laminar flow equipment, it is necessary to consider its operation, and the physical space where it will be located.
First of all, we must consider that extremely clean areas will be required whenever working with products or processes with requirements of a certain degree of sterility. These zones are constituted by systems that work under a laminar flow pattern.
How is the laminar flow generated?
The laminarity is generated thanks to a constant speed in the air outlet that allows to homogenize the distribution in the workplace. This is possible thanks to the placement of HEPA filters as a preliminary step to the air outlet. However, considering a complete room with filters of these characteristics would be extremely expensive, and the question we must ask ourselves and if we really need the entire surface covered with HEPA filters. While these systems may differ in some constructive characteristics, maintaining a constant laminar air flow is fundamental to the objective. So it turns out that we could reduce the requirement to a clean or ultra clean area, instead of thinking about the entire area under this condition.
There are two main sources of pollution in an area with a specific control requirement, these may be external (associated with the environment), and internal (produced within the area either by personnel or by type of work). In the case of the former, the reduction of contamination is achieved with the different stages of filtering through which the air must pass from outside to reach the environment. In the case of the second, it is necessary to work on strict procedures, both for the development of the activity and for cleaning, even considering the possible events.
The laminar flow hoods, in this case, contribute to the recirculation of a clean air in the environment where they are located, being that they have a continuous work of air renewal. Do not forget that they take it from their environment, filter it and return it to the environment with an extra stage of absolute filtration, and this process is constant.
In the case of the laminar flow hoods, the air exit velocity, in a constant way, continues and homogeneous distribution through HEPA filters, allows moving the generated particles in the work zone causing a sweeping effect out of said area. This mechanism achieves a working space of grade A with a very low number of particles of different sizes.
Now, if we understand that the laminar flow system provides us with a work zone free of contaminating particles, that in addition, the site environment will benefit from continuous use, as well as the use of a controlled environment will be advantageous for the operation of the system, we can consider that many times the faults associated with the operation of the equipment are given by the way in which they are used.
A laminar flow hood, is not a storage cabinet, or a desk, or a waste receptacle, but a critical work tool, so it is important to provide adequate care and maintenance to allow consistent work results throughout its useful life
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