Energy Efficiency

Nothing in a lab consumes more energy than a ducted chemical fume hood. Ducted hoods consume three to six times the amount of energy of a -80°C ULT freezer. For comparison, a 6 ft wide ductless fume hood consumes just 270 watts of power, with the sash open and the fans at full speed. That’s just one tenth of one ULT freezer or, looked at another way, 30 to 60 times less power than a typical ducted fume hood (see F-1).

If the make-up air demand for the ducted fume hoods in your lab is so great that it exceeds minimum ventilation rates, for at least some periods of time, then the potential exists for reducing the total volume of air being delivered to the lab. That reduction in air volume is where operational cost savings will be generated. Heating, cooling, filtering, dehumidifying and delivering make-up air to labs is very expensive (see F-2). In North America, the typical cubic foot per minute (CFM) of fresh air costs between $5.00 and $8.50 per year in energy costs, and a standard, ducted fume hood can consume between 600 and 1,250 CFM of air. This high operational cost of ducted hoods provides ample savings to offset the costs of replacing filters over time with ductless fume hoods. A ducted, chemical fume hood will not function on its own. Ducted hoods require many complex and expensive HVAC systems to be installed in the building so that air is properly extracted from the hood, and tempered make-up air is delivered into the laboratory. Those systems include:

1. Make-up Air Handler Unit (AHU) to temper and supply fresh air to the lab ($$$)
2. Hood exhaust fan ($$)
3. Hood exhaust ductwork ($)
4. Hood exhaust airflow control valve and associated controls ($$)
5. Supply air ductwork and insulation ($$)
6. Supply air control valve ($$)
7. Penthouse or mechanical room space for all of the HVAC systems ($)
8. The costs associated with longer construction schedules and delayed occupancy that must be considered when using ducted hoods. ($$ – $$$$)

Ductless hoods, on the other hand, are unitary pieces of equipment that do not require any of these complex HVAC systems. Therefore, when using ductless hoods, many of the HVAC items listed above are eliminated and those remaining can be downsized significantly. Also, the construction schedule can be shortened due to the simplicity of installing ductless hoods.

Independent architects and engineers have determined that the HVAC systems required to make a ducted hood function cost between $20,000 and $25,000 USD for each hood (see F-3). These costs are in addition to the cost of the hood itself. Each lab project will be unique in many ways, and these costs will differ slightly from project to project; however, there are significant HVAC system costs associated with every ducted fume hood that cannot be avoided regardless of the type of ducted hood being used (i.e. from the simple Constant Volume hood to the complex High-Performance fume hood). All ducted hoods require these HVAC systems to make them work properly.

If you are looking to add fume hoods to your lab, or to reduce your lab’s operating costs, consider using ductless fume hoods. Contact your preferred ductless hood manufacturer, and a detailed analysis of your specific application will be performed. The results of this risk assessment will include estimated filter life from which you can calculate operating costs and thus energy efficiency.

The Technology and the Effectiveness of the Removal of Odors and Safety Aspects

Even with the significant savings in energy and overall reduction in construction cost, there are still concerns regarding safety and the product’s efficiency, leaving some to ask, “is it worth the savings?” It is always important to know the manufacture of the products, their history and level of expertise with molecular and particulate air filtration. In order to do this, you must ask the following questions:

1. Do you have a published chemical listing of what your “filters” are able to retain and if so, does the listing provide the overall retention capacity expressed in grams?
   • This would represent the overall quantity of the chemical which the filter is able to adsorb before there has been detection at the filters exhaust no greater than 1% of the TLV. *As per the AFNOR NFX 15.211*
     
2. How are your chemical handlings validated?
   • A chemical questionnaire should be completed by the user and reviewed and validated by a Ph.D. chemist in order to determine the overall efficiency of the filter’s life cycle. *As per the AFNOR NFX 15.211*
     
3. Will you be provided with an efficiency report of the filter’s performance?
   • A detailed report should be provided showing the efficiency of the filter’s performance, chemicals that will be detected for breakthrough and filter configuration options. *As per the AFNOR NFX 15.211*

These are all critical steps to ensure you are choosing the right manufacturer and have 100% confidence that your safety will never be compromised.

Products Efficiency

With flexible filtration technology, there are many solutions which can be provided:

• Liquid handling and powder application used within the same hood. No turbulence, due to the even distribution of air flow, allows for precise weighing of up to six decimal points. (Ductless filtering fume hoods)
• Removal of any cross contamination within smell and/or taste labs. (Laboratory–air filtration system)
• Storage of samples without the odorous emissions released into other areas of the facility.
• Keeping your samples contained and easily accessible and your facility odor free. (Filtering storage cabinets)
• Removal of nuisance odors present within the facility, not having to go home smelling like your chemistry (Laboratory–air filtration system)

All products should work as a complete ecosystem, delivering clean air throughout your entire facility. This is all accomplished without the need for any upgrades to the building’s infrastructure or the buildings energy load.

Laboratory professionals who are exposed to chemical vapors, multiple times a day, may not have considered what percentage of noxious fumes are invading the air they breathe while at work, and beyond. While some vapors are obviously vile, others may be creating an unhealthy, odorless contamination of the air being breathed. There is also the concern that these toxic substances are going home with you through evaporation on your skin and clothing that may not be discernible but have the potential to sicken you and those you live with.

Assessing the danger

Whether you are a lab technician, chemist, department head or supervisor tasked with maintaining healthy working conditions for staff, there are a number of steps that can be taken to ensure all hazards are defined and eliminated. Introducing control measures, such as air purification to contain polluted air, should follow a complete examination that includes:

• A determination of the physical state of the toxic material (paste, powder, liquid)
• The toxicity relevant to the substance (ex. LD50, LC50)
• The chemical properties of the substance (vapor pressure, odor threshold, boiling point etc.)
• Potential health effects (negative reproduction effects, eyes, nose, skin irritations)
• Discovering the potential routes of exposure (route of escaping fume, inhalation, skin absorption)
• The amount of chemicals being used as well as the size and layout of the room(s)
• How the material is being handled, how often, where is it being stored

Storing chemicals safely

Performing an assessment of how the toxic chemicals are stored, used, handled, and disposed of will be the best way to find out if existing ventilation or other hazard control measures are adequate. Research will recommend that all airborne contaminates can be eliminated with flexible, ductless filtering chemical fume hoods and ceiling air filtration stations. This combination ensures complete purification of contaminated air throughout the entire laboratory by drawing the noxious odors away from people in the work area and returning purified air to the lab space. These ductless filtering chemical fume hoods are also more flexible, economical, and easier to install, as there are no HVAC alterations needed. Keep in mind that not all applications are suitable for a ductless fume hood which is why it is so important to speak to an expert and have a chemical assessment completed before making a choice.

Containing vapors throughout the process

A major source of toxic vapor spread is in the handling and storing of chemicals. The following recommendations should be adhered to for safe chemical storage in general:

1. Ensure that the storage area/cabinet/unit is out of direct sunlight and ventilation is internal (through self-contained filtration) which will prevent vapors escaping every time materials are taken out to use or put away to store.
2. All toxics should be stored away from any processing or handling areas, as well as eating areas or places where protective equipment is stored.
3. Ensure that emergency eye-wash and shower stations are ready and nearby
4. The storage area should be fire-resistant and made with non-combustible materials
5. Fire extinguishers and suitable spill clean-up equipment should be nearby and available

Finding a healthy solution

When researching chemical storage products remember to include options that will protect everyone in the lab environment against chemical inhalation in the use, handling, and storage of the chemicals. Consider using ductless filtering chemical fume hoods and laboratory storage systems as they are safe, convenient, easy to install and maintain, and do not require costly HVAC changes to infrastructure. In addition to the many models available to choose from, existing safety cabinets can be equipped with innovative filtration units for the added benefit of keeping the lab environment free of toxic chemical vapors.

What lab wouldn’t be tempted by the prospect of reduced costs, energy, and time savings, and an overall improved environmental impact? While the adoption of eco-friendly and low-waste practices is an attractive goal, achieving true sustainability can seem a hopeless mission for teams whose projects and research questions are ever changing. Born from this challenge, however, is a novel solution that could change the way science operates forever.

In this exclusive SelectScience® interview, we speak with Philippe Fristot, Head of Real Estate for Research and Innovation at cosmetics giant L’Oréal, about how he is helping to develop an exciting new wave of sustainable, flexible, and agile laboratories.

Four steps to future-proof your lab

In 2011, Mr. Fristot received a request from a researcher who was eager for a responsive style of workspace that would make it easier to test new scientific instrumentation and workflows. In the process of answering this inquiry, Mr. Fristot discovered a new way to distribute the necessary equipment around a laboratory. The concept, now affectionately referred to as FlexLabs, relies on four simple solutions that enable the quick and easy rearrangement or removal of equipment:

• All utilities are distributed to the benchtops by movable media columns
• The media columns, benchtops, and larger pieces of equipment are housed on castors
• Approximately 30% of floor lab surface is kept free
• Fixed equipment, such as sinks or fume hoods, must be placed around structurally permanent features of the lab, such as pillars or walls

L’Oréal FlexLab in Chevilly, France, with Erlab Green Fume Hoods
© Philippe Fristot

A complete makeover in just one day

Today, L’Oréal has implemented FlexLabs throughout its facilities, with the concept being continually refined over time. “Each time we renovate or build a new lab, FlexLabs are the new norm,” says Mr. Fristot, “and as each project progresses, we learn several new lessons to improve the design of the next space.” He also highlights the importance of input from end-users, explaining how they have “helped the concept evolve into something increasingly more flexible, efficient, and economical”.

This new approach to lab design redefines research management and the potential impact of these new spaces is significant. Research groups will no longer need to rely on costly technicians, project managers, and contractors to change the layout of a laboratory, as it can be reorganized to suit the individual needs of a project in just one day. “When a new approach to research is proposed, you no longer need to spend money on redeveloping your facilities, nor do you need to wait for construction to be completed,” explains Mr. Fristot.

L’Oréal FlexLab in Brazil © James Steinkamp Photography

GreenFumeHood Filtration Technology from Erlab has been instrumental to L’Oréal’s research for many years and now plays a key role in the new FlexLabs. “Sustainability is a driver for each L’Oréal project,” Mr. Fristot points out, “and having safe technology that allows us to dramatically reduce the required air volume exchange is a benefit we can’t ignore.”

In addition, the flexibility of Erlab products allow L’Oréal to adapt to the rapidly changing needs of its laboratories. “They perfectly complement our FlexLab concept,” Mr. Fristot says. “Due to the lack of fixed exhausts, you can move the fume hoods like simple benches, all you need to find is an electrical plug.”

Energy consumption chart of different laboratory equipment (CEEL, 2019)

Connected laboratories around the world

Development of the FlexLab concept is now the new norm in both the Research and Innovation labs and in L’Oréal’s factories. “Our ultimate goal is to have this very simple tool that can be developed and implemented anywhere in the world,” declares Mr. Fristot. This involves the nurturing of collaborations and partnerships with local vendors to address location-specific challenges such as import taxes, legal compliance, and individual project costs. L’Oréal is open to sharing its experience in the development of FlexLabs and encourages the adoption of these practices for better-aligned research, to the point where some of L’Oréal’s biggest competitors have now adopted the concept for their own labs.

L’Oreal FlexLab Installations

• 2012: Saint-Ouen, France
• 2013: Mumbai, India
• 2014: Pudong, China
• 2017: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• 2019: Chevilly Larue, France

Looking to the future, the next step for L’Oréal is the implementation of comprehensive digital solutions to enable different teams across the globe to communicate seamlessly and align their laboratory setups and work together on projects more effectively.

The conventional ducted fume hood has been the workhorse of many a chemistry laboratory since the early 20th century and continues to be in widespread use. The advent of ductless fume hoods (also known as filtered fume hoods) around 50 years ago was a significant milestone but, since then, advances in filtration technology, safety and flexibility have enabled them to adapt fully to the changing demands and safety standards of the modern laboratory. At the forefront of efforts to keep pace with research safety needs is industry-leading company Erlab, based near Rouen in France. Dr. Cédric Herry is Erlab’s Director of R&D, a position he has held for the past 18 years, and an expert in air filtration and safety who sits on European Standardization Committees for laboratory equipment.

It is safe to say that what Dr. Herry doesn’t know about fume hoods appears hardly worth knowing, from design to installation, safety and maintenance. In this article, we ask Dr. Herry to share his decades of experience to help you choose the right equipment for your lab while maintaining the highest levels of safety.

Dr. Cédric Herry, Erlab’s Director of R&D and air filtration expert

Ducted or ductless?

But how have ductless hoods improved to begin matching ducted hoods? Dr. Herry describes two main features that have been improved over the past 50 years: “First, the retention capacity. Today’s activated carbon filters can trap a larger quantity than 50 years ago. The second major improvement is their ability to trap approximately 99.999% of the chemicals that are used in laboratories.”

This has been enabled by advances in filtration technology, to which Dr. Herry testifies. “If you put a very sensitive analyzer after the filter in most good ductless fume hoods, most of the time you do not detect anything over the baseline limit of the detector, which is amazing,” he says. About the only contaminants that pass through modern filters are those which are gaseous at room temperature and pressure, such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide or nitrous oxide.

The main limitation in using ductless fume hoods relates to quantities of contaminated air. Activities involving the evaporation of several liters of chemicals will challenge the capabilities of any filter, but how is it possible to know if a ductless hood is safe for a specific application?

Safety and applications

Dr. Herry alludes to several key parameters in considerations of safety, which in reality apply to the use of any type of fume hood – ducted or ductless. The first is proper risk assessment, which must then be linked to use of the appropriate hood with the right containment factor, including consideration of whether embedded sensors are present to detect filter saturation. The next parameter to consider is the proper use of a given fume hood once chosen, and finally, there is maintenance which is most important to Dr. Herry. “You’ve got to maintain your fume hood, just like any other safety equipment in your lab. A reputable manufacturer will provide a comprehensive risk assessment as well as filter life estimate. Always follow your manufacturer’s recommendations on the filter lifetime and dutifully change them for optimum performance – just like you would do for your car,” he says.

Dr. Herry is also quick to point out that 99.9% of ducted fume hoods have no filter at all on their exhaust, which means they are not without risk. “All the chemicals used in normal ducted fume hoods are released into the atmosphere. If the laboratory is correctly designed, it will go high enough to disperse with no risk. But sometimes the fresh air is drawn near to the lab’s extraction and the extracted air can be recirculated into the air you breathe in the lab,” Dr. Herry cautions.

Ductless fume hoods are also more appropriate for powders since they are trapped at the filter level; there is a risk of powder accumulation within the duct of a conventional fume hood. Dr. Herry stresses Erlab’s safety record and the reasons for it: “Most of the filtered fume hoods sold by Erlab are safer than ducted fume hoods because we manage the process from risk assessment to maintenance with no disruption.”

And then there is the convenience factor. Most ductless fume hoods can be installed in two-to-four hours and can easily be dismantled and moved from place to place, something that is not feasible with a ducted hood. “You can move the workstation, something that makes your lab more flexible, and flexibility for research is very important,” Dr. Herry says.

Ductless fume hoods are certainly a cost-effective alternative and improve environmental sustainability, according to Dr. Herry, who also adds that repurposing is very straightforward if the aims of research change: “Most ductless fume hoods can be easily updated and modified, sometimes customized. Filters can be changed and you can combine HEPA with molecular filters, add them, or remove them.”

The final analysis

The main challenge remaining for Erlab is to overcome apprehensions in people’s understanding of the new technology versus traditional methods, as ductless fume hoods now come with advanced capabilities that probably match or exceed those of ducted fume hoods.

Dr. Herry concludes by asserting how important it is to select the appropriate tool for a given application. He has no reservations about where Erlab’s latest ductless fume hoods fit into the market: “Today we’ve got very efficient filtered fume hoods. If they are chosen correctly according to risk assessment, and maintained and used as directed, we can confidently say that they’re safer than any other solution on the market.”

Find out more about Erlab and how its Captair Smart Ductless Fume Hood could help you

Scientific research at diverse academic institutions such as Cornell University, New York, U.S.A., is not without its challenges, especially when it comes to keeping people safe in the lab. From small labs working with hazardous chemicals and teaching laboratories to scaled-up operations and production scale start-ups, safety is top priority for Ellen Sweet, Lab Ventilation Specialist in Cornell’s Department of Environmental Health and Safety.

Sweet’s ambitious program for lab ventilation management looks not only to adhere to strict safety standards but also to reduce the ventilation rates in labs and deliver optimal energy use and sustainability. The objective for the program straddles both the Environmental Health and Safety and Energy Management departments at Cornell. Applying this program can be difficult in spaces with both staff and students, special projects, and changing research grants. Sweet explains: “There are multiple people in the labs at Cornell, and so I have to think about how much ventilation is needed in those spaces and what chemical procedures need to go into fume hoods, what needs other types of ventilated enclosures, canopy hood, or downdraft table. It’s very specific to each individual space and has to take into consideration changes that will happen as the workforce changes over time.”

The convergence of so many different scientific disciplines at Cornell also presents issues that must be managed and controlled. When it comes to the safety of people moving around in their lab space, multi-use labs with multiple hazardous chemicals, and other health and safety risks, there are unique challenges to overcome. Flammable gases, such as hydrogen, are a good example. Used in many applications, hydrogen can be purchased in different concentrations, for example as a 3% or 4% hydrogen/nitrogen mix. Getting the right concentration to meet the research needs while lessening the hazards of the material enhances the safety for everyone in the lab and addresses the regulatory requirements, while reducing costs. Sweet explains: “It [hydrogen gas] may have to be in a flammables cabinet that’s ventilated. It would have to be sprinklered and there are quantity limitations for that. The lab that might need it for gas chromatography might be at the top floor of a nine or ten-floor building, and there are code implications for that too.”

Ventilation strategies

Cornell has approximately 1700 ducted fume hoods, other hoods, process exhaust points, and ventilated enclosures. However, when a group and their science changes, they may not have the protective equipment or enough room that they need anymore. With temporary research projects, scientists can easily purchase a ductless fume hood, as they might a biosafety cabinet and, when the research is done, they can unplug it, stick it in a storage space and pull it back out next time they need it. “The problem with this,” says Sweet, “is that ductless fume hoods, just like most biosafety cabinets on campus, pull air through from the face and into the unit. They filter and then dump whatever they filtered, or did not filter, back into the room.”

This means the air is released into the lab and then pulled to exhaust points in the room, before being removed from the building. Plugging in a ductless hood and not utilizing it properly, e.g. using chemicals that are not absorbed into the filters in the unit, means that the air will just get circulated and pumped back into the room. “You might as well be doing that chemical procedure right on top of the bench and just have everybody getting exposed,” says Sweet. This presents a significant problem, but for Cornell, Erlab is on hand to provide a skilled solution.

Certified safety

The staff at Erlab take laboratory safety seriously. Conducting a thorough risk assessment as per the AFNOR NFX 15.211 & ANSI Z9.5 2012 standards before installing a ductless fume hood the following key questions need to be considered:

After carrying out this assessment according to these high standards, Erlab will then certify the ductless fume hood for use with defined chemicals, their volumes and concentrations. As part of the certification, Erlab will provide an efficiency study of the filter performance (filter life cycle. This is Erlab’s guarantee that, under the stated condition-of-use, there will never be chemical release exceeding 1% of the threshold limit value (TLV. This is further safeguarded with built-in sensors, redundant filtration, and accompanied by Erlab-led staff training to ensure proper use and re-certification if usage changes over time.

The future of lab ventilation and energy conservation strategies

While safety is a priority, Cornell University also has a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2035. University units have pressed on to take a deeper look into energy conservation strategies. In one of its latest building renovation projects, they are now looking at all fume hood locations for where the Erlab ductless fume hoods are appropriate. In the future, delivering safety at minimal energy costs is the goal, but not at the cost of world-leading research. “Researchers do have to focus on what’s best for their research, so the aim is [doing this with] optimized energy use,” says Sweet.

Working closely with the American Chemical Society’s Committee on Chemical Safety and its division of Chemical Health and Safety, Sweet hopes for the standardization of chemical identification across regulatory agencies. This would aid the defining of categories that chemicals fall into, such as which materials fall within the definition of (Category 1) acutely toxic inhalation hazard under the Globally Harmonized System for Labeling Chemicals, versus highly toxic by inhalation under the International Codes Council. This would enable information about the hazards of chemicals used in labs to be easier to interpret and the design of new labs to optimize ventilation to achieve energy savings and ease of maintaining a lab.

Analytical testing laboratories and research facilities in the agriculture industry rely on state-of-the-art equipment to perform complex analysis and chemical applications. From terpene profiling to contaminate testing for pesticides, residual solvents, heavy metals, and mycotoxins/ aflatoxins, an analytical testing laboratory requires specific engineering control devices to operate efficiently and to provide a safe environment for the staff.

Air renewal systems, safety workstations, clean air enclosures, and storage solutions play an important part of your laboratory safety program and must be selected with care. Air filtration systems capture chemical, biological, and particulate pollution at the source, and are an effective solution in mitigating chemical exposure, and other safety hazards in a room.

Find out more about Erlab solutions and overcome your challenges when setting-up your new laboratory or upgrading your existing operations.

SAFETY WORKSTATIONS FOR YOUR PLANT SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS

HOW IT WORKS

The Smart hoods are used to safely perform solvent-based extraction methods, and sample preparation applications which often contain formic acid or other harmful acids.

These Containment Ventilated Enclosures (CVEs) are also recommended to place your moisture analyzer (loss on drying system), as they will capture the terpenes volatilized during the process at the source.

You can also perform the residual-solvent testings in these enclosures to prevent the propagation of volatile solvents back in the laboratory space.

Microwave digestion is another common application carried-out in the Smart hoods to protect the laboratory staff from noxious vapors of nitric acid.

More instruments can be placed in the Smart hoods to avoid any release of contaminants, such as VOCs, acid vapors, particulates, in the ambient air (rotary evaporators, analytical balances, microbalances, mixing plate, vortex, homogenizers).

MODELS

• 392 Smart (3-ft model)
• 483 Smart (4-ft model)
• 714 Smart (6-ft model)

ACCESSORIES

• Fixed bench (for all models)
• Mobile bench (only for 392 Smart)
• Particulate filtration with HEPA H14 filters
• 822 Smart under bench filtered storage cabinets for solvents & acids (one unit for 392 & 483 Smart; up to two units for 714 Smart)

BENEFITS

• Advanced laboratory-grade filtration technology
• Powered by Smart Technology, a simple and intuitive communication by light. Real-time monitoring of the performance of the fume hood (chemical breakthrough sensor, airflow sensor)
• Quick and simple installation
• No connection to ductwork required. Dramatically reduced construction and equipment costs as no ductwork installation or HVAC upgrade is required (lower infrastructure costs upfront and lower energy costs over time)
• Energy efficient – uses 65W of electrical power – equals typical incandescent light bulb
• Environmentally sustainable as no contaminants are being released in the atmosphere

AIR PURIFICATION STATIONS

HOW THEY WORK

Air renewal is a fundamental requirement for maintaining hygiene, safe conditions and sample test repeatability in an analytical testing laboratory.

The Halo Smart air purification stations capture chemical emissions and noxious odors at the source and permanently lock them in an ultra-high-efficiency activated carbon filter, returning clean air to the laboratory space, with no HVAC connection.

These air purification stations are effective in the heavy metal analysis room, as the harmful gases tend to accumulate in the ambient air. Upon transferring samples from a microwave digestor to a fume hood for further dilution, releases of chemical vapors will most likely occur and contaminate the laboratory space. The Halo Smart will actively purify the said area, adsorb the chemical vapors, and clean the heavy metal room’s ambient air.

In the general laboratory spaces, methanol, acetonitrile and other organic solvents are frequently used for plant extraction, and have been known to quickly accumulate in the air. For other rooms such as those with GCMS for the analysis of terpenes, solvents, and pesticides, the GCMS often releases chemical vapors through the split-vent trap and the vacuum pump into the laboratory space. While monitoring these contaminants as per state regulations, they can eventually appear as background in the GC systems. The Halo Smart will directly address these issues and continuously remove contaminants and VOCs from the ambient air, not only protecting the staff but also keeping pollutants from the analytical systems present.

Other areas can benefit from the Halo Smart, such as chemical storage rooms, to capture harmful vapors and lingering odors. You can also consider them for adjacent office spaces, which can be contaminated with chemical and terpenes smells, exposing the staff to unnecessary pollutants.

Installing a Halo Smart in the laboratory guarantees a high level of air quality without having to resort to cumbersome air renewal systems or connections to HVAC which can redistribute chemical or biological atmospheric pollutants throughout a building.

MODELS

• Halo Smart VOCs (suitable for VOCs, solvents)
• Halo Smart Chemplus S (suitable for VOCs, solvents and acids)
• Halo Smart P – also exists with particulate filtration

BENEFITS

• Advanced laboratory-grade filtration technology
• Detection and filtration of the main categories of pollutants (VOCS, acids)
• Standalone system, totally independent of the HVAC system. No HVAC upgrades needed, means less concern of proper room balance and control of RH levels, and less upfront and operational cost
• Contributes to controlled direction air flow patterns
• Runs 24/7. No accidental shut off. Continuous air quality improvement

MICROBIAL TESTING WITH A PCR WORKSTATION

HOW THEY WORK

When performing microbial screening, strict considerations must be taken to maintain a sterile environment and avoid cross-contamination. The qPCR analysis will require a clean workspace to protect your samples and avoid any contamination risks.

Frequently installed in the microbiological testing room, PCR workstations are HEPA-filtered enclosures designed to perform sensitive qPCR preparations, while protecting against both environmental pollution and cross-contamination.

It features a built-in ventilation system and a laboratory-grade HEPA H14 filter to dramatically reduce contamination risks from the laboratory’s ambient air that may contain pathogens from other contaminated samples present in the room (i.e. aspergillus). These PCR workstations also feature high energy UV lights to decontaminate the worktop from biological cross-contamination between two operations.

MODELS

• Bio 391 Smart (39-inch enclosure + dynamic enclosure)
• Bio 321 Smart (32-inch enclosure + dynamic enclosure)
• Bio 320 Smart (32-inch enclosure + static enclosure*)
  *No ventilation module and HEPA filter, UV light only

BENEFITS

• Particle free workstation
• Powerful UV decontamination (featuring 2 lamps of 254 nm each)
• Powered by Smart Technology, a simple and intuitive communication by light.
• Real-time monitoring of the performance of the workstation
• Quick and simple installation
• Ergonomic design with UV resistant front and side panels
• Very low energy consumption

SAFE STORAGE CABINETS FOR CHEMICALS AND WORKING SOLUTIONS

HOW THEY WORK

The Smart filtering storage cabinets are designed to safely keep all solid and liquid chemicals from your laboratory (incl. solvents, acids, bases and powders). These models are also suitable to store working solutions frequently used in the analysis of agricultural crops, including mobile phase mixtures for the HPLC, acidified acetonitrile for pesticides extraction, laboratory quality control mixtures, and other solvents for extraction applications.

These filterering storage cabinets will also be an added safety solution in the microbial laboratory space to safely keep chloroform solutions often employed in DNA extractions for PCR analysis.

Also suitable to capture terpenes odors when storing samples inside the cabinet (avoid unnecessary, lingering, nuisance odors in your laboratory or nearby office spaces).

MODELS

• 822 Smart (small model), two versions
• 834 Smart (large floor standing model)
• 1634 Smart (extra-large floor standing model)

BENEFITS

• Advanced laboratory-grade filtration technology tailored to the storage of powders and liquids
• Powered by Smart Technology, a simple and intuitive communication by light. Real-time monitoring of the performance of the storage cabinets (chemical breakthrough sensor, airflow sensor, door sensor)
• Quick and simple installation
• Clear doors for easy viewing and quick access to your bottles
• Secure, lockable storage
• High corrosion resistance
• No connection to ductwork required.
• Energy efficient – uses 35W to 45W of electrical power – equals typical incandescent light bulb.
• Environmentally sustainable as no contaminants are being released in the atmosphere.

FILTRATION SYSTEM FOR YOUR EXISTING STORAGE CABINET

HOW THEY WORK

Hexane, methanol, acetonitrile, formic acid, nitric acid, ormic acid, and hydrochloric acid are the most commonly stored materials in analytical laboratories. They will be often kept in flammable or corrosive chemical storage cabinets without appropriate ventilation system connected to it. In this situation, significant concentration of chemical vapors will accumulate inside the storage cabinets, exposing the technician to unwanted chemicals and safety hazards when doors are opened.

Accidental spills inside the cabinet may also occur, representing another serious risk for the laboratory personnel that you need to address.

The ChemTrap is a filtering device designed to be integrated onto a flammable or corrosive chemical storage cabinet, resulting in the additional benefit of protection against hazardous emission inhalation. Designed as a standalone system with no need for ducting, it is equipped with an adjustable pipe that accommodates connection points from the side or the back of your existing cabinet.

MODELS

• ChemTrap Solvents
• ChemTrap Acids

BENEFITS

• Advanced laboratory-grade filtration technology tailored to the storage of powders and liquids
• Turns your safety cabinet into a standalone filtration unit
• No release of hazardous emissions when doors are opened
• Elimination of noxious vapors through filtration
• Requires no connection to HVAC system
• Helps to renew and purify laboratory air
• Compatible with the majority of safety cabinets
• Quick and simple installation
• Easily connects to existing threaded bung

The Hazards

Additive Manufacturing is a marvel of the modern world. Within hours, possibly even minutes, you can hold a pre-production version of a part to be used in a new design. Additive manufacturing technology, also called Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), significantly compresses the product development life-cycle and lowers the cost burden of exploring new ideas and designs. All of this is good, great in fact, but brings with it some new concerns for safety.

Depending upon the type of filament used for printing (e.g. PLA, ABS, Nylon, etc.), hazardous vapors, fumes and particles can be emitted in dangerous concentrations. Ultrafine Particles (UFP) present risks that are associated with lung damage and translocation to the bloodstream (NHI) Harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are emitted in varying degrees and are highly dependent upon the filament material being used. Frequent exposure to UFPs and VOCs is now associated with adverse health effects on the human body.

Image credit: P. Azimi, D. Zhao, C. Pouzet, N. E. Crain and B. Stephens, “Emissions of Ultrafine Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds from Commercially Available Desktop Three-Dimensional Printers with Multiple Filaments,” Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 1260-1268, 2016.

3D printing applications will also include post-processing methods to obtain the desired look and feel for your prototype. Cleaning, smoothing, welding, and surface finishing are all part of this process, and will require the use of chemicals (e.g., Dichloromethane, Ethyl Acetate, IPA, Acetone, THF). Such substances also pose a health hazard to the operator, which needs to be addressed with safety measure.

As with most source generation, the further away you are the less concentration you’ll be exposed to and therefore the safer you should be. However, in many cases, the 3D printer is needed close by to the workstation or occupied areas. Therefore, most 3D printers should be housed in a protective enclosure, or equipped with an exhaust system, that will capture and remove the airborne hazards from the breathing zone.

Safely Adding 3D Printers to Your Space

Reference: https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2019/04/09/am/

The Hierarchy of Controls teaches us that elimination is the first step to reducing a risk. Since 3D printers are here to stay, we then must move to Substitution, the second step. Some filaments are less hazardous so substituting a lower temperature or otherwise safer filament is certainly worth investigating. But all filaments/media will emit some amount of vapors, nuisance odors and/or ultrafine particles. Distance and ventilation may be successfully used in large rooms, or areas with segregated ventilation, but in most cases capture and containment at the source is the safest path forward and this requires an engineering control, the third step in the hierarchy. Ductless filtering fume hoods are an engineering control that have been used for over 50 years.

Image credit: CDC

A ductless filtering fume hood system, also known as a Containment Ventilated Enclosure (CVE), is a cost effective alternative to ducted exhaust systems which require make-up air to be brought into the room. Ductless filtering fume hoods system can be equipped with both HEPA (particulate) and carbon (chemical) filtration, thus providing total protection to the 3D Additive Printer users. This configuration allows the 3D Printer users to change filament materials and not be concerned about increasing the risk of exposure.

Simplicity by Design

Airborne Risk

Though we are mainly concerned with mitigation strategies for SARS-CoV-2, there are additional risks that were a part of our everyday lives well before the global pandemic. These risks, though unseen, pose a significant health threat both pre- and post-COVID-19.

Aerosolized Virus Transmission

There are many ways that a virus is transmitted, but airborne aerosolized droplets are the primary form of spread. When these microsized droplets are released, they remain suspended in the air for several hours (or longer). Even worse, they are recirculated through a building’s ventilation via the return and supply vents.

Unfortunately, these tiny droplets wreak havoc on our bodies—particularly our respiratory systems—as they are inhaled deep into our lungs. Our bodies are incapable of filtering these tiny particles out, leading to lower respiratory tract infections and increasing the severity of the disease.

However, because these droplets are so small, there has to be a fairly high “viral load,” or concentration, of droplets for transmission to occur. This will affect every individual differently, which means that we can never truly know what a safe environment is. Therefore, the best course of action is to put proper air treatment solutions in place to ensure cleaner, safer air for everyone.

Everyday Dangers

While our attention has been on the risk of aerosolized viral transmission, it should not be our only concern. Every day, we are exposed to hidden dangers that impact our health. These are called PM 2.5 (particulate matter at 2.5 microns or less in width).

Similar to airborne viruses in size, PM 2.5 particles have a significant impact on our overall health. In fact, they contribute to over 7 million premature deaths worldwide every year. Poor air quality is truly a silent killer that needs to be addressed. The majority of our exposure to concentrated PM 2.5 is in our homes, offices, gyms, and other public spaces. Most ventilation is inadequate and propagates these pollutants, increasing the concentrations we are exposed to rather than filtering them out.

Before the pandemic, indoor air quality (IAQ) was a known problem, but it wasn’t a mainstream topic of discussion. COVID-19 revived debate of air quality issues that are quickly enveloping us. This is now a widely reported, serious subject we see in everyday media. We now read daily warnings regarding IAQ, poor ventilation, and the combined impact that both have on our everyday health. So, other than risk of viral transmission, what are the additional safety hazards associated with poor IAQ? Consider the 7 million premature deaths associated with poor air quality every year

During the wildfires that spread across California, Oregon, and Washington in early September 2020, the air quality was so poor that businesses had to shut down. Some care facilities had to evacuate due to the increase in pollution, which severely impacts those already compromised due to other underlying health conditions. While we are all concerned about how we can mitigate the risk of viral transmission, we also have to be very cognizant of the other invisible killers lurking in our homes, office buildings, and public places.

Mitigating Risk in Your Commercial Space

However, with upgrades, there are always challenges to consider. These include the impact integration could have on the building’s ventilation and, of course, costs.

Ventilation System Upgrades: High-Efficiency Filters

Let’s start with the option to upgrade to highefficiency filters. How effective are they and how can they impact the ventilation system? The use of high-efficiency particle filters (HEPA) or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) when installed within the Air Handling Units (AHUs) can reduce airborne pollution and viral loads. Particles leave a room, enter the return vent, and go through the ductwork, where they eventually make it to the filters installed in the air handling units. The air is then scrubbed before returning back to the supply vents. These AHUs also scrub outdoor air before it enters the supply vents (see diagram 1).

While in principle this looks like an effective way to treat the air within your facility, looks can be deceiving. There are many obstacles we need to be aware of.

In order to remove at least 85% of particles, viruses, and bacteria from the airstream, you must use a filter that is at least rated MERV 13. This rating demands a certain level of performance when it comes to capturing tiny particles. They must capture:

Here’s the problem: when virus particles are aerosolized—when we speak, sing, cough, breath, or sneeze—they can float in the air at a size between 0.125 and 2.5 microns.

Based on MERV 13 efficiency ratings, these dangerous particles are captured at an efficiency of only 50%. With this degree of filtration, a facility will not be able to effectively mitigate risk of transmission.

Diagram 1: Air Handling Units

Additionally, these filters sacrifice comfort; when adding a MERV 13 filter you are adding air flow resistance and in turn a larger pressure drop across the filter. Too much pressure will add strain on the blower’s motor and reduce air flow, ultimately reducing comfort and compromising your heating and cooling system. Because of these challenges, most facilities don’t have the ability to add MERV 13 filters, let alone more advanced HEPA filters.

Air Handling Systems

The financial impact cannot go unnoted, but can be reduced by researching the technologies available. While we mentioned the cost impact of ventilation on an annual scale, we have not addressed the upfront cost of upgrades. This cost varies greatly depending on the facility’s size, current layout, and available AHUs to process the additional cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air required. This makes it difficult to provide a standardized cost estimate, but the impact could be significant based on these factors:

Air Handling Systems

The ceiling-mounted Halo filtration system was originally designed to protect laboratory personnel from laboratory pollution exposure. The design was based on a very delicate equation of the right airflow, depth of carbon bed, and air distribution.

This unique approach was developed through over 50 years’ experience in providing air filtering solutions to laboratories across the globe. Our flexible and adaptable designs give us the ability to integrate HEPA H14 or ULPA U17 filters to the Halo. This has allowed us to adapt to the necessary demands of HEPA-filtered air purifiers, even outside of the laboratory. Because of the strict standards we have had to adhere to within the lab world, the Halo was designed with more than just filtration in mind. It also takes into consideration the impact the Halo would have on the facility’s ventilation effectiveness (VEFF) and increases in air change rate (ACH).

The Halo’s proven efficiency in a lab setting is transferable to the commercial world and has provided us the ability to ensure we meet all necessary criteria, such as:

Data derived from a number of different thirdparty tests proves Halo’s performance against aerosolized viruses and PM 2.5. Tests were conducted in both controlled spaces and in real-world conditions to truly understand the efficacy of the Halo’s performance.

With other virus mitigation options, there are serious risks to consider. Simply put, there is a lot of snake oil available on the market. Everywhere you look, someone seems to have the best possible solution. They promise
99.99% decontamination or effectiveness. The reality is there are many unethical companies that are taking advantage of the current anxiety-ridden air purification market. At Erlab, our data is unmatched, third-party certified, and not full of “fluff” data. We provide the truth and set the expectations according to the product’s actual performance in a realworld setting. There is simply no false data or misleading performance criteria. The Halo will perform as advertised and will mitigate the risk of airborne spread, while also improving your IAQ. This is a long-term solution; the Halo is a permanent infrastructure improvement without the infrastructure cost or complexities.

This is a solution for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s well-being.

The Long-Term Playbook

What should a business do in order to improve air quality and minimize the risk of viral transmission? It starts with understanding your current ventilation. You should seek to answer these key questions:

In most cases, there should be a supplemental solution to tie in with your existing ventilation system. The most effective supplemental technology would be air filtration with HEPA rated filters, positioned above the breathing zone (ceiling mounted) to ensure proper airflow patterns, and increased ventilation effectiveness with proper room mixing. The size of each room will need to be taken into consideration as it will determine the effectiveness of air purifiers. Whichever direction you decide is best for your facility’s unique situation, the decision should be a permanent one backed by data.

Halo Smart Air Purification Stations

Efficacy of the Halo HEPA system against aerosolized viruses:

The Halo was tested within a controlled Biosafety Level chamber under challenge conditions where MS2 bacteriophage was purged into the chamber and held for 90 minutes in order to obtain total log reduction results over time. As seen in the below graph, log reductions were achieved within 15 minutes, with a continuous decrease throughout the 90 minute challenge test, which equates to a 99.99% reduction in viable MS2.

Real-world performance results

In order to further validate the Halo’s efficiency at mitigating the risk of airborne viral transmission, we tested the Halo within an isolation room of a confirmed COVID 19 positive patient against an adjacent isolation room of a confirmed COVID 19 patient of which both shared the same air handling system. Each room was swabbed at the floor, window surface and at the return registers for SARS-CoV-2 using the gold standard of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The results as (seen below) provide us with some key pieces of information, such as; Viral shedding of each patient and reduction of present SRA-CoV-2 RNA. Based on these results it is clear the patient in room 120 (with the Halo) had significant viral shedding as they were at the beginning of isolation, whereas the patient in room 118 (without HALO) viral shedding was minimal as they were at the end of isolation. However, even with the significant amount of shedding from the patient in room 120, there was still no detectable RNA found at the return register, or within the airstream further solidifying the performance of the Halo at mitigating airborne viral loads and concentrations. Antithetical to these results are the results in room 118, where SARS-CoV-02 RNA was present at the return register and within the airstream even without detectable RNA present anywhere else within the room.

Conclusion

As we deal with a viral pandemic, we also have to be sure to address the unfortunate reality of poor air quality. We can take immediate positive action concerning the air we breathe indoors with the proper technologies and mitigation strategies in place.

As a lab manager, one of Jennifer’s key responsibilities is ensuring the safety of her team members. It stands to reason that this is a tremendous undertaking and a very serious responsibility.

While not all labs need chemical fume hoods, Jennifer’s application handlings do require the additional protection with engineered controlled systems such as fume hoods to keep hazardous vapors of chemical emissions away from the breathing zone of occupants present in the lab and those performing the handlings. At times, she also needs to perform sensitive weighing of certain API’s and needs to ensure the stability of her samples, as well as protection from particles generated during the weighing of solid dose API’s. This is typically a handling that needs to be performed in a completely separate containment ventilated enclosure (CVE) or powder weighing enclosure due to the additional stability required when weighing down to precise measurements. While there are currently some ducted fume hoods in place, the growing lab needs to add a number of hoods for their expanding workforce to meet the demands of their research programs. The dilemma Jennifer is faced with is the cost associated with adding hoods and the facilities current air handling capacity limits.

Additionally, the facilities department is complaining about the increase in cost due to the increased energy load this will have on the building, which does not help with their current sustainability efforts and will put their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint at risk.

With all this in mind, serious consideration has to be given to low energy, efficient, flexible solutions that include sustainable processes such as a low carbon footprint that promotes a clean indoor and outdoor environment. Jennifer knows that this strategy will score points for the lab’s reputation and include a sizable return on capital investment.

Jennifer is determined to find new solutions for her lab that will satisfy all safety, budget, and environmental concerns.

With safety issues that required better solutions, and an approval process that needed data and guidance to pass muster, Jennifer created a research report to share with her team, colleagues, board members, and facility manager. She spent the better part of the day in her office researching articles, websites, and scientific papers, as well as interviewing colleagues in similar professional roles. This is Jennifer’s report on what exists in her lab today and how it can be improved to meet all her suggested goals for safety, budget, and the environment.

Jennifer’s Research Report

(Submitted to the board, March 11, 2021)

Our Safer, Greener, Laboratory of the future is now.

Our existing laboratory is a true energy, economic, and expansion burden.

Research shows that laboratories use far more resources than any other building or facility, making them one of the largest energy-consuming sectors in the country. On average, a typical laboratory burns through five to ten times more energy per square foot than offices, an impact that may be intensified tenfold for clean rooms and specialized facilities.

For decades laboratory spaces have relied heavily on complex and large ventilation systems to operate. For this type of workspace, the primary functions of ventilation systems are to provide safe, comfortable, breathable environments for all lab users, and to minimize exposure to hazardous air contaminants. It means that laboratories should have mechanically generated supply air and exhaust air.

All lab rooms use 100% outside air which must be heated or cooled for comfort before it is brought into the lab and then exhausted back to the outside. Lab building ventilation rates are particularly high, somewhere between four to twelve Air Changes per Hour (ACH). ACH is the total times the air is changed over per hour. Simply put, air changes per hour are the number of times you change over the total volume of air in your room or space. This means that, when using ducted fume hoods, every hour, the entire volume of air in a laboratory is completely replenished with clean air four to twelve times at a minimum, requiring a tremendous amount
of energy.

For example, if a 900 sq’ lab with twelve ducted hoods needs to achieve ~ 4 ACH, they will need a minimum of 1,500 CFM of supply air, or 100% outside air (OA), with 1,800 CFM of exhaust air. These minimums are based on a VAV system which reduces the cfm pull from each fume hood, based on sash height and provides an example of all sashes close, with a minimum cfm of 150, per hood. However, as the sashes are opened, the CFM is dramatically impacted with a total max CFM of supply air increasing to 8,700 CFM, and to 9,000 CFM at the exhaust.

If the same lab was to use eleven filtered fume hoods while keeping only one ducted fume hood the max CFM requirements would be reduced by 66%, achieving a very controlled 4 ACH during unoccupied hours, and 8 ACH when occupied.

The Case Against Exclusive Use Of Ducted Hoods Currently Used In Our Lab

Ducted fume hoods are a central component of the ventilation in a laboratory, increasing the amount of air needed for a facility. They are the standard engineering control devices for protecting laboratory personnel when working with hazardous and/or toxic chemicals, and one of the most energy intensive aspects of a laboratory operation. It is now well-known that one ducted fume hood can consume as much energy as three to four homes in the US, an unacceptable carbon footprint.

Source: My Green Lab (2016 Presentation)

It logically follows that the amount of energy needed is greatly augmented in spaces with multiple ducted fume hoods, generally called hood intensive laboratories. The energy required to condition the air is just a part of the big picture, a significant amount of additional electricity is required to run large fans to move the air through the building and through the fume hoods.

Laboratory ventilation and ducted fume hoods are costly to run, especially when one needs to heat or cool the air supply in the room. Today, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) account for more than half of the energy consumption in most laboratories.

Figure 1. Annual electricity use in Louis Stokes Laboratory, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

Recently, new stringent regulations have increased the overall complexity and therefore the footprint of laboratory ventilation in a building. Add to this the fact that as building use changes over time ducted fume hoods remain inflexible and unable to meet the renovation challenges without costly upgrades to the HVAC system.

Adding To An Already Large Carbon Footprint

Not only do ducted fume hoods consume large amounts of energy, but laboratories also pollute the environment by continuously exhausting harmful and toxic chemicals. The same chemicals, which are deemed dangerous in our working spaces, are inevitably pushed into the atmosphere every second laboratory ventilation is used. Thus the uncomfortable paradox of laboratories in our modern society

Jennifer’s Recommendation – Embrace The Big (Clean Air) Picture

In 2021 and beyond we should no longer release pollution into the air. All laboratories should be using filtration to capture chemicals, biological and particulate pollution at the source, releasing only pure air back into the lab and exhausting nothing to the outside environment. Through extensive research I have come to the conclusion that air purification and filtration are the best solution to my quest for the safest lab equipment that meets budgetary guidelines, while reducing our carbon footprint.

I submit to you that their over 50 years of expertise in the research and development of air filtration for protection against VOCs, virus and bacterial pollutants is second to none. Both our facility manager Charlie, and I, love the ability to set up, plug in and get to work, with no HVAC renovations or major interruptions in our project schedule. I am confident the board will approve of the savings in energy we will realize, as well as our contribution to a ‘greener community’ environment. One of my favorite caveats to Erlab’s products is the option to easily move them to different areas in our lab to suit the type of research we are doing at the time. This type of flexibility will increase our efficiency. By way of further explanation, and as I believe that chemical/particulate air filtration is the key to safety in our lab and a safeguard for our community, I was most impressed by the fact that at the heart of every Erlab product is the most powerful activated carbon filter available on the market today. My research confirms that this innovative filter technology is the nucleus and differentiating factor separating Erlab from all competitors in this space. I am including photos of the items I have selected to demonstrate the quality built into these filtration systems.

Jennifer’s Questions Answered

In the beginning of this narrative Jennifer posed 4 questions she needed answers to, in order to protect her lab team from the most common hazards experienced in typical labs. Below are the solutions she decided on and included in her report.

Solutions:

Erlab filtering ductless fume hoods and Erlab secure weighing stations. They will be a benefit to my team members performing chemical handlings. It will allow my team to stay focused on their tasks knowing that all toxic gases, particles and CMR substances are instantly drawn up and into the unit’s filters before any dangerous or toxic fumes reach the critical breathing zone, clothing, or skin. As an additional benefit each filtering fume hood has 7 different models and each weighing station has 4 convenient models to choose from.

Solutions:

The best systems I found for our projects that require protection from pollution and dust are the Erlab PCR workstations and Clean Air enclosures. Erlab PCR workstations are fitted with a highefficiency filtration system (HEPA/ULPA U16) which will keep our work area particle-free and prevents any pollution from reaching our handling operations. A UV lamp also decontaminates the work surface and prevents biological cross contamination between two operations. There is even an optional molecular filter that can protect handling operations from VOCs present in the laboratory atmosphere, while this was not my primary concern, the added layer of carbon filtration really peaked my curiosity of how VOC’s could impact our final product. There are also clean air enclosures fitted with highefficiency HEPA H14 (or ULPA U16) filters, and an optional carbon filter for optimal protection from particulate and ambient contamination providing an ISO class 5* working environment, according to the EN ISO 14644-1: 2015 standard, which will meet my need.

Solutions:

Erlab filtration captures chemical, biological, and particulate pollution at the source and immediately traps it in a filter which is perfectly suited for our type of research. There are no vapors or chemicals escaping to the outside environment – ever! Although this is true of all Erlab filtration products, we liked the added air filtration security that their Halo air purification system provides. This robust air purification product is mounted on the ceiling, so it takes up no floor space. The Halo will also serve to improve our indoor air quality by removing viruses, bacteria, and environmental pollution (PM2.5). Additionally, the Halo will also increase our facilities ACH without the cost of upgrading our HVAC system. This increase of ACH is also coupled with an overall improvement to our ventilation effectiveness, which will eliminate dead zones, or areas where air movement was not balanced properly within our facility. Charlie, the facilities manager, has suggested it would be invaluable in our cafeteria, conference rooms, and staff lounge as well as our lab, especially as the lab teams are all returning soon to their onsite lab schedules.

Solutions:

With Erlab’s filtering chemical storage cabinets our solutions will be close at hand while keeping our lab areas free from any pollution, vapors, and escaping odors. This area was of great interest to me, not only because it is the most effective protection for my team against breathing chemical fumes we encounter daily, but also because of the built in SMART technology that offers safety features like a ‘prolonged open door’ alert, and user friendly, intuitive operations with a highly efficient lightbased interface for visual clues to operational status. We are looking forward to having our lab air fresh 24/7. There are also 4 convenient filtration cabinet options to choose from and we are particularly interested in the filtering storage cabinet that can fit under our existing lab benches, which we expect will be a big time-saver.

Heading Home Happy

Jennifer stretches and reaches to turn off her desk light, smiling at the hiking photo of her happy family on her desk, content to know that today she has done some of her best work. Jennifer has presented her research and findings and is satisfied she has found the best solutions to not only motivate her team, by showing she cares about their health and well-being, but also happy in the knowledge that she has fulfilled an important responsibility to her colleagues, management, and her community. Her carpool buddy pops in the door indicating they are ready to go home and as Jennifer slides in she starts planning the next family hike and picnic on her phone.

SMART FILTRATION ELIMINATES CHEMICALS, VIRUSES, AND BACTERIAL POLLUTANTS FROM INDOOR AIR

When implemented correctly, an air filtration system helps everyone breathe easier

Indoor air can be hazardous to human health and well-being. It may be contaminated with larger particulate matter, such as dust, pollen, and mold, as well as bacteria and viruses (including SARS-CoV-2) that are easily transmitted between building occupants. Indoor air may also be contaminated with very small particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), including combustion compounds, organic compounds, and metals, among others. PM2.5 is especially hazardous as these particles easily penetrate the lungs, and can worsen asthma, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. In addition to the health risks, contaminated air in the laboratory environment may contribute to inaccurate and inconsistent experimental outcomes. Standard heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are often insufficient to filter these contaminants, and upgrades and modifications are costly and cumbersome. Alternatively, air filtration systems are a cost-effective solution to improve air quality. Selecting a high-quality system and taking into consideration the specific requirements of the space will ensure success.

Indoor Air Quality Matters

Poor indoor air quality is an occupational hazard, and the cause must be identified and managed to ensure the well-being of all employees. In some cases, inadequate ventilation, airborne particles (especially PM2.5), and airborne chemical pollutants, along with other environmental factors may contribute to sick building syndrome, a situation in which individuals experience acute health-effects associated with time spent in the building. Signs and symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea, cough, skin irritation, allergies, and flu-like symptoms, among others, which can contribute to reduced work efficiency and increased absenteeism.

Perhaps one of the leading factors contributing to concern over indoor air quality is the COVID-19 pandemic, and the high transmissibility of the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to the World Health Organization, the main route of transmission for SARS-CoV-2 is via respiratory droplets between individuals in close contact in crowded, indoor settings and inadequately ventilated spaces. Many workplaces must implement new measures, including air filtration, to ensure employee safety.

Laboratories pose additional challenges for maintaining air quality, as they are unique environments with multiple potential contaminants. In addition to common allergens, bacteria, and viruses, many laboratories contain chemicals such as formaldehyde and other organic compounds (VOCs) that pose health risks. Air filtration systems must be equipped with appropriate filters to safely remove these gases and vapors.

Ultimately, the effects of poor indoor air quality are not constrained to the laboratory space. Offices,
meeting rooms, and lunch rooms, among other spaces may also contain air contaminated with allergens, particulates, aerosols, and viruses that can impact human health. As such, implementing a robust air filtration system throughout multiple spaces is essential to support employee health and well-being across the laboratory organization.

Selecting the Right Product and Configuration for Maximum Benefit

To ensure optimal results when implementing an air filtration system, it is important to consider several factors such as the type of filter, airflow, room size, and performance sensors, among others.

HALO air purification stations can be configured with filters for gases and vapors, or particulates and aerosols, depending on requirements. The exclusive modular filtration column enables users to select from a variety of molecular and particulate filters to create a powerful solution for any space. The one size fits all approach is significantly flawed due to a number of factors, such as; molecular retention and the effects of too much air flow, type of chemicals to be captured, and flow rates to allow for diffusion of smaller particles such as those between 2.5 and 0.125 micrometers in size.

The HALO C carbon filters are designed with Neutrodine® technology for organic vapors, formaldehyde vapors, and acid vapors. These filters effectively adsorb toxic chemical emissions in ambient air, and HALO C is compliant with ANFOR NF X 15-211 laboratory grade molecular filtration safety standard.

Alternatively, for the filtration of airborne viral and bacterial pollutants, HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air), and ULPA (ultra-low particulate air) filters are required. The HALO P filtration system can be equipped with HEPA H14 filtration with 99.995 percent efficiency according to the most penetrating particle size (MPPS) method, and EN1822 standard. H14 HEPA filters are designed to specifically provide filtration to complex sanitary conditions, including the significant reduction and propagation of all airborne viral and bacterial pollutants in clean-rooms and in all laboratory grade microbiological safety cabinets for safe handling of pathogenic microorganisms. ULPA filters are provided as an option based on customer requirments. U17 ULPA filters have 99.999995 percent efficiency according to the MPPS method and EN1822 standard. Both the HEPA H14 and ULPA U17 offer a dust free air filtration efficiency 10 to 1000 times more powerful than many commercially available air purifiers.

In addition to filter type, the room size and airflow requirements must be considered. CFM (cubic feet per minute) quantifies the amount of air the purifier can scrub, and must be sufficient for the space to ensure optimal protection. The HALO C provides 135 CFM of air treatment, and one unit is recommended for every 3,000 cubic feet of volume area. The HALO P provides 170CFM of air treatment and one unit is recommended for every 3,500 cubic feet of volume area. When implementing an air filtration system, it is advisable to consult a product expert to ensure sufficient CFMs for reliable protection.

Each air filtration system should also be equipped with an appropriate performance sensor, coupled to a simple communication system. HALO C filter performance for organic vapors, formaldehyde vapors, acid vapors, and organic vapors, formaldehyde vapors, acid vapors, and other pollutants relies on semiconductors and electro chemical sensors, whereas HALO P HEPA and ULPA filter performance is timer-based and measures static pressure drops. HALO purifiers enable simple and intuitive communication via light interface.

Light pulsations provide real-time information to room occupants of the unit’s performance status and their level of protection.

A Smart Sustainable Solution

Air filtration systems offer a unique advantage over HVAC in that they constantly filter room air without releasing it back into the atmosphere. This prevents the redistribution of chemical or biological airborne pollutants throughout the building. The HALO P addresses room level virus mitigation for optimal viral load concentration reductions.

Compared to HVAC, these systems also create energy and space savings. HALO has a minimal 50 Watt energy requirement, and the compact unit is easily ceilingmounted to save space.

The effects of poor indoor air quality are significant, and taking steps to ensure a safe and healthy workplace benefits the entire laboratory organization. Erlab’s HALO air purification stations offer superior protection and ease of use, and their technical team has the necessary expertise to ensure the correct filters and configuration for every room of your organization, to help everyone breathe easier

HALO C

An effective air purification system for toxic chemical emission

Sustaining Healthy Indoor Air for the Protection of Lab Personnel and Experimental Results

Smart Air Purification Stations are an efficient solution for cleaner air

Product Datasheet

HALO

Professional Laboratory Grade Air Purifiers

Filtration of VOCs, Viruses, and Viable/Non-Viable Pollutants