Key Steps and Points of Installation and Commissioning of Purification Equipment for Animal Laboratories

In the construction of animal laboratories, the installation and commissioning of purification equipment are of great significance. It is directly related to the stability of the experimental environment, the accuracy of experimental results, and the safety of experimental personnel and laboratory animals. As a professional manufacturer of purification equipment, Guangzhou Cleanroom Construction Co., Ltd. will introduce in detail the key steps and points of the installation and commissioning of purification equipment for animal laboratories today.

The installation team must first carefully inspect the site of the animal laboratory. According to the design blueprint of the la

boraory, clarify the installation location of the purification equipment. Different functional areas, such as the animal breeding area, experimental operation area, and equipment maintenance area, have different requirements for the layout of the purification equipment. Ensure that the installation location of the equipment will not affect the daily operation of the laboratory and is convenient for subsequent maintenance and overhaul. For example, large air handling units should be installed in an open and well-ventilated space close to the reserved openings of the supply and exhaust ducts, which is convenient for pipeline connection and equipment heat dissipation.

After the equipment and related materials arrive at the site, they need to be strictly inspected. For purification equipment, check whether the model and specifications are consistent with the purchase contract, and whether there is any damage or deformation on the appearance of the equipment. Take the high-efficiency filter as an example, check whether the filter paper is damaged and whether the frame is firm. At the same time, for various materials required for installation, such as air ducts, valves, sealants, etc., check their quality certification documents to ensure that the materials meet the relevant standards of the purification project. For example, the material of the air duct should have good heat preservation and corrosion resistance, and the sealant needs to have excellent sealing performance and aging resistance.

Fresh Air and Exhaust System: The installation of the fresh air system should ensure that the location of the fresh air inlet is reasonable, capable of inhaling clean outdoor air and avoiding being close to pollution sources, such as garbage disposal stations and main traffic arteries. The installation of the exhaust fan should ensure that its air volume and air pressure meet the exhaust requirements of the laboratory, and timely discharge the odors, harmful gases, and microorganisms generated during the experiment. The connection of the exhaust duct must be tight to prevent gas leakage, and the duct should be provided with an appropriate slope to facilitate the discharge of condensate water.

Filtration System: The installation order of the primary, medium, and high-efficiency filters cannot be reversed. The primary filter is generally installed at the fresh air inlet to filter large particles of dust in the air; the medium filter is installed in the air conditioning unit to further filter smaller particles; the high-efficiency filter is installed at the end of the air supply outlet to finely filter the air finally and ensure that the air sent into the laboratory meets the purification standard. When installing the filter, pay attention to its sealing performance to prevent bypass leakage. Sealant strips can be used between the filter and the frame, and air leakage detection should be carried out after installation.

Air Conditioning Unit Installation: The installation location of the air conditioning unit should be stable, and the shock absorption measures should be in place to reduce the vibration and noise during operation. The chilled water pipes and cooling water pipes connected to the air conditioning unit should be well insulated to prevent condensation. At the same time, ensure that the control system of the air conditioning unit is installed correctly and can accurately adjust the temperature and humidity of the laboratory. In animal laboratories, the temperature usually needs to be controlled at 20 - 26°C, and the relative humidity is controlled at 40% - 70%.

Transfer Window Installation: The transfer window is used to transfer items between different clean areas. During installation, ensure that it is closely connected to the wall and has a good seal. The ultraviolet germicidal lamp of the transfer window should be installed firmly and can work normally to effectively kill the microorganisms on the surface of the transferred items.

Air Shower Installation: The air shower is a device for blowing off the dust on the body before personnel enter the clean area. During installation, ensure that its ground is level and the opening and closing of the door are smooth. The angle of the air shower nozzles should be adjusted appropriately to fully cover the human body and efficiently remove dust.

Air Volume and Wind Speed Commissioning: Use professional instruments such as air volume hoods and anemometers to detect and commission the air volume and wind speed of each air supply outlet and exhaust outlet. According to the purification level requirements of the laboratory, adjust the frequency of the fan and the opening of the valve to make the air volume and wind speed reach the design values. For example, for a barrier-level animal laboratory, the air change rate generally requires 10 - 20 times per hour.

Temperature and Humidity Commissioning: Through the control system of the air conditioning unit, adjust the flow of chilled water and hot water, as well as the working status of the humidifier and dehumidifier, to make the temperature and humidity of the laboratory stable within the specified range. During the commissioning process, place temperature and humidity sensors at different positions in the laboratory to monitor the uniformity of temperature and humidity.

Pressure Difference Commissioning: There are pressure difference requirements between different functional areas in the animal laboratory. For example, the clean area should maintain a positive pressure relative to the non-clean area to prevent external pollutants from entering; while the area with infectious experiments needs to maintain a negative pressure to prevent the spread of harmful microorganisms. By adjusting the opening of the supply and exhaust valves, make the pressure difference between each area meet the design standard. Generally, the pressure difference between adjacent areas is maintained at 5 - 10Pa.

Dust Particle Detection: Use a dust particle counter to detect the number of dust particles in different clean areas of the laboratory. According to relevant national standards, judge whether the filtering effect of the purification equipment on dust particles in the air meets the standard. For example, for a class 10,000 clean area, the number of dust particles ≥ 0.5μm per cubic meter of air shall not exceed 352,000.

Microbial Detection: Detect the microbial content in the air of the laboratory through the sedimentation bacteria method or the airborne bacteria method. Place petri dishes at different positions in the laboratory, expose them for a certain period of time, and then conduct microbial culture and count the number of colonies to evaluate the control ability of the purification equipment on microorganisms. Different grades of animal laboratories have different requirements for microbial content. For example, in a barrier system animal laboratory, the number of air-borne bacteria should be less than or equal to 2.45 per dish.

The installation and commissioning of purification equipment for animal laboratories is a complex and elaborate process. Every step and point is related to the quality of the laboratory environment. With years of professional experience in the purification field, Guangzhou Cleanroom Construction Co., Ltd. can provide high-quality and reliable services from pre-planning to post-installation and commissioning, helping you build a high-standard animal laboratory. If you have any needs in the purification equipment for animal laboratories, please feel free to contact us.t