Sealed Negative Ventilation
BCU - Bio-Containment Unit
1997 - The First Bio Containment IVC unit introduced to the market
System Features
Designed specifically with Bio Containment in mind:
Designed in conjunction with our customers who were looking for an alternative to glove-box isolators, Allentown brought the first BCU to market in 1997. Over the years we've continued to work together with our customers to improve the unit's performance in every way...leading most recently to the introduction of the newest generation of the Allentown BCU family.
Patented 4 Point Seal, the first and best IVC containment solution:
We were challenged to create a system with sealed cages AND a sealed rack from the macro environment. The heart of our system is the self-sealing Auto Sealing Ports on both the cage and our rack ensure a level of containment second to none.
Rack Level HEPA Filtration - certifiable HEPA-grade air quality:
HEPA filters must work together with the HEPA assembly and then be challenged by a trained certifier to ensure proper operation. Knowing this, our customers insisted upon a HEPA assembly which was protected, certifiable and cost effective to operate. The Allentown HEPA Assembly is a tamper-proof and certifiable HEPA filtration system. Easily accessible to certifiers, cost effective with an average filter life span of 2 years and requiring only 2 HEPA filters per rack, our system provides secure and certifiable HEPA-level air filtration.
Sealed Cages and Rack, for the protection of your research and you:
Our BCU cages utilize a silicone compression gasket and easily-operable cages locks to provide a completely sealed cage. Working together with a rack system that is fully seam welded, utilizes sanitary connections and stainless steel integrity points, the cage and rack function as a completely contained bio containment unit. Sturdy, dependable and long lasting, the system was designed specifically for your safety and the protection of your research.
Cage Features
- Individually sealed and clamped cages
- Total cage isolation and constant cage pressure on and off rack
- One-hand operable BCU Secure-lock system ensures an airtight seal
- Single piece, molded liquid silicone rubber gasket seal system
- Self-sealing rack fittings allowing optimal blower performance
- Sealed supply and exhaust ports protect the cage both on and off the rack
- Specially designed air diffuser insures drying of the bedding (prolongs cage changes)
- Lid mounted pre filter prevents build up of debris in ports and plenums
- Molded in durable Udel® polysulfone
- Fully autoclavable
- MOUSE CAGE SIZE - 67 sq. in.
- RAT CAGE SIZE - 142 sq. in.
Rack Features
- 10-hr. battery back-up with redundant power source
- Weekly cage change capable via single pass, constant airflow pattern yielding 40 ACH
- Precision fabricated stainless steel frame system with enhanced fitting alignment
- Rack level HEPA filtration - HEPA filtered air to animal - HEPA filtered exhaust
- Filter, blower and power alarming via dry contacts
- Negative cage operation with control loop feedback for constant airflow
- On-site control board programming of blower alarms, filter alarms, disconnected hose, battery operating airflow point and AC operating airflow point.
- Blower battery gravity lock system when installed on rack
- Real-time battery charge indicator
- Real-time AC or Battery indicator
- Fully autoclavable
- Optional Wi-Com Vantage Wireless Rack Monitoring System
- Optional thimble hookup for the removal of heat and odor
- MOUSE RACK CAPACITY - 42-cage (BCU1000) or 98-cage (BCU2000)
- RAT RACK CAPACITY - 30-cage (BCU3000) or 60-cage (BCU4000)
Air Flow
Negative Pressure Flow: Effluent air is pulled through the in-cage prefilter and drawn from the cage before being exhausted through a HEPA filter. The resulting "vacuum" condition in the cage draws fresh air in through the stainless air diffusion bullet, and in turn draws from the supply HEPA filter. Blower speeds are continuously adjusted to maintain exact pre-set pressure.
