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Preparing Your BSL-3 Lab for Hurricane Season: Essential Steps for Safety and Continuity

September 25, 2024

As hurricane season approaches, the need for robust preparedness in high-containment laboratories, particularly BSL-3 labs, becomes critical. These labs handle dangerous pathogens that require stringent safety measures, making them especially vulnerable during severe weather events like hurricanes. Ensuring the safety and continuity of operations in these labs is paramount to protect both the research being conducted and the surrounding environment. Here’s a guide to help you prepare your BSL-3 lab for hurricanes and other storms.

1. Develop and Regularly Review the Comprehensive Emergency Plan

The first step in preparing your BSL-3 lab for hurricane season is to review your current plan or establish a detailed emergency plan. This plan should outline the procedures for securing the lab before a storm, as well as the steps to take during and after the event. It’s crucial to review and update the emergency plan regularly, ensuring that any changes are communicated to all personnel. Key elements of the plan should include:

Risk Assessment: Identify potential risks specific to your lab’s location and operations. This includes evaluating the lab’s structural integrity, utilities, fuel supply and access to essential emergency services.
Emergency Contacts: Maintain an updated list of key personnel, including lab managers, safety officers, and local emergency services. Ensure that all staff members are aware of the contact procedures.
Evacuation Procedures: Clearly outline evacuation routes and procedures, ensuring that all personnel are trained and familiar with them. Their safety as well as their families is paramount. Onsite personnel need a family evacuation plan.

2. Safeguard Critical Research and Equipment

Hurricanes and storms can cause significant damage to laboratory equipment and disrupt ongoing research. To minimize the impact, it’s essential to safeguard critical research materials and equipment:

Backup Data: Regularly back up all important data and research findings. Store backups in a secure, off-site location or use cloud-based storage solutions that are accessible from remote locations.
Protect Equipment and Research Materials: Secure sensitive equipment and research materials by moving them to safe areas within the lab, away from windows and potential water damage. Use waterproof coverings and store materials in sealed containers.
Refrigeration and Power Backup: Ensure that freezers, refrigerators, and other essential equipment have backup power sources. Verify that the critical systems maintain power in the event of a power outage.

3. Ensure Structural Integrity and Facility Safety

The physical safety of your BSL-3 lab or ABSL-3 lab is a top priority during hurricane season. Conducting a thorough inspection of the facility can help identify potential vulnerabilities:

Inspect Building Structure: Check the building’s roof, windows, overhead storm drainage piping and doors for any signs of wear or damage that could be exacerbated by high winds or heavy rain. Reinforce these areas as needed.
Secure Hazardous Materials: Ensure that all hazardous materials are properly stored and secured. This includes double-checking that all containment procedures are followed, and that chemical storage areas are reinforced against potential leaks or spills.
Test Emergency Systems: Regularly test all emergency systems, including fire alarms, ventilation, differential pressure alarm and emergency power to include local Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS). Station flashlights throughout the laboratory and support spaces. Make sure these systems are fully operational, and that staff knows how to use them in an emergency.

4. Plan for Post-Storm Recovery

Preparation doesn’t end when the storm passes. Having a post-storm recovery plan in place is crucial for resuming operations quickly and safely:

Damage Assessment: As soon as it is safe to do so, conduct a thorough assessment of the lab to identify any damage or safety hazards. This should include structural checks as well as an inventory of equipment and materials. Structural issues could affect containment. Check differential pressures to ensure HVAC equipment has not been damaged. Take photographs for the facilities department of the wet sections of drywall, as mold remediation will likely be necessary.
Decontamination Protocols: If any containment breaches occur, have decontamination protocols ready to address spills, leaks, or other contamination issues. This may involve specialized cleaning teams or additional safety measures to ensure the lab is safe for re-entry.
Communication: Keep open lines of communication with all personnel and relevant authorities throughout the recovery process. Ensure that everyone is informed about the status of the lab and any steps needed to restore normal operations.

5. Review and Update Protocols Regularly

Finally, it’s essential to regularly review and update your emergency preparedness protocols to reflect any changes in the lab’s operations or physical layout. Hurricane season can be unpredictable, and having an up-to-date plan ensures that your lab is always ready to respond effectively.

6. Evacuation

Establish in advance the scenarios that would require laboratory evacuation. Maintaining constant communication with facilities and executive management during the devolution of the facility is crucial for determining when evacuation is necessary.

Conclusion

Preparing your BSL-3 lab for hurricanes and other severe storms is not just about protecting equipment and data—it’s about ensuring the safety of your personnel and the integrity of your research. By developing a comprehensive emergency plan, safeguarding critical assets, ensuring the structural integrity of your facility, and planning for post-storm recovery, you can mitigate the risks associated with severe weather events. World BioHazTec is here to support your lab with expert advice and services, ensuring that your high-containment laboratory remains safe and operational, even during the most challenging conditions. Schedule a free 30-minute consultation or send us an email. Our services to support you include:

Risk assessment
Lab inspection
Certification including testing emergency backup power
Emergency response training and drills
Writing and/or reviewing emergency response plans

Enhancing the Reliability of BSL-3 Laboratory Walls with Wall Cladding

More and more BSL-3 laboratory owners are selecting wall cladding for their wall system. When designing and constructing BSL-3 laboratories, ensuring the durability and reliability of the wall cladding is paramount. Wall cladding, with advanced fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) technology, offers a promising solution for these high-stakes environments. However, addressing potential detachment issues and ensuring the cladding can withstand the unique challenges of BSL-3 labs is crucial. Here’s a detailed guide on how to enhance the reliability of BSL-3 walls with wall cladding. Avoid Detachment Issues Surface Preparation One of the primary causes of cladding detachment is improper surface preparation. To mitigate this risk, it’s essential to: Clean and Prime: Ensure that the substrate surface is thoroughly cleaned to remove any contaminants that might interfere with adhesion. Applying a primer that is compatible with both the substrate and the cladding material can significantly enhance adhesion. Control Moisture Content: High moisture levels in the substrate can compromise adhesive effectiveness. Specifying a maximum allowable moisture content for application can prevent detachment due to moisture-related issues. Application Techniques Proper application techniques are vital for ensuring secure attachment of the cladding material. Consider the following: Adhesive Application Guidelines: Provide detailed guidelines for applying adhesives and tapes, including recommended environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. Clear instructions on curing times for adhesives will help minimize installation errors. Qualified Installers: Specify that the installation should be carried out by a contractor recommended by the manufacturer. Additionally, the installer should have experience with similar installations (World BioHazTec recommends more than 3) to ensure they are familiar with best practices. Substrate Compatibility Different substrates may require different approaches to ensure optimal adhesion. It’s important to: Evaluate Compatibility: Assess the compatibility of the cladding material with various substrates such as wallboard, concrete, and metal. Specify any necessary primers or adhesives to enhance adhesion based on the substrate type. Consideration of Environmental Forces Negative Pressure Gradients BSL-3 laboratories operate under negative pressure to prevent the escape of hazardous materials. This unique environment can exert significant forces on wall cladding: Calculate Maximum Force: Determine the maximum force exerted on the cladding due to negative pressure gradients. This should consider the largest potential pressure differential between the inside and outside of the laboratory. Apply a Safety Factor: Incorporate a safety factor to account for variations and uncertainties in pressure gradients. This ensures that the cladding material can withstand unexpected forces without detachment. Verification of Performance Reference Verification Ensuring that the cladding material has a proven track record in similar environments is essential: Request References: Require bidders to provide references of BSL-3 laboratories where their cladding materials have been successfully used. Include detailed contact information and installation dates. Verify Performance: Contact the provided references to verify the performance and durability of the cladding material in real-world BSL-3 environments. Seam Validation Seam integrity is crucial for maintaining the negative pressure environment in BSL-3 labs: Leak Testing: Specify the use of an air leak tester to validate the integrity of wall seams. This ensures there are no air leaks that could compromise the negative pressure environment. Warranty Given the critical nature of BSL-3 laboratories, a robust warranty is essential: Extended Warranty: A one-year warranty for materials is insufficient. Specify a warranty that covers both materials and workmanship for a minimum of ten years. This provides assurance that the cladding material will perform reliably over the long term. Conclusion By addressing these key considerations, you can enhance the reliability and performance of wall cladding in BSL-3 laboratories. Ensuring proper surface preparation, application techniques, substrate compatibility, and accounting for environmental forces are crucial steps. Additionally, verifying performance through references and seam validation, along with an extended warranty, will help ensure that the cladding material meets the rigorous demands of BSL-3 environments. World BioHazTec provides our clients details about the intricate design of BSL-3, ABSL-3, BSL-3ag, BSL-4 and ABSL-4 labs. To learn more about how we can strengthen your design team, schedule a free 30-minute consultation or send us an email. You are a conversation away from starting down a successful pathway to meet BSL-3 facility compliance.

The 5 Strategic Advantages of Certifying Your BSL-3 Facility

Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) incidents are rare, yet their repercussions are monumental. Operating at BSL-3 demands meticulous protocols and unwavering risk mitigation. While rare, any lapses can have far-reaching and potentially devastating consequences. In this article, we explore the significance of BSL-3 certification. Even though it may not be mandatory in your country, it proves to be a vital strategic move. 1. Professional Accountability In a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facility, professional accountability emerges as the first compelling intention. Activities in a BSL-3 facility include the propagation of high-risk pathogens and long-term storage. This entails a profound responsibility. Researchers operating within BSL-3 facilities are accountable for ensuring not only their safety but also the safety of their colleagues, the community, and the environment. Certification acts as a tangible manifestation of this commitment, demonstrating to stakeholders and regulatory bodies that the organization embraces the gravity of their work. Beyond biosafety, BSL-3 certification also underscores the importance of stringent biosecurity measures, ensuring the safeguarding of these pathogens against unauthorized access and potential misuse. By obtaining BSL-3 certification, operators signal their dedication to maintaining the highest standards of both biosafety and biosecurity, fostering a culture of responsibility and accountability within the facility and beyond. 2. Public Health Preparedness Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facilities play an indispensable role in public health preparedness. When a pandemic strikes, BSL-3 facilities stand at the forefront of the fight, equipped with the expertise and infrastructure necessary to handle and analyze high-risk pathogens. These facilities serve as vital hubs for research, diagnostics, and the development of therapeutic interventions. BSL-3 certification, in this context, becomes a strategic asset, signifying a commitment to being at the forefront of global health emergencies. It positions the facility to swiftly and effectively respond to emerging threats, contributing significantly to public health resilience and preparedness on a global scale. When the real test of a pandemic arrives, a certified BSL-3 laboratory signifies a prepared laboratory, with competent professionals adeptly executing their roles, ensuring a prompt and effective response to safeguard public health. 3. Creating a Safe and Secure Culture In a certified BSL-3 facility, a dedicated commitment to establishing a culture of biosafety and biosecurity is evident. This certification stands as a tangible testament to the management’s unwavering dedication to continuously enhancing biosafety and biosecurity measures. It mirrors a proactive approach towards nurturing a workplace culture that places the well-being of its staff and the integrity of its operations at the forefront. The certification process mandates rigorous adherence to standards, promoting continuous training and evaluation. This level of commitment resonates with the laboratory personnel, instilling confidence that their management is wholeheartedly invested in cultivating an environment where biosafety and biosecurity take precedence. 4. Safety Equals Quality A certified BSL-3 facility not only prioritizes safety and security but also indirectly contributes to the overall quality of results. Taking reference from the World Health Organization’s Handbook on Laboratory Quality Management System, laboratory safety is a cornerstone for establishing robust laboratory practices. By fostering a culture of strict adherence to biosafety protocols, certified BSL-3 facilities systematically integrate quality management principles into their daily operations. This meticulous approach not only safeguards the well-being of personnel but also ensures the integrity of laboratory processes. As safety practices become ingrained in the laboratory’s ethos following international quality management principles, the probability of errors and contamination diminishes, leading to consistently high-quality research outcomes. In essence, the commitment to safety in a certified BSL-3 facility reinforces the crucial connection between safety practices and the reliability of scientific results. 5. International Collaboration Opportunities A certified BSL-3 facility, known for its adherence to rigorous safety and security standards, builds credibility and trust within the scientific community. Collaborators and funding agencies, especially those from different countries, are more likely to engage with a facility that is recognized for its commitment to maintaining high-quality, safe, and secure research environments. BSL-3 facilities that demonstrate adherence to internationally recognized certification standards also make themselves attractive partners for collaborations assuring that research will be conducted in a secure environment, minimizing the likelihood of accidents or incidents. Conclusion In the pursuit of scientific excellence, BSL-3 certification emerges not merely as a commitment to safety but as a strategic gateway to collaborative possibilities. A certified BSL-3 facility, fortified by rigorous safety and security standards, amplifies credibility within the scientific community and encourages collaboration on a global scale. Let World BioHazTec be your strategic partner in preparing your facility to meet our certification requirements, widely acknowledged as the gold standard in BSL-3 certification. Contact World BioHazTec (WBHT) to schedule a free 30-minute consultation or send us an email. You are a conversation away from starting down a successful pathway to meet BSL-3 facility compliance.

Pressure Decay Testing and Why It is Important in BSL-4 Laboratory Annual Verification Testing

What is Pressure Decay Testing? Pressure decay testing is a systematic procedure to validate room construction to determine if the laboratory’s containment barrier defined by walls, floors, ceilings, penetrations, and other construction features meet the required integrity to prevent leakage of unfiltered air from the BSL-4 containment space. Pressure decay testing is the most reliable method to prove that a BSL-4 laboratory room’s envelope is airtight. The National Institutes of Health, which oversees the operation of the BSL-4 laboratories located in Fort Detrick, Maryland, and Hamilton, Montana, indicates that the standard BSL-4 pressure testing method is to negatively pressurize the room to 2 InH2O, and then measure the pressure decay. The requirement for a BSL-4 laboratory is to maintain a pressure higher than 1 InH2O after 20 minutes (Memarzadeh, 2009). This quantifiable test can pinpoint issues with critical equipment in a BSL-4 laboratory including: Air distribution valves Isolation dampers and actuators Isolation dampers bioseals APR doors gaskets Barrier autoclaves gaskets and seals Breathing air system lines Laboratory vents Why is Pressure Decay Testing Important? Pressure decay testing provides an acceptable level of quality for annual verification testing of BSL-3 Ag and BSL-4 laboratories. The complex design and operation of these facilities minimize the potential risk of an aerosolized pathogen to staff, the general population, and the surrounding environment. The pressure decay test verifies that there is no air leakage. Air leakage can compromise research studies through cross-contamination of multiple pathogens. How to Prepare for Pressure Decay Testing? The following steps must occur before conducting a pressure decay test: Verify the facility’s HVAC system is operational and commissioned. Verify the building automation system (BAS) is operational. Provisions for setting up testing equipment are available (pressure transducer enclosures, decontamination ports, etc.) Use either testing vacuum pump or exhaust system to negatively pressurize the system up to 2.00 InH2O. Check all potential sources of leakage for audible or identifiable leakage. To the extent practical, eliminate/minimize potential sources of heat generation so that the space stays at a relatively constant temperature throughout the testing (lights, freezers, motors, etc.) Isolate the affected areas from pressure fluctuations that will affect the testing. Monitor room Differential Pressures (DP) with static conditions (no airflow or pressurization air) to ensure that there are no external effects that will invalidate the results. All plumbing fixtures and floor drain traps are filled with water. If previously identified, all construction deficiencies have been rectified and completed. Ensure no visible damage is apparent to the room under test. All conduit, wiring, and electrical boxes have been epoxy-sealed. All epoxy coatings (if epoxy coatings are present) are in place and free of visible defects. Seamless flooring is in place and free of visible defects. Check valves and isolation valves are in place and operational. Dunk tanks (if installed) are filled. Autoclaves are operational and have their seal barriers in place. APR doors are functional and interface to BAS, and door access control systems are operational. Room temperatures are measured and data logged. Changes in temperature cause changes in pressure. Atmospheric pressure is measured using an instrument with an accuracy of 0.01 In. Hg. which is equivalent to 33.86 Pa or .136 InH2O. A pressure decay test form has been generated. It has been confirmed that room and general laboratory conditions are acceptable for testing the laboratory. The subject test area should be isolated and then allowed to stand for 20 minutes before commencing the test. Acceptance Criteria The room passes the pressure decay test if the residual pressure at the end of the 20-minute period is -1.00 InH2O or more negative (50% of the initial room’s pressure value) under steady state conditions for temperature and barometric pressure. Each pressure zone within maximum containment (BSL-4) must pass two consecutive pressure decay tests. If Pressure Decay Testing Is Not Feasible If annual pressure decay testing is not feasible for some rooms, then another option would be conducting a smoke saturation test. A smoke saturation test is a qualitative test, but it will help the users to identify possible issues with the containment envelope. The maximum containment engineering/maintenance team will need to command the laboratory into maintenance or decontamination mode. The surrounding areas will be more negative; therefore, if there is a leak or issue during the testing, the maximum containment team will be able to identify it. The challenge with this method is that it is only recommended if the rooms are decontaminated. Another option (a little bit messy and more time-consuming) is the use of a soap solution on critical areas. This test is the least accurate option because it will only test perimeter barrier components. The laboratory will require decontamination prior to testing. “Light Pressure Decay Test” If there is a decontamination or maintenance mode for the facility, you can run what we call a “light pressure decay test.” Before a decontamination process begins, you need to make sure the laboratory is airtight. The light pressure decay test is typically conducted from the BAS for testing and running trends. No additional testing equipment is used. This is a non-invasive procedure. What About BSL-3 Laboratories? BSL-3 laboratories can be pressure decay tested depending on the laboratory’s envelope construction system, calculated room’s leakage rate, and room’s isolation capabilities. Pressure decay testing on BSL-3 laboratories is more challenging since, by concept, these types of laboratories are considered “leaky labs” (infiltration of air is required). However, with the implementation of good room isolation standard operating procedures, the pressure decay test can be achieved with no issues. Recommendations Pressure decay testing is a team effort. Our recommendations to have a successful pressure decay test include: Make sure to get involved with experienced staff and a third-party consultant such as World BioHazTec from the beginning. Pressure decay testing is a critical testing procedure that requires experience and knowledge of BSL-4 and BSL-3 laboratories. Pressure decay testing should not be rushed. It requires coordination and is a team effort that involves the biosafety officer, Responsible Official, Alternate Responsible Official, facility director, facility personnel, and contractors. Differential pressure meters and test equipment calibration must be current and traceable to NIST. Check and double-check items which could inadvertently affect the testing outcome. If room or atmospheric conditions are not stable, such as a thunderstorm, do not hesitate to reschedule the test. If you would like to learn more about pressure decay testing, contact World BioHazTec for a free consultation or send us an email. Works Cited Farhad Memarzadeh (2009, September 15). Pressure and Temperature Correction for BSL4-Pressure Decay Test. (O. o. National Institutes of Health, Producer) Retrieved 2023, from Pressure and Temperature Correction for BSL4-Pressure Decay Test: https://orf.od.nih.gov/TechnicalResources/Bioenvironmental/Documents/PressureandTemperatureCorrectionforBSL4_508.pdf