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The Biosafety Level 2 Laboratory: Laboratory Design and Facilities

The facilities required in a biosafety level two laboratory include the following:

• Doors
  Self-closing doors are required for access control. They must be closed when work is in progress inside the lab and they should be kept locked when no one is present in the laboratory.
   
• Sink
  A sink must be available and supplied for handwashing (i.e., stocked with soap and paper towels). It should be located near the exit door.
   
• Easily cleaned
  The lab must be designed in a way that allows it to be cleaned easily. Carpets and rugs are not allowed. Spaces between benches, cabinets and equipment must be accessible for cleaning.
   
• Furniture
  Furniture in the lab must be appropriate for the anticipated use. Bench tops must be impervious to water and resistant to heat, organic solvents, acids, alkalis and other chemicals. Chairs used in conjunction with lab work must be covered with a non-porous material that can be easily cleaned and disinfected.
   
• Windows
  If the lab has windows that can be opened to the outdoors, they must be fitted with screens.
   
• Biological safety cabinets
  Biological safety cabinets (BSC) must be installed in a manner so that changes in room air do not interfere with the operation of the cabinet. They should be located away from doors, windows that can be opened, high traffic areas, and other areas that could cause disruptions in the airflow of the cabinet. They must be tested and certified at least annually and whenever they are relocated or serviced. BSCs should be operated in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. See the following section of this manual for additional information: Safety Equipment- Biological Safety Cabinets.
   
• Vacuum lines
  Vacuum lines must be protected by High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters.
   
• Eyewash stations
  An eyewash station must be readily available.
   
• Airflow
  Ventilation systems must allow for inward flow of air without recirculation to spaces outside of the laboratory.
   
• Waste decontamination
  A method for decontaminating lab wastes (i.e., autoclave, incineration, etc.) must be available. It is the responsibility of the generating department to decontaminate all solid non-sharps biohazardous waste and all liquid biohazardous waste. The ORCBS is responsible for the removal and proper treatment of sharps waste. See the MSU Biohazardous Waste Management Plan for additional information.

BSL2: Standard Microbiological Practices

Biosafety Manual Table of Contents