BIOSAFETY LABORATORY

BSL-3 Research Laboratory

Research Triangle, NC
Completed 2020

Containment Features

Airflow Control

Directional airflow with minimum 12.5 Pa negative pressure differential and redundant exhaust fans with HEPA filtration.

Access Control

Biometric access with airlock entry, clothing change areas, and shower-out facilities compliant with NIH/CDC requirements.

Decontamination

Liquid effluent decontamination system and gaseous decontamination capability for entire lab spaces.

Lab interior Control panel
HVAC system

Project Overview

Essential Engineering designed this 25,000 square foot Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) research laboratory for a government research institute working with hazardous airborne pathogens. The facility includes ABSL-3 animal holding areas and is designed to CDC/NIH BMBL 5th Edition standards.

Design Highlights

Containment Systems

Redundant exhaust fans with bag-in/bag-out HEPA filtration (99.99% on 0.3μm particles), redundant supply fans, and emergency power backup to maintain negative pressure during utility outages.

Material Flow

Dual-door autoclaves and dunk tanks for material transfer, with integrated interlocks to prevent simultaneous door opening. Separate clean and dirty corridors with pass-through chambers.

Emergency Systems

Audible and visual alarms for pressure differential loss, emergency shower/eyewash stations with drain sumps, and emergency power systems to maintain critical functions during outages.

Project Details

Client

Government Research Institute

Size

25,000 sq ft

Completion

August 2020

Services

  • Prime/Project Lead
  • BSL-3 Design
  • Containment HVAC
  • Effluent Treatment
  • Security Systems
  • Emergency Power Systems
  • Environmental Monitoring

Technical Specifications

HVAC Systems

  • 100% exhaust with no recirculation
  • Dual HEPA filtration (exhaust and supply)
  • Pressure differential: ≥0.05 inches w.g. negative
  • Hazardous exhaust system with N+1 redundancy
  • General exhaust system with N+1 redundancy

Safety Systems

  • Liquid effluent treatment (heat/chemical)
  • Gaseous decontamination (VHP) system
  • Emergency power (N+1 generators)
  • Containment alarms (pressure, airflow)
  • Pass-through autoclaves (double-door)

"Essential Engineering's understanding of BSL-3 requirements and attention to detail resulted in a facility that passed CDC inspection with zero findings - a first for our institution."

Dr. Michael Rodriguez

Facility Director, Client Institution

Planning a High-Containment Facility?

Our team has extensive experience designing laboratories that meet the most stringent biosafety requirements.

Contact Our Team