BSC MythBusters - Volatiles & Class II Type A2 BSCs: How much is safe? 

Join Dr. Kara Held Ph.D., Baker's Science Director, for this session on Volatiles and Class II Type A2 BSCs.

Volatile chemicals, while typically used in a fume hood, sometimes need to be used in conjunction with biological experiments, requiring the use of volatile chemicals within a biosafety cabinet (BSC).

While the safest option often mentioned is a 100% exhausted Class II Type B2 cabinet, this is not always possible. International safety standards have recommended “minute” amounts of volatiles can safely be used in a Class II Type A2, but what constitutes “minute” can be left up for interpretation.  

At Baker, we have derived an equation to calculate the internal concentration, as well as the time required for the evacuation of any volatile chemical, shown both by calculation and experimentation.