Laminar flow cabinets
Labman BV is official distributor for CleanAir by Baker laminar flow cabinets and biological safety cabinets for Belgium.
Laminar Flow Cabinets – Clean Benches for Sterile Work
Laminar flow cabinets, also known as clean benches, create a sterile workspace by directing HEPA-filtered air across the work area. These cabinets draw in ambient air, which is then passed through high-efficiency filters that remove airborne contaminants. The result is a continuous flow of clean air that creates positive pressure inside the enclosure, effectively preventing unfiltered air or particles from entering the cabinet.
It’s important to note that laminar flow cabinets protect your product, not the user or the environment. They are not suitable for working with biological or chemical hazards.
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For biohazardous materials, please visit our biosafety cabinet page.
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For hazardous chemicals, we recommend our fume hoods instead.
Horizontal laminar flow cabinets
Horizontal Laminar Flow Cabinets
The HEPA filter is located at the back of the cabinet, and clean air flows horizontally toward the front opening. This design minimizes turbulence on the work surface and is often preferred for instrument assembly or non-hazardous powder handling.
- Horizontal laminar flow bench
- Internal width: 1249 mm
- Main filter: HEPA filter: H14 conforms to EN 1822
- Pre-filter: Coarsefilter (ISO 16890)
- Air cleanliness: ISO Class 5/ GMP Class A conditions
Price on request
- Horizontal laminar flow bench
- Internal width: 1859 mm
- Main filter: HEPA filter: H14 conforms to EN 1822
- Pre-filter: Coarsefilter (ISO 16890)
- Air cleanliness: ISO Class 5/ GMP Class A conditions
Price on request
- Horizontal laminar flow bench
- Internal width: 1554 mm
- Main filter: HEPA filter: H14 conforms to EN 1822
- Pre-filter: Coarsefilter (ISO 16890)
- Air cleanliness: ISO Class 5/ GMP Class A conditions
Price on request
Vertical laminar flow cabinets
Vertical Laminar Flow Cabinets
In this setup, the HEPA filter is positioned at the top of the cabinet, and air flows vertically down onto the work surface. This type is commonly used when vertical space is limited or when vertical airflow is more ergonomic for the task.
- Vertical laminar flow bench
- Internal width: 885 mm
- Main filter: HEPA filter: H14 conforms to EN 1822
- Pre-filter: Coarsefilter (ISO 16890)
- Sash: vertical sliding sash
Price on request
- Vertical laminar flow bench
- Internal width: 1190 mm
- Main filter: HEPA filter: H14 conforms to EN 1822
- Pre-filter: Coarsefilter (ISO 16890)
- Sash: vertical sliding sash
Price on request
- Vertical laminar flow bench
- Internal width: 1495 mm
- Main filter: HEPA filter: H14 conforms to EN 1822
- Pre-filter: Coarsefilter (ISO 16890)
- Sash: vertical sliding sash
Price on request
- Vertical laminar flow bench
- Internal width: 1800 mm
- Main filter: HEPA filter: H14 conforms to EN 1822
- Pre-filter: Coarsefilter (ISO 16890)
- Sash: vertical sliding sash
Price on request
Frequently asked questions
When should I use a horizontal vs vertical laminar flow cabinet?
Horizontal laminar flows are the best solution in most cases, except when you use large instruments like microscopes or PCR instruments. When the application involves large instruments, a vertical laminar flow is the better solution.
Advantages horizontal laminar flow:
- Contaminants on the operators gloves or sleeves are being blown towards the work opening instead of towards the work surface (where the manipulated product is often located).
- The closer towards the filters, the cleaner the air. Horizontal flows allow to work very closely to the HEPA filters at the back of the work space.
- The cabinet has no sash, which means the work opening includes the entire workspace height.
Typical applications include plant tissue culturing (non-GMO), electronical inspection and media preparation.
Advantages vertical laminar flows:
- Large items create turbulence in horizontal flows, increasing risk of introducing room air contaminants. Vertical laminar flows are much less sensitive to air turbulences when placing instruments inside.
- Vertical laminar flows can be configured with sliding sash. A sliding sash is much more convenient when you want to perform routine UV decontamination, for which the cabinet must be closed off.
- Air is not directly blown towards the operators face.
Typical applications include microscopy, PCR and microbiology (non-biohazard).
What is the difference between a laminar flow cabinet and a biosafety cabinet?
A laminar flow cabinet protects the experiment or product against cross-contaminants (particles or micro-organisms) from the room air. A biosafety cabinet in most cases refers to a biological safety cabinet class II. Biosafety cabinets also protect the operator and environment against biohazards used inside the workstation. Biosafety cabinets can be recognized by their biosafety sticker and removable work trays.
Do laminar flow cabinets require certification in Belgium?
Yes, while there is no legal obligation for general certification, Belgian labs following ISO, GMP, or GLP guidelines typically require annual performance validation of laminar flow cabinets. This includes airflow testing and particle count validation. Also manufacturers recommendation advise certification upon installation and as part of yearly maintenance.