Testing Biological Safety Cabinets (BSCs) using TDA-5A, TDA-5B, or 5C Thermal Condensation Generator

ATI does not recommend the use of the TDA-5A, TDA-5B or ATI 5C or any other thermal condensation based aerosol generator for use in the certification of Biological Safety Cabinets.

The Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) Recommended Practice RP-CC-034, cautions against this practice and National Safety Foundation NSF/ANSI 49-2008, Annex F, specifically, calls for the use of a Laskin nozzle style generator, or equivalent, during certification.

Thermal condensation generators, such as ATI’s 5-series products, generate an aerosol with a smaller mass particle size, as well as a larger volume.  These types of generators are designed primarily to allow testing of high air flow systems that cannot be adequately challenged by use of Laskin nozzle aerosol generators.