Learn About International Standards

Esco performs testing in accordance with more than 20 of the world's most recognized standards, of local, regional and international scopes. In particular, testing in our laboratory is most frequently conducted based on: EN12469, NSF49, IEST RP. An NSF-Accredited Biological Cabinet Field Certifier is available in-house full-time to supervise all testing work.

All of Esco's laminar flow cabinets are type-tested according to the Australian Standard AS1396.5, the only standard in the world for laminar flow cabinets. In August 2004, Esco became the very first manufacturer of laminar flow cabinets to have a laminar flow cabinet type-tested according to the microbiological testing methods described in the EN12469:200.

Esco Labculture® Class II Type A2 Biological Safety Cabinets have been certified to the NSF49, and independently type-tested to the EN12469 standard. This product is also UL-listed as compliant to the requirements in both US and Canada. Esco is also the only foreign manufacturer outside of Japan to have a product certified to the stringent Japanese Standard JIS K 3800 for biological safety cabinets.

Esco's Airstream® Class II Biological Safety cabinets are type-tested according to the EN12469, while all of our Biological Safety cabinets are designed to meet and exceed the requirements of the NSF49 and EN12469 standards.

About ANSI / NSF49

NSF Certification Picture The NSF International (formerly The National Sanitation Foundation) Biological Safety Cabinetry Program was initiated over 25 years ago at the request of the regulatory community, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

The first phase of the program was the development of NSF/ANSI Standard 49 for the evaluation of Class II laminar flow biological safety cabinets. The standard was completed in 1976, followed by the implementation of a testing and certification program to that standard, titled the Biological Safety Cabinetry Certification Program.

The third and final stage was completed in 1993, titled the Biological Safety Cabinet Field Certifier Accreditation Program.

NSF Certification program is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), and is recognized as the leader in the certification of Class II Biological Safety Cabinets throughout the USA and Canada.

More on NSF International: www.nsf.org | Esco's listing on the NSF website

About UL

UL Certification Picture Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is an independent, not-for-profit product-safety testing and certification organization. Founded in 1894, UL is now one of the most recognized conformity assessment providers in the world. Conformity to UL Standard 61010A-1 (Electrical Equipment For Laboratory Use; Part 1: General Requirements) is a pre-requisite to NSF certification.

More on UL: www.ul.com | Esco's UL-listing for US | Esco's UL-listing for Canada

About EN 12469

EN12469 Certification Picture EN12469: 2000 Biotechnology - Performance criteria for microbiological safety cabinets is the new harmonized European standard for microbiological safety cabinets, published by CEN, the European Committee for Standardization. This standard replaces the following standards for Biological Safety Cabinets: British Standard BS5726, German Standard DIN12950 Teil 10 and French Standard NF X44-201:1984. The European Committie for Standardization (CEN) was founded in 1961 by the national standards bodies in the European Economic Community and EFTA countries.

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