A Study of Air-tightness in Australian High-level Bio-containment Facilities

To assess the air-tightness of physical containment level 3 (PC3) bio-containment facilities in Australia, the seal integrity of 18 PC3 facilities was quantified by means of an equilibrium pressure air-tightness test conducted at positive pressure. The results of the test, which measured the leakage of air from the facility, indicate a variation in the air-tightness of the tested facilities which correlated with the facilities’ age and method of construction. The results of the test also provided information on the contribution of different types of penetrations of the facility barrier to the overall air-tightness of a PC3 facility. These results demonstrate that while newer facilities constructed using modern technology had the greatest air-tightness, older facilities constructed using cheaper construction materials and methods also achieved a high level of airtightness. Possible risks to health and human safety from facilities with decreased air-tightness are discussed.