Containment Barrier Isolator - III (CBI-III)

Your Practical Solution to cGMP Compliance

The Containment Barrier Isolator – Class III Biosafety Cabinet (CBI-III) provides the highest level of operator, product, and environmental protection against infectious and biohazardous aerosols. Designed for absolute containment, it is suitable for microbiological work involving agents classified under Biosafety Levels 1, 2, 3, or 4, including highly pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and other lethal microorganisms. The fully enclosed, pressure-tested construction establishes a robust physical barrier between the operator and the process, ensuring maximum safety.

The CBI-III operates at a minimum negative pressure of –125 Pa within the process chamber to maintain stringent containment when handling high-risk biological agents. Each unit is pressure-tested according to internationally recognized containment standards, such as ISO 10648-2 or EN 12469, depending on project requirements. When configured with unidirectional (laminar) airflow, the system can deliver ISO Class 5 air cleanliness to support product protection alongside operator safety. For routine verification of chamber integrity, an optional automated pressure decay test can be configured to the system. The system may also be equipped with an integrated automated biodecontamination solution (BioVap™), validated to achieve a 6-log reduction of bioburden using hydrogen peroxide for reliable and repeatable decontamination cycles.

Applications:

Laboratory containment for handling biological agents of up to level 4
Virus and vaccine production
Cell Processing
Research and development

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Features

Unidirectional (laminar) airflow for sensitive product handling standards, utilizing H14 HEPA supply filters (>99.995% efficiency at 0.1–0.3 µm) to achieve ISO Class 5 (Grade A) air cleanliness, complemented by double-stage H14 HEPA exhaust filtration for enhanced environmental and operator protection.
Process chamber maintained at a minimum negative pressure of –125 Pa to ensure superior operator and environmental protection.
Class II containment performance in accordance with ISO 10648-2 leak tightness requirements as standard, with configuration options to meet EN 12469 where required.
Type D pass-through chambers equipped with dedicated H14 HEPA supply filters, electromagnetic interlocking, and time-delay control to support safe and controlled material transfer.
FDA-grade static seals on both inner and outer doors to ensure consistent and reliable sealing integrity.
Integrated HMI/PLC control system with optional 21 CFR Part 11 compliance to support electronic records and electronic signatures.

Principle

containment barrier isolator III (cbi-III) airflow scheme

Ambient air is drawn through a top-mounted inlet prefilter and pulled by the internal fan system, creating positive pressure within the supply plenum to generate a uniform downflow. The H14 HEPA downflow filter delivers laminar, particle-free air achieving ISO Class 5 cleanliness in accordance with ISO 14644-1 within the main chamber and pass-through, ensuring product protection during critical operations. Air from the work zone and transfer chamber is continuously extracted and purged to maintain a clean and controlled environment. The CBI-III is factory configured as a single-pass (total exhaust) system, with 100% of the air in which will be discharged from the isolator after passing through a double stage HEPA H14 exhaust filters. For enhancing operators and environmental safety, CBI-III should be connected to external ducting facility.

Models

Containment Barrier Isolator – III (CBI-III)		2G		3G		4G
External dimension of Process Chamber		1200 x 920 x 2650 mm		1600 x 920 x 2650 mm		2000 x 920 x 2650 mm
Internal dimension of Process Chamber		1196 x 560 x 765 mm		1596 x 560 x 765 mm		1996 x 560 x 765 mm
External dimension of 1-glove Pass Chamber		610 x 780 x 1325 mm
Internal dimension of Pass chamber		606 x 450 x 700 mm
Glove port height **		1135 mm
Glove port dimension		Circular (200 x 200 mm) Note: Oval (200 x 300 mm) is available as optional
Chamber Environment		ISO Class 5 in Process Chamber (Grade A)
Chamber Pressure		Factory-Configured Negative Pressure, -125 Pa or -200 Pa with 20% tolerance
Airflow Type		Unidirectional/ Laminar Airflow Factory-Configured Single-Pass Model
Filter Type - Chamber Inlet		HEPA (H14) Filter with Integral Mesh Guard and Gasket Seal
Filter Efficiency - Chamber Inlet		> 99.995% at Most Penetrating Particle Size (MPPS) as per EN 1822:2009
HMI Type		HMI Siemens/ Allen Bradley 7" Note: Industrial PC upgrade is available as optional
Control System		Industrial Grade PLC Siemens/ Allen Bradley
Lighting Level		≥ 500 Lux (6000 K)
Sound Level		≤ 80 dBA
Isolator Construction	Internal Chamber	SS316L
	Service Housings	SS304
	Support Frame	SS304
	Control Panel	In-house SS304 (IP-20)
	Chamber Door	10 mm (0.39") Tempered Glass
Isolator Surface Finish	Internal Chamber	≤ 0.4 Ra
	External Chamber	≤ 0.6 Ra
Electrical Requirement		220-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 1Ø or 110-120 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 1Ø Note: 3Ø is available upon request
Compressed Air Requirement		Min 6 Bar-g, max 12 Bar-g with 200 Liter per Minute Flow
Exhaust Duct Requirements (by Client) unless Integral Catalytic Convertor is Included		250 mm (10") Duct from Isolator to Outside
Estimated Weight		850 kg	1000 kg		1200 kg
Shipping Dimension (W x D x H)		Contact Esco for more information

* Including exhaust collar for ducting and fixed stand with caster wheels and leveling feet

** With fixed stand with caster wheels and leveling feet

Building Exhaust Requirement	2G	3G	4G
Total exhaust (Single Pass) with 1 PTC	1000 cmh	1550 cmh	1800 cmh

Note:The values stated above are based on standard building exhaust requirements with a ±30% tolerance and may vary for customized dimensions or specific airflow configurations. Please contact Esco to confirm the exact building exhaust requirements for the proposed or selected configuration.

Accessories

The Esco Containment Barrier Isolator – Class III (CBI-III) is a versatile system engineered for high-risk biosafety applications, offering a wide range of optional features and customization configurations to meet specific operational needs. Contact Esco to discuss how the CBI-III can be configured to support your process and containment requirements.

List of Options		CBI-U	CBI-T	CBI-III
4” Split Butterfly Valve (for powder discharge of powder below isolator chamber)		✓	✓	✓
Raised and Lower Height Adjustable Support Stand		✓
Anti-blow Back Damper Box		✓	✓	✓
Automated Pressure Hold Test	With Client-supplied Compressed Air	✓	✓	✓
Automated Pressure Hold Test	With Mobile Air Compressor (Esco-supplied)	✓	✓	✓
Bag Welder with Table Bag-out Port		✓	✓	✓
Mobile Biodecontamination BioVap		✓		✓
Integrated Biodecontamination BioVap		✓		✓
Carbon Filter		✓		✓
Integration of Small Scale Aseptic or Potent Tablet/Capsule		✓	✓	✓
Double-sided Access			✓
Manual Drain Valve		✓	✓	✓
Electrical Outlet	IP-66	✓	✓	✓
	IP-54	✓	✓	✓
	Non-IP rated	✓	✓	✓
	ATEX Zone 21 (only for internal chamber)	✓	✓	✓
ATEX rating up to zone 1/21 internally only		✓	✓	✓
Glove Leak Tester	Integrated	✓	✓	✓
Glove Leak Tester	Wireless	✓	✓	✓
H2O2 Monitoring System (integrated to HMI/PLC)		✓		✓
Entry / Exit Ports	Liquid/ Water Waste	✓		✓
Entry / Exit Ports	Product Waste	✓	✓	✓
N2 Purge for Process Chamber			✓
Product Waste Bag Out Ports		✓	✓	✓
Particle Counter Integration		✓		✓
Air Sampler Integration		✓		✓
RTPØ 105, 190, 270 - Alpha		✓	✓	✓
RTPØ 105, 190, 270 - Beta Canister		✓	✓	✓
RTPØ 105, 190, 270 - Beta Liner		✓	✓	✓
RTPØ 350 - Alpha, Beta Liner, Beta Canister		✓	✓	✓
Spray Ball (CIP) with Manual Ball Valve			✓
Spray Gun (WIP) with Manual Ball Valve			✓
Sterility Test Pump	Tabletop	✓		✓
Sterility Test Pump	Integrated	✓		✓
Temperature and Relative Humidity Monitoring (only for process chamber)		✓	✓	✓
Rear View Monitor		✓	✓	✓
UV Lamp		✓		✓
Weighing Scale Granite Slab with SS316L Frame and Leveling Feet		✓	✓	✓