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REQUIRED COURSE PREPARATION

If you plan to take the NSF exam, it’s essential to contact NSF beforehand to make the
necessary arrangements. Per NSF Guidelines to start the application process you must email biosafetcabinetry@nsf.org with the following information, this should be completed 30 days prior to course:

1.
Proof of high‐school diploma or equivalent AND at least one of the two following:
  1. Completion of a training course on biosafety cabinets and evidence of one year of active participation in performing field certification tests on biosafety cabinets, demonstrated by the submission of twenty (20) test reports, five (5) of which must be from B1 or B2 cabinets. One test report shall be dated a minimum of one year prior to the date of application. Test reports shall include, at a minimum, the date of certification, test report number, location of cabinet, type of cabinet, manufacturer and model number, serial number of cabinet certified and data from inflow velocity, downflow velocity and HEPA filter leak tests.
  2. Minimum three years’ work experience performing field certification tests on biosafety cabinets, demonstrated by the submission of ten (10) test reports per year, two (2) of which must be from B1 or B2 cabinets. One test report shall be dated a minimum of three years prior to the date of application. Test reports shall include, at a minimum, the date of certification, test report number, location of cabinet, type of cabinet, manufacturer and model number, serial number of cabinets certified and data from inflow velocity, downflow velocity and HEPA filter leak tests.
2.
Completed enhanced application (which will be sent directly to you by an NSF Coordinator)

Please be aware that there is a separate application process and fee for the NSF exam, and we cannot guarantee your participation in the exam if you have not made these arrangements in advance. A photo ID must be present for the proctor to administer the exam.

• EAB Training has no responsibility for applicant participation in the NSF/ANSI-49 Biosafety Cabinet Field Certifier Accreditation program. All interested applicants must contact NSF directly. Exams are typically administered on Friday/Saturday and Sunday following the Monday – Friday week-long class.

• Applicants must satisfy the pre-qualification requirements as determined by NSF. All exam-related costs are between the potential applicant and NSF International.

Required Materials for
the NSF Exam:

  • If you are taking the NSF exam, ensure you bring the following items to class:
  • Your practical exam equipment (see list below).
  • A calculator that is not on a computer, tablet, or smart device.
  • If you have the most current version of the NSF/ANSI 49 Biosafety Cabinetry: Design, Construction, Performance, and Field Certification Standard.
  • If you have the most current version of the NSF International Policies for the Enhanced and Basic Accreditation Programs for Biological Cabinet Field Certifiers manual.

Equipment for the NSF Exam

NSF Practical Exam Applicants must bring or ship their own equipment.

Coordinate shipping with the EAB Training Center Manager, Derek Glenn dglenn@eabcoinc.com.

To comply with TSA regulations, make sure to drain the PAO from your aerosol generator before shipping.

All equipment shall arrive a week prior to the course, please ensure delivery is made between Monday – Friday 9 AM – 3 PM Central Time excluding holidays.

Shipping To Address:
Engineered Air Balance Co., Inc.
604 Spring Hill Drive, Suite 140
Spring, TX 77386

Return Shipping:
After the NSF practical exam, the applicants must repackage their own equipment and apply their preprinted Return Shipping Labels to their packages.

If there are questions regarding equipment or instruments, contact NSF directly.

Required Test Equipment

Equipment shall conform to NSF requirements. The list below is a guideline and is subject to change.

  • Thermal (Hot-Wire) Anemometer
  • Accuracy of ± 3 ft/min or 3% of the indicated velocity, whichever is larger, shall be used.
  • Shall be calibrated in accordance with the thermal anemometer manufacturer's instructions, or with IEST-RP-CC01312 (12 months) if instructions are not provided.
  • Ring Stand to hold Thermal Anemometer
  • Direct Inflow Measurement Device
  • With an accuracy of ± 3% of reading ± 7 ft3/min or in accordance with NSF.
  • Where guidance is not offered, refer to IEST-RP-CC01312
  • Floor Ring Stand to hold DIM
  • Aerosol Generator
  • Laskin Nozzle conforming to NSF 49 or equivalent.
  • Aerosol generator shall be compatible with media such as PAO or DOP.
  • Aerosol Photometer
  • With linear or expanded logarithmic scale.
  • Capable of indicating 100% upstream concentration
  • Minimum aerosol concentration of 10 μg/L of DOP particles, or an equivalent fluid that provides the same particle size distribution (e.g., PAO di[2-ethylhexyl], sebecate, polyethylene glycol, and medicinal-grade light mineral oil)40 produced by the generator described in Section N-1.2.2.2 or equivalent.
  • Capable of detecting an aerosol concentration in the downstream equal to 10-5 of the upstream concentration of the same particles. The sampling rate of air shall be 1 ft3/min (28 LPM) ± 10%.
  • Probe area shall have a maximum open area of 1.7 in2 (1100 mm2) and a minimum dimension of 0.50 in (13 mm).
  • A pressure gauge for the generator having a maximum range of 0 to 80 psi (0 to 550 kPa) with resolution and accuracy of 1 psi (7 kPa) calibrated by the manufacturer or in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions shall be used.
  • Smoke Visualizer
  • Source of non-toxic neutrally buoyant smoke
  • Pitot Tube for measuring static pressure
  • Rigid 90° tube with neoprene hose
  • Vibration Analyzer
  • A vibration analyzer with a minimum reliable reading of 1 × 10⁻⁴ in RMS amplitude, or the ability to detect differences of this magnitude, in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.
  • The vibration analyzer shall be capable of measuring vibration in displacement mode within the 10 to 1,000 Hz frequency range.
  • Acceptable limit: ≤0.002" RMS
  • Portable Photoelectric Illuminance Meter
  • The Lighting Handbook, 12 Section 9.8.1.
  • The meter shall be accurate within ± 10%, cosine and color corrected.
  • The illuminance meter shall be calibrated in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Sound Meter with Calibrator
  • Minimum range of at least 50 to 100 db and an "A" weighing scale set up in accordance with the manufacturer.
  • Respirator with Fit Test
  • Contact NSF

Coordinate shipping with the EAB Training Center Manager, Derek Glenn dglenn@eabcoinc.com.

To comply with TSA regulations, make sure to drain the PAO or any liquids from your aerosol generator before shipping.

All equipment shall arrive a week prior to the course, please ensure delivery is made between Monday – Friday 9 AM – 3 PM Central Time excluding holidays.

Shipping To Address:
Engineered Air Balance Co., Inc.
604 Spring Hill Drive, Suite 140
Spring, TX 77386

Return Shipping:
After the NSF practical exam, the applicants must repackage their own equipment and apply their preprinted Return Shipping Labels to their packages.

For questions regarding equipment or instruments, contact NSF directly.

NSF 49 Course Welcome Page – Engineered Air Balance

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