Protection zone and air tightness requirements for level-4 biosafety laboratories

Analyses and compares the domestic and foreign standards on the definition of protection zone and air tightness requirements of level-4 biosafety laboratory containment. Based on the engineering practice, summarizes the design concept of level-4 biosafety laboratories and the construction requirements of the protection zone. Points out that the air tightness requirements for protection zone in GB 19489-2008 standard are much helpful to reduce the risk of pathogen leakage. In view of the lack of relevant experience on level-4 laboratories in China, it is important to accumulate the data on the relationship about design, building materials, construction technology, supervision, evaluation and long-term operation safety.