Labconco Purifier HEPA-Filtered Safety Enclosure

Labconco Purifier 3980300 3' HEPA-Filtered Safety Enclosure

The Labconco Purifier 3980300 3' HEPA-Filtered Safety Enclosure is a compact laboratory containment enclosure designed to protect personnel during procedures that generate fine powders, particulates, aerosols, and other airborne contaminants. Available used and refurbished from American Instrument Exchange, this self-contained enclosure combines controlled inward airflow with HEPA-filtered exhaust, making it particularly useful for powder handling, weighing, sample preparation, biological procedures, and other applications where operator protection is required but product protection is not.

Unlike a conventional chemical fume hood that depends on facility exhaust to remove chemical vapors, the Purifier 3980300 incorporates a built-in variable-speed blower and 99.99% efficient exhaust HEPA filtration. Filtered exhaust air can be returned to the laboratory for appropriate particulate applications, eliminating the need for external ductwork in many installations.

With exterior dimensions of approximately 35.75" W × 28.64" D × 37.08" H, this 3-foot enclosure provides localized containment in a relatively small benchtop footprint. Its compact dimensions make it particularly useful for laboratories that need to add a dedicated powder-handling or aerosol-containment workstation without installing a larger conventional laboratory hood.

Key Features

• Used and refurbished Labconco Purifier HEPA-Filtered Safety Enclosure

• Catalog number 3980300

• Compact 3-foot benchtop containment enclosure

• Designed for personnel protection without product protection

• Suitable for fine powders, particulates, aerosols, and appropriate biological procedures

• 99.99% efficient exhaust HEPA filtration

• Built-in variable-speed blower with vibration-isolated impeller

• Nominal inflow velocity of 75–105 fpm

• Approximately 165–230 CFM exhaust volume

• Intrinsically safe negative-pressure design

• Minihelic pressure gauge

• Clean-Sweep ergonomic air foil and zone-perforated rear baffle

• Angled, hinged tempered safety-glass sash

• Approximately 9.44" working sash opening

• Two utility ports for routing cords and service connections

• 115 V, 60 Hz electrical requirements

• External exhaust ductwork generally not required for appropriate particulate applications

• 90-day warranty included from American Instrument Exchange

Designed for Powder, Particulate, and Aerosol Containment

Many laboratory procedures generate airborne particulates without producing the chemical vapors that require a conventional ducted fume hood. Weighing fine powders, transferring powdered reagents, opening sample containers, preparing dry formulations, and performing certain biological procedures can release particles or aerosols into the operator's breathing zone.

The Labconco Purifier 3980300 is designed to provide localized containment for these types of applications. Room air is drawn inward through the front opening, helping prevent airborne contaminants generated inside the enclosure from escaping toward the operator.

Air leaving the work area passes through HEPA filtration before being discharged. For appropriate particulate applications, the filtered exhaust can be returned to the laboratory rather than requiring a dedicated building exhaust connection.

This configuration can make the Purifier an economical and space-efficient solution for laboratories that need personnel protection at a specific workstation but do not require either product protection or a full-size ducted chemical fume hood.

HEPA-Filtered Exhaust

The Purifier 3980300 incorporates a 99.99% efficient exhaust HEPA filter designed to capture airborne particulates before exhaust air leaves the enclosure.

HEPA filtration makes the enclosure particularly useful for fine powders, dusts, aerosols, and appropriate biological materials. Because HEPA filters remove particles rather than chemical vapors, however, the standard enclosure should not automatically be used for procedures involving volatile solvents, toxic gases, or other vapor hazards.

The material being handled should always be evaluated before selecting a containment system. Applications involving significant chemical vapor generation may require a chemical fume hood, specialized filtration, or an externally exhausted enclosure instead.

Built-In Blower and Airflow Design

Unlike laboratory enclosures that require a separate remote blower, the Labconco 3980300 incorporates its own variable-speed blower. The blower uses a vibration-isolated impeller and solid-state speed control to maintain the airflow required for containment.

The enclosure is designed for a nominal inflow velocity between 75 and 105 fpm and an exhaust volume of approximately 165 to 230 CFM.

Several additional airflow features help manage movement through the work area. An ergonomic Clean-Sweep air foil, side-entry air foils, upper dilution air supply, upper containment sash foil, and zone-perforated rear baffle work together to direct air through the enclosure and toward the exhaust HEPA filter.

A Minihelic pressure gauge provides an indication of filter loading and system pressure, helping operators monitor changes in the exhaust system over time.

Compact Benchtop Containment

Measuring approximately 35.75 inches wide, the Purifier 3980300 provides a useful balance between working space and laboratory footprint. Its 3-foot width is large enough for many weighing, sample preparation, and powder-transfer procedures without consuming the bench space required by a conventional 4-foot or 6-foot laboratory hood.

This makes the enclosure particularly useful when adding containment to an existing analytical laboratory, pharmaceutical facility, research laboratory, or quality control area where available floor and bench space may already be limited.

The open-bottom design allows the enclosure to be positioned on appropriate existing laboratory cabinetry or a compatible work surface.

Sash and Work Area Access

The Labconco Purifier 3980300 uses a 1/4-inch-thick tempered safety-glass front sash and tempered glass side panels to provide excellent visibility into the work area.

During normal operation, the sash provides an opening approximately 9.44 inches high. Its ergonomic 10-degree angle improves visibility and operator access while maintaining the controlled opening required for containment.

For loading equipment or cleaning the enclosure, the sash pivots upward and can be secured at an approximately 20-inch loading height. This provides substantially greater access to the interior without requiring permanent removal of the sash.

Two rear utility ports provide convenient pathways for electrical cords, tubing, and other service connections required by equipment operating inside the enclosure.

Common Applications

The Labconco Purifier 3980300 is particularly well suited for procedures that generate fine particulates, powders, dusts, or aerosols where personnel protection is required.

Typical applications include pharmaceutical powder weighing, powdered reagent preparation, analytical sample preparation, dry chemical transfer, formulation work, environmental sample processing, microbiological procedures, aerosol-generating laboratory procedures, and research involving materials requiring localized particulate containment.

The enclosure can also provide a dedicated workstation for laboratories that routinely handle dusty samples or powdered materials and want to reduce contamination of surrounding laboratory surfaces.

Application suitability should always be determined through an appropriate risk assessment based on the material, quantity, procedure, and potential exposure hazard.

Ideal Laboratory Environments

The Purifier 3980300 is well suited for pharmaceutical research and formulation laboratories, biotechnology facilities, analytical laboratories, environmental testing laboratories, university research facilities, industrial quality control laboratories, hospital and clinical research facilities, and other laboratories that need compact particulate containment.

Its self-contained blower and HEPA filtration are particularly valuable in existing facilities where adding external ductwork would be difficult, disruptive, or unnecessarily expensive for the intended application.

Key Specifications

Choosing a HEPA-Filtered Enclosure vs. a Chemical Fume Hood

A HEPA-filtered enclosure and a chemical fume hood control different types of laboratory hazards.

The Labconco Purifier 3980300 is primarily intended for particulate and aerosol containment. Its HEPA filter captures airborne particles and allows filtered exhaust to be returned to the room for appropriate applications.

A conventional ducted chemical fume hood, by contrast, is designed to capture and exhaust chemical vapors and gases from the laboratory. HEPA filtration alone does not remove most volatile chemical vapors.

For laboratories handling powders, dry reagents, dusty samples, or other particulate hazards, the Purifier may provide a compact alternative that does not require the infrastructure associated with a conventional ducted fume hood.

Choosing the 3980300 vs. a Class I Biosafety Enclosure

The Labconco 3980300 and related Class I Purifier enclosures share many physical and airflow characteristics, but their intended configurations differ.

The 3980300 is a HEPA-filtered safety enclosure designed to operate as a filtered containment workstation without requiring outside exhaust for appropriate applications. This makes it especially useful for powder weighing, particulate handling, and similar laboratory procedures.

For either configuration, room air enters through the front opening. As a result, these enclosures provide personnel protection but do not provide the HEPA-filtered supply air required for product protection.

Laboratories performing sterile cell culture, aseptic manipulations, or procedures where protecting the sample from room contamination is essential should instead consider an appropriate Class II biosafety cabinet.

Refurbishment and Testing

This Labconco Purifier 3980300 is inspected and refurbished by American Instrument Exchange before shipment. Our technicians inspect the enclosure, blower, sash, lighting, airflow components, pressure gauge, and other operating features as applicable to the individual unit.

The filtration configuration and condition of the installed HEPA filter should be confirmed before purchase. Final airflow and containment requirements should be evaluated based on the intended application and laboratory safety protocols.

Why Buy a Refurbished Laboratory Safety Enclosure from American Instrument Exchange?

A refurbished HEPA-filtered enclosure can provide laboratories with dedicated personnel containment without the expense of purchasing a new Class II biosafety cabinet or installing a conventional ducted chemical fume hood when neither is necessary for the application.

American Instrument Exchange offers refurbished laboratory containment equipment ranging from compact filtered enclosures and balance stations to chemical fume hoods and biosafety cabinets. This allows laboratories to select equipment based on the actual hazard being controlled rather than simply choosing the largest or most complex containment system available.

This Labconco Purifier 3980300 includes a 90-day warranty from American Instrument Exchange.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Labconco Purifier 3980300 designed for?

The 3980300 is designed to provide personnel protection during procedures that generate fine powders, particulates, aerosols, and other airborne contaminants. Typical applications include powder weighing, sample preparation, dry reagent transfer, and appropriate biological procedures.

Does the Labconco 3980300 require external ductwork?

Not for appropriate recirculating particulate applications. The enclosure incorporates a built-in blower and HEPA-filtered exhaust, allowing filtered air to be returned to the laboratory. Certain applications may require external exhaust or a different containment system.

Does the Labconco 3980300 have a built-in blower?

Yes. The enclosure incorporates a variable-speed blower with a vibration-isolated impeller and solid-state speed control.

Is the 3980300 suitable for chemical vapors?

The standard HEPA filter is designed to capture particles, not most chemical vapors or gases. Applications involving volatile solvents or significant vapor hazards should be evaluated for use with an appropriate chemical fume hood or another suitable containment system.

Can the 3980300 be used for powder weighing?

Yes. Powder weighing and other procedures involving fine particulates are important applications for the HEPA-filtered enclosure. Its compact work area can accommodate balances and related sample-preparation equipment.

Does this enclosure provide product protection?

No. Room air enters directly through the front opening, so the enclosure is designed for personnel protection rather than product protection. Applications requiring a sterile work environment should generally use an appropriate Class II biosafety cabinet or other product-protection enclosure.

What is the difference between the Labconco 3980300 and 3980301?

The 3980300 is Labconco's HEPA-filtered safety enclosure configuration, intended to provide self-contained filtered containment for appropriate particulate and aerosol applications. The closely related 3980301 is designated as a Class I enclosure. Laboratories should select the configuration appropriate for their application, exhaust requirements, and containment needs.