Elevating Lab Safety: The Pan-Grip Solution in Biosafety Lab

Increasing Cleanliness and Durability of Air Handling Units in Biosafety Lab

Contractor: GC Industrial Specialty Cleaning & Restoration

Project Type: Rusted metal components conducive to bacterial growth

Product Used: Pan-Grip

A 10-story facility housing a national Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) lab faced significant challenges with the building’s air handlers. Built in the 1990s, it was constructed around two major built-in-place air handling units (AHUs), including one massive 200,000 CFM unit serving the BSL-3 lab and another smaller one serving student labs on all ten floors. Key issues included poor hygiene of metal components, rusty, pitted areas conducive to bacterial growth, and concerns about future water leaks.

Challenges: The lab operates around-the-clock, making downtime for maintenance a critical concern. Only two, four-hour shutdown windows were available during a 24-hour shift.The constrained repair schedule required careful planning and execution since all work and cleanup had to be completed within short timeframes.

The Solution: The experts at GC Industrial Specialty Cleaning & Restoration suggested Hardcast Pan Grip for the job. Manufactured by Carlisle HVAC Brands, Pan Grip is a multi-component Novolac-based epoxy product that is ideal for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. It is designed to seal and repair corroded surfaces and leaking drain pans.

Pan-Grip is resistant to water, doesn’t rust, and is self-priming when applied to clean metal condensate pans. Pan-Grip provided a more durable repair option for the lab than standard paint solutions because the spaces needing repair were wet. GC Industrial recommended using it to resurface the discharge area’s 8'x20' steel floor, as well as the 3'x20' coil compartment. Unlike paint, Pan-Grip could repair surface rust and corrosion in both the areas, as well as prevent future damage.

The Process: Over 12 overnight working shifts, the GC Industrial team prepped the AHU coil compartments and discharge floor using wire wheels, sanders, brushes, and HEPA filtered vacuums. Next, they wiped the coils down with denatured alcohol. Then, they applied Pan-Grip to the cleaned areas using squeegees, rollers, and brushes. Once the application was finished, the team could immediately activate the AHUs, thanks to Pan-Grip’s odorless nature, which eliminated safety concerns and prevented occupant complaints.

Outcome: Pan-Grip significantly improved the AHU cleanliness and contributed to prolonging the lifespan of essential, irreplaceable equipment in the lab. The Industrial Specialty team finished the project within the set timeline, efficiently managing complex maintenance tasks in a sensitive lab setting.