Construction and Operation

• dedicated central area for sanitizing cages and equipment is provided (Guide, p143)
• cage-washing equipment meets need; maintenance records (Guide, p 143)
• doors, windows, floors, drainage, walls, ceilings (Guide, pp 136-138)
• convenient to animal areas/waste disposal (Guide, p 143)
• ease of access (including door size) facilitates use (Guide, p 143)
• sufficient space for staging and maneuvering (Guide, p 143)
• safety precautions/PPE/clothing/equipment used for waste disposal/prewash/acidwash ((Guide, p 143)
• personnel use respiratory protection while dumping bedding (dumping station or PPE)
• traffic flow clean to dirty with no contamination of clean equipment by dirty equipment and appropriate air pressurization (Guide, p 143)
• insulation and/or sound attenuation present as needed (Guide, p 143)
• utilities are appropriate (Guide, p 143)
• ventilation meets heat and humidity load (Guide, p 143)
• safety features (e.g., SOPs and training, warning signs, eyewash stations/flush log) are in use (Guide, p 143)
• functioning safety devices and training to prevent entrapment in washer/sterilizers (Guide, p 143)
• cage wash temperatures are monitored and records are available of temperature tape log and quarterly sanitation monitoring participation (Guide, p 73)
• appropriate clean cage storage (Guide, p 141)