Containment Barrier Isolator - Turbulent (CBI-T)
Your Practical Solution to cGMP Compliance
The growing development of highly targeted and high-potency therapies has significantly increased the need for safe handling of potent powder compounds during research, development, and production. As occupational exposure limits become more stringent and compounds grow more pharmacologically active at lower doses, robust containment solutions are essential to protect operators while maintaining process efficiency. The Containment Barrier Isolator - Turbulent Model (CBI-T) is engineered to address these challenges, providing effective isolation for non-sterile potent powder handling applications such as weighing and dispensing. Operating under negative pressure with turbulent airflow, the system establishes a controlled containment environment that minimizes airborne exposure while supporting safe and practical powder manipulation.
Applications:
- Potent Powder Handling
- Weighing and Dispensing of Powders
- Highly Potent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (HPAPIs) QC Testing
- Powder Containment
- Research and Development
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
- Fully welded 316L stainless steel internal chamber with 304 stainless steel external housing, designed for durability and easy cleaning with minimal joints, corners, or crevices.
- Factory-configured negative pressure across all chambers with turbulent airflow and air change rates exceeding 20 ACH to ensure operator and environmental safety.
- High-performance filtration system featuring an H14 HEPA inlet filter and double-stage H14 HEPA exhaust filters for enhanced containment and environmental protection.
- Integrated HMI/PLC control system for comprehensive supervision and monitoring of operating parameters, with optional 21 CFR Part 11 compliance to support electronic records and electronic signatures (ERES).
- Automated pressure decay test integrated as standard to verify chamber integrity prior to operation.
- Cost-effective containment solution tailored for non-sterile potent powder handling applications.
- Configurable integration with CIP/WIP systems, powder transfer devices, and third-party equipment to streamline process flow and support demanding cleaning requirements.

During operation of the Containment Barrier Isolator – Turbulent (CBI-T), ambient air is drawn through the front-mounted inlet prefilter and directed toward the H14 HEPA cartridge filter supplying the pass-through chamber. As the filtered air enters the pass-through, it establishes a turbulent airflow pattern before being pulled through the H14 HEPA push-push filter system and into the main process chamber. Within the process chamber, the incoming air again forms a controlled turbulent flow to promote dilution and reduction of airborne particulate concentration. This continuous airflow cycle maintains low contaminant levels throughout the work area during powder handling operations.
The CBI-T utilizes a shared inlet supply through the pass-through chamber and an exhaust pathway via the main process chamber. Air is discharged from the top of the isolator after passing through a double-stage H14 HEPA filtration system arranged in series, ensuring high-efficiency filtration and enhanced environmental protection prior to exhaust to room or environment.
|
|
2G |
3G |
4G |
|||
|
External dimension of Process Chamber * |
1200 x 775 x 2375 mm |
1600 x 775 x 2375 mm |
2000 x 775 x 2375 mm |
|||
|
Internal dimension of Process Chamber |
1196 x 635 x 850 mm |
1596 x 635 x 850 mm |
1996 x 635 x 850 mm |
|||
|
External dimension of 1-glove Pass Chamber |
610 x 630 x 2325 mm |
|||||
|
Internal dimension of Pass chamber |
606 x 524 x 850 mm |
|||||
|
Glove port dimension |
Circular (200 x 200 mm) |
|||||
|
Chamber Environment |
ISO Class 8 (Grade D) |
|||||
|
Air Change per Hour |
Minimum 20 |
|||||
|
Chamber Pressure |
Factory-Configured Negative Pressure |
|||||
|
Airflow Type |
Turbulent Airflow |
|||||
|
Filter Type - Chamber Inlet |
HEPA (H14) Push Push Cartridge Filter |
|||||
|
Filter Efficiency - Chamber Inlet |
> 99.995% at particles > 0.1-0.2 microns (MPPS) |
|||||
|
HMI Type |
HMI Siemens/ Allen Bradley 7" |
|||||
|
Control System |
Industrial Grade PLC Siemens/ Allen Bradley |
|||||
|
Lighting Level |
≥ 500 Lux (6000 K) |
|||||
|
Sound Level |
≤ 80 dBA |
|||||
|
Isolator Construction |
Internal Chamber |
SS316L |
||||
|
Service Housings |
SS304 |
|||||
|
Support Frame |
SS304 |
|||||
|
Control Panel |
In-house SS304 (IP-20) |
|||||
|
Chamber Door |
10 mm (0.39") Tempered Glass |
|||||
|
Isolator Surface Finish |
Internal Chamber |
≤ 0.4 Ra |
||||
|
External Chamber |
≤ 0.6 Ra |
|||||
|
Electrical Requirement |
220-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 1Ø or 110-120 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 1Ø |
|||||
|
Compressed Air Requirement |
Min 6 Bar-g, max 12 Bar-g with 50 Liter per Minute Flow |
|||||
|
Air Exhaust Requirement (for ducting facility) |
3" |
|||||
|
Estimated Weight** |
600 kg |
700 kg |
800 kg |
|||
|
Shipping Dimension (W x D x H) |
Contact Esco for more information |
|||||
* Including exhaust collar for ducting and fixed stand with caster wheels and leveling feet
** Typical weight with 1 PTC. Contact Esco for more details
|
Building Exhaust Requirement |
2G |
3G |
4G |
|
Total exhaust (Single Pass) with 1 PTC |
29 cmh |
41 cmh |
36 cmh |
Note: If the unit is connected to a ducting facility, the values stated above are based on standard building exhaust requirements with a ±30% tolerance and may vary for customized dimensions or specific airflow configurations. Please contact Esco to confirm the exact building exhaust requirements for the proposed or selected configuration.
The Esco Containment Barrier Isolator – Turbulent (CBI-T) is a versatile system designed for non-sterile potent API containment applications, with a range of optional features and customizable configurations to suit specific operational requirements. Contact Esco to explore how the CBI-T can be tailored to support your process and containment needs.
|
List of Options |
CBI-U |
CBI-T |
CBI-III |
|
|
4” Split Butterfly Valve (for powder discharge of powder below
isolator chamber) |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Raised and Lower Height Adjustable Support Stand |
✓ |
|||
|
Anti-blow Back Damper Box |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Automated Pressure Hold Test |
With Client-supplied Compressed Air |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
With Mobile Air Compressor (Esco-supplied) |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Bag Welder with Table Bag-out Port |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Mobile Biodecontamination BioVap |
✓ |
✓ |
||
|
Integrated Biodecontamination BioVap |
✓ |
✓ |
||
|
Carbon Filter |
✓ |
✓ |
||
|
Integration of Small Scale Aseptic or Potent Tablet/Capsule |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Double-sided Access |
✓ |
|||
|
Manual Drain Valve |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Electrical Outlet |
IP-66 |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
IP-54 |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Non-IP rated |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
ATEX Zone 21 (only for internal chamber) |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
ATEX rating up to zone 1/21 internally only |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Glove Leak Tester |
Integrated |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Wireless |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
H2O2 Monitoring System (integrated to HMI/PLC) |
✓ |
✓ |
||
|
Entry / Exit Ports |
Liquid/ Water Waste |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Product Waste |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
N2 Purge for Process Chamber |
✓ |
|||
|
Product Waste Bag Out Ports |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Particle Counter Integration |
✓ |
✓ |
||
|
Air Sampler Integration |
✓ |
✓ |
||
|
RTPØ 105, 190, 270 - Alpha |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
RTPØ 105, 190, 270 - Beta Canister |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
RTPØ 105, 190, 270 - Beta Liner |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
RTPØ 350 - Alpha, Beta Liner, Beta Canister |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Spray Ball (CIP) with Manual Ball Valve |
✓ |
|||
|
Spray Gun (WIP) with Manual Ball Valve |
✓ |
|||
|
Sterility Test Pump |
Tabletop |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Integrated |
✓ |
✓ |
||
|
Temperature and Relative Humidity Monitoring (only for process
chamber) |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Rear View Monitor |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
UV Lamp |
✓ |
✓ |
||
|
Weighing Scale Granite Slab with SS316L Frame and Leveling Feet |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
-
What equipment is commonly integrated with a CBI-T unit?
Typical integrations include a granite or anti-vibration slab for precision weighing balances, CIP/WIP systems (such as spray guns or spray balls), and rapid transfer ports (RTPs) to support contained material transfer.
-
How is cleaning performed in the CBI-T?
Cleaning is typically carried out using integrated spray guns or spray balls as part of a CIP/WIP system. If these are not installed, manual cleaning procedures can be performed in accordance with site SOPs.
-
Can an automated decontamination system such as BioVap™ be integrated into the unit?
Decontamination systems with hydrogen peroxide are generally not required for non-sterile powder handling applications, as the CBI-T is designed primarily for containment rather than aseptic operations.
-
What sizes are available for the CBI-T?
The standard CBI-T model is available in 2-glove, 3-glove, and 4-glove configurations, with options for either none, one or two integrated pass-through chambers.
-
What is the difference between CBI-T and WDCI?
Both systems are designed for powder weighing applications; however, the CBI-T is a more cost-effective solution with standardized sizing and limited customization options, whereas the WDCI offers broader flexibility and configurability.
-
Can a surrogate containment test (SMEPAC) be conducted on the CBI-T?
Yes. CBI-T can undergo surrogate containment testing (SMEPAC) based on the client’s process flow, typically performed at the factory during acceptance testing as an additional service.
-
Can the CBI-T control system transmit data to the client’s EMS/BMS?
Yes. The control system can be optionally configured to communicate sensor data, such as chamber pressure and air change rate (ACH), to the client’s EMS/BMS via protocols including Profinet, Modbus TCP/IP, and OPC-UA. Please contact Esco for further details.