Ross Lyttle – PBSC’s High Containment Inflatable Seal Door

Ross Lyttle, Interview, PBSC UK, Inflatable Seal Door, High Containment, Cleanroom,

We are pleased to introduce Ross Lyttle as the new Business Development Manager at PBSC.

Ross joined PBSC after working at Colson X-Cel Ltd, a UK-based valve manufacturer in the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors. He started as an office junior at the age of 18 and worked his way up to become a Sales Manager. Responsible for supplying valves to oil platforms and pipelines worldwide and secured contracts with high-profile clients such as the UK Royal Navy, Formula 1, and also had dealings with NASA.

Ross also briefly worked at Allsop’s, a UK-based fabricator that caters to industries ranging from architecture, telecommunications, power generation, and the private sector. During his time there, he worked as an account manager for major companies such as McLaren Automotive and was able to secure lucrative orders.

Since starting with PBSC, Ross has received extensive training across our Architectural, High Containment, Personnel Decontamination, and Material Decontamination departments and has gained a wealth of knowledge within a short time.

What is a PBSC Inflatable Seal Door?

Since joining PBSC, I have been thoroughly impressed by the high-quality products they produce, including the sheer scale of the design library, including the APR Inflatable Seal Door. I have never come across a product that offers such a vast range of unique options and features as this one.

This specialised door set also referred to as an ISD, is commonly found in BSL3 and BSL4 labs where heavy traffic and wheeled equipment are common and a high containment barrier is needed.

The door set consists of a stainless steel outer curved frame and a separate door leaf which provides exceptional leak resistance. Additionally, it features the unique PBSC cast stainless steel hinge assembly. The door is flush with the floor, ensuring no obstacles or tripping hazards.

Flush glazed vision panels can be fitted with toughened or laminated glass for added durability.

When the door is closed and the seal is inflated using compressed air, an airtight seal is created between the two sides of the door.

Inflatable Seal Door, High Containment, Cleanroom, PBSC UK

How does the ISD help the end user?

During my time here, I have observed the innovative use of materials and construction techniques used by PBSC, this makes the ISD an excellent option for creating a high containment barrier between two areas, providing exceptional leak resistance, ensuring an airtight seal. Mainly used in high containment-controlled facilities, including Biosafety level 3 (BSL3) operating environments, which secure vaccine production.

Designed for easy installation in various wall types, including cast concrete, block, stud, and partition systems. Fitting flush to the facility’s floor level to ensure smooth passage for footfall and trolley wheels.

All the above aid in the construction process, ensuring the customer has the options available.

How does the ISD help a project?

The Inflatable Seal Door set is equipped with PBSC’s control system, specifically designed to seamlessly integrate with the building’s access control system. This integration enables the use of reliable software during the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), ultimately reducing the installation site time and minimising associated risks. PBSC works directly with its customer’s project teams to ensure the product installation is as efficient as possible.

What additions are available?

PBSC offers an extensive range of options to customise their APR ISD, catering to a diverse array of applications.

  • The door leaf is available in stainless steel grades 304 & 316 and polyester powder-coated low-carbon steel.
  • The control panel features a range of interlock systems utilising mechanical buttons, emergency stop functions, Maglocks, and multiple door supports.
  • The PBSC ISD comes with a standard silicone seal, but it can be upgraded to a more durable and tear-resistant EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) rubber seal if needed.

https://www.pbsc.co.uk/products/high-containment/apr-pneumatic-inflatable-seal-door/What results does an ISD give?

The ISD design philosophy prioritises high containment and provides leak resistance of up to 2000pa differential.

What companies were associated with the ISD?

We have provided ISDs to several large organisations over the years, including The Pirbright Institute, The Canadian Science Centre, and The Ministry of Primary Industry (MPI).

 

 

 

“During my training period I found that my previous experience helped me understand the products and services PBSC provides. Whenever I had any questions, PBSC was always ready with either an answer or an existing solution that addressed the challenge at hand.

I am looking forward to my future with PBSC and I’m proud to be part of an organisation that has grown over the years to become a prominent provider of cleanroom and containment-controlled products across the world”.

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