The Bio Cart 10 is a self-contained, negative pressure containment cart for maintenance work above ceilings in occupied buildings. The technician works inside a sealed enclosure that rises to meet the ceiling, so dust and biological contaminants released during the work never reach the room.
It exists for one reason: you cannot shut a hospital ward, laboratory or data room to change a valve. Where infection control or air quality requirements make conventional plastic-and-tape containment impractical, this is the alternative — wheeled in, sealed, worked in, and moved on in minutes.
At 81 cm wide it fits through most doors and into lifts, and the top extends to 3 m to reach the majority of commercial and industrial ceilings.
Where it is used
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities, where ICRA requirements apply to any work disturbing a ceiling
- Clean rooms and laboratories
- Data centres and server rooms
- Occupied commercial offices, where the alternative is working after hours
- Aged care and any facility with immunocompromised occupants
The Bio Cart complies with health and safety guidelines for portable negative air dust containment carts in healthcare facilities, and meets CDC, ICRA and OSHA standards for controlling dust and infectious particles during maintenance work.
How it works
- HEPA filtration. An 880 CFM air scrubber filters 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 micron. Clean air exhausts from the bottom in a diffused pattern, deliberately so it does not blow paperwork off desks in an occupied office.
- Negative pressure. The scrubber holds the enclosure below room pressure, so contaminated air is drawn in and filtered rather than escaping. Up to six air changes per minute.
- Power lift. The top raises and lowers on a single touch, manually or by remote, until the foam seal meets the ceiling. The remote lets you watch the bellows from outside while it rises.
- Sealed enclosure. Fire-retardant vinyl bellows, extruded aluminium frame, white melamine walls with a thermal coating skin that wipes down.
Working with it
- Move the cart into position so all four sides sit outside the ceiling area you are opening. Set the wheel brakes and connect to a grounded outlet.
- Enter, close the door, and raise the bellows until the foam seal touches the ceiling.
- Keep the air scrubber running continuously for the whole job — negative pressure only exists while it is on.
- On completion, lower the top, bag any contaminated clothing, retract the cord, release the wheels and move to the next location.
An externally visible LED “IN USE” sign tells anyone walking past that work is in progress, which matters in a corridor.
Specifications
| Air scrubber fan | 880 CFM at 300 W, 62 dB at maximum speed, up to 6 air changes per minute |
| Filtration | Electrostatic disposable pads, pre-filter, and 99.97% at 0.3 micron HEPA |
| Size collapsed | 185 cm L × 81 cm W × 195 cm H |
| Size fully extended | 185 cm L × 81 cm W × 300 cm H |
| Ceiling range | 2 to 3 m |
| Weight | 205 kg with ladder and all filters installed |
| Bellows | Fire-retardant black and yellow vinyl, 3 inches high collapsed |
| Ladder | 4 m telescoping aluminium, class A rated to 135 kg, meets OSHA electrical safety requirements |
| Construction | Extruded aluminium frame, white melamine walls with thermal coating skin |
| Door | Aluminium frame, white thermal bonded skin, 81 cm W × 185 cm. Locks from inside or outside |
| Control panel | Air scrubber on/off, manual lift up/down, plus remote control |
| Lighting | Interior white LED |
| Caution sign | Externally visible LED “IN USE” light |
| Power outlets | Duplex power outlet inside |
| Power cord | 7.5 m with grounded plug |
| Cable pass through | Yes |
| Document protection | Document holder on door |
| Windows | Front and back |
| Wheels | 100 mm diameter × 50 mm non-marking; two with brakes, two with swivel locks |
Before you buy: check your access route
At 205 kg and 185 cm long this is a substantial piece of equipment. The 81 cm width is what gets it through doorways and into lifts, but the length and weight are what you need to check against your actual route — lift capacity, ramp gradients, thresholds and floor loadings in older buildings.
It also needs 195 cm of vertical clearance collapsed, which rules out some basement corridors and car park levels.
Worth confirming ceiling heights across the sites you service. The lift covers 2 to 3 m; anything higher needs a different approach.
Maintenance
- Clean inside and out with appropriate sanitisers, particularly after use in different environments.
- Replace pre-filters and the HEPA as required, disposing of contaminated materials appropriately.
- Inspect electrical wiring, wheels, door locks, hinges and the frame routinely, and replace worn parts.
Frequently asked questions
Does it replace conventional containment?
For short-duration work above a ceiling in an occupied space, yes — that is exactly what it is for. For extended construction or a large work area it does not; you still need built containment.
Can one person operate it?
Yes. The lift is powered and can be driven from the control panel inside or by remote from outside. Moving 205 kg on level flooring is manageable; ramps and thresholds are a two-person job.
What standards does it meet?
Air-Care state compliance with CDC, ICRA and OSHA requirements for controlling dust and infectious particles during maintenance work. Australian facilities generally reference these alongside local infection control policy — if you are tendering to a health service, ask us and we will obtain whatever documentation the specification calls for.
Is it available in 230 V?
Ask us before ordering. Air-Care equipment is designed around US 115 V and several models are optionally available in 220/240 V. We will confirm the supply configuration of the unit you are quoted.
How long does one take to arrive?
Air-Care quote 21 business days to dispatch a Bio Cart from their facility in the United States. International freight, customs clearance and domestic delivery sit on top of that, so treat 21 business days as the point the unit leaves them rather than the date it reaches you. The figure moves with their build schedule — confirm it with us at the time you ask for a quote, particularly if you are working to a tender or handover date.
Warranty
Air-Care provide a five-year warranty on the Bio Cart, with specific components covered for different periods. Ask us for the current schedule before you order, and note that warranty labour on Air-Care equipment is normally performed at their facility — talk to us first, as in most cases we can resolve it in Australia.
This does not exclude, restrict or modify your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the ACL. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage.
From the workshop
On hospital work, work out where the cart will be powered before you work out where it will sit. Air-Care specifically say not to run the retractable lead across a busy hallway, so the nearest ceiling tile isn’t always the practical setup point. That is worth checking during the site walk, not when the cart is already in the corridor.
This is a considered purchase and usually a tender item. Call us with the facility type, ceiling heights and access route and we will tell you honestly whether the Bio Cart 10 suits before you specify it. More equipment in Duct Cleaning.
