Published on: July 18, 2026 by RARA Engineering Team
Laboratory animal facilities are integral to biomedical research. Designing animal housing systems (cages, racks, and accessories) requires balancing two critical elements: scientific parameter stability and animal welfare.
Poorly engineered cages can induce stress in research animals, introducing behavioral and physiological anomalies that skew study data. Below, we discuss the essential guidelines that must be met in laboratory animal housing design:
1. Ventilation and Air Exchange Rate
Maintaining optimal air quality is paramount to prevent the build-up of toxic gases (like ammonia and carbon dioxide) and moisture inside the cage.
- Individually Ventilated Cages (IVC): These systems connect directly to a dedicated air-handling blower, supplying HEPA-filtered air to each individual cage. This provides precise air changes per hour (ACH) without generating strong air currents that could cause animal hypothermia.
- Static Racks: Cages in static systems rely on passive air exchange. The wire mesh spacing and top filter sheets must be designed to promote clean ventilation while keeping pathogenous dust particles from entering.
2. Ergonomic Space & Materials
The layout of rabbit racks, rat cages, and mice containment cages must allow normal behavioral postures (rearing, stretching, breeding space) without compromising density parameters.
- Polycarbonate and Polysulfone: Clean, transparent polymers that can withstand autoclaving processes at high temperatures (121°C to 134°C) without losing transparency or strength.
- AISI SS304 Wire Grids: High-durability grids that are resistant to scratching, rust, and constant cleaning. Grids must feature smooth wire ends to avoid injury to small paws.
3. Waste Management and Hygiene
Hygienic waste trays must be sliding and easily removable to minimize disturbance during regular cage cleaning cycles. Crevice-free tray corners prevent urine build-up and reduce bad odors in the facility rooms.