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Design Handbook on Animal Research Facilities Using Static Microisolators 
3.3.5 Operating Procedures for Baking Drierite 
1. Set oven to about 425 °F. Match up black lines under the broken knob. 
2. Place drierite in large pans to a depth of around x /i inch and place pans on the three 
shelves in oven. 
3. Bake for 1.5 hours. 
4. Remove and dump into shoebox cage. 
5. Refill pans and place in oven. 
6. Immediately fill jars from the shoebox cage and put on lids snugly, but not tightly. Leave 
jars on floor to cool. 
7. When done, turn oven knob counterclockwise to shut off. 
3.3.6 Operating Procedures for NHj CO 2 , and O 2 Measurements 
There are three calorimeters (#1, #2, and #3) running at the same time. They all run at 24 ± 1.5 
°C. The humidities in the three calorimeters are 35 percent, 35 percent, and 75 percent, for the 
first test and 75 percent, 75 percent, and 35 percent for the second test. The fresh airflow rate for 
the calorimeter is 5L/min. This is increased in the 8th, 9th, and 10th test day. The air 
recirculation system moves air past the cages at 0.25m/s. NH3 and CO 2 levels will be monitored 
to ensure that the CO 2 concentration does not exceed 6,000 ppm and the NH3 levels does not 
exceed 100 ppm for long periods. The calorimeter static pressure is kept negative. The samples 
are taken when the ammonia concentrations inside calorimeters reach a stable state. 
Time Actions 
a.m. 
7:00 Turn on all the calorimeter environmental control systems including CO 2 , O 2 analyzer 
(see procedure for start calorimeter and CO 2 analyzer). 
Weigh the new recycling drierite, new fresh air drierite and new humidification water. 
Weigh and record the mouse weight, water, feed, and litter. Add water and feed to the 
mouse cages. 
Reweigh, record the water, and feed. 
7:40 Put the mice into the calorimeter (four cages per calorimeter). 
Turn on recycling pumps in 35 percent calorimeter for one hour. 
