UCSB POLICIES FOR SATELLITE FACILITIES

Federal law defines the facilities and operation of a satellite animal housing area facility. The law requires that any area holding animals for more than 12 hours must conform to federal standards for an animal facility area. These standards include, but are not limited to the following:

• Ventilation must be adequate. Regulations define appropriate ventilation as complete replacement of room air with fresh (not recirculated) air at least 10 times per hour. A net positive room air pressure relative to surrounding areas is recommended unless the animals represent a biohazard - in which case net negative pressure is required.
• Lighting at cage level must be adequate to provide appropriate light and to maintain circadian rhythms. Light levels of 30 foot-candles at cage level are usually acceptable. Light cycles should be appropriate for the species and on a consistent schedule. Light timers should be used for indoor lighting.
• Temperatures optimal for all species must be determined and should not fluctuate more than 4 degrees within 24 hours for indoor housing areas. A temperature for rodents must remain between 64.4 and 78.8 degrees F at all times. Humidity must be between 40% and 70% at all times. Temperature extremes (High/Low) within each 24-hour period must be measured and recorded. Noise levels should be minimal and it is recommended that human use and animal areas be separated.
• Everything within the immediate environment of the animals-walls, racks, ceiling-must be sanitizable and cleaned with appropriate detergents and disinfectants at regular intervals.
• Walls, ceiling and floors must be sealed sufficiently to prevent access by vermin. In addition, no unnecessary equipment or supplies that could potentially harbor vermin can be present in an animal housing room.
• Standard operating procedures for animal care, daily health observations and cleaning must be posted in the area of animal housing. Documentation must be provided that SOPs are being followed and the observation schedule recorded. See the Monthly Room Work Schedule as a suggested documentation method.
• Animal food must be stored in sealed containers, which are disinfected regularly. Food containers must have milling or expiration date and date of last container cleaning attached.