ORIGINAL M.I.C.E.® RACK SPECIFICATIONS
The M.I.C.E.® rack system is structured around "modules." Each module serves two primary purposes: It forms the structure that supports its 14 cages; and it serves as the exhaust plenum for those cages. Our smallest rack consists of one module with two columns of seven cages each. We create larger racks by arranging modules together in back-to-back and side-to-side configurations, allowing almost infinite flexibility in choosing rack sizes to match unique animal room shapes. As many as 10 modules can be joined into a 140-cage for larger animal rooms. M.I.C.E.® racks may be reconfigured in the field with basic hand tools. Components are available from ACS to assist the customer with any reconfiguration needs.
Double sided rack
RACK FEATURES INCLUDE:
- Individual removable platforms for every two cages
- Cage guides on each platform allow simple cage insertion into the exhaust plenum.
- A positive locking system prevents accidental cage removal and verifies proper cage insertion.
- All airflow plenums are sealed airtight and constructed to allow proper one-pass airflow patterns and prevent contaminated air from entering the cages.
- Each cage is secured into the air exhaust plenum by a rack docking system.
- Each plenum is equipped with a removable top cap and bottom drain doors for simplified cleaning and drainage after sanitation.
- Vent hoses attach to caps and exhaust registers with quick-disconnect fittings.
- Rack assembly is mounted on stainless casters with 4" or 5" wheels.
- Entire rack assembly is constructed from 304-stainless steel.
Rack with shelf removed showing watering system Watering system connection and cage watering valve
Racks With automatic Watering
| SINGLE-FACED RACK DIMENSIONS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rack Assy No. |
Rack |
Length |
Width |
Height |
Wt.
w/Cages |
Wt.
no Cages |
M85010S1 |
14-Cage |
16.25 (413) |
23.25 (591) |
75.5 (1918) |
150 (68) |
98 (44) |
M85010S2 |
28-Cage |
32.5 (826) |
23.25 (591) |
75.5 (1918) |
290 (132) |
187 (85) |
M85010S3 |
42-Cage |
48.75 (1238) |
23.25 (591) |
75.5 (1918) |
431 (195) |
276 (125) |
M85010S4 |
56-Cage |
65.0 (1651) |
23.25 (591) |
75.5 (1918) |
579 (263) |
372 (169) |
M85010S5 |
70-Cage |
81.25 (2064) |
23.25 (591) |
75.5 (1918) |
722 (327) |
463 (210) |
| DOUBLE-FACED RACK DIMENSIONS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rack Assy No. |
Rack |
Length |
Width |
Height |
Wt.
w/Cages |
Wt.
no Cages |
M85015D2 |
28-Cage |
16.25 (413) |
36.5 (927) |
75.5 (1918) |
281 (127) |
178 (81) |
M85015D4 |
56-Cage |
32.5 (826) |
36.5 (927) |
75.5 (1918) |
553 (251) |
346 (157) |
M85015D6 |
84-Cage |
48.75 (1238) |
36.5 (927) |
75.5 (1918) |
869 (394) |
558 (253) |
M85015D8 |
112-Cage |
65.0 (1651) |
36.5 (927) |
75.5 (1918) |
1141 (518) |
727 (330) |
M85015D10 |
140-Cage |
81.25 (2064) |
36.5 (927) |
75.5 (1918) |
1412 (640) |
894 (406) |
VENTILATION
Supply
air is delivered to each cage by direct exhaust
ventilation at low velocity and low pressure through
the filtered supply air vent in each cage. Air
is drawn through the cage using a filtered exhaust
air nozzle connected to the back of the cage. This
nozzle inserts in an exhaust door on the rack and
provides the air connection with the rack. When
cages are connected, the building's HVAC system
draws room air into the cages through high efficiency
polyester air filters, 
across
each cage to the exhaust in a one-pass airflow
mode, through the rack's plenum and out of the
room. The exhaust air from each cage is captured
in a tapered stainless plenum inside the rack and
removed by the building HVAC exhaust air system.
Removal of cages does not interrupt airflow through
cages that remain on rack. This prevents cage-to-cage
and rack-to-rack cross-contamination and eliminates
animal allergens, odors, and contaminants in the
room. Filtered air moves through each cage at low
velocity, providing total-volume-air-change venting.
Air travels through the cage providing a high dilution
factor at 10 to 30 air changes per hour (ACH) in
the cage. At 15 ACH with 250g of Aspen shaving
bedding, cage-changing period extends up to three
weeks with 6 mice (25g) or 2 rats (300g) per cage.
Without blowers mounted on the rack, noise, vibration,
and ultrasound are eliminated. Since no animal
odors or equipment heat loads are imposed on the
macroenvironment, animal population density per
square foot of building can be increased significantly.
In case of a building power failure, convection
created by the animal heat loads ventilates the
cages adequately until power can be restored.
EXHAUST VENTILATION REQUIREMENTS
Each animal room provides fresh air at rate sufficient for projected human and animal occupancy, and shall have an exhaust system capable of drawing a minimum of 8 CFM (226 liters per minute) from every 14-cage module in the room at a rack static pressure of .15 inches H2O (37 pa). Since the racks connect directly to building exhaust system with flexible vent hoses, exhaust ducting in each room shall be capable of connecting to the 3" I.D. hoses provided with the racks. Vent hoses have 2 quick-disconnect fittings, one end connecting to the rack, and the other end connecting to the building HVAC exhaust. Minimum exhaust ventilation requirements for the different rack configurations are noted in the table below.
For example, using the table below, an animal holding room with one 140-cage rack and two 70-cage racks needs a minimum capacity of 160 CFM (4,528 liters per minute) at the system static pressure in the building exhaust system.
| Cages |
Minimum
Flow |
|---|---|
14 |
8 (226) |
28 |
16 (453) |
42 |
24 (679) |
56 |
32 (906) |
70 |
40 (1,132) |
84 |
48 (1,358) |
112 |
64 (1,811) |
140 |
80 (2,264) |
