What term describes a passageway with two locking doors which cannot be opened simultaneously?

What term describes a passageway with two locking doors which cannot be opened simultaneously?

• A. Capsule
• B. Service corridor
• C. Airlock
• D. Doorstop

Answer: (C)

An airlock is a controlled passage with two doors that cannot be opened at the same time, creating a buffer between two spaces. This design prevents cross-contamination and helps maintain different pressure or cleanliness levels, which is essential in vivarium or cleanroom environments. The interlocked doors ensure that once one side is entered, the other door remains closed until the first is secured, so airflow and contaminants don’t move directly from one area to the other. Capsule describes a small enclosed container, not a passageway with interlocking doors. A service corridor is simply a hallway used for staff movement and equipment, not inherently designed to prevent simultaneous door opening. A doorstop is a device to hold a door in place, not a specialized passage with two interlocking doors.

An airlock is a controlled passage with two doors that cannot be opened at the same time, creating a buffer between two spaces. This design prevents cross-contamination and helps maintain different pressure or cleanliness levels, which is essential in vivarium or cleanroom environments. The interlocked doors ensure that once one side is entered, the other door remains closed until the first is secured, so airflow and contaminants don’t move directly from one area to the other.

Capsule describes a small enclosed container, not a passageway with interlocking doors. A service corridor is simply a hallway used for staff movement and equipment, not inherently designed to prevent simultaneous door opening. A doorstop is a device to hold a door in place, not a specialized passage with two interlocking doors.