What is a Cleanroom?
Cleanrooms are used to obtain the particle-free atmosphere as required, thus eliminating the possibility of contamination to a minimum. For certain applications, this kind of setting is an absolute fundamental prerequisite. For example, print circuit boards are produced and stored in cleanrooms to prevent short circuits between small connections.
In research and in the pharmaceutical industry, a particulate-free atmosphere is also necessary; the air purity criteria are also specified in compliance with relevant industry-dependant specifications.
5 step by step rules for Correct Planning of a Cleanroom
1. Analyze your demand
It is necessary to determine a cost factor in all points in setting up and running a cleanroom. This covers the estimated maintenance costs as well as the investment costs for the necessary technology. A cleanroom should always be dimensioned to fulfill the specifications and not compromise on space and resources unnecessarily. Owing to its modular architecture, cleanrooms can be more or less effortlessly expanded and tailored to the needs.
2. Define your cleanroom specifications
In cleanrooms, the air is allocated to various cleanliness groups of airborne contaminants, based on the intended application. The DIN standard EN ISO 14644-1 lists nine classes characterized by density and scale of particles. Particle specifications for the production and storing of electronic devices are not as stringent in, for instance, the food industry. Even the smallest particles can contribute to severe defects. However, in the pharmaceutical industry, the GMP guidelines exist, which includes the specifications for particle size and density and the highest bacterial load permitted.
3. Choose a suitable ventilation system
The ventilating device for your cleanroom relies in particular on the specifications of the respective ISO class. The airflow should be crafted in any application to avoid particles from depositing at critical points and to eliminate the largest amount of particles from the outside. Both accesses must undoubtedly be kept free and placed so that they do not have to be changed for daily operation. In order to regulate temperature and humidity in a cleanroom, air conditioning units are available; for certain applications, a constant degree of these parameters is needed.
4. Determine the appropriate material for walls, floors, and ceilings
There are specifications also for cleaning cleanrooms, for example, with regard to the cleaning agents used. All horizontal and vertical surfaces must be easy to clean and resistant to the chemicals they contain.
The materials should then be versatile and easy to clean. Fixed walls and soft wall solutions for cleanrooms are also available, depending on the use.
5. Be mindful of cleaning and repair possibilities
Cleaning a cleanroom must be carried out by specialists and with specially approved means for this purpose. The cleaning and maintaining of your cleanroom in regular cycles, which depends on your specific application and air cleanliness class, is best planned in advance.
Cleanroom planning is often a dynamic and individual process that has to take care of both future uses and, undoubtedly, local circumstances. As the specifications differ between organizations, several manufacturers provide modular systems and equipment as well as address particular demands.