Applications & Enivornments

CLEANROOM ENVIRONMENTS

A cleanroom is a controlled environment where pollutants like dust, airborne microbes, and aerosol particles are filtered out in order to provide the cleanest area possible. Most cleanrooms are used for manufacturing products such as electronics, pharmaceutical products, and medical equipment. A cleanroom can be classified into different levels of contamination depending on the amount of particles allowed in the space, per cubic meter. Cleanrooms also control variables like temperature, air flow, and humidity.

CLEANROOM ENVIRONMENTS

A cleanroom is a controlled environment where pollutants like dust, airborne microbes, and aerosol particles are filtered out in order to provide the cleanest area possible. Most cleanrooms are used for manufacturing products such as electronics, pharmaceutical products, and medical equipment. A cleanroom can be classified into different levels of contamination depending on the amount of particles allowed in the space, per cubic meter. Cleanrooms also control variables like temperature, air flow, and humidity.

HOW DOES A CLEANROOM WORK?

Essentially, cleanrooms work to remove pollutants, particles, and contaminants from outside ambient air. Outside air is first circulated to a filter system. The filters (either HEPA or ULPA) then clean and decontaminate this outside air according to their specifications. The filtered air is then forced into the cleanroom. Additionally, contaminated air within the cleanroom is forced outside the room by registers, or it is recirculated back into the filters, and the process restarts.

WHO NEEDS A CLEANROOM?

There are a wide variety of reasons that a company may need a cleanroom. If you’re manufacturing something that is easily affected by contaminants or particles in the air for example, it’s likely that you’ll need a cleanroom. Here are some common industries that regularly use cleanrooms:

WHO NEEDS A CLEANROOM?

There are a wide variety of reasons that a company may need a cleanroom. If you’re manufacturing something that is easily affected by contaminants or particles in the air for example, it’s likely that you’ll need a cleanroom. Here are some common industries that regularly use cleanrooms:

 

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MANUFACTURING COMPANIES
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RESEARCH FACILITIES
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PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES
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MEDICAL LABORATORIES
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ELECTRONIC PART PRODUCTION

HOW DO YOU KEEP A CLEANROOM CLEAN?

It can be difficult to maintain the standards of a cleanroom. The rooms themselves can be touchy, and everything you bring into the cleanroom is likely to release particles into the air, even your employees. So, what are the best ways to keep your cleanroom up to the standards you so painstakingly maintained? Here are a few basic concepts, and some helpful suggestions for maintaining the highest level of clean in your cleanroom. 

HOW DO YOU KEEP A CLEANROOM CLEAN?

It can be difficult to maintain the standards of a cleanroom. The rooms themselves can be touchy, and everything you bring into the cleanroom is likely to release particles into the air, even your employees. So, what are the best ways to keep your cleanroom up to the standards you so painstakingly maintained? Here are a few basic concepts, and some helpful suggestions for maintaining the highest level of clean in your cleanroom. 

CLEANROOM FURNITURE

Believe it or not, furniture gives off particles even when sitting motionless. Which is why special cleanroom furniture is manufactured to lessen particles and dust that fall and collect on furniture. It’s a good idea to invest in this type of furniture if you are interested in keeping your cleanroom clean.

STICKY FLOORING

The best way to take care of foot-borne or wheel-borne contaminates is with sticky flooring. It’s durable, effective, and can last for 3-5 years if properly cleaned and taken care of. If your cleanroom has a high standard for cleanliness, sticky flooring is a useful addition to keeping your cleanroom clean.

GOWNING

Anyone who enters the cleanroom has to wear protective clothing. Humans are full of particles: our hair falls out, our skin flakes, and there’s no way to control it. Depending on your class of cleanroom, you might be required to where gowns and gloves, or you could require a full head to toe “bunny suit” complete with a mask and goggles.

AIR SHOWER

If you’re concerned with limiting the amount of particles brought into your cleanroom, you might consider investing in an air shower. Used with the gowning room, it blows off any particles that could easily fall off individuals as they enter the cleanroom. It’s great for eliminating any extra particles before entering the cleanroom.

PROPER GOWNING TECHNIQUES

The cleanroom gowning process may seem like a hassle, but you spend a lot of money getting the cleanroom installed and maintained, so a few extra minutes gowning properly isn’t a big deal if you’re protecting that asset and keeping your cleanroom as clean as possible. But what, exactly, do you have to do to make sure you and your employees are following proper protocol, and protecting the environment of the cleanroom? It starts with a standard procedure. It will be much simpler if everyone follows the exact same process, and understands the different areas of the gowning space. Generally, most gowning spaces have a “getting dressed” area and a “cleaner” area. Make sure employees understand these boundaries, and know where to stand at what point in the gowning process. Here’s an example of a standard gowning process. Remember, however, that most gowning processes will vary depending on the standard you’re required to adhere to.

PROPER GOWNING TECHNIQUES

The cleanroom gowning process may seem like a hassle, but you spend a lot of money getting the cleanroom installed and maintained, so a few extra minutes gowning properly isn’t a big deal if you’re protecting that asset and keeping your cleanroom as clean as possible. But what, exactly, do you have to do to make sure you and your employees are following proper protocol, and protecting the environment of the cleanroom? It starts with a standard procedure. It will be much simpler if everyone follows the exact same process, and understands the different areas of the gowning space. Generally, most gowning spaces have a “getting dressed” area and a “cleaner” area. Make sure employees understand these boundaries, and know where to stand at what point in the gowning process. Here’s an example of a standard gowning process. Remember, however, that most gowning processes will vary depending on the standard you’re required to adhere to.

PERFUME & COSMETICS

If you’re working in a cleanroom, the gowning process starts before you even get to work. It’s important to remember that products like perfume, makeup, hair gels, etc. give off extra fumes and particles. To keep your cleanroom as clean as possible, it’s necessary that anyone entering the room not wear these types of products.

REMOVE PERSONAL ITEMS

Personal items like jewelry also have to come off before you go into your cleanroom. They, just like cosmetics, release extra, unnecessary particles into the air that you’re better off without.

CHANGE SHOES

Shoes pick up all kinds of dirt and dust. It’s a good idea to change your shoes once you walk into the building, and then as you enter the gowning area, make sure you step on a sticky mat to remove any excess particles.

ENTER GOWNING AREA

Now you’ll enter the gowning room, and most places have a “getting dressed” area, which is where you’ll start. Make sure to put on a set of “donning gloves” or just a first set of gloves to eliminate particle contamination of gowning clothes. When gowning, remember to dress from head to toe; this eliminates particles from falling onto already gowned parts like coveralls and booties.

DON BOUFFANT

First, you’ll put on your bouffant, or hair cover. Make sure to only touch the inside of it, and ensure that all hair is covered and out of the way. After this, you may also have to don a hood, depending on your cleanroom’s standards.

DON COVERALL

If your coverall is one piece, start with the feet and move upwards. If it’s two pieces, start with the top and then sit down to put on the bottom half. Do not let the coverall touch the floor or walls. Make sure you zip all zips, and snap all snaps.

BOOTIES OR SHOE COVERS

Now, sit on the bench to don booties or shoe covers. Make sure you tuck your pants into the booties or shoe covers and don’t step in the “getting dressed’ area. Instead, step into the “cleaner” area of the gowning room. If your cleanroom has an automatic shoe cover dispenser, use that for cleanliest practice.

DON GOGGLES OR SHIELD

If your cleanroom requires them, this is where you put on your goggles or face shield. Some cleanrooms do not require this level of protection, so you may be able to skip this step.

FINAL PAIR OF GLOVES

Depending on protocol, you may now remove the first pair of gloves and put on a second, or you may put a second pair of gloves over the first. Roll the cuff of the gloves over top of your sleeves.

ENTER CLEANROOM

Now that you’ve properly gowned, you may enter the cleanroom. Remember that at this point you are as “clean” as you’re going to get, so if you touch anything before you get inside of the cleanroom, you’ll have to start over, or at the very least change your gloves.

PERFUME & COSMETICS

If you’re working in a cleanroom, the gowning process starts before you even get to work. It’s important to remember that products like perfume, makeup, hair gels, etc. give off extra fumes and particles. To keep your cleanroom as clean as possible, it’s necessary that anyone entering the room not wear these types of products.

REMOVE PERSONAL ITEMS

Personal items like jewelry also have to come off before you go into your cleanroom. They, just like cosmetics, release extra, unnecessary particles into the air that you’re better off without.

CHANGE SHOES

Shoes pick up all kinds of dirt and dust. It’s a good idea to change your shoes once you walk into the building, and then as you enter the gowning area, make sure you step on a sticky mat to remove any excess particles.

ENTER GOWNING AREA

Now you’ll enter the gowning room, and most places have a “getting dressed” area, which is where you’ll start. Make sure to put on a set of “donning gloves” or just a first set of gloves to eliminate particle contamination of gowning clothes. When gowning, remember to dress from head to toe; this eliminates particles from falling onto already gowned parts like coveralls and booties.

DON BOUFFANT

First, you’ll put on your bouffant, or hair cover. Make sure to only touch the inside of it, and ensure that all hair is covered and out of the way. After this, you may also have to don a hood, depending on your cleanroom’s standards.

DON COVERALL

If your coverall is one piece, start with the feet and move upwards. If it’s two pieces, start with the top and then sit down to put on the bottom half. Do not let the coverall touch the floor or walls. Make sure you zip all zips, and snap all snaps.

BOOTIES OR SHOE COVERS

Now, sit on the bench to don booties or shoe covers. Make sure you tuck your pants into the booties or shoe covers and don’t step in the “getting dressed’ area. Instead, step into the “cleaner” area of the gowning room. If your cleanroom has an automatic shoe cover dispenser, use that for cleanliest practice.

DON GOGGLES OR SHIELD

If your cleanroom requires them, this is where you put on your goggles or face shield. Some cleanrooms do not require this level of protection, so you may be able to skip this step.

FINAL PAIR OF GLOVES

Depending on protocol, you may now remove the first pair of gloves and put on a second, or you may put a second pair of gloves over the first. Roll the cuff of the gloves over top of your sleeves.

ENTER CLEANROOM

Now that you’ve properly gowned, you may enter the cleanroom. Remember that at this point you are as “clean” as you’re going to get, so if you touch anything before you get inside of the cleanroom, you’ll have to start over, or at the very least change your gloves.

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