One of the final decisions you’ll have to make in regards to cleanroom design is what additional features and technologies your cleanroom may require — and cleanroom glove boxes are necessary, and most often required, in specific stringent applications. Below, we’ll explore more about what a cleanroom glove box is, what it’s used for, and under which circumstances you may need to incorporate one into your cleanroom’s design. 

What Is a Cleanroom Glove Box?

A cleanroom glove box is a sealed containment system that provides a controlled atmosphere for handling the contents within. In most cases, cleanroom glove boxes are manufactured with acrylic, static-dissipative PVC, and/or stainless steel, and they include one or more sets of gloves, allowing operators to work with objects while still upholding strict isolation protocols. 

Two Main Types of Glove Boxes

There are several different types of cleanroom glove boxes, but they all generally fall into two broad categories: “isolation” and “containment.” The difference between these two types is based on what you hope to protect, and which type of pressure is needed to protect it. 

• Isolation glove boxes use positive pressure to isolate sensitive materials from the elements and contaminants in their surrounding environment.
• Containment glove boxes use negative pressure to protect cleanroom operators from any hazardous materials or substances within the box. 

Glove Box Capabilities and Features

As far as capabilities and features go, glove boxes operate very similarly to your overall cleanroom. They’re typically referred to as your primary engineering control (PEC) and provide ISO 5 classification within the containment system. It’s then placed within the cleanroom, or the secondary engineering control (SEC) which has a lower ISO Classification. They provide an additional layer of isolation and protection — meeting slightly more stringent cleanliness requirements. 

For example, some of the most basic glove boxes capabilities and features include:

• Exhaust/recirculation connections and control
• Redundancy
• HEPA/ULPA filtration
• 2-4 glove ports (single or dual operator)
• Air locking
• Personnel & product protection
• Differential pressure
• Mobile or stationary

What Is a Cleanroom Glove Box Used For?

Glove boxes date all the way back to the 1940s, when they were used by the military to research radioactive materials. After that, they started gaining popularity in the medical field as a way to handle viruses and create various medications and vaccines. Today, cleanroom glove boxes’ controlled environments benefit a number of unique applications in a wide range of industries. 

Which Applications Need Glove Boxes in Their Cleanroom Design? 

The possibilities are truly endless here. You’ll likely see glove boxes in medical, laboratory, pharmaceutical, biological, chemical, and microelectronic cleanrooms most often, but they can also be incorporated into the cleanroom design for any other application that requires them. 

Get the Cleanroom Design Features You Need at Angstrom Technology

Does your cleanroom require a glove box, or some other additional feature or technology? We can help! With years of proven experience, our team at Angstrom Technology is able to design a cleanroom that meets all of your facility’s specifications. Talk to one of our design engineers to get started today.

Not sure where to start? We can help! Here are a few simple, yet critical factors to consider when designing your cleanroom, so you can set yourself up for a smooth design and installation process and get the most out of your investment. 

4 Key Considerations for Effective Cleanroom Design

While there are many factors to consider when designing your cleanroom, these are the four that our experts at Angstrom Technology have deemed most important to a successful, rewarding project: 

1. Determine Your Project Budget Early

There’s nothing that derails a project quite like paying more than you wanted to. As with any other construction project, determining your budget early on can help you avoid financial stress or hardship later on. It’s important that you work with your cleanroom manufacturer to understand how much your cleanroom may cost based on your unique specifications. In most cases, the following five factors will have the most effect on cleanroom cost:

• Size – The bigger, the more budget you’ll want to allocate. 
• Type – HardWall, SoftWall, and RigidWall cleanrooms all have unique features and cost varying amounts. In most cases, you’ll spend more on a HardWall or RigidWall cleanroom than you will a SoftWall cleanroom.
• Classification – The more stringent your ISO classification, the more fan filter units (FFUs) and equipment it will require, and the more it will cost you. 
• Design complexity and additional features – If your cleanroom requires extra features like process piping, furniture, static control, or gowning rooms, it will need to accommodate specific design complexities that come at an additional cost. 

2. Consider a Modular Cleanroom for Greater Design Flexibility

Modular cleanrooms are cleanrooms that are constructed with prefabricated components. They perform just like traditionally built cleanrooms, but with labeled components that are precisely pre-cut and pre-finished, they’re faster and easier to install — and require less routine maintenance.

Another big advantage of modular cleanrooms is their unparalleled versatility. They’re built “backward compatible,” which means they can be minimized, expanded, or reconfigured to meet the changing needs of your facility’s operations. This feature makes modular cleanrooms extremely rewarding long-term investments. 

3. Choose the Right ISO Classification for Your Application

Your cleanroom’s ISO classification refers to the maximum acceptable number of particles (by size) in the air, per cubic meter. That said, in order to figure out which classification your application requires, you’ll want to have a good understanding of the particle size you need to filter out. 

Building a cleanroom for a pharmaceutical production line? You’ll likely need to meet more stringent classification standards and filter out even the smallest of particles. Manufacturing basic automotive parts? Your automotive cleanroom is probably better suited for a lower classification standard, but still one that’ll filter out large particles. 

Keep in mind, however, that the more stringent your classification is, the more your cleanroom costs will be. So while building a cleanroom with a higher classification than you actually need won’t do any harm production-wise, it usually doesn’t make financial sense. Find the sweet spot, and stick to the lowest possible cleanroom classification that still meets your application’s requirements. 

4. Understand Your Process Flow

The final consideration you should make while designing a cleanroom that works for you is your process flow. It’s important to understand how your personnel and products will go about entering the room, exiting the room, and everything in between. Establishing this operational protocol will help you decide where the best placements may be for certain work surfaces, equipment, and filtration units, in addition to understanding the space needed for access around these items. 

Perhaps the best way to do this is to create a conceptual drawing of your cleanroom design, insert your intended furniture and equipment, then draw arrows along the intended paths your personnel and products will take. Seeing these things drawn out visually can give you a better idea of how they’ll actually play out once the design is brought to life — and nailing down this operational flow can help accomplish so much in terms of meeting the requirements for optimal cleanroom performance. 

Trust Angstrom Technology to Help with Cleanroom Design

Planning the design for your new cleanroom or redesigning an existing one? Let the experts at Angstrom Technology help. Our design engineers can help you make the tough choices and ensure you receive a cleanroom that’s perfect for your application. Contact us today to learn more.