Modular Cleanroom FAQs

Modular Cleanroom FAQs

by | Jan 5, 2022 | Cleanrooms

Need more details on modular cleanrooms? We’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve answered 10 of the most frequently asked questions we receive about modular cleanrooms here at Angstrom Technology. 

1. What Is a Modular Cleanroom?

A modular cleanroom is a cleanroom built of prefabricated components that are quickly and easily assembled to meet your specifications on-site. The prefabricated components are manufactured off-site, then delivered ready for installation, which allows for controlled conditions and improved quality and precision. 

Modular cleanrooms are able to meet any cleanliness and classification standards your application requires. They’re also easily reconfigured based on your facility’s changing needs.

2. Do I Need a Modular Cleanroom?

Modular cleanrooms are used in a variety of industries, for a variety of applications. If you need a space that is clean, safe, and virtually contaminant-free in order to successfully execute any of your processes, you’ll probably want to consider investing in one. It will keep your people, products, and property safe, so you can continue to run a profitable business. 

To provide some examples, here are a few of the industries that we commonly work with here at Angstrom Technology: aerospace & defense, agriculture, automotive, biotech, environmental testing, medical (hospital, medical device, research, marijuana), microbiology, pharmaceutical manufacturing, plastic injection molding, semiconductor. 

3. How Long Does a Modular Cleanroom Take to Design, Build, and Install?

Although the modular cleanroom design, build, and installation process can vary based on the size and complexity of your design, the process is usually very quick — especially when you compare it to that of traditionally built cleanrooms

Most often, framing, drywall, and painting are the worst trades in terms of efficiency. But with prefabricated modular construction systems, those are replaced with a high level of efficiency. In fact, prefabricated panels can result in a 25-75% schedule reduction compared to traditional construction.

At the start of the process, it may take a couple of weeks to consult with a designer about your application’s needs and create a design. After that, you’ll wait for a brief delivery period (6-8 weeks with Angstrom’s industry-setting standard). Once all components are delivered, your modular cleanroom can be installed in just a few weeks, depending on the size. 

4. How Much Does a Modular Cleanroom Cost?

The cost of a modular cleanroom is highly competitive to that of a traditionally constructed cleanroom — primarily due to the fast and simple design, build, and installation process. In addition, there’s a tremendous reduction in the costs of waste, unused materials, and lost items that are associated with traditional construction.

That said, modular cleanroom costs can vary tremendously from project to project. In most cases, the cost of a modular cleanroom is based on the following factors:

5. What Are the Benefits of Modular Cleanrooms?

Modular cleanrooms bring the same benefits as traditionally built cleanrooms — and more! In fact, when compared to their traditional counterparts, modular cleanrooms are generally:

  • Quicker and easier to install, ensuring that you’re able to resume regular operations in no time. 
  • More adaptable to your facility’s changing needs, as modular cleanrooms can be constructed and/or reconfigured to fit any space, even within an existing building. 
  • More affordable, due to prefabricated components and a speedy installation process. 

6. What Should I Expect From the Modular Cleanroom Installation Process?

As mentioned in Question #2 above, the modular cleanroom installation process is quick — and, if you’d like to, you can save on labor costs and do it yourself! At Angstrom Technology, we’ll send you a detailed list of installation instructions to follow. 

However, if you’re worried about the technical details, we’re also happy to complete the installation process for you. We employ an experienced team of modular cleanroom construction specialists who will install your room for you, leaving you with minimal disruption to your workdays. We’ll get things done and pay close attention to the details so you don’t have to. 

7. How Do I Know Which Type of Cleanroom I Need?

There are three common types of cleanrooms: HardWall, SoftWall, and RigidWall. The type you need depends on what you plan to use it for. 

  • HardWall cleanrooms are made of an aluminum frame and prefabricated solid panels. They suit most applications but are especially helpful for those with stringent cleanroom classification requirements. 
  • SoftWall cleanrooms are made of an aluminum frame and vinyl curtains around the perimeter. They’re capable of meeting most cleanroom classifications, but not the most stringent — especially when it comes to temperature and humidity control. 
  • RigidWall cleanrooms are made of an aluminum frame and clear, acrylic panels — giving them the durability and security of a HardWall cleanroom, plus the visibility of a SoftWall cleanroom. 

If you’re still unsure which type of cleanroom may best suit your application, it’s best to contact a cleanroom expert. They’ll listen to your needs and propose a solution that is sure to meet them. 

8. How Do I Know Which Cleanroom Classification I Need?

Your cleanroom is required to meet a certain ISO classification. ISO classification determines the degree of cleanliness, which is defined by the maximum amount of contamination allowed, by particle count and size. More stringent ISO classifications (i.e. Class 1-5) require higher filtration and air change rates. Less stringent ISO classifications (i.e. Class 6-9) are a little more lenient, working themselves all the way down to normal room air. 

For example, pharmaceutical cleanrooms require a stringent ISO classification because it’s a high priority to ensure products are kept safe so that, in turn, their consumers are kept safe. When even the smallest particle could affect the performance of a drug, there is no room for contamination or error. 

9. How Does Cleanroom Classification Affect Cost?

Generally, the more stringent your cleanroom classification, the more you’ll pay. This is because more stringent classifications require more filtration — and in order to achieve that, your cleanroom will need to accommodate more fan filter units and additional features like gowning rooms, air showers, etc.

10. Will My Modular Cleanroom Need Any Additional Features? 

Some modular cleanrooms just require the most basic components. However, modular cleanrooms that need to meet stringent classification requirements may require additional features and technologies to successfully avoid contamination. Things like airlocks, air showers, pass-through chambers, and gowning rooms are important considerations to keep sensitive applications free of harm. 

Have more questions about modular cleanrooms? Give the experts at Angstrom Technology a call! We’d be happy to walk through your specific needs and help to design, build, and install the best modular cleanroom for your facility.

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5 Biggest Threats to Medical Cleanrooms

5 Biggest Threats to Medical Cleanrooms

by | Dec 29, 2021 | Cleanroom Safety Information

5 Biggest Threats to Medical Cleanrooms (and How to Prepare for Them)

In the medical industry, there’s no room for error. The slightest amount of contamination can not only result in reduced efficiency and missed development deadlines, but it can also put human lives at risk. 

Keeping your medical cleanroom airtight, fully controllable, and customized to meet your application’s ISO classification is essential in conducting safe, effective, and efficient operations. You can accomplish this by understanding and planning ahead for any risks your cleanroom may encounter. Below, we’ll outline five of the biggest threats to medical cleanrooms, as well as how you can prepare for them. 

5 Biggest Threats to Medical Cleanrooms

While some threats to medical cleanrooms are fairly common sense, others may take you by surprise. Either way, it’s important to take all into consideration throughout the design and installation processes. Here are five of the most common threats medical cleanrooms regularly face: 

1. Personnel Within the Medical Cleanrooms

Staff members are known to pose the greatest risk for cleanrooms — and medical cleanrooms are no exception. Improper or disregarded handwashing and gowning protocols can result in thousands of contaminant particles being introduced — from skin particles to hair strands, to perfumes and cosmetics. In fact, some cleanroom inspections have attributed personnel as the cause for 80% of identified particles. 

2. Medical Cleanroom Materials

Work samples and materials within medical cleanrooms can also pose a health threat to personnel. In many medical cleanroom applications, cleanroom operators work with microbiological substances that can cause serious harm if they aren’t contained and controlled properly and if operators aren’t wearing correct protective gear. From studying infectious diseases to dealing with bodily fluid samples, it’s important to be aware of potential biosecurity risks. 

3. Equipment in Your Medical Cleanroom

The machines and tools within your cleanroom pose varying levels of contamination risk. Machines often emit gas, lubricants, emissions, and other airborne particles while in use. Also, everyday tools like pens, beakers, trays — even cleaning items — can all introduce particles if not sanitized properly before use or handled appropriately during use. 

4. Dysfunctional Filtration Systems

If your medical cleanroom’s filtration system isn’t working properly, your cleanroom likely isn’t all that clean. Filtration systems — consisting of fans, pre-filters, and HEPA or ULPA filters — are responsible for treating contaminated air supplies and maintaining consistent air change rates in order to ensure good air quality. However, over time, their components can grow old and function at lower capacity, increasing the chance of higher particle counts and dead zones.

5. Static in Your Medical Cleanrooms

Static electricity in medical cleanrooms isn’t always a risk that comes first to mind — but it’s definitely one to take into account. Its “cling” effect increases the chance of attracting airborne particles to surfaces that need to remain sterile. Also, in applications involving medical device development, static can cause particles to be drawn in and permanently damage sensitive electronic components. 

How to Prepare Your Medical Cleanroom for Safe Operations

Fortunately, there are ways to prepare for and prevent each of the medical cleanroom threats listed. Although complete sterilization is virtually impossible, implementing the right tools, technologies, and procedures can help you reduce risk as much as possible. Here are a few preparation tips to consider during the design and installation processes:

Install and Maintain a Fully Functioning Filtration System

In order for your cleanroom to meet its ISO classification requirements, you need to install a quality filtration system. Make sure that your filtration system provides the required percentage of ceiling coverage and maintains consistent air exchange rates. 

And, once it’s designed and installed properly, make sure you stick to a regular filtration system inspection and maintenance schedule. Your pre-filters should be replaced at least six times per year, and your HEPA or ULPA filters should be replaced at least once every three years. If not maintained properly, your filtration system could fail and threaten control over your cleanroom environment. 

Apply the Right Type of Pressurization for Your Medical Cleanroom’s Application

Both positive and negative pressure cleanrooms have their place in the medical industry — it just depends on your specific application. Most medical cleanrooms operate with positive pressure, using HEPA filters and an external airflow pattern. However, some applications involving hazardous substances need negative pressure to prevent contaminants from escaping and causing harm to the surrounding environment. 

Include Pass Throughs in Your Medical Cleanroom Design

Pass-throughs are chambers for moving products in and out of your cleanroom. Adding one or more pass-throughs to your medical cleanroom can make transferring tools and materials quicker and more efficient. At the same time, pass-throughs reduce cleanroom traffic cross-contamination, helping to provide a less compromised work environment.

Adopt Thorough Cleanroom Cleaning Protocols

Medical cleanrooms require some of the most stringent ISO standards — and while your cleanroom may be designed with features and technologies to uphold that, you still need to do some cleaning as well. By establishing a daily, weekly, and as-needed set of cleaning tasks, you’ll ensure your cleanroom is operating at its maximum possible sterilization levels. 

While you’re cleaning, make sure to use specified cleaning products for medical cleanrooms like distilled water, neutral chemical solvents, and non-shedding cloths or wipes. How you clean is just as important as how frequently you clean. 

Implement Anti-Static Cleanroom Components

Controlling static isn’t always easy, but it is possible. There are many specialized products made for controlling static within a cleanroom, including anti-static flooring and wall panels. On top of this, a great way to control static is to adopt clothing and gowning guidelines that limit it. These could include anti-static garments, ESD cuffs, low-static shoes, or basic lab coats. 

No matter the specific environmental threats your facility and application may face, Angstrom Technology can design and install a medical cleanroom that controls and prevents them all. Contact our team to get started today. 

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Tips for Cleanroom Cleaning

Tips for Cleanroom Cleaning

by | Dec 22, 2021 | Filtration

You’ve spent the money, taken the time, and exhausted the resources needed to design and construct a perfect cleanroom for your facility’s application. It’s fully operational and exceeding your expectations, so now you can just sit back and enjoy the results, right? 

Well, yes — but your work isn’t done. All cleanrooms require constant cleaning because, no matter how robust of a filtration system they may have, they’ll always have some amount of exposure to contaminants. 

6 Tips for Cleanroom Cleaning

Regardless of your cleanroom’s ISO classification, adhering to proper cleaning protocols will help ensure its performance and longevity. There are a lot of factors that go into that cleanroom cleaning process, so we’ve compiled a list of six cleaning tips to help you keep track of the most important steps. 

1. Choose One of Two Cleanroom Cleaning Methods

For starters, there are two basic methods of cleanroom cleaning that you should be aware of: dry transfer and wet cleaning:

  • Dry transfer cleanroom cleaning involves wiping a surface with a collective, absorbent material. This material should be a cleanroom-specified cloth or wipe that won’t shed fibers, break apart, or redeposit contaminant particles. Depending on your cleanroom’s ISO classification, this could include knitted polyester cloths or cotton twill wipes. 
  • Wet cleanroom cleaning removes contamination with the use of a cleaning fluid. It’s a good choice when dry transfer isn’t enough to overcome particle adhesion to surfaces. However, it’s important to use only cleanroom-specified cleaning agents, such as deionized and distilled water, or neutral, non-ionic, non-foaming chemical solvents. 

Most of the time, proper cleanroom cleaning involves both types of cleaning. It’s just important to understand which is best for which kind of surface or application. 

2. Be Aware of Varying Industry Standards 

Depending on the industry you’re in, your cleanroom will have a unique layout, ISO classification, and cleanliness standard. Your cleaning routine needs to reflect those specifications. 

If your cleanroom has a lower ISO classification, it will need to adhere to more regular, comprehensive sanitation processes in order to keep tight control over particulate contamination. Cleanrooms with higher ISO classifications still need to keep up with regular cleanings, but they may be a little less involved. 

3. Adhere to Sanitation Protocols Before Entering Your Cleanroom

The best way to keep your cleanroom as clean as possible is to follow proper sanitation protocols before entering it. Make sure all of your equipment and tools are cleaned and disinfected before they’re allowed in. 

This step doesn’t just involve equipment though; it also involves your personnel. In fact, they’re usually the biggest contributor of outside contaminants coming into your cleanroom. Ensure all staff members are thoroughly trained on what steps they need to take — from washing and drying hands completely, to using sterile gloves, to following the proper gowning procedure. 

4. Implement Advanced Cleaning Equipment As Necessary

In some cases, dry transfer and wet cleaning can only get you so far, and you need to bring in more advanced cleaning technology and equipment. From portable HEPA filtration systems with UV-C light integration, to Dry Hydrogen Peroxide (DHP™), there are many technological cleanroom cleaning innovations to choose from — and they’ll all add a heightened level of filtration or sterilization to your environment. 

5. Follow a Top-Down Cleaning Pattern

How you clean is just as important as what you use while cleaning. Although they’re small, contaminant particles are affected by gravitational forces. To ensure any falling particles don’t recontaminate recently cleaned surfaces, you should sanitize your cleanroom from top to bottom, cleaning shelves or work surfaces first and the floor last. 

All of which brings up another good tip: don’t forget to sanitize your cleanroom’s floor! The floor is one of the most easily contaminated surfaces of your cleanroom, due to easily-forgotten shoe cleansing and gravity naturally pulling contaminants down. Invest in a shoe cleaner or sticky mat to minimize the number of particles before entering, but also remember to wipe the floor after the fact. 

6. Commit to a Regular Cleanroom Cleaning Routine

Maintaining a clean, controlled environment requires diligence. Your team needs to commit to a regular cleanroom cleaning schedule full of daily, weekly, and as-needed tasks. Depending on your ISO classification, these tasks may be done with more or less frequency, but a general schedule is as follows: 

Daily Cleanroom Cleaning Tasks

  • Before a shift begins, use a damp mop to sanitize floors. Dry them with a HEPA filter vacuum. 
  • Vacuum all walls with a HEPA filter vacuum.
  • Wash and dry all windows and pass-throughs. 
  • After each shift, wipe down all work surfaces.

Weekly Cleanroom Cleaning Tasks

  • Mop floors with a cleanroom-specified detergent and distilled water. Dry them with a HEPA filter vacuum.
  • Wipe walls with distilled water. Dry them with a HEPA filter vacuum. 

As-Needed Cleanroom Cleaning Tasks

  • Wash ceiling with detergent and distilled water.
  • Wipe off light lenses. 
  • Replace shoe cleaners and/or sticky mats. 

Have more questions about keeping your cleanroom clean? Get in touch with the experts at Angstrom Technology! We’re happy to walk through your specific requirements and help design, build, and maintain the ideal cleanroom for your facility.

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How to Replace Aerospace Cleanroom Filters

How to Replace Aerospace Cleanroom Filters

by | Dec 15, 2021 | Aerospace Cleanrooms

A cleanroom with ineffective filters isn’t a cleanroom at all. That’s why it’s important to perform regular inspections and routine maintenance on your cleanroom filtration system. 

Depending on your unique application and ISO classification requirements, your cleanroom filters’ maintenance schedule and routine may look a bit different than others’. In this article, let’s take a look specifically at when and how to replace aerospace cleanroom filters. 

What Are Aerospace Cleanroom Filters?

Aerospace cleanroom filters are used to effectively and efficiently maintain air quality throughout the space, removing various hydrocarbon, silicone, and microbiological contaminants. In most cases, these filters consist of three components: a fan, a pre-filter, and a HEPA or ULPA fan filter unit (FFU) — which all work together to treat the cleanroom so it continuously meets a certain cleanliness level, or ISO classification. There are usually many filters that work together to form a comprehensive filtration system, which is installed in the ceiling grid of the cleanroom. 

Most aerospace cleanrooms require an ISO classification of 7. This means that the maximum allowed number of particles 0.5µm or larger is 352,000. To achieve this, the cleanroom must have 15-20% of ceiling coverage dedicated to filtration and an average air change rate of about 60-90 completed changes per hour. 

However, for some highly sensitive applications like spacecraft hardware and fine electronics, this classification could be lower and more stringent, requiring even more ceiling coverage dedicated to filtration and even faster air change rates. 

How to Replace Aerospace Cleanroom Filters

Regularly inspecting, maintaining, and replacing your aerospace cleanroom’s filters is important in ensuring your cleanroom meets those required levels of cleanliness. If left unchecked and dysfunctional, both your products and your end consumers could suffer dangerous and costly consequences. Here’s how to access and replace aerospace cleanroom filters to ensure optimized, safe operations within your facility. 

Where to Access Aerospace Cleanroom Filters

As mentioned previously, most filters are housed in your cleanroom’s ceiling grid. However, many cleanroom manufacturers (like us at Angstrom Technology) want to make accessing and replacing cleanroom filters as simple as possible — and climbing up a ladder to breach the ceiling isn’t all that easy. 

Therefore, these manufacturers will instead separate the prefilter from the FFU housing and place it in a low wall grille near the floor where it’s more accessible. This way, the ceiling doesn’t need to be regularly accessed and the cleanroom doesn’t need to be recertified with each prefilter replacement. 

How Often Aerospace Cleanroom Filters Should Be Replaced

Each part of your aerospace cleanroom filter requires maintenance and replacement at different times. 

Pre-filters are the outermost filters, and are therefore exposed to the most contaminants. On average, they’ll need to be replaced six times per year. It’s important to stick to this schedule so that your innermost (and most expensive) filter, the HEPA/ULPA filter, is kept safe for longer periods of time. 

Since they are the innermost filters, HEPA and ULPA filters don’t need to be replaced as often as pre-filters. With proper prefilter maintenance, they usually have a lifespan between 7-10 years. However, it’s important to check them more regularly than that to ensure they are in fact functioning properly. 

It’s also important to note that your aerospace cleanroom’s location can affect how often your filters need to be replaced. If your facility is located in an area that experiences more air pollution or contaminants (e.g. next to a railroad track or factory), your cleanroom filters may require more frequent inspections and replacements. 

Trust a Professional to Replace Your Aerospace Cleanroom Filters

Hiring a professional to inspect, service, and replace your aerospace cleanroom filters can bring many benefits to your facility. They’ll have the knowledge and experience needed to ensure your equipment meets stringent ISO standards, and they’ll help you maintain a consistent maintenance schedule — leaving you with a few less things to worry about. 

Looking for someone to service your aerospace cleanroom and get it back in top shape? The experts at Angstrom Technology can help! We’d be happy to put you on our schedule for filter replacement, HVAC upgrades, and more. Contact us for more information. 

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How Cleanroom Airflow Patterns Are Designed

How Cleanroom Airflow Patterns Are Designed

by | Dec 8, 2021 | Filtration

Every cleanroom is designed to uphold a certain cleanliness level and ISO classification — and a major component of meeting those standards is establishing and maintaining a proper airflow pattern. In fact, ISO 14644-4 designates an entire annex section to discussing the necessary airflow patterns for maintaining low contaminant and particle counts. 

But what goes into achieving the right airflow pattern for your cleanroom? Below, we’ll provide an overview for how cleanroom airflow patterns are designed, and how you can ensure yours are meeting all necessary cleanliness requirements. 

Types of Cleanroom Airflow Patterns

Cleanrooms employ a number of HEPA and/or ULPA fan filters in order to limit how many contaminant particles enter the clean environment. Generally speaking, the more filters installed, the more treated your cleanroom will be. However, HEPA and ULPA filters are also capable of creating different airflow patterns, which can also affect cleanliness levels. 

The two main types of airflow patterns are turbulent airflow and laminar airflow. 

Turbulent Cleanroom Airflow Patterns

Turbulent, or non-unidirectional, airflow occurs when air flows in various currents throughout your cleanroom. It’s mostly commonly caused by non-uniform air speeds or obstructions in the air’s path. 

Turbulent airflow patterns can threaten the cleanliness of your environment. They can cause uncontrolled movement of contaminating particles, or they can cause dead zones where no air is moving — allowing those particles to build up over time. 

Laminar Cleanroom Airflow Patterns

Laminar, or unidirectional, airflow occurs when air flows in flat, uniform layers throughout your cleanroom. Typically, laminar airflow patterns follow a vertical path from the ceiling straight down to the floor. They require as little disturbances as possible in order to maintain a uniform pattern. 

Laminar, uniform airflow patterns are important in achieving the most controlled cleanroom environment possible. They work to keep particle movements consistent, and to prevent dead zones from popping up. 

How to Achieve Cleanroom Airflow Uniformity

To achieve a uniform airflow pattern, you first need to install HEPA and/or ULPA fan filters in the ceiling of your cleanroom. Make sure you have the correct amount of fan filters for your desired level of cleanliness. Then, those filters will push treated air out vertically, downward toward your work surfaces and eventually to the floor of your cleanroom. 

An important step of ensuring airflow uniformity is to minimize, remove, or account for any factors that could cause turbulence. You can do this by designing your cleanroom airflow pattern to accommodate your layout, equipment, furniture, and personnel. 

Need some tips on how to accommodate each of these factors? Try some of these:

  • Ensure large equipment or furniture pieces aren’t blocking fan filter units
  • Adjust equipment with aerodynamic attachments or design features
  • Use perforated cleanroom tables to allow air to pass through uninhibited
  • Modify behavior of personnel to not block airflow within critical zones

The Benefit of Expert, Custom Cleanroom Airflow Design

As your cleanroom’s ISO classification becomes more stringent, hiring an expert to design your cleanroom airflow pattern becomes more critical. They have the tools and experience needed to design a layout that optimizes airflow to meet your requirements. 

In many cases, a custom cleanroom designer or engineer will use fluid dynamics to map out your cleanroom. Then, they’ll place fan filter units and outlets appropriately to meet necessary standards. This process allows them to visualize the airflow patterns and make adjustments for systems, equipment, furniture, and personnel in order to achieve uniformity. 

Whether you want to install your own cleanroom or have it installed professionally, your cleanroom airflow pattern is something you need done right. Angstrom Technology can help! Our experts design every inch of your modular cleanroom before it’s built and delivered to you. We provide detailed instructions for installation in case you choose to DIY — but we also offer professional installation services to set it up quickly and effectively for the best possible results. Contact our team to learn more. 

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