Medical Cleanroom Design Tips: Choosing Cabinetry

Medical Cleanroom Design Tips: Choosing Cabinetry

Choosing cleanroom cabinets requires some thought, as there aren’t clear guidelines for which are best for every cleanroom application. No official certification system exists for cabinetry the way other cleanroom materials are declared safe for use in cleanrooms. It’s important to carefully consider a few factors when making your choice, such as your medical cleanroom classification, what materials are compatible for use within your facility, and how your cleanroom cabinets will be used.

Medical cleanroom cabinets are used for safely storing products and substances to keep them out of the way in a cool, dry environment. You can use cleanroom cabinets for storing various items including:

  • Tools and equipment
  • Biological samples
  • Hazardous substances
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Gowns and booties
  • Industry-specific products

 

Types of Cleanroom Cabinets

Not every cabinet will be compatible with your cleanroom. The ideal cabinet for your application will be functional and space-efficient, and not introduce contaminants into the cleanroom nor allow them to collect on the material. Here are a few common medical cleanroom cabinet materials.

 

Stainless Steel Cleanroom Cabinets

Stainless steel cleanroom cabinets are the most popular style because they function well in many different types of cleanrooms. Great for diverse applications, stainless steel can handle wet or dry conditions and a wide range of temperatures. Stainless steel also has the advantage of being easy to maintain and sanitize. 

These cleanroom cabinets can build up static electricity, so they should be used in a cleanroom where static isn’t a threat, or adapted with a grounding or dissipation system built into the cabinet design. (Tip: For superior corrosion resistance, consider electropolished stainless steel.)

 

Open Wire Shelving

If your cleanroom uses a vertical airflow pattern, you may instead choose wire shelving over cabinets, in order to let the air move freely and limit the collection of contaminants. Either chrome-plated wire or polymer shelving are both great options that are about a third the cost of stainless steel. Open wire shelving is best for cleanrooms that don’t use corrosive agents in operation or for cleaning.

 

Laminate Cleanroom Storage Cabinets

Laminate cleanroom cabinets are an affordable choice for storage in cleanrooms with less stringent requirements. These cabinets are available in a variety of configurations with adjustable shelves. They can be either wall mounted, freestanding, or on casters.

 

Epoxy Cleanroom Cabinets

An epoxy coating can be applied to cleanroom cabinets and surfaces to increase stain resistance. Epoxy cleanroom cabinets work well for wet and dry applications.

 

Polyurethane Cleanroom Cabinets

Polyurethane is another coating similar to epoxy, but with greater chemical resistance. Polyurethane cleanroom cabinets have a smooth surface that is easy to clean and difficult to scratch or chip.

 

Acrylic Cleanroom Cabinets

Clear acrylic cleanroom storage cabinets are great for protecting products, parts, and substances. Using transparent cabinets can limit unnecessary movement in the cleanroom, reducing the risk of contamination.

 

Choosing Cleanroom Cabinets

As an important part of cleanroom design, all storage solutions like cleanroom cabinets and shelves used in a controlled environment must be compatible with cleanroom use and limit contaminant collection. Consider your cleanroom’s airflow pattern when choosing cabinets or shelves and avoid obstructing your HVAC and filtering system. Your cleanroom cabinets should also be able to withstand the materials you use for cleaning without corroding or shedding particles. Finally, if your cleanroom operations or staff are endangered by static electricity, avoid conductive materials unless you have a method to ground charges.

If you’re still not sure which cleanroom cabinets are best for your cleanroom, let Angstrom Technology help. As cleanroom design experts, we can help you choose the option that’s best for your application, and that meets your cleanroom classification. For more help choosing cleanroom cabinets and other furnishings, give us a call or reach out online. 

5 Benefits of Hardwall Cleanrooms for the Aerospace Industry

5 Benefits of Hardwall Cleanrooms for the Aerospace Industry

Aerospace cleanrooms often require high levels of control, regulated by high cleanroom classifications. To achieve stringent standards, while allowing flexibility for project changes and environmental adjustments, some of the best cleanrooms for the aerospace industry are HardWall cleanrooms. Let’s look at five benefits HardWall cleanrooms can offer your aerospace projects.

 

HardWall Cleanrooms Are Stable

When working within a cleanroom environment, having control over environmental variables can make or break a project. That’s why a stable cleanroom is so important for all cleanroom applications, but especially for those with higher cleanroom classifications. At best, instability can make your work unpredictable and unproductive; at worst, someone could get hurt. To avoid these scenarios, you need a cleanroom you can trust to keep your products and people safe; one that will allow you to control your environment and limit contamination by unwanted forces or particles as much as possible.

HardWall cleanrooms offer the most stability of any modular cleanroom. Particularly for higher classification and specialized aerospace cleanrooms, this cleanroom type offers more control across a wide range of requirements. The sturdy floor-to-ceiling panels create a fully sealed space for total power over environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and pressure. If your cleanroom needs the ability to control minute differences effectively and conveniently, a HardWall cleanroom is the best choice for your project.

 

HardWall Cleanrooms Are Customized

The best cleanroom for any project is one that is uniquely suited to your application, yet also versatile enough to adapt to your needs as your work develops. With HardWall cleanrooms, you can have both. HardWall modular cleanroom panels are fully customizable for your application, equipment specifications, and cleanroom classification. The panels are hardwearing for heavy use and can conform to your desired level of control as you need it. 

In the aerospace industry, the customization is particularly valuable. If your project requirements change from development to manufacturing to assembly, your cleanroom can be modified to meet new standards. If you need to change your layout to accommodate larger equipment or hardware, HardWall cleanrooms are easy to adapt, add to, reconfigure, or even relocate to a new space. All cleanrooms are an investment, but with a Hardwall cleanroom, you get the most out of your money.

 

HardWall Cleanrooms Are Convenient

If you need to set up a project quickly, or just don’t want to deal with the hassle of building a cleanroom from the floor up, you won’t find a better quality or more convenient option than a modular HardWall cleanroom. Each modular panel is built to your specifications offsite to later be assembled with ease at your desired location. Working with an expert cleanroom designer, you can choose the ideal layout for your cleanroom and decide on important design features ahead of time. Modular cleanroom panels arrive prewired for efficiency, with insulation already built-in, so you can get your new aerospace cleanroom up and running as soon as possible. 

Once installed, HardWall cleanrooms are easy to maintain and clean. The stationary wall design is more convenient to sanitize than a flexible one, so you can feel confident in your cleaning results. Made of non-particle shedding and non-off gassing materials, your HardWall cleanroom will protect your work with little effort required, for as long as you need it.

 

HardWall Cleanrooms Are Durable

In the aerospace industry, the products you develop and manufacture are designed to endure some of the most extreme conditions. Shouldn’t your cleanroom be just as durable? HardWall cleanrooms are constructed with heavy-duty frames that can either be attached to the floor or suspended from a reinforced ceiling grid. The modular panels won’t sag or bend over time and are guaranteed to be a long-lasting, secure, and chemically-resistant solution.

Designed to stand up in the toughest environments, HardWall cleanrooms are perfectly suited for aerospace applications. With this kind of durability, your work and investment will be safe and well-protected.

 

HardWall Cleanrooms Are Adaptable

A major benefit of modular HardWall cleanrooms is that they are incredibly adaptable. Modular panels can be arranged and installed almost anywhere. If you want your cleanroom located within an existing room or structure, a HardWall cleanroom can be easily installed, no new build required. HardWall cleanrooms can either be freestanding, suspended from a strong ceiling grid, or attached to an existing building structure.

HardWall cleanrooms can adapt to your space seamlessly, with either a separate HVAC system or integration with your building’s existing systems. Your cleanroom can also utilize light from existing windows and be designed around mounted equipment and utilities. If your project requirements change, the modular panels can be reconfigured, expanded, or condensed to meet new classification requirements or accommodate new equipment or hardware.

These modular cleanrooms are so versatile and reliable, they have us wondering: What can’t HardWall cleanrooms do? If you’re looking for a top-quality cleanroom that will give you full control over your space with the added convenience of prefabricated modular panels, this cleanroom type is the best choice for your aerospace project.

Time to install a HardWall cleanroom in your facility? Let us know! Our team can help design and install the cleanroom that’s perfect for your application. To get started on your project, give us a call or reach out to us online.

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Cleanroom Design Tips: Choosing Cleanroom Flooring

Cleanroom Design Tips: Choosing Cleanroom Flooring

When designing the perfect cleanroom, every element has to fit together. Working from head to toe, each component has a part to play in keeping your cleanroom running efficiently. When it comes to flooring, you’ll need to pick the type that best fits the work you’re doing, the materials you’re using, and adds to the cleanliness of your space. 

Before choosing your cleanroom flooring material, consider what requirements your cleanroom has to meet and the type of traffic and wear it receives. Maybe you need a material that can handle harsh chemicals for cleaning or manufacturing processes. Or perhaps your industry deals with electronics whose main enemy is static electricity, and you need flooring that will dissipate static and protect your work. 

There are several common flooring materials for cleanroom design, each with advantages and qualities that make them more qualified for certain applications over others. Here are some of the most common flooring types for cleanrooms:

 

Cleanroom Flooring Types:

 

Rubber Flooring

 

blue-cleanroom

Rubber flooring is installed in sheets and then cold welded into place. It can stand up to heavy wear, making it one of the most durable choices of cleanroom flooring. Rubber sheet flooring is also anti-static and easy to maintain. It’s a low-cost option that is available in many colors that can match any cleanroom design. Rubber flooring is the favorite of many cleanroom designers because it is easy to install and can meet a large variety of operational requirements.

 

Vinyl Seamless Flooring

Vinyl flooring is one of the easiest to clean because of its seamless construction. It can also be used to cover walls in a smooth transition, meaning fewer crevices for contaminants to build up. Vinyl flooring is a very economical option for low-traffic cleanrooms that don’t have to meet high weight requirements. Consistent traffic will wear out vinyl flooring quickly.

 

Epoxy Coating

Epoxy is a coating that is installed over a solid concrete substrate, preferably one that has no cracks and is structurally solid. Epoxy will fill in small imperfections on the floor’s surface, so some leveling is required. Epoxy’s advantage is its dense coating which has a low porosity, making it strong and durable under heavy traffic as well as easy to clean and maintain. It can be applied in a variety of color and performance options that can stand up to corrosive chemicals and dissipate static.

 

Urethane System

Polyurethane flooring exhibits a glossy or satin finish that is maintained even under heavy traffic and use. It is highly resistant to harsh chemicals and substances like gasoline, fuels, hydrocarbons, acids, and alcohols, making it an excellent cleanroom design choice for manufacturing cleanrooms. It also has light-reflecting properties that aid in illumination and can have applications that prevent skids.

 

Others:

Another cleanroom flooring type is Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT). VCT has many seams that require consistent maintenance but is a cost-effective option that complements applications in electronics because of the electrostatic dissipative feature.

Raised flooring panels can be used to improve airflow within a cleanroom. They also increase conductivity and may be static dissipative. Raised panels can be solid panels, grated or perforated.

Depending on the unique specifications of your facility, some flooring types will be better able to accommodate your needs than others. If you’re planning the design for your new cleanroom and are still unsure which flooring type to go with, let the experts at Angstrom Technology help. Our design experts can help you make the tough choices, and ensure you get the cleanroom that’s perfect for your application.