What Are the Key Elements of Custom Cleanroom Solutions? Materials, Layout, Features, and More

What Are the Key Elements of Custom Cleanroom Solutions? Materials, Layout, Features, and More

Across pharmaceuticals, electronics, biotechnology, and beyond, cleanrooms play a pivotal role in safeguarding processes and products from contaminants. Angstrom Technology stands at the forefront of this industry, focusing on tailored designs, cutting-edge innovation, and custom cleanroom solutions?

Are you interested in custom cleanroom solutions? We’ve got you covered. Read on to discover how our cleanrooms can be customized for your needs, including material choices, layout configurations, and more. 

Understanding Customization in Cleanroom Solutions

Customization in cleanroom design is all about tailoring the space to fit the exact needs of an industry or product. Think of it as getting a custom-made suit—it just fits better! 

Tailored solutions are critical because different industries have different standards and needs. Whether it’s pharmaceuticals needing ultra-clean environments or electronics requiring precise temperature control, customization ensures the cleanroom meets those specific demands.

4 Custom Cleanroom Solutions Options:

From materials shaping efficiency to layouts driving productivity, Angstrom Technology offers customized solutions for all your cleanroom needs. 

1. Material Choices

When crafting custom cleanroom solutions, the materials used are like the building blocks, defining the room’s efficiency and functionality. Let’s look at the diverse array of materials used in cleanroom construction and their profound impact. 

Cleanrooms are crafted from an assortment of materials, each with its unique characteristics, including the following:

  • Stainless steel is renowned for its durability and resistance to corrosion, making it ideal for stringent cleanliness standards.
  • Laminates are versatile and customizable, providing a balance between aesthetics and functionality.
  • Polymers offer flexibility and ease of maintenance, often favored for their resistance to chemicals and abrasion.

Cleanrooms are utilized in a wide array of applications and industries, each needing particular materials. For example, pharmaceuticals often opt for materials that ensure superior cleanliness to meet stringent regulatory requirements. Electronics require materials that facilitate controlled environments to safeguard sensitive equipment and processes.

Angstrom Technology boasts a comprehensive range of materials, each offering customizability, optimized functionality, and industry-grade quality. Our expertise lies not just in design, but in strategically selecting and utilizing these materials to create tailored cleanroom solutions that exceed industry expectations.

2. Layout Configurations

The layout of a cleanroom isn’t just about where things go—it’s the blueprint for efficiency. Let’s explore why the format is so crucial and how our team masterfully tailors configurations to elevate operational productivity:

The layout of a cleanroom can make or break efficiency. A thoughtfully designed layout can reduce unnecessary movements, streamline workflow, and enhance productivity. Strategic positioning of machinery and workstations can significantly improve production operations. 

As we discuss cleanroom layouts, it’s important to note that cleanrooms aren’t one-size-fits-all—different arrangements suit different purposes. At Angstrom Technology, we can provide many different floor plan options to suit your needs. 

  • Open floor plans foster flexibility and easy movement within the cleanroom, ideal for dynamic work environments.
  • Modular designs offer scalability and adaptability, allowing for easy expansion or modification.

At Angstrom Technology, the layout isn’t just a plan—it’s a strategic tool for maximizing efficiency and adaptability within custom cleanroom solutions, ensuring all our clients get precisely what they need to excel in their respective industries.

3. Specialized Features

Specialized features are the key to top-of-the-line cleanrooms, elevating their functionality to unmatched levels. Let’s uncover how these innovations take cleanliness and operational excellence to the next level. 

  • HVAC systems maintain precise environmental conditions critical for certain processes, including temperature and humidity control. 
  • Airflow management ensures controlled airflow to prevent contamination and maintain cleanliness levels.
  • HEPA and ULPA filters remove particles as small as 0.3 microns, ensuring ultra-clean air within the cleanroom.
  • Efficient contamination control minimizes airborne particles, crucial for sensitive industries like electronics and aerospace.
  • Real-time monitoring and continuous surveillance ensure adherence to cleanliness standards and prompt response to deviations.
  • Data analytics are used for predictive maintenance, optimizing processes, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

At Angstrom Technology, these specialized features aren’t just add-ons—they’re the backbone of our custom cleanroom solutions. By integrating cutting-edge HVAC systems, advanced filtration technology, state-of-the-art monitoring tools, and more, we ensure every cleanroom we design exceeds expectations and sets new benchmarks for operational excellence.

4. Compliance and Regulatory Standards

Compliance isn’t an option in cleanroom design – it’s mandatory and of the utmost importance. At Angstrom Technology, our custom cleanrooms not only meet but surpass industry regulations and standards, including the following: 

  • ISO Certifications, The International Standards Organization’s classification system, became the official system in 2001. ISO 14644-1 categorizes cleanrooms into Classes 1-9.
  • Federal 209E Standards were replaced by ISO Classes in 2001. The Federal Standards used to categorize cleanrooms into Classes 1-100,000.
  • Some cleanroom applications must comply with additional standards, such as cGMP, that are uniquely tailored to the threats facing their products and processes.

When we build custom solutions, we collaborate closely with our clients to understand their regulatory requirements and ensure seamless compliance. We’re constantly updating designs and practices to stay ahead of regulatory changes and advancements so we can always instill confidence in our clients. 

At Angstrom Technology, cleanroom designs aren’t just about meeting regulations; they’re about setting the bar higher, providing clients with cleanroom solutions that are not only compliant but also innovative, reliable, and future-ready.

Elevate Your Industry Standards with Angstrom Technology

At Angstrom Technology, we don’t just design cleanrooms; we engineer solutions tailored to exceed your expectations. Our commitment to customization goes beyond just fitting the environment—it’s about enhancing productivity, ensuring reliability, and meeting the unique demands of your industry.

Are you ready to elevate your standards? Reach out to Angstrom Technology today and experience the difference tailored cleanroom solutions can make for your industry needs. 

Cleanroom Terminology: What Is an Airlock?

Cleanroom Terminology: What Is an Airlock?

When entering the world of cleanroom design, many people are overwhelmed by the new vocabulary, which can be quite complicated. Suddenly, you have to understand classifications and all sorts of design features and figure out which are right for your application. 

We’re here to break down one of the most common terms you’ll hear in cleanroom design – airlocks. So, what is an airlock, and how does an airlock work? Let’s get jump in.

What Is an Airlock?

An airlock is a system of two doors that are electronically interlocked so that both cannot be opened at the same time. This prevents contamination and prevents particles from outside the cleanroom from entering the cleanroom when personnel enter or exit the cleanroom. 

In addition to its role in contamination control, airlocks can serve as security features, controlling and monitoring access to the cleanroom. An airlock system will also help maintain the controlled temperature of a cleanroom space. They are vital components in various industries, adapting to specific cleanroom requirements while offering emergency features to ensure personnel safety.

How Does an Airlock Work?

An airlock creates a controlled, enclosed space with two interlocked doors. They make a controlled transitional space between an external environment and a cleanroom, with the primary goal of preventing contamination, maintaining cleanliness, and preserving the specified environmental conditions within the cleanroom.

Here’s how airlocks typically operate:

  • Two-Door System: An airlock consists of two doors, one leading to the outside environment and the other to the cleanroom. These doors are electronically interlocked, ensuring that both doors cannot be opened simultaneously.
  • Pressure Differential: The cleanroom typically operates at a higher pressure than the surrounding area. When personnel need to enter or exit the cleanroom, they first enter the airlock. The outer door is closed behind them, sealing off the outside environment.
  • Controlled Environment: Once inside the airlock, the system may initiate a series of processes to maintain the controlled environment. This can include adjusting temperature, humidity, and pressure levels to match the cleanroom’s specifications.
  • Personnel Procedures: Personnel inside the airlock may need to follow specific procedures, such as donning cleanroom attire, which includes specialized garments, headgear, and shoe covers. 
  • Interlocking Doors: After the necessary preparations and checks are completed inside the airlock, the inner door can be opened. This allows personnel to enter the cleanroom while ensuring that the outer door remains closed, maintaining the pressure and cleanliness of the cleanroom.
  • Security Features: Some airlocks include security features like access control systems to authenticate and authorize individuals. 

What Kinds of Airlocks Are There?

There are two types of airlocks: secure and non-secure airlocks. In a secure airlock system, all doors remain locked until a request to enter is granted. This generally occurs through a “request to enter device,” like a button or keypad. A non-secure airlock means that the doors remain unlocked until the first door is opened; then, the other doors lock.

You also have the option of making your airlocks supervised or unsupervised. For high-security areas, you may have a supervised airlock, where personnel must press a “request to access” button. The request must be approved via a CCTV or viewing panel verification system. 

An unsupervised cleanroom could control access through a biometric reader or keypad to gain access. Such systems are useful where only authorized personnel may enter the cleanroom environment.  

Enhancing Cleanroom and Airlock Security

Depending on the classification and application of your cleanroom, you might want additional security features in place on your airlock. These considerations aim to enhance security and monitoring within the airlock system to minimize the risk of contamination and maintain the pristine conditions of the cleanroom.

  • Breach Alarms: Depending on the sensitivity and cleanliness requirements of the cleanroom, it may be essential to implement breach alarms within the airlock system. These alarms serve as a critical safeguard, alerting personnel when the airlock has been breached. Breach alarms are triggered when unauthorized access or contamination may have occurred. 
  • Door Open Duration Alarms: Cleanrooms often require swift and controlled access, and extended open-door times can compromise the cleanliness and environmental conditions. Door open duration alarms provide a mechanism to ensure that doors are not left open for too long, thereby preventing prolonged exposure of the cleanroom to the outside environment.
  • Door Status Indicators: Door status indicators are visual or electronic displays that provide real-time information about the current state of the airlock doors. These indicators offer a quick and easy way for personnel to confirm whether the outer door is securely closed before opening the inner door. 

Cleanrooms to Fit All Your Needs From Angstrom Technology

If your cleanroom requires an airlock, Angstrom Technology is well-equipped to design a custom cleanroom that perfectly aligns with your specific needs. Our team of seasoned design engineers possesses the knowledge and expertise required to create a cleanroom solution tailored to your industry’s unique cleanliness standards and environmental demands.

Contact Angstrom Technology today, and let’s embark on the journey towards a tailored cleanroom solution that precisely fits your requirements, enhancing your controlled environment for optimal operations.

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Building a battery dry room

Building a battery dry room

Many materials and processes used in battery production are susceptible to moisture damage. For that reason, humidity control is critical in a battery dry room. The experts at Angstrom Technology can create a stable low dewpoint production environment to meet your requirements. In this blog post, we explain how.

 

Battery dry room construction

Battery dry rooms require a constant supply of ultra-dry air to create and maintain low-humidity conditions for the R&D and production of solid-state and lithium-ion batteries.

We can develop an energy-efficient dry room to protect your critical process in any of the following applications. We do this by combining airtight envelope systems, dehumidification systems, and HVAC design.

Small-scale battery research

Pilot plants

Mega / Giga-factory

Single-zone facilities for testing the chemicals and processes during battery R&D.Multi-zoned facilities for scaling up production to manufacture at volume.Large-scale battery production facilities for high-volume battery production.

 

Battery dry room manufacturers

As battery dry room facility manufacturers, we deliver complete dry room systems. Working with specialist humidity control partners, we provide bespoke solutions that include industry-leading energy-efficient HVAC systems.

A typical clean room environment operates at 20.0°Cdb, 50% Relative Humidity — which is a dewpoint of 9.3°Cdp. Due to the materials’ sensitivity in the process, solid-state battery dry rooms can require control to minus 40.0°Cdp at the room’s exit point. A lower dewpoint of minus 50.0°Cdp is required for Lithium-ion battery dry rooms, and the next generation may have even tighter requirements. The battery chemistry may need the environment to reach minus 80.0°Cdp at the point of supply into critical areas, such as Electrolyte Fill.

Look at how we can custom-build your perfect battery dry room.

 

Footprint & zones

Establish a suitable layout for your process, featuring multiple zones, each with the optimum dew point temperature and ISO class.

 

Dehumidification systems

Single or multi-rotor low dewpoint AHU options to suit your budget, space, and specification needs.

 

Internal airflow distribution methods

Horizontal unidirectional airflow with a supply and return air plenum or a high-level distribution system with uni or non-unidirectional airflow.

 

Airflow modelling

Using Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies to verify HVAC design with equipment and furniture layouts.

 

Scalable HVAC designs

With specialist AHUs designed for deployment in battery facilities, airflows range from 2,000 m³h to 50,000 m³

 

Energy-efficient design

Airtight envelope systems and recirculated air manage energy efficiency.

 

Battery dry room design & build projects with Angstrom Technology

As Angstrom Technology are cleanroom specialists, our dry rooms can also achieve ISO classification. Not only that, but they can also meet any applicable international engineering and building standards and regulations.

We’ve developed proven envelope solutions and reliable cleanroom HVAC designs for many applications. The Angstrom Technology group pride ourselves on our in-house expertise and capability to deliver over 100 cleanrooms annually across America, the UK, and Europe.

Tell us about your new dry room project!

Whitepaper: Dry room design guide for lithium battery manufacturing

DOWNLOAD OUR HANDY GUIDE:

 

 

dry room design guide
Post-and-Panel vs. Seamless Cleanroom Wall Systems

Post-and-Panel vs. Seamless Cleanroom Wall Systems

The materials you use to build your cleanroom have a lasting impact on its cleanliness, performance, durability, and appearance. Arguably the most important of these materials is the cleanroom wall system you choose. 

Let’s take a look at two of the most common types of cleanroom wall systems: post-and-panel and seamless. 

Post-and-Panel vs. Seamless Wall Systems: What’s the Difference?

First, some definitions. Learn more about what post-and-panel and seamless wall systems are, and how they differ below. 

What Is a Post-and-Panel Cleanroom Wall System?

A post-and-panel cleanroom wall system utilizes a series of non-progressive posts and panels that are joined together to create a modular enclosure. The posts and panels are “stitched” together with a corrugated roof deck that keeps them in place. 

The end result? A modular enclosure that’s self-supporting, reconfigurable, and isolated from its surrounding environment. It stands alone and is separate from the existing building structure. 

What Is a Seamless Cleanroom Wall System?

A seamless cleanroom wall system utilizes studless, flush wall or liner panels to create a modular enclosure. These wall panels can be either progressive or non-progressive but are tightly sealed so that no seams are exposed. They also have coving (a curved covering that connects a wall to a ceiling) on both horizontal and vertical intersections. 

A seamless cleanroom wall system can be tied into steel stud walls and/or the existing building structure that surrounds it. It also typically features a flush, walkable ceiling. Its seamless design allows for durable performance and sleek aesthetic appeal for the most stringent applications. 

Pros & Cons of Post-and-Panel Cleanroom Wall Systems

Now let’s take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of these cleanroom wall systems, specifically highlighting distinguishing factors between each type. We’ll start with post-and-panel. 

The main advantages of post-and-panel cleanroom wall systems are: 

  • They can be reconfigured easily. Due to their non-progressive nature, post-and-panel wall systems are the easiest type to reconfigure. The-two piece stud post allows removal and replacement of a wall panel without disturbing adjacent panels. They also accomodate quick and easy vertical installation of electrical, data, and communication lines in the raceways, which are accessible from the removable cover plate. If your facility is expecting growth or changes in the future, this is an important benefit to consider. 
  • They’re self-supporting. Post-and-panel wall systems can stand alone. The structural-grade, extruded aluminum acts as a structural column on spaces with long clear spans or load bearing roofs. The stud system will accommodate steel tube inserts for additional load bearing capability. They don’t need to be integrated into an existing building structure, giving you a bit more versatility with placement and layout. 

The main disadvantages of post-and-panel cleanroom wall systems are: 

  • They’re harder to clean. Because they’re not fully seamless (the panels will fit within studs creating an ⅛” protrussion or less) and have no coving integrated into their system, post-and-panel wall systems can be more difficult to clean. There are more seams and crevices where particles can accumulate. 
  • They’re not FM-approved. Post-and-panel wall systems are Class A non-combustible, but they’re not FM-approved. This may be a deal breaker for certain applications, depending on industry-specific requirements. 

Pros & Cons of Seamless Cleanroom Wall Systems

Now for some advantages and disadvantages of seamless cleanroom wall systems — which are basically the opposite of what we mentioned about their post-and-panel counterparts. 

To start, the main advantages of seamless cleanroom wall systems are: 

  • They’re easy to clean. Seamless wall systems have tight, chemically cold-welded uPVC seams and coves so there are no crevices for contaminants to build up in or air leakage. This makes them much easier to clean, wash down, and fumigate. For higher ISO classifications with stringent cleaning requirements, this is the best option.
  • They feature a floating flush ceiling. Their floating flush ceiling offers the same fine line seams and finishes as the modular wall system. The flush ceiling platform utilizes 5’ x 10’ ceiling panels and 5’ x 10’ hanger spacing, allowing the installation of FFUs and lights without changing the ceiling panel orientation. Interior wall panels are attached to the bottom surface of the ceiling panels and wall/ceiling covings can be run at any location making it integral to the cleanroom system. The walkable ceiling is capable of supporting a wide variety of mechanical systems and accommodating components and small equipment.
  • They’re FM-approved. Seamless wall systems are both Class A non-combustible and FM-approved, meaning they offer the considerable level of fire resistance that some cleanroom applications require. 

The main disadvantages of seamless cleanroom wall panels are:

  • They’re not as easy to reconfigure. While it’s definitely not an impossible task, reconfiguring a seamless cleanroom is a bit more difficult. This is especially true if it’s built with progressive wall panels where replacement is done through the use of rotating splines.
  • They can’t stand alone. Seamless cleanroom wall systems aren’t self-supporting. They must tie into the existing building structure, or you’ll have to build a steel superstructure for support.
  • They’re a bit more expensive. Since the system isn’t structurally sound on its own and must be supported by a steel superstructure or existing building, seamless cleanroom wall systems are generally the more costly option.  

What Type of Wall System Is Best for My Cleanroom?

Both post-and-panel and seamless cleanroom wall systems are great options that can meet varying specifications you need them to, so there’s not really a “wrong” answer to this question. A better way of looking at it is there might be one option that’s better for you than the other. That can vary for you based on a few factors, including:

Our recommendation is that before deciding anything, you should connect with a cleanroom specialist. They’ll be able to listen to your unique needs and recommend a solution that will work best for you. 

Start Your Cleanroom Design & Build Project with Angstrom Technology

Thinking about installing a new cleanroom in your facility? We can help! At Angstrom Technology, our cleanroom specialists have extensive experience designing, building, and installing cleanrooms with high-quality materials. 

From deciding which type of cleanroom wall system is best for your application to ensuring you have enough air filters and handling units to maintain a controlled environment, we’ll help you work through the details of your project. Then we’ll make your vision come to life! 

To get started working with us, give us a call at (888) 768-6900 or contact us online.

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