At Angstrom Technology, modular cleanrooms are our bread and butter. We love their pre-engineered, high-quality components and their speedy installation processes — and our customers do too! 

If you’re considering a modular approach to your next cleanroom project, you might have a few questions about the installation process. We have answers!

What Is a Modular Cleanroom?

First, let’s recap exactly what a modular cleanroom is. 

A modular cleanroom consists of non-progressive, prefabricated components that are manufactured offsite and then assembled onsite. Modular cleanrooms can be installed within an existing facility as a freestanding structure or supported by the existing building’s structure if need be. 

What Are the Benefits of Modular Cleanrooms?

Modular cleanrooms offer the same benefits as traditionally constructed cleanrooms, and then some. They are: 

• Versatile. Non-progressive in nature, modular cleanrooms can be easily reconfigured, expanded, or relocated to meet the changing needs of your facility. 
• Convenient. Modular cleanrooms result in less construction mess and minimal interruption to your facility’s surrounding operations. 
• Environmentally friendly. Modular cleanrooms are not only made from recycled materials but they produce less construction waste and are also built for durable and versatile long-term use. 
• Affordable. Due to the nature of the prefabricated components, there is reduced labor costs which make modular cleanrooms more affordable than traditional ones. Cost varies based on the size and scope of your project, however. 
• Ready to install. Most pertinent to this article, prefabricated modular cleanroom components allow for quick and simple installation processes. 

The 7 Steps to Modular Cleanroom Installation

Arguably the biggest benefit of installing a modular is just that: the installation. The modular cleanroom installation process is fast and uniformed. Since components are pre-engineered and manufactured in a controlled environment offsite, they’re ready to install as soon as they’re delivered. In some cases, this can take just a few days!

Here’s an overview of what each step of the modular cleanroom installation process looks like, from design drafts to finishing touches:

1. Create Designs

A great cleanroom starts with a great design. To start the project off, a lot of time is spent in the design phase, ensuring that all aspects are feasible and highly detailed. This sets the scene for a successful, error-free manufacturing process. 

2. Manufacture Components Offsite

Next up is engineering and manufacturing. In a controlled facility offsite, various cleanroom components are manufactured according to the design specifications listed. Detailed, high-quality work here helps ensure that no problems arise during the installation process. 

3. Deliver Components to the Construction Site

Once manufacturing is completed, each component of the modular cleanroom is delivered to be assembled onsite. 

4. Build!

This is where the true modular cleanroom “installation” process begins. Expert installers work to assemble each component of the modular cleanroom until the final structure is complete. This stage can vary from a few days to several weeks, but will depend on the size of your project.

5. Connect Utilities & Services

In order to get the cleanroom running optimally, all ancillary services need to be connected and properly installed. This includes HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and more. Close and frequent coordination throughout the modular cleanroom installation process helps to ensure all systems are up and running smoothly.

6. Implement Additional Equipment

Once the modular cleanroom structure is standing, any additional equipment is incorporated. Many cleanroom industries and applications require specialized machines or technologies to complete everyday tasks. Aside from the usual air filtration systems, this could include anything from workstations to pass-through chambers to conveyor belts. 

7. Complete Qualification & Validation Process (If Necessary)

Most cleanroom projects require some sort of certification, qualification, or validation. The type needed depends on what standards and classifications are required for the industry but could be one or more from this list: GMP, cGMP, ISO, ASTM, or USP. These approval processes are there to confirm the cleanroom is safe, effective, and efficient for the application it’s expected to host. 

Have more questions regarding modular cleanrooms? Check out our previous post, Modular Cleanroom FAQs. 

Want to Install a Modular Cleanroom? Trust Our Experts

If you’re looking to install a cleanroom as quickly and efficiently as possible, modular is the way to go — and Angstrom Technology is the place to go! From full-size turnkey cleanroom projects to customized expansions, our experts have the experience needed to design, build, and install a modular cleanroom that works for you. To get started, give us a call at (616) 866-2400 or request a quote online.

Looking for more information about the cleanroom installation process? You’re in the right place. Below, we’ve answered ten of our most frequently asked questions regarding cleanroom installation, so you can gain a better understanding of what the process involves. 

How Much Space Will My Cleanroom Need?

It depends. To determine the right size for your cleanroom, you’ll want to consider how much space you’ll need to adequately house your operations. Consider the appropriate amount of space for factors like equipment, workers, and walkways in which workers can move around. 

You’ll also want to keep vertical space in mind. In order to accommodate fan filter units which sit approximately 12-15” inches above the ceiling grid, and to make sure they can function correctly, you should allot for 24”-36” inches overhead clearance. This will ensure that there’s enough space for the filters to obtain air, and for your workers to carry out regular maintenance tasks. 

One other major factor to consider? Only use the space you absolutely need. If you install a cleanroom that’s bigger than what your application requires, you’ll just waste time and money. 

Are Modular Cleanrooms Easier to Install? 

Yes. Modular cleanrooms are built with prefabricated and pre-wired components that are precise and ready to install upon delivery. This generally makes the installation process much easier and quicker than that of traditionally built cleanrooms. 

How Much Does It Cost to Install a Cleanroom?

Cleanroom installation costs vary from project to project. In most situations, the cost depends on the following factors: 

• Size
• Type (SoftWall, HardWall, RigidWall)
• Classification
• Design complexity
• Additional features

However, there’s one way that you can drastically cut down your cleanroom installation costs, regardless of any of the factors listed above: build modular. Building with prefabricated, pre-wired components results in a much faster installation, reducing labor costs. 

Can I Install a Cleanroom in an Existing Space and/or Around Existing Equipment?

Yes and yes! It can be difficult to decide where to install your cleanroom, but the bright side of that is that you do have choices. Modular cleanrooms can be installed in most existing buildings as free-standing structures, or they can be tied into the existing building (this all depends on the footprint, obstructions within the facility, and structural integrity of the existing building). Modular cleanrooms are so versatile that they can even be installed around an existing piece of equipment within your facility if need be. 

Interested in seeing this in action? Check out our case study about the pharmaceutical packaging cleanroom we built around a large piece of existing equipment for Praxis, a West Michigan-based contract packaging company. 

Can I Use My Own HVAC System?

Yes, your cleanroom can be connected to your facility’s existing HVAC system — as long as it can handle the new load your cleanroom requires and guarantee it will meet the required temperature and humidity specifications without an issue. While integrating with your existing HVAC system is generally the most economical way to go, the majority of cleanrooms, no matter the ISO classification, will need more capacity and additional features than your existing system can handle. Therefore, it is best to have an independent, dedicated cleanroom HVAC system installed. 

Do I Have to Install My Cleanroom on My Own, Or Can Somebody Do It for Me?

You don’t need to install your own cleanroom. At Angstrom Technology, we employ a team of experienced cleanroom construction specialists that can come out, install your cleanroom for you, and ensure all the details are right. That way, you’ll suffer minimal disruption to your work day and operations while we get the job done for you. 

How Long Does the Cleanroom Installation Process Take?

Although the modular cleanroom installation process can vary based on the size and complexity of your design, it’s usually very quick. Prefabricated modular components are made for a high level of efficiency, reducing between 25-75% of labor time when compared to traditional cleanrooms. 

Once you’ve completed your cleanroom design and once all the prefabricated components have been delivered, the installation process usually only takes a few weeks, and some smaller cleanrooms can be installed in just days! 

When Can I Start Using My Cleanroom After It’s Installed?

Once installation is complete, there are a few things you need to do before you can start operating within it. First of all, you should ensure that all of your equipment, machines, and materials are in it, in the right spaces and are operating as intended. Then, you need to get your cleanroom air balanced, cleaned, certified, and validated so that you can ensure it’s meeting the conditions required by your ISO classification. After those steps, you should be ready to start operations!

How Can I Keep My Cleanroom in Good Condition Once It’s Installed? 

The best way to keep your cleanroom in good condition post-installation is to keep up with regular cleanings and maintenance tasks. Not only do most cleanrooms require daily cleanings, but they also require frequent filter inspections and replacements. You can find a more detailed list of maintenance tasks here. 

Can I Expand My Cleanroom in the Future?

Yes. Modular cleanrooms are extremely versatile, so they can easily be downsized, expanded, and reconfigured whenever you need. No matter what the changing needs of your facility may be, a modular cleanroom can keep up with them and offer a long-lasting investment. 

Have more questions about installing a cleanroom in your space? Give the experts at Angstrom Technology a call! We’d be happy to walk through your specific requirements and help design and build the best cleanroom for you.

​Semiconductors are extremely sensitive materials. So without a controlled cleanroom to manufacture the chips in, you risk contamination that could lead to various production issues and product failures. 

If your facility manufactures semiconductor chips for computerized devices of any type, size, or application, you’ll need a semiconductor manufacturing cleanroom. Let’s take a look at what components and considerations go into designing one. 

Where to Start: Understanding the Requirements of a Semiconductor Cleanroom

Even the slightest bit of contamination or settling of particulate produce can ruin semiconductor production and performance, sometimes leading to disastrous consequences. Therefore, it’s important to understand the strict cleanliness standards that semiconductor cleanrooms must abide by. 

Semiconductor Cleanroom Classifications

Even the slightest bit of contamination or settling of airborne particles can compromise semiconductor manufacturing efforts — leading to costly product defects. So before you get started designing your semiconductor manufacturing cleanroom, you should gain a thorough understanding of the threats they’re faced with and the cleanliness standards they must abide by. 

Semiconductor Manufacturing Threats

When working in a semiconductor manufacturing cleanroom, operators face a number of challenges regarding detailed processes and contamination control. In fact, human workers themselves are often the main source of contamination during the semiconductor manufacturing process. Aside from particulate matter from their bodies and clothing, they can create unwanted electro-static discharge (ESD) that can ruin electronic circuits in the material. 

Other than that, there are a number of additional environmental threats that can disrupt the semiconductor manufacturing process: 

• Static
• Humidity
• Airborne particles
• Power glitches
• Pressure malfunctions
• Equipment outgassing
• Dropped equipment, tools, and parts

Yes — that’s a lot to keep in mind! But semiconductors are so fragile that even the tiniest speck of dust can destroy them.

Fortunately, a reliable, controlled cleanroom can do most of the work for you. When designed, built, and installed properly, your semiconductor manufacturing cleanroom can maintain the level of environmental control you need to optimize productivity and profitability. 

When You’re Ready: 4 Steps to Designing a Semiconductor Manufacturing Cleanroom

Now that you’re aware of the threats your semiconductor manufacturing cleanroom faces and the standards it needs to meet to prevent them, it’s time to start on design. Below we’ve outlined four considerations you’ll want to keep in mind during the design process. 

1. Start with Cleanroom Airflow & Air Filtration 

Airflow and air filtration are two of the most important aspects of great semiconductor manufacturing cleanroom design. They both determine how many airborne particles travel into your cleanroom and how they’re prevented from building up on equipment and materials. Let’s break them down one by one. 

Cleanroom Airflow

ISO 14644-4 describes recommended cleanroom airflow patterns at various classification levels. The most popular (and widely recommended) airflow pattern is unidirectional, or laminar. It involves air blown at a constant speed in a straight and unimpeded path. The air is pushed through a filter (usually in the cleanroom ceiling) and then directed down toward the floor. To reduce turbulence, some semiconductor cleanrooms have raised flooring that use perforated tiles that allow air to flow through holes where it can be retreated and filtered before entering the cleanroom again. 

Cleanroom Air Filtration

Cleanroom air filtration is all about how many airborne particles, and of which sizes, are permitted within a cleanroom. Regulations for this are documented in the ISO 14644-1 classification system. 

Airborne particles are controlled with specialized air filtration systems, such as HEPA and ULPA filters. You can learn more about these systems and how they work on our air filtration page. 

2. Consider Cleanroom Furniture and Machinery Placement

Semiconductor manufacturing requires various types of furniture, machinery, and equipment. It’s a good idea to map out where these items will be placed in order to produce the most efficient airflow patterns. 

One of the best recommendations for semiconductor manufacturing cleanroom design is to place large furniture, machinery, and equipment along the outer walls. This helps decrease the chance of those big objects obstructing the main airflow. 

Many cleanrooms are also designed with wire racks and shelves instead of regular shelving. This eliminates a portion of flat surfaces that contaminants can build up on. 

3. Implement Anti-Static Protection

Electro-static discharge (ESD) can ruin semiconductors’ conductive properties. To prevent ESD, your semiconductor manufacturing cleanroom must take preventative measures. Cleanroom wall panels, flooring, furniture, and more should be manufactured with static dissipative materials. You may also include various ESD-free products like clothing, tools, and cleaning materials. 

4. Plan For Daily Operations

In order to keep production moving and meet consumer demands, your semiconductor manufacturing cleanroom will likely be used daily. It’s important to design the cleanroom in a way that fits your operational plan. Make sure to note the following:

• How your operators enter and exit the cleanroom
• What ESD tests, gowning regimens, airlock rooms, and air showers your operators need to pass through before entry
• How your operators move from task to task within the cleanroom
• How often your operators need to clean the cleanroom, and what that process looks like

This information will help ensure your cleanroom is designed to maximize efficiency and cleanliness — which leads to better production quality, safety, and profitability. 

Design a Semiconductor Manufacturing Cleanroom with Angstrom Technology

Need help getting started on your semiconductor manufacturing cleanroom design? Let the experts at Angstrom Technology help. Our design team can help you make the tough choices and ensure you get the robust solution that’s perfect for your application. 

Request a semiconductor manufacturing cleanroom quote today, or contact us for more information. 

Semiconductors are an essential part of almost every electronic device we rely on in the modern world: computers, cell phones, vehicles, microwaves, washing machines — the list goes on. When there are shortages due to a lack of material or slow production, that delay is felt up the supply chain by every consumer who’s buying a new phone, renting a vehicle, you name it.

In recent years, Americans have felt that pain. Fortunately, the CHIPS and Science Act that was passed in August 2022 will help put those shortages to an end — as it provided over $50 billion in funding for semiconductor manufacturing here in the States.

But that’s not the only factor that will help get new cars back on sales lots and lower the costs of a new iPhone. We must also ensure that semiconductor chip manufacturers are equipped with expertly designed, highly controlled cleanrooms for safe and efficient production.

The Value of Semiconductor Cleanrooms 

A cleanroom is an enclosed space where contaminant airborne particles are filtered out and other environmental conditions are controlled in order to ensure the cleanest work area possible. For better results in semiconductor manufacturing and assembly, cleanrooms can provide the best environment for productive, efficient, and safe work to take place. 

Semiconductor manufacturing is an incredibly intricate process as semiconductor materials are highly susceptible to damage from environmental factors like:

• Airborne particles (even the smallest speck of dust can be detrimental!)
• Static
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Air pressure
• Equipment outgassing

In fact, semiconductor manufacturing is a cleanroom application that requires one of the highest levels of environmental control. In most cases, semiconductor cleanrooms must comply with ISO Class 4-6 requirements. However, not all processes need this level of control. The packaging, assembly, and testing of circuits or chips could be performed in ISO class 7 or ISO class 8 cleanrooms.

A cleanroom is truly the only space a semiconductor can be safely handled before it’s installed in its intended device. If exposed to any of the threats listed above, semiconductor materials will be ruined, and you’ll suffer the consequences of product failures and production downtime.

Reliable Control

Cleanrooms are designed to establish strict control over the environment and maintain that control at all times. With powerful filtration and HVAC systems working to replace the air with clean, treated, and virtually particle-free air, you can trust the environment to remain stable while employees are completing their sensitive work.

All materials used in cleanroom construction are specifically sourced to be non-particle shedding and non outgassing. They’re chosen for durability and performance in any conditions. They won’t degrade or corrode due to cleaning, impact, or regular use.

Consistent Product Quality

Silicon wafers are extremely vulnerable, where even a single particle of dust can corrupt an entire chip or device. When you can rely on steady temperature, relative humidity, and air quality levels, product quality can also remain steady, even increase. 

Repeatable Results

A repeatable environment produces a better yield of quality products. Scaling production is a matter of replicating the conditions required to produce excellent quality semiconductors.

Safer Working Conditions

A cleanroom and its classification standards protect the products being manufactured from failure due to contamination, but they also create a safer environment for workers to perform tasks in semiconductor cleanrooms, which can involve handling toxic materials and highly sensitive processes.

Cost Savings

Ultimately, fewer product failures and consistent quality pays off. With the risk of losses and injury reduced, your company can enjoy significant savings. 

Semiconductor cleanrooms are not cheap to implement and operate, but they can secure profitability in ways you can’t replicate with other control methods. A high-quality cleanroom can streamline semiconductor manufacturing. 

To learn more about semiconductor cleanrooms and get help designing your own, contact the cleanroom experts at Angstrom Technology. We design, build, and install cleanrooms for a wide variety of industries to meet any classification standard. Our cleanrooms are the turnkey solution you’ve been looking for. Get a free quote for your project today.

Cleanroom installation requires as much careful planning as cleanroom design. When deciding on the best place to install your cleanroom, you’ll need to consider a few factors. First, take a look at your classification. Your cleanroom classification will determine what type of cleanroom you can build, how it should be built, and even what materials you can use in cleanroom construction. 

Once you know what kind of cleanroom you can build, you can consider if it will be more efficient or cost effective to install your cleanroom in your existing building or build a freestanding cleanroom. Let’s go over this process in more detail.

Consider Your Cleanroom Classification

Your first stop on the road to a complete cleanroom installation is to look closely at your cleanroom classification. A cleanroom classification defines how “clean” your environment needs to be, specifically noting the allowances for particle sizes and air change rates within your cleanroom. 

Your cleanroom’s classification will determine a lot about how your cleanroom can be built and what materials can be used. Depending on the strictness of your cleanroom standards, there may be certain building practices more suited to your needs. For example, cleanrooms with higher cleanliness standards, like aerospace cleanrooms and medical cleanrooms, will have limited options for cleanroom types and materials in order to control airflow and particle size, and limit any potential contamination as much as possible. 

Cleanroom Classification and Cleanroom Installation

Higher cleanroom classifications will require more complete control over particle count with frequent air changes and fine adjustments to temperature, humidity, pressure, and static; and filter out not only airborne particulates but also control surface particulates. These types of cleanrooms will likely require the installation of separate, powerful HVAC and filtration systems, and will only use materials that are non-particle shedding and able to be thoroughly cleaned. 

If your requirements are less stringent, like in some automotive cleanrooms and plastics manufacturing industries, you will likely be less limited in your material choices and cleanroom types. If you have the room, you may be able to install your cleanroom right in your existing building, and adapt the existing HVAC to control your cleanroom environment.

Whether you can adapt your space for cleanroom installation or you need to construct a separate, freestanding unit, your cleanroom classification will be the guide for your cleanroom design and build. 

Where to Install Your Cleanroom

With a full understanding of your cleanroom classification requirements, consider the space and structural demands of your work. Your existing space or designated cleanroom area should leave plenty of room for necessary equipment, furniture, storage, and personnel. 

You should also consider your building’s location before your cleanroom installation. Is your building located in an area that experiences more traffic and pollution? Is it next to a manufacturing facility, highway, railway, or shipping terminal? While these might not discourage your location choice, keep in mind they might increase the demand on your cleanroom’s filters, requiring them to be replaced more frequently or the implementation of a strategic airflow pattern to manage contaminants.

Build in Your Space

If your cleanroom classification and available space permit it, you may be able to install your cleanroom in your existing building. Cleanrooms can be built in your manufacturing facility, warehouse, laboratory, or even within another cleanroom. If you’re building a cleanroom using your existing structure, make sure you have enough room for everything it needs to operate, as well as space to allow easy movement and accessibility. You can either build the cleanroom traditionally or complete the cleanroom installation conveniently and quickly using modular cleanroom panels. 

The advantages of modular cleanrooms are that they can be installed in less time and for a reduced cost. Fewer people are needed to install a modular cleanroom, which means a quicker lead time, so you can have your cleanroom up and running in just a few days. Modular panels can also be easily customized, repurposed, or modified as your projects and needs evolve.

Construct a Free-Standing Cleanroom

Using HardWall, SoftWall, or RigidWall panels, install your cleanroom in a convenient and accessible place in your facility. Your cleanroom will be designed with the ideal layout to accommodate all equipment, furniture, and employees. The cleanroom can be freestanding and attached to the floor, or suspended from a strong ceiling grid. 

When your cleanroom is installed, you’ll also be able to set up and install the HVAC and filtration systems to create your optimal airflow and air change rate, as well as control pressure, temperature, and humidity within the cleanroom environment. Standardized systems and fixtures like fan filter units, lighting modules, and cleanroom furniture make the installation quicker and simpler.

Remodel Your Space for Cleanroom Installation

Depending on the space you’re using to construct your cleanroom, it may require some preparation before the modular panels can be set up and installed. You may need to create more space, adapt existing systems for utilities, heating, and cooling, or hook up new units to connect to your building’s power and ducts. You may also need to add new flooring or insulation in order to meet requirements and prepare the space for cleanroom installation. Always consult your cleanroom classification for guidelines about what materials are acceptable in your cleanroom environment.

With detailed planning and a complete knowledge of your needs and cleanroom requirements, you can install your cleanroom in a place that is convenient, accessible, and compliant with your cleanroom classification. If you know you need a cleanroom, but you’re not sure where you should put it, seek out advice from professionals. The cleanroom design experts at Angstrom Technology can take a look at your needs and your facility, and offer you the perfect solution. To talk with our professional team, give us a call or reach out to us online.