Cleanroom Maintenance 101: How to Keep Your Cleanroom in Tip-Top Shape

Cleanroom Maintenance 101: How to Keep Your Cleanroom in Tip-Top Shape

Proper cleanroom maintenance helps prevent contamination and extends the lifespan of the cleanroom and its equipment, ensuring that operations run smoothly and efficiently.

At Angstrom, we understand the critical importance of keeping your cleanroom operating at peak efficiency and compliance. We’ll explain the essential daily maintenance tasks required to keep your cleanroom in tip-top shape and the ongoing maintenance services we provide to give you peace of mind and confidence in your cleanroom operations.

What Type of Cleanroom Maintenance Should I Perform Daily? 

Adhering to these daily maintenance practices can ensure that your cleanroom remains in optimal condition, minimizing the risk of contamination and maximizing the efficiency of your operations.

Air Filtration System Maintenance:

The air filtration system is the backbone of any cleanroom, ensuring the environment remains contaminant-free. Proper air filtration is vital to maintaining the cleanliness standards required for sensitive processes and products.

  • Daily Checks | Daily checks should include inspecting the air filtration system for any signs of wear or malfunction. Pre-filters should be examined daily to ensure they are not clogged, which can compromise the effectiveness of the HEPA filters.
  • Filter Replacement Schedules | Regular replacement schedules should be adhered to. Pre-filters are typically changed more frequently, while HEPA filters are replaced less often but still monitored daily for performance.
  • Monitoring Differential Pressure and Air Outflow Velocity | Monitoring differential pressure and air outflow velocity daily helps identify blockages or performance issues in the filtration system, ensuring the cleanroom maintains its required cleanliness levels.

Surface Cleaning and Sanitization:

  • Daily Cleaning Protocols for Walls, Floors, and Surfaces | Cleanroom surfaces should be cleaned and sanitized daily to prevent the buildup of contaminants. This involves wiping down surfaces with approved cleaning agents so no residue is left behind.
  • Appropriate Cleaning Agents and Materials | Using the correct cleaning agents and materials is essential for maintaining the cleanroom’s standards. Cleaning agents should be compatible with the cleanroom materials and effective against the specific types of contaminants encountered. Non-shedding wipes and mops should be used to avoid introducing new particulates into the environment.

Equipment and Tools Maintenance:

  • Regular Inspection and Cleaning of Tools and Equipment | Daily maintenance of cleanroom tools and equipment includes regular inspection for any signs of damage or contamination. Tools should be cleaned thoroughly after each use with appropriate solvents and stored in a manner that prevents contamination.
  • Maintenance of Industry-Specific Equipment | Equipment specific to your industry, such as fume hoods or specialized machinery, requires daily checks to ensure they operate correctly. This includes verifying that all safety features are functional and the equipment is free from contaminants.

Personnel Hygiene and Protocols:

  • Importance of Proper Gowning and Hygiene Practices | All staff must follow proper gowning procedures, including wearing cleanroom-approved garments, gloves, and masks and adhering to strict hygiene protocols before entering the cleanroom.
  • Daily Checks to Ensure Compliance with Protocols | Supervisors should conduct daily checks to ensure all personnel comply with cleanroom protocols. This includes monitoring gowning procedures, ensuring hand sanitization stations are used, and more.

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What Types of Preventative Cleanroom Maintenance Should I Invest In? 

Ongoing maintenance is just as essential as daily upkeep to ensure your cleanroom’s long-term efficiency and reliability.

Scheduled Assessments and Inspections:

  • Annual or Bi-Annual Cleanroom Assessments | Regular assessments help ensure that all cleanroom systems and protocols function correctly and identify potential issues before they become major problems. 

Filter Replacement and HVAC System Checks:

  • Semi-Annual Checks for HVAC Systems | Performing semi-annual checks on your HVAC systems is crucial for maintaining optimal performance. These checks ensure the system meets all necessary temperature, pressure, and humidity requirements.
  • Regular Replacement of Pre-Filters, Bag/Box Filters, and HEPA Filters | Regular filter replacement is necessary to maintain air quality within the cleanroom. Pre-filters should be replaced frequently, bag/box filters annually, and HEPA filters every three years.

Documentation and Reporting:

  • Keeping Records of Maintenance Activities | Maintaining detailed maintenance records is crucial for tracking performance and compliance. Such documentation provides a clear history of maintenance work, helping to identify patterns and plan future maintenance schedules.
  • Transparency and Compliance | Transparent reporting ensures all maintenance activities are accounted for and helps maintain compliance with industry regulations. Detailed documentation provides accountability and facilitates audits and inspections.

Get Peace of Mind With Top-Tier Ongoing Maintenance Services

At Angstrom, we’re committed to innovation and quality. Our experienced team is trained in proper cleanroom protocols, ensuring compliance with international industry standards and providing peace of mind and confidence in your cleanroom operations.

By partnering with Angstrom, you ensure that your cleanroom receives the highest level of care and maintenance, allowing you to confidently focus on your core operations.

Comprehensive Support and Expertise

We’re happy to provide our customers with a wide range of maintenance and repair services tailored to meet the unique needs of your cleanroom. Our extensive solutions ensure that your cleanroom remains in optimal condition, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.

Preventative Maintenance Program

Our Preventative Maintenance Program is designed to prevent issues before they arise. The benefits of this program include:

  • Regular assessments to identify potential problems early
  • Priority services for emergency maintenance and repairs
  • Preferential pricing on our cleanroom services

Emergency Repair Services

When unexpected issues occur, you can rely on Angstrom for 24/7 support. Our team provides quick responses and minimal disruption to your operations, ensuring your cleanroom is back to full functionality as soon as possible.

Trust Angstrom for Expert Cleanroom Maintenance and Repair Services

For expert maintenance and repair services, trust Angstrom’s experienced team. Our comprehensive support and tailored solutions will keep your cleanroom in tip-top shape, ensuring compliance with industry standards and providing peace of mind. Contact Angstrom today to learn how we can assist with your cleanroom maintenance needs.

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Global Cleanroom Expertise: Regulatory Governance Team

Global Cleanroom Expertise: Regulatory Governance Team

The regulatory landscape for cleanrooms can be complex. On top of managing the requirements of the ISO 14644 suite of standards, you may also need to comply with cGMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) guidelines and those of industry regulatory bodies. But the experts at Angstrom Technology are committed to supporting you through successful audits. All cleanroom projects with a requirement for cGMP compliance have oversight from our dedicated regulatory governance team. 

With over 40 year’s combined experience in cGMP and pharmaceutical industries, this level of in-house expertise sets us apart from other cleanroom companies. In this blog — the first in our Global Cleanroom Expertise series — we explain how we can support your regulatory compliance.  

 

Meet the Regulatory Governance Team

Global Compliance and Quality Assurance Manager

Global Compliance Lead

Joan Benson - Global Compliance and Quality Assurance ManagerSimon Rice - Global Compliance Lead
Joan has 30 years previous experience in Cell and Gene Therapy, Academia, Pharmaceutical Industry, Contract Clinical Research and Hospital Aseptic facilities. She was front facing regulatory inspections in MHRA, FDA, HTA and HFEA for 20 years.Simon has 8 years previous experience in the production of radiopharmaceuticals within a fully accredited GMP facility manufacturing sterile pharmaceuticals. This gives him a unique understanding on the implications of GMP.

 

Regulatory compliance services

Our cleanroom systems can be qualified to cGMP, and the required ISO classification. Not only that, but they can also meet any applicable international engineering and building standards and regulations. Our skilled and multi-faceted team can provide the following key services to support your compliance: 

  • Design Qualification (DQ), Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), Performance Qualification (PQ) 
  • Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) 
  • Validation 
  • Audits of facilities and Quality Management Systems 
  • Gap analysis 
  • Mock regulatory inspections 
  • Bespoke validation studies 

 

Regulatory governance successes

Our team has led high-profile global cleanroom projects to regulatory compliance. There are just a few of their recent successes. 

  • Led cleanroom validation (DQ, IQ, OQ, PQ, FAT, SAT and a wrap-around validation package covering EMS, VHP systems and cryostorage) for a 33-room Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Facility. 
  • Led cleanroom validation (DQ, IQ, OQ, PQ, and all commissioning data) for a 6,500 Cleanroom Facility in their 11,000 square feet Single-Use Bioprocessing Technologies Manufacturing Facility. 
  • Supported numerous clients on the delivery of their projects with regulatory support on all aspects including design, validation, and commissioning 
  • Led cGMP qualification packages for current clients with GMP facilities 
  • Gap analysis for leading clinical research units 

 

Ready to start your cGMP cleanroom project? Contact us

We are committed to supporting you through successful audits and inspections, now and in the years to come. To learn more about our cGMP cleanroom design-build services, request a quote or contact us. 

 

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How to keep a cleanroom clean

How to keep a cleanroom clean

It can be challenging to keep a cleanroom clean and maintain its ISO class. Everything you introduce will likely release particles into the air — especially people! So, what are the best ways to keep your cleanroom up to the standards you so painstakingly maintained? Here are some basic concepts and helpful suggestions to maintaining the highest level of cleanliness.

Gowning: First and foremost, anyone entering the cleanroom must wear protective clothing. Humans are full of particles: our hair falls out, our skin flakes, and there’s no way to control it. That’s why anyone entering the cleanroom must wear appropriate protective clothing. Depending on your cleanroom’s class, this might be a gown and gloves or a full head-to-toe cleanroom coverall complete with a mask and goggles. You first have to define your standards, but then you should know what your employees should wear in the cleanroom.

Cleaning: Why do you need to clean a cleanroom if it’s already clean? Because of the inevitable introduction, generation, and retention of particles! If you are concerned with bioburden, you don’e just need to clean. You need to clean and disinfect! This is a two-stage process. First, you clean away the dirt (or, as we call it in the cleanroom industry, non-viable contamination), then disinfect the germs (viable contamination).

Cleanroom Furniture: Believe it or not, furniture can give off particles even when it’s just sitting there. And even when furniture doesn’t generate particles, it can accumulate them. That’s why cleanroom furniture has smooth edges and joins. Without dirt traps, particles and dust won’t build up on furniture. You’ll need to invest in this type of furniture to keep your cleanroom clean.

Air Shower: To limit the number of particles brought into your cleanroom, you might consider investing in an air shower. Used in conjunction with the gowning room, it blows off any particles that could easily fall off people entering the cleanroom. It’s a great way to eliminate extra particles before operatives enter the room. The experience can also get operatives into the right mindset of controlling contamination.

Sticky Mats: This is the best way to reduce foot-borne or wheel-borne contaminates. If your cleanroom has a high standard for cleanliness, this is a useful addition to your cleanroom.

Proper Cleanroom Gowning Techniques

The cleanroom gowning process may seem like a hassle, but you spend a lot of money getting the cleanroom installed and maintained, so a few extra minutes gowning properly isn’t a big deal if you’re protecting that asset and keeping your cleanroom as clean as possible. But what, exactly, do you have to do to make sure you and your employees are following proper protocol and protecting the environment of the cleanroom? It starts with a standard procedure. It will be much simpler if everyone follows the exact same process and understands the different areas of the gowning space. Generally, most gowning spaces have a “getting dressed” area and a “cleaner” area. Make sure employees understand these boundaries, and know where to stand at what point in the gowning process. Here’s an example of a standard gowning process. Remember, however, that most gowning processes will vary depending on the standard you’re required to adhere to.

  1. Perfume and Cosmetics – If you’re working in a cleanroom, the gowning process starts before you even get to work. It’s important to remember that products like perfume, make-up, hair gels, etc. give off extra fumes and particles. To keep your cleanroom as clean as possible, it’s necessary that anyone entering the room not wear these types of products.
  2. Remove personal items – Personal items like jewelry also have to come off before you go into your cleanroom. They, just like cosmetics, release extra, unnecessary particles into the air that you’re better off without.
  3. Change Shoes – Shoes pick up all kinds of dirt and dust when you walk around. It’s a good idea to change your shoes once you walk into the building, and then as you enter the gowning area, make sure you step on a sticky mat to remove any excess particles.
  4. Enter Gowning Area – Now you’ll enter the gowning room, and most places have a “getting dressed” area, which is where you’ll start. Make sure to put on a set of “donning gloves” or just a first set of gloves to eliminate particle contamination of gowning clothes. When gowning, remember to dress from head to toe; this eliminates particles from falling onto already gowned parts like coveralls and booties.
  5. Don Bouffant – First, you’ll put on your bouffant, or hair cover. Make sure to only touch the inside of it, and before you move on, ensure that all hair is covered and out of the way. After this, you may also have to don a hood, depending on your cleanroom’s standards.
  6. Don Coverall – If your coverall is one piece, start with the feet and move upwards. If it’s two pieces, start with the top and then sit down to put on the bottom half. Do not let the coverall touch the floor or walls. Make sure you zip all zips, and snap all snaps.
  7. Booties or Shoe Covers – Now, sit on the bench to don booties or shoe covers. Make sure you tuck your pants into the booties or shoe covers, and don’t step in the “getting dressed’ area. Instead, step into the “cleaner” area of the gowning room. If your cleanroom has an automatic shoe cover dispenser, use that for cleanliest practice.
  8. Don Goggles or Shield – If your cleanroom requires them, this is where you put on your goggles or face shield. Some cleanrooms do not require this level of protection, so you may be able to skip this step.
  9. Final Pair of Gloves – Depending on protocol, you may now remove the first pair of gloves and put on a second, or you may put a second pair of gloves over the first. Roll the cuff of the gloves over top of your sleeves.
  10. Enter – Now that you’ve properly gowned, you may enter the cleanroom. Remember that at this point you are as “clean” as you’re going to get, so if you touch anything before you get inside, you’ll have to start over, or at the very least change your gloves.

If you have anymore questions regarding the information provided above, please reach out to one of our experts. The experienced experts at Angstrom Technology can answer any of your questions quickly and efficiently, and would love to hear from you!

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RigidWall Cleanroom Features

RigidWall Cleanroom Features

Planning to install a new cleanroom in your facility? One of your first steps should be to figure out which type of cleanroom is the best fit: SoftWall, HardWall, or RigidWall. All of these have great features and performance capabilities, but one of them may work better for your application than the others. That’s where we come in — to help you narrow down your options. 

We’ve already published blogs about SoftWall and HardWall cleanroom features (check them out if you haven’t yet!). So, this article will finish up the series by diving into RigidWall cleanrooms. We’ll discuss what they are, what unique features they offer, and what benefits they could bring to your facility. 

What Are RigidWall Cleanrooms?

RigidWall cleanrooms are constructed with aluminum extrusions, and are somewhat of a mixture between HardWall and SoftWall cleanrooms. They are durable and flexible, much like the HardWall, and more robust than the SoftWall. They have the same once-through configuration and design that SoftWall cleanrooms offer. 

You might recognize a RigidWall cleanroom by paying attention to one specific aspect of them: aesthetics. RigidWall cleanrooms are generally built with transparent panel inserts that provide full visibility into the room, from floor to ceiling. 

Because of this trait, RigidWall cleanrooms are a common choice for applications that require the transparency aspect. This could include processes that require outside monitoring and safety or use as a show piece for new and potential customers.

RigidWall Cleanroom Features

Just like the other types of cleanrooms, RigidWall cleanrooms can be customized to meet specific customer needs. However, every RigidWall cleanroom does have a certain list of basic features. We’ll walk through them in the three sections below. 

RigidWall Cleanroom Materials

The most prominent material in RigidWall cleanrooms is their transparent wall panel inserts. We outline those, as well as some of their other structural materials below: 

  • Wall Panels – RigidWall panels are prefabricated utilizing high-strength aluminum extrusions that are finished with white powder baked enamel with ¼” inserts. They can be composed of ¼” acrylic, static dissipative PVC, or polycarbonate. The inserts can be either clear or opaque.
  • Ceiling System – The RigidWall structural ceiling system follows a T-grid layout, and is composed of 2” extruded aluminum framework. It holds necessary equipment like fan filters, ceiling tiles, and lighting.
  • Entrances – RigidWall cleanrooms are compatible with the same types of entrances as HardWall cleanrooms: swing doors, overhead doors, automatic or manual sliding doors, and more. 

RigidWall Cleanroom Sizes

No matter the size of your cleanroom, a RigidWall solution can meet the requirement. Standard rooms are available in 2’x4’ increments and can free span up to 30’. Their standard prefabricated panels are available in the same size as HardWall panels — so 4’ wide and 8’ tall nominally. 

RigidWall Cleanroom Standards

Due to their solid, durable wall systems, RigidWall cleanrooms are capable of meeting ISO classification between ISO Class 5-8. 

Benefits of RigidWall Cleanrooms

RigidWall cleanrooms aren’t the most common type of cleanroom we build at Angstrom Technology, but they’re highly rewarding solutions for the right applications. Below are some of the unique benefits they offer. 

Sleek Appearance

RigidWall cleanrooms’ transparent appearance offers a sleek, transparent style that other types of cleanrooms don’t. For applications that require full visibility into the cleanroom, this is a great option. 

Good Contamination Control

RigidWall cleanrooms offer control over contamination, static, pressure, and airborne particulates. As mentioned above, their level of control can meet ISO Class 5-8 requirements. 

However, it should be noted that RigidWall cleanroom panels don’t have the insulation properties needed for regulating temperature and humidity. If your application requires stringent temperature and/or humidity control, a HardWall cleanroom is a better option. HardWall cleanrooms offer great control over contamination, particulate matter, and temperature and humidity. 

Great Reconfigurability

Since RigidWall cleanrooms are constructed with prefabricated, modular wall panels, they can be easily reconfigured to change with you. As your facility evolves and grows, your RigidWall cleanroom can seamlessly evolve and grow too. It also improves the ability to include new types of equipment or technology within your cleanroom if need be. No matter what your needs are or may be in the future, a RigidWall cleanroom is a long-lasting solution. 

Extreme Durability

High-strength 6063-T6 aluminum extrusions, a robust 2” ceiling system, and reliable structural framework make RigidWall cleanrooms highly durable. Their coat of white, powder-baked enamel prevents corroding and contamination. Also, because the system requires no drilling and tapping, it’s quite clean and easy to install.

Simple Cleaning & Maintenance

RigidWall cleanrooms have non-porous surfaces and specific powder baked enamel finishes that make routine cleaning easy without rust or corrosion. You can wipe down all of these surfaces with cleanroom-approved cleaning products quickly and easily. This is a great advantage, especially for cleanroom applications that require very frequent cleanings to ensure their safety. 

Interested in installing a RigidWall cleanroom in your facility, or have questions about which type of cleanroom is right for your application? Let us know! Our cleanroom design and installation team can deliver a solution that meets your unique specifications. Give us a call at (888) 768-6900 or contact us online today. 

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What Industries Require GMP Cleanrooms?

What Industries Require GMP Cleanrooms?

If you’ve heard about GMP cleanrooms (if you haven’t, head over to this blog), you might be wondering whether or not you actually need one. Below, we’ll walk through some of the most common industries that require GMP-compliant cleanrooms. 

What Is a GMP Cleanroom?

GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practices, which are quality management standards most commonly used by medical and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Among other things, they help to ensure a controlled cleanroom environment that reduces the risk of microbiological, particulate, and pyrogen contamination during the preparation and sterilization of medicines or medical devices. In the United States, GMP standards are established and enforced by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Therefore, a GMP cleanroom is a cleanroom that has been assessed and confirmed to comply with applicable GMP standards

It’s important to mention cGMP here as well. If you’ve done any research regarding GMP standards, you might have seen “cGMP standards” pop up and wondered if they’re the same. They’re similar, but not quite the same. Note the differences here: 

  • GMP focuses on how your cleanroom is designed, built, and operates in a way that results in safe and effective products. 
  • cGMP focuses on how you use technologies and systems that are up-to-date and comply with GMP standards. 

5 Industries That Require GMP Cleanrooms & Why

Now let’s take a closer look at a few industries that require GMP-compliant cleanrooms. While these aren’t the only industries or applications that need GMP cleanrooms, they’re some of the most common that we work with here at Angstrom Technology. 

1. Pharmaceutical

Pharmaceutical cleanrooms are designed to house any application that involves medicines or supplements. This includes tasks like research, testing, compounding, packaging, and more. 

The pharmaceutical industry calls for GMP cleanrooms in order to protect patient safety and ensure accurate, effective, and repeatable results. Without adherence to GMP standards, pharmaceutical cleanrooms could produce medicines that are ineffective, or even worse, harmful to human health. 

In addition to GMP standards, some pharmaceutical cleanrooms that deal with compounding must also comply with another set of quality management standards: USP standards. Learn more about USP standards here

Curious to see what a finished, GMP-compliant pharmaceutical cleanroom project looks like? Check out this one completed by our team at Angstrom Technology!

2. Radiopharmaceutical

Radiopharmaceuticals are a subcategory of pharmaceuticals that contain radioactive isotopes. In the past, they’ve been widely used as diagnostic agents to detect a range of health issues. Recently, they’re gaining recognition as a viable form of treatment for serious diseases like cancer. 

Although they sound similar to traditional pharmaceutical cleanrooms, radiopharmaceutical cleanrooms require specific design considerations. This is because exposure to radioactive isotopes within the drugs can harm the health of cleanroom operators. Therefore, there are two reasons radiopharmaceutical cleanrooms must comply with GMP standards: to ensure accurate, effective, and repeatable results, and to ensure cleanroom operator safety. 

Radiopharmaceutical cleanrooms must also comply with USP standards, specifically USP General Chapter 825. Explore USP General Chapter 825 guidelines here. 

To see an example of a GMP-compliant radiopharmaceutical cleanroom completed by Angstrom Technology, click here

3. Cell & Gene Therapy

Cell and gene therapy are two forms of regenerative medicine. In cell therapy, live and intact cells are injected into a patient to treat or cure the disease. In gene therapy, altered genetic material is injected into a patient to change how a single protein (or group of proteins) is produced by a cell, ultimately treating or curing the disease. 

That said, cell and gene therapy cleanrooms house some extremely sensitive processes, such as cellular and genetic engineering, growth, and purification. GMP compliance is necessary in order to ensure product efficacy and patient safety. 

Explore a GMP-compliant cell and gene therapy cleanroom project, completed by our partners at Connect 2 Cleanrooms, here

4. Medical Device Manufacturing

Medical device cleanrooms are designed to house applications in which medical devices like injectables, surgical supplies, and imaging equipment are manufactured. Many people understand that consumables like medicine must be regulated, but what they don’t realize is that the devices used to help consume them must also be regulated. They come in contact with tissues and membranes, and can therefore affect patient health. 

In order to protect patient health and safety, GMP compliance is required for any medical device cleanroom. 

Angstrom Technology recently completed this GMP-compliant medical device manufacturing cleanroom project. Check it out!

5. Food & Beverage

Last but not least, any cleanroom involving food or beverage products requires GMP compliance. This could include activities like testing, manufacturing, packaging, or more. 

Since food and beverage products are consumed, their production processes must be regulated by GMP standards to ensure consumer safety. 

Start Your GMP Cleanroom Project With Angstrom Technology

GMP cleanrooms are built to ensure that health, medicinal, and food products are consistently safe for consumption. If your cleanroom application is required to meet GMP standards, contact our experts at Angstrom Technology. We’d be happy to design a cleanroom that meets applicable requirements and help you navigate the GMP qualification and validation processes.

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What Do the GMP Qualification & Validation Processes Look Like?

What Do the GMP Qualification & Validation Processes Look Like?

In order to deem a cleanroom “GMP compliant,” it needs to meet various qualification and validation requirements. For facilities that are new to GMP standards and regulations, these processes can be a bit complicated — but we’re here to help clear things up.

Let’s discuss what the GMP qualification and validation processes entail below.

An Overview of the GMP Qualification & Validation Process

The GMP qualification and validation processes are designed to ensure all components of your cleanroom’s design, installation, operations, and performance are optimized for safe, high-quality, repeatable results. They’re critical steps in protecting the safety of both consumers and cleanroom operators. 

In order to understand the processes in more detail, it’s important to break down the difference between them.

GMP Qualification & Validation: What’s the Difference?

While GMP qualification and GMP validation may sound like the same thing, they’re not. GMP qualification generally comes first, then validation follows soon after. 

GMP Qualification

GMP qualification is the act of proving and documenting that equipment and supplementary systems are installed correctly, operate correctly, and comply with specified requirements. Qualification generally follows these four steps: 

  1. Design Qualification (DQ), which determines if your cleanroom design can meet all regulatory and process requirements. 
  2. Installation Qualification (IQ), which determines if your cleanroom is consistent with specified designs after installation is complete. 
  3. Operational Qualification (OQ), which determines if your cleanroom equipment achieves specified operational requirements. 
  4. Performance/Process Qualification (PQ), which determines if your cleanroom equipment performs well together in a controlled and repeatable manner. 

Here’s where things can get a little tricky. These qualification steps are the first part of validation. However, the steps alone aren’t the only part of validation. There’s a little more to it, which we’ll talk about below. 

GMP Validation

GMP validation is the act of documenting objective evidence that offers a high level of assurance that a specific cleanroom process will consistently deliver products that meet predetermined specifications. It follows these four steps: 

  1. Performance/Process Validation, which is step #4 of the qualification process above.
  2. Cleaning Validation, which ensures that equipment is cleaned regularly and in accordance with specified regulations. 
  3. Method Validation, which ensures that the analytical procedure for a specific task is suitable for intended purposes. 
  4. Computer System Validation, which ensures that any cleanroom software applications meet their intended purposes. 

Side Note: What About cGMP Qualification & Validation?

It’s important to note the difference between GMP and cGMP here. You may have seen “cGMP” during your research and wondered if it’s the same as GMP. It’s similar, but it’s not quite the same. 

GMP requires you to ensure your cleanroom is designed, built, and operable in a way that creates safe and effective products, whereas cGMP requires you to use technologies and systems that are modern and comply with GMP standards. Therefore, while the qualification and validation process for these two systems are similar and can be streamlined together, they are a little different. 

How Long Do the GMP Qualification & Validation Processes Usually Take?

The timeline for GMP qualification and validation can vary greatly depending on the scope of your cleanroom project. It’s usually an extensive amount of work, though, so it’s important to plan accordingly in terms of both the time and resources you’ll need. 

GMP qualification and validation happen in stages, often in accordance with the stages you design and build your cleanroom. Therefore, you can expect the entire process to take somewhere between a couple of months to a year, depending on the duration and complexity of your project. 

Who Is Responsible for Obtaining GMP Qualification & Validation?

You, the facility manager or owner of the cleanroom, are responsible for obtaining GMP qualification and validation for your new cleanroom. 

However, there are plenty of resources available to help you get there — one being a reputable cleanroom manufacturer with GMP experience. While they can’t usually carry out the GMP qualification and validation process for you, they can help you understand it, navigate it, and design, build, and install a cleanroom that meets necessary requirements. 

Design & Build Your GMP Cleanroom With Angstrom Technology

GMP qualification and validation can get confusing, especially if you’re new to the processes. If you’re looking for some help, reach out to our team at Angstrom Technology. We’ll be your guide to designing and installing a cleanroom that’s safe, efficient, and compliant with industry standards.

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