How Can I Control Cleanroom Humidity?

How Can I Control Cleanroom Humidity?

Maintaining optimal humidity levels in your cleanroom is paramount to meeting regulatory standards and safeguarding the quality of your processes and products. 

In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of cleanroom humidity control and provide insights and strategies to ensure your cleanroom operates at peak efficiency.

Understanding Cleanroom Humidity

Cleanroom humidity plays a crucial role in various industries, from semiconductor manufacturing to pharmaceutical production. If the humidity is too high, bacterial growth can flourish, metal products or equipment can corrode, photolithographic degradation can occur, and condensation and water absorption can occur. This can cause issues for processes with moisture-sensitive products, like semiconductor manufacturers.

If the humidity is too low, static buildup and discharge can become an issue, possibly causing shorts for products in electronics cleanrooms. Plus, poorly controlled humidity can make working conditions uncomfortable for your employees. Therefore, it’s essential to strike the right balance to mitigate these risks effectively.

What Factors Impact Cleanroom Humidity?

Various factors influence cleanroom humidity levels, each critical in achieving optimal conditions.

Factors impacting cleanroom humidity include:

  • Temperature: Lower temperatures reduce relative humidity, while higher temperatures can increase it. Maintaining precise temperature control is vital for regulating humidity levels.
  • Airflow: Proper airflow distribution helps to prevent moisture buildup and ensures uniform humidity throughout the cleanroom.
  • External Environmental Conditions: Factors such as outdoor humidity, weather changes, and nearby sources of moisture can impact cleanroom humidity levels. Monitoring and adjusting for these external conditions are necessary for consistent humidity control.

3 Methods for Controlling Cleanroom Humidity Levels

So, what are some of the methods you can use to control humidity in your cleanroom? The experts at Angstrom Technology are here to answer that question.

1. Air Conditioning and Mechanical Refrigeration

Humidity is relative, meaning that the lower the temperature is, the lower the relative humidity is. So it only makes sense then that lowering a cleanroom’s temperature will decrease humidity. 

When using air conditioning systems to dehumidify a space, the system reduces the temperature of a surface within the condenser unit to a temperature below the dew point of the airstream in the cleanroom. That surface is then exposed to the airstream in the cleanroom and the water vapor in the airstream condenses, subsequently dehumidifying the space. The air must be re-heated to the desired room temperature and piped back into the cleanroom.

2. Desiccants

Desiccant systems draw air through a desiccant medium, which absorbs moisture. The dehumidified air is then routed to the cleanroom. Consumer-grade desiccant systems collect condensate in a receptacle that must be emptied. 

On the other hand, commercial systems exhaust humid air through the ductwork out of the building. Vented systems can dehumidify to lower relative humidity levels at lower temperatures.

These systems are not mutually exclusive. In fact, where temperature control is also important, they work best when used in conjunction. Using a desiccant system in addition to air conditioning can also help reduce the load on the HVAC system, saving energy, wear and tear on the HVAC system, and, of course, money.

3. An Integrated Approach

An integrated approach to humidity control combines air conditioning with desiccant systems to comprehensively regulate temperature and moisture levels within the cleanroom environment. By integrating these systems, businesses can effectively address both temperature and humidity concerns, ensuring optimal conditions for processes and product integrity. 

This approach not only enhances energy efficiency by optimizing the utilization of both systems but also extends the lifespan of the HVAC system by reducing its workload and minimizing wear and tear on components. Consequently, businesses can benefit from lower maintenance costs and prolonged equipment longevity. 

Moreover, the integrated approach optimizes cleanroom performance by maintaining precise and consistent control of humidity levels, safeguarding sensitive processes and products. This strategy offers operational flexibility by providing redundancy in humidity control mechanisms, minimizing downtime and disruptions in cleanroom operations. 

Angstrom Technology: Your Cleanroom Solution Partner

At Angstrom Technology, we specialize in state-of-the-art cleanrooms tailored to your specific needs. Our expertise ensures compliance with ISO classifications and international standards, guaranteeing cleanroom integrity and performance. By implementing advanced humidity control methods and partnering with us, you can ensure optimal cleanroom performance and regulatory compliance.

Get in Touch for Your Dry Room Project!

Whether you’re embarking on a new cleanroom project or upgrading an existing facility, Angstrom Technology is your trusted partner. Contact us today to discuss your requirements and discover how we can elevate your cleanroom operations.

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Cleaning Cleanrooms: How Often Should You Have Your Cleanroom Cleaned?

Cleaning Cleanrooms: How Often Should You Have Your Cleanroom Cleaned?

After investing in a top-of-the-line cleanroom, keeping it in pristine condition is crucial. When properly cared for, a cleanroom will function at peak performance. If not, the quality of the cleanroom can quickly deteriorate, affecting daily operations. 

To learn the best cleaning cleanroom procedures and practices, just keep reading!  

6 Effective Cleanroom Cleaning Strategies

Cleaning your cleanroom is more than just the protocol; it also relies on your products, people, and regular performance checks.

Note: Even if you follow a regular cleaning schedule, contaminants can still infiltrate your cleanroom and interrupt your processes. Cleaning your cleanroom is more than just the protocol; it also relies on your products, people, and regular performance checks.

1. Follow Industry-Specific Standards

Cleanrooms vary widely in use. Manufacturing cleanrooms don’t have the same functions or standards as pharmaceutical or laboratory cleanrooms. Depending on your industry, your cleanroom will have a specific layout, ISO rating, and cleanliness standard. Therefore, its cleaning schedule and procedure will also differ. 

Cleanrooms with higher ISO ratings must be kept at much higher levels of sanitation to reduce the chance of interference of minute particles and contaminants. Conversely, cleanrooms with lower class ratings may be less threatened by certain contaminants or smaller particle sizes, but they still require regular cleaning to maintain standards and efficiency.

2. Follow Contamination Prevention Protocols

The best way to keep your cleanroom clean is to follow proper sanitation techniques before entering a cleanroom. These include washing and drying hands completely, using sterile and not powdered gloves, following the proper gowning procedure for your ISO class, and ensuring all employees can access garments and tools that fit them.

In a perfect world, we would prevent contamination by introducing zero contaminants into your cleanroom environment. Of course, this is virtually impossible, so regular cleaning and maintenance of your cleanroom and its systems is critical.

3. Establish Regular Cleanroom Cleaning Procedures

Keeping your workspace clean requires diligent adherence to daily and weekly cleaning schedules. Depending on the strictness of your class standard, more rigorous objectives may need to be added, or these tasks will need to be completed more frequently. 

Whatever your facility requires, create and follow a cleaning schedule that clearly defines all assignments, making them easy to understand and follow. Here are the general cleaning protocols recommended for broad cleanroom needs.

Daily Cleanroom Cleaning:

  • Before a shift begins, use a damp mop on floors and vacuum to dry.
  • Vacuum all walls using a HEPA filter vacuum.
  • Wash and wipe all windows and pass-throughs dry.
  • At the end of every shift, wipe down all work areas. This should occur more frequently in cleanrooms with higher standards.
  • Put away products and supplies between shifts to prevent further contamination.

Weekly Cleanroom Cleaning:

  • Mop floors with a cleanroom-specific detergent, distilled water, and a HEPA filter vacuum.
  • Wipe walls with a damp sponge and distilled water, then vacuum dry.

As Needed:

  • Remove any residue or deposits on ceilings by washing with detergent and distilled water.
  • Using a damp sponge, wipe off all light lenses.
  • Change sticky mats as soon as you notice wear.

Remember, your specific cleanroom may have specialized cleaning and maintenance requirements. If you can keep and follow methodical cleaning procedures, you can enhance your cleanroom’s ability to serve you and your facility.

4. Use High-Quality Products Approved for Cleaning Cleanrooms

Cleaning products that are improperly sterilized or unsuitable for cleanroom use can cause contamination. You should use deionized and distilled water for mopping and wiping surfaces and use only cleanroom-specified cleaning agents. All chemicals and solvents for cleaning must be neutral, non-ionic, and non-foaming to avoid buildup on surfaces over time. High ISO class cleanrooms (ISO level 5-7) often require disinfectants to be sterilized before use, further protecting the cleanroom from any contaminants.

Never use scrubs or rags that could shed or corrode surfaces. Instead, only use woven polyester that is specified for cleanroom use. Employ a mopping system that separates dirty and clean water and will not scratch or contaminate the floor or walls. Follow a mopping protocol that efficiently cleans floors without spreading dirty water over cleaned areas.

It’s also a good practice to bring all materials that will be needed — such as brooms, mops, and cleaning agents — into the cleanroom before beginning to clean. This way, once the process is complete, you only need to exit once, reducing the possibility of contamination.

5. Properly Train Staff on Cleaning and Maintenance

All staff members and janitorial personnel should be well-educated on gowning procedures, environmental sterilization practices, and general equipment maintenance. It’s vital that they have a thorough understanding of the best methods for maintaining the cleanroom’s class standards.

Staff should also know what to do in case of a spill. Tools and cleaning supplies should be accessible, but not out in the open where cross-contamination could occur. Having guides and cleaning checklists posted visibly in the room will help staff maintain a sanitary environment.

6. Conduct Regular Cleanroom Cleaning Checkups

Even if you’re doing everything right and following the proper cleanroom procedures, continue to check your systems and air to monitor their quality and maintain particle levels. Air samplers or settle plates can test for organisms and measure particles per cubic feet.

Additionally, regular checkups of your HVAC system will ensure it maintains a steady temperature and humidity level, and consistently change air to your ISO specifications.

Expert Cleanroom Maintenance Solutions by Angstrom Technology

If you’re cleaning your cleanroom and still not getting the results you want, it might be time for some maintenance. Connect with the specialists at Angstrom Technology for comprehensive support in ensuring that every component within your cleanroom operates at its optimum capacity. Our expertise can troubleshoot any issues and ensure your cleanroom always functions to the best of its ability. 

Do You Know the Difference Between Negative Pressure vs. Positive Pressure Cleanrooms?

Do You Know the Difference Between Negative Pressure vs. Positive Pressure Cleanrooms?

In today’s fast-paced world of technology, pressurized cleanrooms are being utilized in more and more industries and applications. Two main types of cleanrooms are negative pressure rooms and positive pressure rooms. 

The level of pressure determines the way air naturally moves in a space. High and low, or positive and negative, pressure can be used as tools in cleanroom environments to help cleanrooms reach their required classifications.

Negative Pressure vs. Positive Pressure Cleanrooms

Let’s dive deeper, learn the difference between negative pressure vs. positive pressure cleanrooms, and discover how they work. 

How Does Air Pressure in Cleanrooms Work?

Air naturally flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. Examples of this are found around us every day. For example, wind and weather are formed from the uneven heating of the earth’s surface, which generates pockets of high and low pressure air. 

Have you ever witnessed the sudden closing of a door as air is sucked out of a room even though there’s no breeze? This experience is high pressure air moving to a low pressure area to achieve stasis. 

Another example of this process is when air escapes from a balloon. The air travels from a high pressure environment to the relatively low pressure of the surrounding air. 

What happens in all of these situations is that when air is moving in one direction, it’s not moving in the opposite direction. When air is moving out of the balloon, air isn’t also moving into the balloon, as long as the air inside the balloon is more pressurized. 

This concept can be applied to cleanrooms to stop airflow into a cleanroom or out of it, limiting particle transfer via the air and maintaining a cleaner environment.

To put this as simply as possible:

Higher pressure air within a cleanroom (compared to the air outside the room) blocks contaminants from entering the cleanroom, as air naturally wants to flow out. Conversely, lower pressure air within a cleanroom can trap contaminants and prevent them from leaving a cleanroom, as the natural flow of air wants to move in. 

Using Positive and Negative Pressure in Cleanroom Design

Using pressure in cleanrooms, either high pressure (positive pressure) or low pressure (negative pressure), can benefit many cleanroom applications, but how do you implement it in the cleanroom design?

Cleanroom pressure is achieved by controlling how much air is put into the cleanroom and how much is withdrawn. 

In a positive pressure cleanroom, filtered air is consistently pumped into the room through the HEPA filtration and cleanroom HVAC system. If a door or window were opened in the cleanroom, air would rush out into the outside environment. This positive pressure ensures that the products and processes within the cleanroom are protected in the event of a breach or leak. Because the cleanroom has positive pressure, the air is forced out of the cleanroom, preventing contaminated or unfiltered air from seeping in. 

To achieve negative air pressure, external exhausts pull air from the cleanroom at a faster rate than air is introduced over a span of time. The resulting negative pressure means the air will want to flow into the cleanroom to fill the low pressure area, effectively stopping contaminants from going against that natural movement to escape the cleanroom.

To maintain positive or negative pressure in cleanrooms, adjacent spaces must be maintained at a lower or higher pressure than that of the cleanroom. If you implement a pressurization system into your cleanroom design, a pressure monitoring system is vital to ensure balance and consistency. The monitoring system will check and maintain consistent pressure, which can be adjusted manually or automatically.

Positive PRESSURE CLEANROOM APPLICATIONS:

High pressure, or positive pressure rooms are beneficial in applications where the slightest particle interference could disrupt processes within the cleanroom. 

Semiconductor cleanrooms, microprocessor cleanrooms, and aerospace and defense cleanrooms are examples of industries that benefit from positive pressure cleanrooms, as they are highly averse to contaminating particles. Medical cleanrooms also use positive pressure to protect sensitive patients and maintain a controlled space.

Even when the stakes aren’t as high, using slightly positive pressure in cleanrooms can help reach cleanroom classifications and maintain an overall cleaner environment.

negative PRESSURE CLEANROOM APPLICATIONS:

Low pressure cleanrooms, or negative pressure rooms, are ideal for applications that need to isolate substances, particles, or fumes inside the cleanroom environment to protect the space outside. They are widely used in medical cleanrooms for research, testing, and the development of treatments using sensitive substances. 

Pharmaceutical applications also use negative pressure in cleanrooms as part of a segmented layout. One room is kept at a lower pressure, while the anteroom immediately outside is maintained at a slightly higher pressure. This allows employees to transition into the negative pressure room with minimized disruption.

Need Help Choosing the Right Cleanroom Pressure? Angstrom Technology Can Help

Using the natural air movement due to pressure, we can build safer, more effective cleanrooms. Positive and negative pressure cleanrooms can protect against entering contaminants (in positive pressure cleanrooms) or contaminant leakage (in negative pressure cleanrooms). 

Which cleanroom pressure best suits your needs? At Angstrom Technology, we’re here to guide you. Our dedicated cleanroom experts are ready to precisely tailor airflow patterns and containment solutions for your unique application. Get in touch with us today for expert assistance in creating the ideal cleanroom environment for your specific requirements.

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Global Cleanroom Expertise: Capabilities

Global Cleanroom Expertise: Capabilities

As you may already know, the Angstrom Technology Group of market leading cleanroom companies in the US, UK, and Europe has capabilities to provide multinational services to our global clients. But what does this mean for our customers?

The stringent control of process variables is a global requirement for pharmaceutical, electronics, and biotech industries worldwide. Our cleanrooms support top-tier multinational organizations to increase quality at sites across the world.

 

EXPANDED PRODUCT RANGE

Through in-house expertize and collaborations with specialist industry-partners, we can deliver facilities with precise requirements, such as battery dry rooms or cell and gene therapy suites.

 

CONSISTENT QUALITY

When it comes to global operations, maintaining consistent quality standards is crucial. Angstrom Technology understands this well and no matter where you are in the world, we can deliver compliance to the applicable regulations. This commitment to quality gives you the reassurance that partnering with Angstrom Technology will result in reliable and high-performing solutions for your business.

 

FASTER RESPONSE TIMES

In a fast-paced business environment, time is of the essence. Angstrom Technology’s global network of partners enable us to reduce shipping and installation times significantly. This streamlined approach translates into improved operational efficiency for your business, giving you a competitive edge.

 

LOCALIZED SUPPORT CAPABILITIES

By having a network of support teams strategically located across different regions, Angstrom Technology ensures that you receive personalized attention and timely assistance. This localized approach strengthens our commitment to customer satisfaction and builds long-lasting partnerships.

 

COMPETITIVE PRICING

Angstrom Technology’s global capabilities enable them to optimize their supply chain and take advantage of economies of scale. This optimized approach allows them to offer competitive pricing without compromising on quality. By partnering with Angstrom Technology, you can access cost-effective contamination control.

 

ACCESS TO GLOBAL EXPERTIZE

With a multi-disciplined, in-house team of cleanroom experts, we have expansive industry experience, with applied knowledge and skills across the globe, such as our global regulatory governance team.

 

GLOBAL CLEANROOM PROJECTS

 

Capabilities - Global cleanroom customers

 

SPEAK WITH THE EXPERTS AT ANGSTROM TECHNOLOGY

If your facility needs a new cleanroom, Angstrom Technology can design, build, and install one that meets your specifications. Using proven design strategies and quality build systems, you can trust that your work and employees will always be protected.

Request a cleanroom quote today, or contact our team for more information.

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What are Semiconductor Cleanrooms?

What are Semiconductor Cleanrooms?

Semiconductor chips are used in every computerized device — from household objects like your cell phone or coffee maker to complex machines like vehicles, defense technology, or spacecraft. They’re produced using highly sensitive materials to create delicate layers that must be worked on with care. That’s why tasks like semiconductor chip manufacturing, testing, and packaging must be carried out in a controlled cleanroom environment.

Below, we explore more about semiconductor cleanrooms, including their common applications, classifications, and design features.

What are Semiconductor Cleanrooms?

Before we dive into the many specialized features of semiconductor cleanrooms, let’s back up and get a better understanding of what semiconductors are and why they must be handled within a cleanroom.

What Are Semiconductors?

Semiconductors are made using a glassy, solid material of pure silicon, which is shaped in a molten state and then cut into thin wafers. Semiconductors are prized for their special conductive behavior — which behaves both like a metal and an insulator — and are a vital ingredient for manufacturing computer chips and circuitry. A wafer is a substrate that’s used for the base in an integrated circuit, or chip.

Semiconductor chips are fragile materials. Even the slightest inconsistency can compromise their safety and effectiveness — and in turn, compromise the safety and effectiveness of the machines and equipment powered by those chips. That’s why semiconductor cleanrooms are important and why they must comply with strict standards to ensure total control over the chip manufacturing environment.

Boost to the Semiconductor Industry

In August 2022, the United States government passed the CHIPS and Science Act. This act was created with the intention to boost semiconductor chip manufacturing and bring more of it back to the U.S. rather than overseas. It authorized nearly $52 billion in government subsidies for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and research, as well as an estimated $24 billion in investment tax credits for semiconductor chip manufacturers.

Needless to say, this act has impacted the nation’s semiconductor industry tenfold. Plants that once had to stall their semiconductor projects due to lack of funding and resources can now resume. Other semiconductor chip manufacturing companies are likely to expand their operations. In order to do that, they’ll need more cleanrooms.

 

Sound like you? Contact Angstrom Technology to get started on your semiconductor cleanroom project today. 

 

Semiconductor Cleanroom Applications

Semiconductors are used in many industries and applications. Whenever maintaining quality and purity in semiconductor chip manufacturing is crucial (which is all the time), a cleanroom is required. Some of the most common industries and applications that require semiconductor cleanrooms include:

Semiconductor Cleanroom Classifications

Semiconductor cleanrooms often run 24 hours per day due to our technologically inclined society’s demand for valuable circuitry components. Some of the most stringent cleanroom classifications must be maintained consistently throughout the chip manufacturing process.

In most cases, semiconductor cleanrooms must comply with ISO 14644-1 Class 4-6 requirements. This stipulates a maximum allowed particle count between 352-35,200 particles 0.5μm or smaller. They must also meet the requirements of ISO 14644-2, which imposes a quality control system in order to maintain these standards. However, not all processes require such stringent control. The packaging, assembly, and testing of manufactured wafers could be performed in ISO class 7 or ISO class 8 cleanrooms.

Depending on their unique application, semiconductor cleanrooms will also likely have to meet some industry-specific requirements, for example, ASTM standards for automotive applications and NASA standards for aerospace applications. These are usually complied with in addition to ISO standards to ensure that semiconductor cleanrooms are always controlled and that the chips that come out of them are of consistent quality.

Any drop below these stringent standards could lead to defects.

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Semiconductor Cleanroom Design

Semiconductor cleanrooms require a robust cleanroom design that helps them reach and maintain strict cleanliness standards while also allowing for easy movement and workflow. Here are a few especially important semiconductor cleanroom design aspects to consider.

Operators & Operator Processes

Just like with any other type of cleanroom, the biggest threat to cleanliness and control in semiconductor cleanrooms is the people working within them. That’s why semiconductor cleanroom operators must be specially trained and outfitted to prevent contamination.

But this semiconductor-operator relationship goes both ways. Semiconductors and the processes that are needed to manufacture circuitry from them can be harmful to human health. Therefore, it’s important to design semiconductor cleanrooms in way that allows operators to complete tasks safely. Some semiconductor cleanrooms even have robotic equipment or special safety protocols in place to protect workers from radioactive processes, toxic chemical exposure, lasers, and magnetic fields.

Air Quality & Filtration

As mentioned above, semiconductor cleanrooms must have a high level of air quality — some of the cleanest air required for any cleanroom application. This starts with powerful cleanroom HVAC and filtration systems, like HEPA or ULPA filters, which are used to process the air to remove particles up to allowed limits.

Machines within the cleanroom may also have their own exhaust system that removes unclear air and particulate matter.

Other Environmental Threats

Aside from airborne particle filtering, semiconductor cleanrooms must also be protected against other environmental threats. Control is especially important over factors like:

  • StaticElectro-static discharge damages the conductive properties of semiconductors. Static dissipative materials for flooring, wall panels, furniture, and more must be used.
  • Humidity – Uncontrolled humidity in semiconductor cleanrooms can result in inconsistent bake-out times, surface swelling and corrosion, and evaporation of solvents. A consistent relative humidity between 35-65% is necessary.
  • Out-gassing – Semiconductor cleanroom equipment can produce outgassing and introduce airborne contaminants into the space. This must be controlled with proper equipment cleaning and maintenance, as well as consistent air filtration.

Do You Have a Semiconductor Cleanroom Project in Mind? Let’s Talk!

If your facility needs a new semiconductor cleanroom, Angstrom Technology can design, build, and install one that meets your specifications. Using proven design strategies and static dissipative materials, you can trust that your work and employees will always be protected.

Request a semiconductor cleanroom quote today, or contact our team for more information.

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How to Decide on the Right Wall Material for Your Cleanroom

How to Decide on the Right Wall Material for Your Cleanroom

If you’re working on a technical specification for your new cleanroom design, you’ve likely noticed different types of cleanroom wall materials in the market. Unless you have experience with all the different types of cleanrooms, you might not yet know which cleanroom envelope system is suitable for your project.

Well, we’re here to help you out as best we can. We know it can be tough to find the info you’re looking for when it comes to cleanroom components, so we put together this blog to help you figure out your options for cleanroom walls. First, what essential elements do you need for a successful cleanroom wall that upholds your application’s standards?

When it comes to cleanroom walls, you’re looking for two things: smooth, dust-free surfaces. But finding the perfect surface type for your operation is easier said than done. Here are some considerations to determine what wall material type is best for you:

 

FLEXIBILITY

One of the biggest concerns for any new cleanroom is deciding how flexible your cleanroom should be. If you plan on housing it in the same building for a decade or more, you can probably get by with cheaper wall options.

Drywall coated with epoxy paint was a popular way to create cleanroom walls. You would take your building’s existing walls and paint them with an epoxy coating rated for cleanrooms. But one of the main problems with painted drywall is that those will be the walls you’re stuck with now and forever. When it comes to stick-built cleanrooms, there’s minimal scope for rearranging or expanding the space you started with, and providing the required extraction levels is challenging.

If you think your cleanroom is likely to expand once operations get underway, then a modular cleanroom with moveable wall panels would be a much better option. The materials might cost a bit more upfront, but you’ll also want to consider what you’d be getting for that additional fee.

Modular cleanroom wall panels are typically manufactured out of scratch and damage-resistant materials. This is helpful because if something runs into one of your modular wall panels, you don’t have to worry about drywall particulate below an epoxy coating seeping out and contaminating your cleanroom. If a modular wall panel gets a scratch, there’s very little cause for concern, and in most cases, you can return to business as usual. Worst case scenario: if the damage is substantial, you can arrange for a replacement panel to be easily fit into your existing system in no time.

 

STANDARDS

SoftWall cleanroom walls are the most economical type of modular cleanroom wall construction. Clear and flexible panels are mounted onto a robust steel frame, enclosing the clean area. As the panels overlap, the walls remain an effective barrier to create an ISO class 7-8 cleanroom, but with a higher volume of air required to achieve a higher level of cleanliness, you may need a solid wall panel.

RigidWall cleanroom construction can withstand the high airflow required for ultra-clean environments such as ISO class 5-6 clean zones. But the bright and durable finish makes them an attractive option for ISO class 7-8 cleanrooms.

HardWall cleanroom panels create a flush finish to a cleanroom wall. They are perfect for high-performance cleanroom applications with a range of proprietary features, such as raceway trunking to supply services, flush glazing, doors, and wall and ceiling panels.

 

CLEANING AGENTS

Once you’ve decided on modular cleanroom walls, it’s time to consider the cleaning agents you’ll be using on those walls. Every cleanroom classification is different and requires different levels of cleaning and disinfection. Pharmaceutical cleanrooms, for example, must be disinfected regularly with very harsh chemicals to prevent microbial buildup. In this situation, you need a HardWall cleanroom wall finish that can hold up to those chemicals without warping, corroding, or melting. Walls made from stainless steel with a cleanroom-specific coating are typically suitable for applications that use super-strong cleaning materials.

On the other side of the coin, if you plan on cleaning your cleanroom regularly but don’t need to use the highest-grade disinfectants, RigidWall cleanrooms wall options like acrylic, static dissipative PVC, or polycarbonate wall panels are a more cost-effective choice. When using lower-grade cleaning materials, you need a wall panel that prevents bacteria and particulate from sticking to it. You won’t have to worry about harsh chemicals eating through coatings and materials, causing a lot of particulate buildup within your cleanroom.

 

DURABILITY

As mentioned before, durability can play a significant role in choosing cleanroom wall material. Depending on your application, you’ll need varying levels of material durability. Some materials, like lightweight vinyl modular wall panels, or epoxy-coated drywall, can easily scratch. When the protective coating is breached, the material underneath is exposed and can give off dangerous particulate that can interfere with your processes. Moreover, some wall materials not certified for cleanroom use could outgas or start to give off particulate as they age.

Cleanrooms with more intensive standards are typically best served by walls made primarily of aluminum structure. Aluminum is lightweight, durable, and, best of all, doesn’t give off particulate as it ages. That said, it is a more costly option. So if your cleanroom doesn’t need quite that level of cleanliness, you might choose a less expensive option.

 

COST

Perhaps the most significant consideration for your cleanroom wall material decision is that you have to stick to a specific budget. With cleanrooms, particulate control is the most critical factor, so it stands to reason that a large part of the investment goes into the airflow, the expensive filtration systems, and the energy you use to keep your cleanroom functioning correctly. Because of this, many cleanrooms don’t look as expensive as they are.

Your cleanroom walls can be one of the least costly aspects of your cleanroom as they are relatively low-tech. So, if you’re looking for an area of the project where you can save money, this could be it.

That said, a few companies want their cleanrooms to reflect the expense put into them, so they spend more on their walls. A high cosmetic finish can be achieved if you have extra room in the budget and want to build a cleanroom that looks like a high-tech, cutting-edge facility. But know that you don’t have to have the highest specification of walls to meet your cleanroom standards.

 

When designing a new cleanroom, deciding which cleanroom wall material will work best for your application and convey the image you’re looking for can be difficult. If you have more questions about choosing a suitable wall material for your cleanroom, call the experts at Angstrom! We’re here to help you, and we’d love to provide you with any cleanroom information you want to make the best, informed choice for your company. Call our office at 888-768-6900, or request a quote online today!

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