Clean Room
We do clean room planning and design of clean room facilities on turnkey basis.
Clean room is a room in which the concentration of airborne particles is controlled to specified limits. Eliminating sub-micron airborne contamination is really a process of control. These contaminants are generated by people, process, facilities and equipment. They must be continually removed from the air. The level to which these particles need to be removed depends upon the standards required. The most frequently used standard is the Federal Standard 209E.
The only way to control contamination is to control the total environment. Air flow rates and direction, pressurization, temperature, humidity and specialized filtration all need to be tightly controlled. And the sources of these particles need to controlled or eliminated whenever possible. There is more to a clean room than air filters. Cleanrooms are planned and manufactured using strict protocol and methods..
A Class 100 cleanroom is designed to never allow more than 100 particles (0.5 microns or larger) per cubic foot of air. Class 1000 and Class 10,000 cleanrooms are designed to limit particles to 1000 and 10,000 respectively.
Once a cleanroom is built it must be maintained and cleaned to the same high standards.
Key Elements of Contamination Control in Clean Room
HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter)
These filters are extremely important for maintaining contamination control. They filter particles as small as 0.3 microns with a 99.97% minimum particle-collective efficiency.
CLEANROOM ARCHITECTURE
Cleanrooms are designed to achieve and maintain airflow in which essentially the entire body of air within a confined area moves with uniform velocity as laminar flow along parallel flow lines. .
FILTRATION
In addition to the HEPA filters commonly used in cleanrooms, there are a number of other filtration mechanisms used to remove particles from gases and liquids. These filters are essential for providing effective contamination control.
CLEANING
Cleaning is an essential element of contamination control. Decisions need to made about the details of cleanroom maintenance and cleaning. Applications and procedures need to be written and agreed upon by cleanroom management and contractors .
CLEANROOM GARMENTS
The requirements for cleanroom garments will vary from location to location. It is important to know the local garment requirements of the cleanroom management. Gloves, face masks and head covers are standard in nearly every cleanroom environment.
HUMANS IN CLEANROOMS
There are both physical and psychological concerns when humans are present in cleanrooms. Physical behavior like fast motion and horseplay can increase contamination. Psychological concerns like room temperature, humidity, claustrophobia, odors and workplace attitude are important.
COMMODITIES
Care is taken when selecting and using commodity items in cleanrooms. Wipers, cleanroom paper and pencils and other supplies that service the cleanroom should be carefully screened and selected.
COSMETICS
Many cosmetics contain sodium, magnesium, silicon, calcium, potassium or iron. These chemicals can create damaging particles. Cleanroom managers may ban or restrict cosmetics in the cleanroom. This is usually dependent upon the threat to the product being made in the cleanroom.
MEASUREMENT AND INSTRUMENTATION
Some important measurements related to contamination control are particle count, air flow & velocity, humidity, temperature and surface cleanliness.
ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD)
When two surfaces rub together an electrical charge can be created. Moving air creates a charge. People touching surfaces or walking across the floor can create a triboelectric charge. Special care is taken to use ESD protective materials to prevent damage from ESD.