Cleanroom’s limit exposure to contaminants. These include dust, chemical vapors, microbes, and other air impurities. What if 1 speck of dust was the difference between success and failure? In some cases, a single speck can even destroy expensive manufacturing equipment.
Cleanrooms protect equipment that is sensitive to particulates in the air. Contaminants could even destroy equipment such as:
- Nanotechnologies
- Pharmaceutical products
- Semiconductor products
- Electrical equipment
- Medical equipment
When cleanroom implements the appropriate cleanroom standards, an effective and safe working environment is created.
How to Create a Proper Cleanroom
To maintain a cleanroom environment, you need to focus on:
- Air handling and filtration
- Personnel training
- Proper cleaning equipment
A High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter controls the particle size. Used for ISO Classes 2-9, HEPA filters trap particles that are 0.3 microns and larger. To achieve ISO Class 1, you would use an Ultra-Low Particulate Air (ULPA) filter for smaller particle sizes.
To meet cleanroom specifications, each ISO Class requires a different:
- Airflow type
- Airflow velocity
- Air changes
All employees should undergo extensive training in cleanroom standards. Before entering or exiting a controlled environment, workers should pass through an airlock. Personnel will also need to wear special gowns and gloves. These will trap contaminants caused by the human body.
KEEP YOUR CLEANROOM CLEAN
Keep your cleanroom compliant by following the appropriate cleanroom standards outlined for your specific environment. Do not forget to make adjustments for any changes to the guidelines that may arise. Doing so will not only ensure compliance but also help protect manufacturing equipment, products, and even personnel from harmful airborne particulates.
Disinfectants Used in Cleanrooms
There are very stringent protocols governing what comes in and out of a cleanroom, and also for disinfecting the cleanroom environment. Ensuring cleanliness in a cleanroom is an essential part of maintaining the cleanroom’s productivity and efficacy. For this vital task, choosing the wrong disinfectant can have catastrophic results.
Criteria for cleanroom disinfectants:
- Non-reactivity:any disinfectant used in a cleanroom environment needs to be as chemically inertas possible to avoid any chemical reactions and possible contamination. This is also why cleanroom disinfectants that have been opened and used need to be utilized or removed within 30 days. This will help avoid contamination, even though this is almost impossible.
- Low residue:all disinfectants leave residue. Cleanroom disinfectants need to limit that to a minimum while maintaining effectiveness, so a low residue and highly effective disinfectant is the norm in a cleanroom environment.
- Sterile:it goes without saying that just like anything else entering the cleanroom, sterility of a disinfectant product is a must.
- Effectiveness:disinfectants need to be effective at cleaning and destroying any microorganisms they come into contact with, be it bacteria, fungi or any bio-contaminant. Chlorine-based disinfectants tend to dominate the market due to their proven efficacy in eliminating biohazards, but there are alternatives, depending on the desired properties of the disinfectant.
- Fast acting:disinfectants need to act fast and evaporate quickly to avoid trapping any particles while drying out.
- Safety and environmentally friendly:disinfectants need to meet environmental guidelines and pose no hazard to users.
- User-friendly:disinfectants and/or disinfectant-impregnated wipes need to be ready to use and easy to handle, with no complicated intermediate preparation phase.
After choosing the right disinfectant for the cleanroom, it is important to assess the best maintenance and cleaning protocol. This will be dependent on operational activities, the level and type of contamination threat, and the qualities of the disinfectant used. Regular controls and checks for any bio-contamination are essential for assessing the efficacy of both protocols and disinfectants.
To learn more about Scientific Instrument Center (SIC) and our Innovative Solutions visit us.
Here you can read more about our services or call 800-686-8965 for quick “Same day or Next Morning” on site scientific equipment maintenance services.
Our skilled staff members understand the nuances of instrument calibration and the manufacturers train our technicians, so any inspections we make mean your equipment is to quality standards. For more than 30 years, SIC has served businesses that use a wide variety of diagnostic and scientific equipment. As a leader in Scientific Equipment Reaper and medical device calibrations, we work with many corporations, universities, and hospitals. We are specialists.
Source:
Published by Cleanroom Industries Ultimate Source of Industry News, an online magazine that serves a directory for trending news.
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