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Monitoring Cleanroom Air Flow
Problem: Maintaining air quality is essential to meeting criteria for cleanroom standards, and air quality cannot be measured without also measuring the air flow within the cleanroom environment. Specialized tools are required to gather the readings that represent the air flow through the ventilation systems, as well as a solid understanding of those systems.
Solution: There are several types of ventilation system setups commonly used in cleanrooms — each of which are put in place to remove contaminants from the environment and help meet and maintain cleanroom standards. It is necessary to check the air flow of those ventilation systems periodically, as many factors can affect the movement of air over time, such as buildups in the ducts, leaks, aging and worn fans and pumps, etc. Here we identify the most common types of ventilation systems used in cleanrooms and the most appropriate instrumentation to monitor the airflow throughout those systems.
12 Tips for Lab Architects Designing Cleanrooms
TIP 1: Cleanrooms are designed with Specific Industrial Applications in Mind
As a rule, your project’s industrial category will determine which cleanroom design requirements are in effect. Here are four of the most common categories:
- Healthcare product manufacturing (includes pharmaceuticals and medical devices)
- Electronic semiconductor manufacturing
- Food manufacturing
- Biological and chemical research laboratories
Each of the above has their own unique design requirements.
Cleanroom designs can be further segregated into two groups: those that work with hazardous materials and those that do not.
Planning a Pharmacy Cleanroom
Create a list of desired elements for the new or renovated cleanroom and assign them to one of two categories: the essentials (elements that are critical to the basic functioning of the cleanroom complex, mandated by regulation, or central to the efficient functioning of the operation), or ancillary items (components that would be nice to have but are not crucial to ensure functionality or compliance).
Cleanroom Renovation or New Build
When renovating a cleanroom, or creating one from non-cleanroom space, understanding the details — of the site, building, planned research, and equipment — is essential. A cleanroom can be used for many things: semiconductor fabrication, microelectronics assembly, aeronautical assembly and testing, pharmaceutical research or manufacturing, or geochemistry. One size definitely does not fit all.
Five Facts for Modular Cleanrooms
The cleanroom market has grown tremendously in the past 50 years due to increased regulations and the rise of safety concerns. Furthermore, a growing number of companies now choose modular over conventional construction. Here are some facts that you should take into account when considering a cleanroom supplier.
Why Use Design Build for Cleanrooms?
The turnkey approach to design building a cleanroom has been moving toward the forefront of cleanroom design and construction for many reasons — one of the most important being schedule. Design build lends itself to fast track construction in such a way that a high quality product can be delivered, as well as help reduce a customer’s time to market. With the critical nature of hitting a window with certain products, the faster the project completes the better.
