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Cleanroom energy saving strategies
At the onset of the project, the goals and objectives for the project were set. Energy reduction was one of them. And the owner was pursuing this goal aggressively, not just for this project but for the rest of the existing facility as part of a separate but parallel project. Efficiency targets were provided by the client to the design team that needed to be met or exceeded. It was refreshing that this client was willing to support this effort by not value engineering out energy saving features to save money and encouraging and providing a simplified path to justification and approval of approaches that reduced use and conserved energy. This client viewed energy savings beyond simple payback analysis. Some of the salient energy savings are listed below.
Modular Cleanroom Systems
Whether it’s because of advances in science and technology, growing regulation, or increased competition, companies and organizations throughout the world continue to face greater needs for controlled environments in their facilities. Oftentimes these needs arise very quickly and require solutions that can be implemented in a very timely manner. Such situations have spurred growth and innovation in the development of new modular cleanroom systems. Today’s facility operators can now choose from numerous modular systems to match their particular needs.
Softwall cleanroom systems
Softwall cleanrooms provide an economical solution to applications requiring light environmental control. These cleanrooms are typically comprised of a metal framing system, flexible vinyl curtain walls, and a number of fan filter modules at the top of the structure to control particulate and air flow. Due to their basic design, softwall cleanrooms can be erected very quickly with minimized labor requirements, offering an ease of mobility that other structures do not provide.
Structural post and panel systems
The core product for many modular manufacturers and suppliers consists of an “all-purpose” system that can be utilized for a variety of applications from GMP rooms to specific ISO classes. These systems offer a high level of versatility and can be used to outfit existing facilities or to create larger freestanding envelope structures to house separate compartmentalized processes.
Framing/partitioning systems
Due to the critical environmental conditions that are demanded in precision microelectronics manufacturing and nanotechnology applications, cleanrooms in these industries have typically required systems that integrated well with the equipment needed to run these operations. Framing systems tended to be the ideal solution for these types of cleanrooms. These systems feature both vertical and horizontal members that easily connect to each other to simplify bulk heading and create air tight seals around equipment and tooling. Plus, the non-progressive design allows for easy removal of the walls without the need to remove adjacent panels, framing studs, or ceiling grids.
Aseptic systems
Due to the unique needs and requirements found within the biomedical, life science, medical device, and pharmaceutical industries, modular cleanroom manufacturers have developed systems exclusively for these markets.
