The air around us is filled with microbes, organisms, dust, pollen, and other particles that can contaminate the environment and people. Introducing foreign objects into specialized environments can damage equipment, skew data, and even risk lives.

Utilizing advancements in airflow, monitoring, filtration, and other technologies, modern cleanrooms are becoming much more advanced, easily achieving ISO standards and reducing potential damage caused by nanoparticles and microorganisms.

Advancements in Cleanroom Technology

Several technologies are combined to maintain the integrity of a cleanroom: HVAC, HEPA filters, air showers and diffusers, disinfectants, protective clothing, wipes, wall construction and specialized equipment are all necessary to continuously maintain a cleanroom.

Much like purchasing a personal computer or smartphone, it’s important to keep up with trends and research in cleanroom technology in order to invest in the best products possible for your specific needs. New processes and materials are constantly being created which can create less expensive, more durable products and achieve better overall performance.

Recent advancements in cleanroom technology include:

1. The Internet of Things

Thanks to companies like Tech Mahindra, IoT technology is being implemented to allow for remote monitoring, predictive analysis, and other innovative features throughout cleanrooms in every sector.

Automated data collection and analysis is made possible through connected sensors that connect wirelessly to a centralized network. This allows for continuous remote decision-making while robotic technology handles any of the manual tasks previously only done by people.

By reducing human intervention as much as possible, contamination threats and human errors are reduced which ultimately optimizes the entire process. In addition, spherical video and AR/VR technology opens the door to entirely new scenarios. Imagine medical students watching a live surgery from the classroom through an Oculus Rift headset.

Using IoT technology, organizations can monitor and control compliance in multiple locations using global regulatory standards. Air quality, temperature, and the presence of foreign objects can all be detected remotely, minimizing efforts to maximize results.

2. Nanoparticle Filtering

Air flow is an essential component of a functioning modern cleanroom. By forcing air through a series of filtration systems, cleanrooms are kept much safer from airborne contamination versus that of a natural environment.

Even in industrial and manufacturing settings, toxic industrial compounds are often introduced into the air and must be eliminated. HEPA filters are commonly used today, but Exceed Filters and others are already seeking new materials with more integrated nanostructures to absorb these toxic compounds.

Cleanrooms aren’t 100 percent efficient and take time to remove contaminants that may be present.

With nanoparticle filtering, this process becomes much faster and more efficient and the time it takes to decontaminate an area is greatly reduced. In addition, the new generation of nanoparticle filters combined with current HEPA and other filtration technologies will make tomorrow’s cleanrooms much cleaner than current technology allows today.

3. Biohazard Suits

The U.S. Department of Defense recently launched a $250,000 challenge to invent the next generation of protective gear. Although advancements in textile technology already keep us safe from fires, sparks, chemical spills, and germs than previous generations, we’re still pushing forward.

With such a large prize up for grabs, it’s only a matter of time before the protective clothing used today is made obsolete by lighter, more durable clothing with better designs to provide longer-lasting protection. Companies like DuPont already have synthetic textiles and designs that can protect workers in a wide range of environments. It’s only getting better.

From NASA to universities and hospitals around the world, this means a cleaner working environment where bodily fluids, dangerous chemicals, flames, viruses, and more threaten the health of those protecting and rescuing us. Tomorrow’s fabrics will last longer and need to be replaced less often, creating a better ROI for everyone involved.

Upgraded gear being worn by personnel needing to access cleanrooms less often will lead to overall increases across the board in cleanroom functionality. Of course, for this to happen, you’ll need to know where to find the best cleanroom technology.