Written by 3 Steps to Designing a Cleanroom
A clean room is a room that has been designed and built to contain particles in the air to low levels. Clean rooms are used for manufacturing processes where contamination can affect product quality, such as semiconductor assembly, pharmaceuticals production, or microchip fabrication. To create a cleanroom environment, follow these three steps:
1. Determine The Cleanliness Level
If the clean room is intended for manufacturing, you must choose an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standard. These standards are derived from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which uses scientific information about particle sizes that can cause problems in various technologies like semiconductors or microelectronics.
The most common classes for clean rooms are ISO (class) 100, class 50, and class 30. The higher the number is, the more particles per cubic meter there will be in the air. However, it can also mean that you need to spend more money on equipment like filters or HEPA-grade HVAC systems.
2. Install HEPA Filters
Before installing the HEPA filters, you need to have a proper ventilation system. If there is not an HVAC system already in place, one needs to be installed before installing the filters.
The function of a cleanroom filter or air cleaner is to remove particles from your environment so that they do not get circulated throughout the room and affect the manufacturing process. The most common filter used in clean rooms is a HEPA HVAC system, which stands for high-efficiency particulate air filtration.
3. Test The HEPA Filter
Once you have installed the HEPA filters and started up your HVAC system, it is important to test them. Testing ensures that they are working as intended because no particles were present in the air before installation.
HEPA filter installation test is achieved through microbiological testing of the circulation air in the clean rooms. The two methods are the settle plate and the air sampling method.
