3 Ways to keep a cleanroom ‘clean’ – surfaces, air, operation

December 9, 2021

We will try to explain what a cleanroom is and how to keep it clean. The three most important aspects of the cleanroom are:

Surfaces
Air
Operation

What is a cleanroom?

A cleanroom is an environment, with a low level of environmental pollutants such as dust, airborne microbes, aerosol particles, and chemical vapors. It has a controlled level of contamination that is specified by the number of particles per cubic meter at a specified particle size.

How to keep a cleanroom “clean”

1. Surfaces

The surfaces and the equipment within the room:

Should be smooth and impermeable
Should not generate contamination i.e, create dust, or peel, flake, corrode or provide a habitat for bugs
Are easy to clean. i.e., all surfaces are easily accessible and are easily decontaminated

2. The control of air through the cleanroom

The amount of air introduced and removed from a cleanroom is tightly controlled
Cleanrooms are generally pressurized, which is achieved by taking out slightly less air than is put in
Air is kept moving throughout the room
The air taken out of the room is usually recirculated through the air handling system where filters remove the contamination. The air is then recycled back into the room

3. The way the cleanroom is operated

The most effective way of maintaining the air quality in a cleanroom is to operate it properly. This involves:

Strictly controlling access to trained personnel – people are the largest source of contamination
Regularly cleaning to strictly controlled procedures
Regular maintenance of equipment

Hart Speedor Cleanroom Doors in the cleanroom of a market leading provider of award-winning bond test and x-ray inspection systems for electronic components

Electronic Application: A market leading provider of award-winning bond test and x-ray inspection systems for electronic components

Why Speedor Cleanroom?

The fabric of the Speedor Cleanroom is multilayer PVC and textile, which combine to ensure strength, tear resistance and long life.
Top roll and motor covers minimise particle accumulation.
Optional stainless steel components for maximum cleanliness.
The non-touch safety light curtain maintains the clean lines of the door system and reduces hygiene risks to an absolute minimum.
Smooth finishing surface for ease of cleaning
Sloping edges reduce the collection of dirt and reduce pooling of cleaning fluids
Air Permeability – Depending on opening size and pressure differentials over the doorway, for example, our test door achieved the following

Air pressure and leakage results from tests on our cleanroom doors

The side frame design ensures the closest tolerances possible to maintain pressure seals
25mm neoprene draught blade seal, creating a continuous seal from the curtain to the floor ensuring the lowest possible pressure loss
Each door is designed with the capability of adjusting the air leakage rates using the integrated adjustable ventilation system