IQS Newsroom Articles on Cleanroom Design
Cleanroom Design
Because of the highly controlled nature of clean room environments, the construction
and design of cleanrooms are very rigid. There are many different types of
cleanrooms of all sizes, classifications (levels of air pollution control),
and materials; some pharmaceutical and software engineering manufacturers might
have entire warehouses converted into cleanrooms, while other manufacturers,
such as machinists, may have a small portable low-level clean room for specialized
parts assembly. Regardless of size or classification, however, there are a
few basic principles of clean room design.
In the ceiling of the clean room is an air filter, commonly an HVAC filter
with a fume hood. This filter pulls air from outside, filters air pollutants
(or particles) out, then sends the purified air into the cleanroom from the
ceiling. This downward motion of air forces the remaining few particles in
the room to the floor and corners, where they are more easily sucked out by
the vents and vacuums which lie close to or in the floor, maintaining a steady
stream of clean air downwards on the manufacturer's working space.
To further prevent outside air contaminants, most cleanrooms have "airlock" doors
with an antechamber mediating between the clean room and the outside rooms.
The airlock door seals the air inside, assuring no unwanted air leaks and often
keeping the air pressure within the cleannroom slightly higher than outside,
so that in the case of any air leaks air (and air pollutants) would be forced
out, not in.