Feature
PRECISE ENGINEERED SPACES
Compiled by Benjamin Brits
Cleanrooms , as controlled environments , are primarily designed to limit the amount of particulate or a contaminant from entering or leaving a space - be this dust , chemicals , vaporised droplets or biological organisms , or facilities that are highly sensitive to any form of foreign object or debris entering a process .
The idea of a cleanroom may take your thoughts directly to those films or documentaries where a room is filled with bright white stations , microscopes and scientists wearing lab coats working on sensitive elements behind a safety glass and using intense-looking gloves . Now , although such environments do indeed exist , the use of cleanrooms has become broad as ‘ contamination-control ’ has become essential in many fields . Cleanrooms in the context of this article are not to be confused with a generally clean space as they serve different purposes .
Different types of cleanrooms require a particular discipline to lead the design and layout process as each industry has many nuances to contend with . Cleanrooms typically involve complex operational systems and procedures , and most often high construction , operating , and energy costs are associated too . From the conceptual stage it is vital to take all relevant factors into account pertaining to the industry segment in question , as neglecting any elements would have significant implications down the line .
Cleanrooms are used in sectors including food production , medical , laboratory testing , industrial nano-scale production facilities , pharmaceuticals , information technology , and some horticultural applications to name a few . Each industry involves specific criteria or a set of requirements or standards , and cumulatively integrates many more factors than what meet the eye – such as the HVAC systems , space design , types of construction materials used , installed components , occupant attire and protective equipment use , and even consideration of necessary cleaning protocols based on the particular activity in the space .
Other factors that may come under question for cleanrooms are things such as specific and overall air movement or flow , service , and maintenance of mechanical or service equipment , facility sampling and testing frequency , building control systems , lighting , de-contamination processes , monitoring systems , traffic flows , and various equipment failure testing .
In some high-specification facilities , entering and exiting a cleanroom receives further special attention as contamination both inside or outside the space could have devastating consequences – such as a pathogen entering or exiting a
LN | Unsplash Michal Jarmoluk
Laboratories may need to deal with a number of factors from pathogens through to chemical reactions .
Factors around cleanrooms also include the types of equipment as well as occupant safety and protective wear .
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