Understanding the Basic Cleanroom

A place where products are produced in a stringently controlled environment is called a cleanroom. Inside the cleanroom, the number of airborne particles is controlled in order to comply with specific limits. Eliminating contaminants is a primary goal of such a place, even down to the use of cleanroom notebooks specially designed for these environments.

Contamination can come from any of four potential sources: facilities, processes, equipment, and people. Contaminants must constantly be removed by means of a sophisticated air filtration system. The amount of contaminants allowable is based on the standards for that industry, and is often managed in accordance with the Federal Standard 209E. This document prescribes the standards for the levels of particles in the air that are acceptable in cleanrooms and clean zones.

The control of contamination encompasses the whole environment and involves tight manipulation of such things as air flow rates and pressure, temperature, and humidity, among other things. Rooting out the source of contaminants is equally important. For example, standard paper can give off fibrous microbes that can throw off the levels of acceptable contamination. This is why these environments use cleanroom notebooks which are specially designed to be less fibrous.

Even the construction of a cleanroom must be done following strict protocols. Once built, it must be maintained to these same strict standards. Cleaning of the cleanroom is carried out in accordance with a handbook that outlines the procedures and supplies that can be used. Professional cleaning staff is usually brought in to handle this job.

Once a cleanroom is built, it must be maintained and cleaned to the same high standards. This handbook has been prepared to give professional cleaning staff information about how to clean a cleanroom.