Clean rooms are a bit of a mystery to most people. Unless you work in an industry that uses clean rooms, or actually work in a clean room you probably have a very limited understanding of these special workplaces. This article is designed to give you a brief overview of what a clean room is and how it is maintained. It will probably not answer all of your questions but is a good starting point for understanding the basics of a clean room.
Clean Room Defined – A clean room is an environment that is controlled, it is normally used to manufacture products. In these rooms, the concentration of airborne particles is controlled to a specific limit. Processes, people, and equipment generate sub-micron air particles, and they must be constantly removed from the air to maintain the clean room environment. Employees in these rooms must wear certain equipment such as a chemical resistant glove and a facemask.
Standards – There are different levels of clean rooms and they must adhere to certain standards. The most commonly used standard is a federal standard, 209E. This standard spells out classes of cleanliness as well as procedures and rules that must be followed to keep the room clean.
Controlling Air Quality – Air quality is controlled through a number of ways. Airflow direction, pressurization, temperature and humidity levels are all monitored and controlled. Special filtration systems help keep the room clean.
Who Uses Them – Clean rooms are typically used by pharmaceutical, medical device, electronics and biopharmaceutical companies.
Personnel – People who work in clean rooms must wear a lot of protective garments. A single human hair can cause problems in a clean room so employees must cover their hair, wear clean room gloves, and masks. Smocks are often used and in very clean rooms, jumpsuits must be worn.
Other Restrictions – In a clean room people need to move slowly. Fast movement can cause skin flakes to come off. Cosmetics are banned in the majority of clean rooms. Even office supplies have to be different. Special clean room paper, which minimizes particle generation, is used.
Cleaning a Clean Room – A clean room is cleaned on a daily basis, using only approved materials and cleaning products. Certain procedures have to be done at least once and often twice during a shift. Mopping the floors and wiping down equipment are just two examples.
Working in a clean room can be a bit inconvenient but in many cases you will be working on an exciting new technology, which can make the inconvenience well worth it.
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