Clean Room Material

Advantages of Clean Room Material You Want to Know

The Considerations for Buying Clean Room Material

Flooring Options

Floors that are typically installed in cleanrooms are of two basic types: epoxy resin or PVC. The selection of which floor material to employ depends on several factors. Resin floors are recommended for rooms where water is present or high humidity is expected, i.e. washing areas, steam outlets, etc. Another factor to consider is the mechanical load that will be presented when objects are moved. In this respect resin floors provide a higher resistance and strength.
PVC floors in a tile format or laid from a roll (welded joints in both cases) are considerably more economic and easy to install and replace. They are recommended for labs, hallways, or rooms that do not handle a high volume of traffic or movement of heavy objects.
In certain areas where humidity is low or where there is an ATEX classification, conductive floors (made of resin or PVC) are used to prevent static electricity. Following installation, it is necessary for a certified contractor to perform some conductivity measurements to confirm the correct installation and grounding connection.
Critical points that need to be taken into consideration during the design and installation phases include:

• Use of a vapour barrier that prevents any humidity infiltration that could produce bubbles of gas or water (in the case of PVC) or cracks (in the case of resins). The relative humidity in the existing slab should be measured before installation and an interior humidity of less than 3% is recommended.
• The surface should be smooth, clean and level, due to the fact that the finished surface will replicate the defects found in the base, including any slope, cracks or irregularities in the surface. The use of a self-levelling substrate or surface levelling compound can correct these defects to a degree, but can use large amounts of material.
• Particular attention should be paid to the proper treatment and sealing of the expansion joints and the connection with other critical elements such as panels, drainage, etc., which tend to be weak points.
• The European norm for PVC floors is EN 14041 and EN 13813:2002, for industrial multi-layer pavements (epoxy resin). Floors should also comply with the requirements established by 2033/94/ECC relating to GMP recommendations.

Locating Viewing Panels

The design and location of the viewing panels within the cleanroom is important, not solely from an aesthetic perspective but also for providing user comfort and operational efficiency. For example, the use of view panels in a partition separating a filling line from its respective packing line enables operators in both rooms to have visual contact and provide simple instructions without having to leave their post. For this reason, considered location during the design phase is critical.
From the aesthetic point of view, frequently the viewing panels are located in wall panels of visiting and inspection halls, which permit the facility to be visited or supervision tasks of the operators and equipment to be carried out without the need to disrupt the operation and without needing to follow the strict protocols for admittance into controlled areas. The use of view panels to the exterior is also very helpful to the operators when working on repetitive tasks because it enables them to better take brief periods of relaxation while working without having to leave their area.
Usually, the requirements are for viewing panels to be flush on both sides of the wall and the void between each pane should contain drying agents to prevent humidity condensing. In addition, the glass used should be tempered, so that in the case of breakage, it shatters into small pieces, not shards or sharp fragments. In special cases, such as evacuation routes, laminated glass should be utilised. In ATEX zones or walls dividing different sectors, windows must be reinforced and fire resistant. In the case of photosensitive products, where decontamination is performed through ultraviolet methods, the windows are usually protected with coatings or films that filter the respective wavelength.

Choose Easy-to-Clean Doors

The design of cleanroom doors should be kept as simple as possible, avoiding the use of elements that are difficult to clean, that have areas difficult to access or utilise rails or complex mechanisms. Swing doors are recommended for most applications; they are simple and more easily cleaned than roll-up or sliding doors. However, with swing doors, it is not recommended to use perimeter joints due to the fact that they deteriorate with time and are often placed on rails that are very difficult to keep clean.
For the same reason, the use of electrical, mechanical or hidden hinge devices to close the doors is not recommended. Both sides of the door should be flush with the wall, to avoid uneven surfaces when it comes time to clean.

In conclusion, selecting materials of construction for cleanrooms is becoming increasingly complex due to the wide variety of options that are now available. Understanding the requirements of the end-user and the specific processes that will be carried out in the cleanroom environment are crucial to a successful installation. Key factors to be considered are cost, layout and ergonomics, safety and fire regulations, energy consumption and standards and norms. For these reasons it is important to involve an experienced supplier at the very onset of the project, to be a partner from concept design to handover.