The world has seen uncountable inventions over the years. One of the factors that have made it possible to achieve all these inventions is a clean environment provided by cleanrooms. A cleanroom is a freestanding, solid structure that can be used within an existing cleanroom, warehouse, manufacturing area, or laboratory. If you’re considering a cleanroom, here are some things you should keep in mind.
Do you need to spend your budget on a cleanroom?
Perhaps you have repeatedly been thinking if it’s worth spending your budget on installing a cleanroom. However, the question you should ask yourself is whether you can afford not to have one. As processes get fewer, particle contamination becomes a major concern, and they can have a significant effect on the manufacturing process. This can cause expensive product recall and even potentially life-threatening situations depending on the industry you are in.
- Traditional vs. modular cleanrooms
- Cleanrooms have different cleanliness standards
- Time to production
- Time to validation
- A cleanroom must be kept clean
- Good cleanroom protocol
There are two types of a cleanroom: traditional and modular cleanrooms. A traditional cleanroom is built out of drywall or brick while modular cleanroom is fabricated off-site and delivered to you with all the parts. If you need a traditional cleanroom, then you should contact professionals to help you with the designing and building of a cleanroom.
There are different standards of cleanliness determined by ISO international standards, depending on your industry. These standards are categorized by the number of particles of a specific size are allowed to be in your cleanroom to safely control your process. You should know the standards you require because that will help you come up with a realistic budget.
As the say goes, “time is money.” So you should consider the time it will take to get your cleanroom set up before you start production. If you choose a traditional cleanroom, it may take some time before you can begin production. Modular cleanroom, on the other hand, may only take a few weeks before it gets up and running.
If you intend to go for a modular cleanroom, you should consider time for validation. Before you start production, the cleanroom must be validated to ensure that it’s operating to the right ISO standard. Also, remember that if you want your cleanroom to run smoothly, you must schedule regular validations.
You should ensure that the cleanroom is kept clean before use and after use. People can be the primary generators of contamination. Cleanroom companies can provide you with gowning tips if you need them. Raw materials and equipment can also generate particle contamination. Transfer hatches and double bagging of products can help in reducing contamination.
Reliable cleanrooms companies offer training for their customers, where they hold demonstrations to encourage best practice within a cleanroom. A modular cleanroom can improve your processes by ensuring that standards are met, particle contamination is minimized, and all the clients are satisfied.
