A cleanroom functions as a working environment in which an extremely low level of everyday pollutants are present. These pollutants include everything from dust and microbes to water vapor.
Cleanrooms are an important factor in a number of businesses. As you might well expect, such a specialized environment is necessary in an industry that requires these low levels of contamination, such as those which work in scientific research or in precision manufacturing.
If you are considering the installation of a new cleanroom within your place of work and are looking for a little more information on the matter, look over these "ins and outs" of cleanroom construction.
THE CONSTRUCTION METHOD
There are a number of choices to be made when it comes to having a cleanroom installed in your facility. Do you need it to comply with FDA or MHRA regulations? Does it have to meet with GMP compliance? These choices will fundamentally influence a wide range of factors, from the size and layout to the grade of the facility if it’s to be used for the production of medicines.
Other factors include the flow of human traffic, access for maintenance, and how much energy will be required.
The first of all the choices, however, regards the way in which you are going to have it constructed. If your industry demands a cleanroom then it is likely an integral cog in the machine, so you’ll need to make sure yours is perfectly suited to your needs.
A cleanroom is an investment; you and your business alike will want to ensure that it is a cost effective step to take.
With a specialised cleanroom manufacturer, you can rest assured in the knowledge that your new environment will meet all the necessary health and safety requirements, as well as fulfilling any industry-specific regulations that may exist.
Cleanrooms are measured to an ISO standard; a cleanroom with the lowest amounts of contaminants possible is known as a Class 1. A Class 1 cleanroom will have no more than ten particles measuring more than a micrometre in diameter in a cubic metre of air, whereas a Class 5 would allow up to 100,000. The class of cleanroom required differs depending upon which industry it will be used in. For the pharmaceuticals sector, it is likely that you’d need something closer to a Class 1 in order to meet the regulations.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
To pare things back to the basics, there are more or less only two major options when it comes to which method of construction you’re going to use. You can choose from the standard mode and the modular method.
If you are only concerned with the budget, you may wish to opt for the standard method. Of the two, it tends to be the cheaper option, because you will receive a uniform design all over. It will use common building supplies in the construction, such as drywall in the ceiling and in the walls. Those surfaces will then be covered by PVC or fiberglass.
The modular method of construction is a more bespoke route. You can select your own, personalized configuration from a variety of different components; this allows you to choose only those things that you personally require.
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM
To get the full listing of the various differences between the two methods of construction, you would be best served by speaking to an expert. They will be able to guide you through the process from start to finish, including giving you a clearer understanding of exactly which type of cleanroom will best suit the needs of your business. However, we’ll take a look at some of the major differences here.
Modular cleanrooms have the advantage that you know exactly what you’ll be getting. They may well be more expensive when looked at over a short-term time frame, but using the modular parts means that the time required to design the cleanroom is reduced significantly. Often metal-faced and pre-finished, they will be custom-fitted precisely to your needs.
Standard cleanrooms will look cheaper on paper. You will get a one-size-fits-all kind of cleanroom, and you’ll usually pay a fixed price. Normally this will be a traditional stud and board construction, finished with either hygienic paint or varnish.
Though the standard method will appear cheaper at first glance, the construction time can take up to 40% more time. Time is money, as they say, so if you need access to the facilities more quickly, you’d probably be better off choosing the modular method.
Cleanrooms can make all the difference in a variety of industries; make sure that you choose one which suits your needs to a tee.
If you are considering the installation of a new cleanroom within your place of work and are looking for a little more information on the matter, contact Boulting Environmental Services.
