A cleanroom is a space where environmental pollutants are controlled to a specific level. These rooms are commonly utilized in manufacturing, scientific research, and medical applications when even the tiniest of contaminants will compromise a project.
Contaminants include things like dust, airborne microbes, aerosol particles and chemical vapors. They can come from facilities, people, tools, fluids, and products. While it is impossible to completely eliminate all contaminants, the levels of acceptable contaminants vary by the cleanroom.
As opposed to cleanrooms built with traditional construction, or stick-built (drywall/gypsum), modular cleanrooms (also referred to as modular clean rooms) are built with factory-produced pre-engineered solid panels that are independent, robust, and faster to install. Modular cleanrooms are an asset that can be removed, relocated, expanded, sold, and/or easily reconfigured and repurposed, unlike old-fashioned stick built.
Most cleanrooms are held in positive pressure. When dealing with hazardous contaminants, cleanrooms are usually held in negative pressure, eg. hazardous drug compounding and airborne infectious isolation rooms.
Positive air pressure will make the airflow leak out of the room, instead of in, thus preventing unfiltered air or air particulates from entering the cleanroom. Simply put, to achieve positive pressure, more filtered air is pumped inside the clean zone to create a greater pressure differential than the adjacent, less clean rooms. Positive pressure is used in cleanrooms where the priority is keeping any germs or contaminants out of the cleanroom, to protect the manufacturing process.
Negative pressure is used in cleanrooms to prevent potentially hazardous contaminated air, from escaping the room. Negative air pressure cleanroom means more air is pumped out of the room, rather than in, which makes the pressure lower than the adjacent environment, and serves to protect the user and the environment.
Class 100, Class 1000, Class 10,000 and Class 100,000 cleanrooms designate the maximum number of particles (0.5 micrometer (µm)) permitted per cubic feet of air in a cleanroom. In a Class 100 cleanroom, a maximum of 100 particles of 0.5 micrometer µm is permitted. Class 100, Class 1000, Class 10,000 and Class 100,000 are found in the Federal Standard 209 (FED-STE-209E) which was withdrawn in 2001 and officially replaced by ISO-14644-1 in 1999, but they are still widely used. The equivalent between FED-STE-209E and ISO-14644-1: 2015 is:
Class 100 = ISO 5
Class 1,000 = ISO 6
Class 10,000 = ISO 7
Class 100,000 = ISO 8
** Old FS 209 classes were calculated in cubic feet of air, whereas ISO classes are in cubic meter of air
Yes. Every company’s needs change over time, and an HBK cleanroom can change right along with them. All our cleanrooms are “backward compatible,” meaning they can be expanded or decreased in size, components can be added or removed, and any number of other changes can be made to your existing room.
With all the different requirements for cleanrooms, you need a company that can take care of those technical needs. BHK is an expert in all aspects of cleanroom design, installation, renovation, and maintenance. We’re here to help you with anything you need for your cleanroom: before, during and after the installation. We even have all of the supplies you need to make your room operate efficiently after its installation.
Nope. Not only are we cleanroom experts, we’re also engineers! Our cleanroom specialists are highly experienced in all facets of the cleanroom industry, including design. We can design the entire room for you, or work with your staff to create the perfect room for your needs. Our cleanrooms are pre-fabricated, completely customizable and designed exactly to your specs.
Yes. Our HardWall and RigidWall cleanrooms can be installed in a variety of environments using your existing building. Contact our cleanroom specialists and we’ll visit you on-site to discuss your framework and recommend a cleanroom that will work best within your existing structure.
Again, it depends on what you will use it for and what class of cleanroom you need. As your requirements get stricter, the cost usually gets higher. For instance, a Class 100 cleanroom will cost more than a Class 10,000 cleanroom. Costs associated with filtration, temperature, humidity control and other factors can increase or decrease the price. Because of the many variables, it is impossible to give an estimate for your project here on our website, but if you fill out the ‘Cleanroom Quote Questionnaire’ we’ll have a cost estimate for you as soon as possible.
When you compare features, installation, and maintenance of a modular cleanroom to conventional construction, the modular room will always cost less. It’s also worth mentioning that you can depreciate a modular room up to five times faster than a conventional room.
Yes, it can. Depending on the type of room, and the type of walls, a cleanroom can control sound in even the loudest manufacturing conditions. If sound control is an issue to your company, let us know and we can design a room specifically for your needs.
Any type of construction will disrupt your facility to some degree, however the more quickly you can install the cleanroom, the less disruptive construction will be. Since Angstrom Technology installs and delivers quicker than others, you’ll have fewer disruptions.
Any type of cleanroom assembly will leave a mess, however BHK cleanrooms are simple to install, and come with minimal packaging, so you have less to clean up. If you don’t have time to worry about any of the cleanup, let us install the cleanroom for you. Our professional installation crew will take care of everything, right down to cleaning up every little piece of trash.
Small rooms within a plant or other existing building typically do not require a permit, but you should consult your local building codes department before you begin. Large rooms can require a permit in some cases. HKB cleanroom experts can help you determine if a permit may be necessary, and help you work local building code authorities.
It’s a government document that outlines the classes for air cleanliness. Although it’s not specific to cleanrooms, the industry has adopted it as its own standards.
Getting in touch with HKB is easy. You can fill out the make an Enquiry’ form here on our website giving your details and information about your cleanroom requirements. Alternatively, you can pick up the phone and speak to one of our team members.
Your project requirements will need to be understood, as well as the size, specification, and delivery. This can be done through technical submittals and drawings, phone calls or from a face-to-face meeting.
Once HKB understands your requirements the estimating team will put together an initial indicative quote.
With specifications and prices agreed in principle, HKB can advance onto the next step of the process. This may include Meetings, Drawings, Samples, Location Tour, and further Calculations.
Once agreed and manufacturing approval is received, the bespoke products will be manufactured, inspected, and packaged in line with exact requirements. Throughout the process, there will be a direct point of contact within HKB.
Your order will be delivered by a network of recognized and approved delivery partners. The HKB team will continue to support you from delivery and into the installation stage.