FAQ

A cleanroom is a room in which the concentration of airborne particles is controlled. Particles are controlled by the filters that surround the room. These filters cause the air to move in a vertical direction, laminar air flow, through the room. Cleanrooms are used for manufacturing computer chips, semiconductors, drugs, and much more. These products are manufactured in this type of environment to prevent small airborne particles or lint were from getting on the surface of a computer chip and destroying it. This is called particle contamination.

Cleanroom clothing is primarily worn to contain particles inside the suit which are shed by workers during activity. Clothing may also be worn to protect the wearer from substances that are being handled. Cleanroom garments consist of both reusable and limited-use clothing.

In addition to cleanrooms that control particles, some cleanroom environments also try to eliminate bacteria. These environments are called sterile cleanrooms, and there are two types. One type is a room where sterility is the main issue. Another type is a room where sterility and particle containment are the key concerns. Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical devices are industries where sterile environments are used.
Sterilization is a process where all organic material and/or bacteria is eliminated. This process is independent and not a function of "cleaning" or the particle removal process.
The following are three methods of sterilization:
Autoclaving (steam) ETO (ethylene oxide)
Gamma irradiation (cobalt 60)
The food and drug administration (FDA) regulates the standards for each sterilization process.

Before we discuss the different classes of cleanrooms, let's talk about the meaning of the word "particle". Airborne particles range in different sizes, and are measured in microns. For example, a human hair is 100 microns, and dust is equal to 25 microns. Cleanrooms are classified based on the number of particles that flow through the room. The classification is based upon particles .5 microns and larger per cubic foot of air. Table I illustrates the different classes of cleanrooms.
The standard for cleanrooms does not correlate with standards for cleanroom apparel. Testing for apparel is conducted with a Helmke Drum Test. Table II illustrates the results of this test. Another standard that regulates manufacturers is ISO (International Standards Organization). The ISO 9000 series is a set of generic standards that provide quality management guidance and identify generic quality system elements necessary to achieve quality manufacturing.

The Basic reason, of course, is to make available source of air from which most of the particulate matter has been removed, as a matter of fact 99.99% of everything air-borne down to 0.3 microns should be screened out. Now you have an environment whose air supply is free of bacteria, fungi, pollen, and practically all air-borne dirt, to use for whatever purpose such an environment will do the most good.

A Laminar air flow systems contains three basic elements - a blower, a high efficiency air filter, and a plenum. There may be variations on this idea - many blowers, many filters, and very large plenums, but all have the same basics. The flow is called laminar because the turbulent air upstream is changed by the filter into a straight-line flow off the downstream face of the filter.

How The HEPA filters are tested by the PAO-dioctylphthalate-method when manufactured. PAO, a liquid plasticizer is heated to the point of vaporization and reconstituted into 0.3 micron particles to form a mono disperse aerosol. These single size particles re diluted wit air until a concentration of 100 micrograms per litre is reached, and the aerosol-air mixture is passed through the filter. The amount of penetration is measured on the downstream side with a forward light scattering photometer, giving the familiar readings of 0,03% or better, The material used to make the filter material is tested in the same way by the filter material manufacturer.

latest ISO 14644 replaces FED Std 209E

NO, but it is based on the same principle. The photometer is the same, but the PAO is generated by air. This is done by using a special Laskin nozzle which creates an aerosol when it is immersed in PAO liquid and air passed through it. This aerosol, unlike that used to test the filters at time of manufacture, is not a mono disperse 0.3 micron cloud, but is poly dispersed, ranging from 0.32 microns to 1 microns, averaging approximately 0.45 microns. It is also possible to create a similar poly disperse aerosol by heat atmosphere by purging with an inert gas such as nitrogen 0r argon. The concentration of PAO so obtained will be very high, and can be used for testing air streams 5,000 to 50,000 CFM

Actually, it is rather simple. A PAO generator introduces aerosol as a challenge agent into the upstream side to the filter system. A sample of this aerosol-air mixture is taken on the upstream side of the filter with a linear forward light scattering photometer for use as a baseline to compare the downstream readings. since the upstream concentration is known, and the photometer is linear, the downstream samples may be read out in percent of concentration, as recommended in the standards and specifications. Any leak greater than 0.01% of the upstream concentration is too much, and the spot should be marked for repairs in actuality, there should be no leaks around the filter seals, and in practice, readings at the face of the filter are usually in the 0.004% to 0.008% range.

It is the amount of challenge aerosol, detected on the downstream side of a filter by a linear photometer, measured against the concentration of challenge aerosol on the upstream side of the filter. with a base of 100% for the upstream concentration, and a reading of 0.01% penetration on the downstream side, the indication is that the filter is 99.99% efficient with respect to that particular concentration.

It is the amount of challenge aerosol, detected on the downstream side of a filter by a linear photometer, measured against the concentration of challenge aerosol on the upstream side of the filter. with a base of 100% for the upstream concentration, and a reading of 0.01% penetration on the downstream side, the indication is that the filter is 99.99% efficient with respect to that particular concentration.

Because there usually isn't enough particulate matter in the ambient to be used as a challenge. The minimum specified by AACC-2T is 3x10 power 5 particles of plus 0.5 microns.

If Yes, because as in the answer above, the amount of bacteria in the ambient will vary from time to time and give erroneous data. Besides , the test should be run to eliminate any possible leaks greater than 0.001%

With an LAF situation this becomes chancy when a full scan procedure is adopted. with the stationary procedures both flat on the tables or normal to the air flow, detection is quite nearly impossible

If the number of pharmaceutical houses using the test for their filters is any criterion, the answer is most certainly yes. it is also used by the FDA, and of course by many other facets of industry around the world. For example, every atomic energy commission in the free world uses DOP and the photometer for in-place filter testing, the U.S. navy has a special adaption of the basic test equipment for shipboard use and it would seem by its universal acceptance that any-one with a high-efficiency air filtration system needs one to insure the integrity of their system.

The PAO particles, being a liquid aerosol, impinge on the surfaces of the glass fibres making up the filter, and are trapped there, Each tiny droplet spreads out to form a mono-molecular layer on the surface, and since the surface area is extremely large, there is little chance of saturation. it would take an extremely high concentration of PAO, generated very close to the filter surface, to cause wetting out. Once the PAO is trapped, it stays on the fibres and is not released.

No, since a comparatively small amount of PAO is released into the clean area, and most of this is swept out in the air stream. some amy impinge on room surfaces, but his amount is negligible since the particles are so small they are subject to Brownian movement an remain suspended until they are finally trapped by the filter material.

If the number of pharmaceutical houses using the test for their filters is any criterion, the answer is most certainly yes. it is also used by the FDA, and of course by many other facets of industry around the world. For example, every atomic energy commission in the free world uses PAO and the photometer for in-place filter testing, the U.S. navy has a special adaption of the basic test equipment for shipboard use and it would seem by its universal acceptance that any-one with a high-efficiency air filtration system needs one to insure the integrity of their system.

There is no relationship at all. For example- a clean room with no one in it might be class 100, while the addition of personnel will send it into other higher categories. however, suppose the filters supplying a room were thoroughly checked for leaks, and all significant leaks were sealed, this room is operating at maximum efficiency with respect to the filters, and since the filters are mechanical in nature, there is nothing the operator can do to change conditions in this area. The achievement of a particular class would relate to the number of air changes per hour as well as the scavenging design of the system.

All the particle counter can do is give a reading of the number of particles per cubic foot at any one point at one time. It doesn't indicate what the particles are, or where they come from. the stepwise checkout of a clean room should be first to run the PAO test to find the significant leaks and eliminate them. If the subsequent introduction of personnel and equipment causes generation of particulate matter which may be of concern to the successful operation of the room one more step to be taken. A sample of the room air should be taken with a millipore-type filter after which the particles collected may be sized and counted, but and this is the most important- they may now be identified. This identification will enable the room operator to establish the source of contamination is harmful to the work being done. No particle counter in existence can do this for you. As a matter of fact, to quote from paragraph 60 FED, STD, 209A referring to the PAO test," .... in most instances, this type of facility check will be more meaningful than any attempt to make an actual particle count, due to the extremely low particle concentrations expected, plus the difficulty of taking a representative sample in a laminar air flow stream".

It is useful from the standpoint of routine surveillance. Deviations from action levels established for the facility, if not corrected by routine maintenance procedure, would signal a need for filter validations and we are back to square one -PAO

You can, but the basic function of a particle counter is to count and size particle, usually by sampling at a rather slow rate of 0.1 cfm with LAF, iso kinetic sampling would be mandatory. scanning a filter seal in this manner would be a slow process involving great operator skill, and what is more important the reading obtained would have no relation to the established level for a significant.

To begin with, it is not possible to use PAO with a particle counter-the concentration of aerosol is so high that the counter becomes saturated and jams, requiring a trip to the factory for repairs (except where expensive high volume samples with a diluting air source, are employed). The PAO test tells the story right away-where the leaks are and how great. There are no time delays for readouts or probe recovery. The readouts relate to filter performance and not to an abstraction. The last applies to linear photometers only; log scale instruments give only relative results

Because some high-efficiency air filtration systems are used more than others, there is no standard answer to this question. However, to be on the safe side, it is recommended that after the first complete checkout following installation, a check of the filter seals be made on a ninety-day basis, with a complete scan of the filters two times a year.

They should have a thorough knowledge of the test equipment and its use, familiarity with specification requirements and the company protocol, and good training and experience in the technology of in-place testing of HEPA systems. When independent personnel are hired for certification testing of systems, they should have all above qualifications and should be able to provide proof of capability through references. It cannot be stressed enough that qualified personnel who will provide a thorough and honest service must be used

The average HEPA filter, properly installed, and with frequent changes of the pre filter, should last from three to four years. There are always unusual cases: filter used to capture radioactive particles or pathogenic organisms should, of course, be changed when they become unsafe for use. Otherwise, the resistance of the filter as indicated on a mono meter or the air flow measured with a velometer are indications of need for a change.

The procedure, fortunately, is clear. Having leak-tested the system and sealed the leaks, take a sample of the air in the room with a Millipore-type filter, both, for biologic and sample under a microscope, classify, identify, and take necessary steps to eliminate the source.