The internal skin of your cleanroom is just as much a barrier from contaminants as are gloves and gowns. Like any barrier, the six sides of your cleanroom are less effective under certain circumstances. Anything that disrupts the smoothness of the surface is a potential contamination hazard. Here are 5 common mistakes people allow inside their cleanrooms.
- Compromised surface quality. Any bumps, cracks, scratches, holes, sharp corners, or raised surfaces can be a nightmare to clean. This is not only true of the enclosing structure, but also of countertops and other surfaces found within the room. Keep a close eye on the integrity of flat surfaces, and avoid any work that requires drilling or adding dimensions to the walls or ceiling.
- Rivets. These are used to join panels or keep coving or window frames in place. Rivets are very useful in some circumstances, but they are not always necessary. If they are behind flashing or coving, that is OK so long as they aren’t seen on the internal surface of the cleanroom. You can’t have someone drill a hole into an uncontrolled part of your facility or slop a silicone lump onto your wall that can never be fully cleaned.
- Mushroom bolts. These hold up a sandwich panel ceiling, and if you already have them in your facility, do not remove them. It isn’t feasible to retrofit a concealed ceiling hanger. However, if you’re starting from scratch, make sure that your contractor is using concealed fixings that don’t break the cleanroom barrier.
- Electrical conduit long the interior. If you build your cleanroom and have a separate contract for security, for example, you can’t let security start screwing into your walls to run grey electrical conduit. Be sure to specify this before hiring anyone who might be in a position to do so.
- Pass thru boxes on the wrong side. If you use a pass thru box, one wall will have to have it protruding out. If you pass material from a Grade C room into a Grade B room, the Grade C space should be the one with the protrusion. The Grade B space should be kept as smooth as possible – the two rooms should not each have a partial protrusion.
Your critical spaces need to be as close to a smooth six-sided box as you can get. This ensures that you’re reducing dead zones, enhancing airflow, and minimizing the small spaces where dust, dirt, and other contaminates can hide. Smooth surfaces are much quicker and easier to clean.
When it’s time for your cleanroom certification or validation, contact Gerbig Engineering Company. Our experts will handle these entire processes with care and precision. We also build cleanrooms and will ensure that your interior is optimal for long-term compliance. Contact us at 888-628-0056 or email info@gerbig.com.