By: Alex Hamilton
When planning a cleanroom, it is necessary to consider all of the potential uses of the space in order to determine the equipment that must be utilized. The space should also be evaluated for the number of workers that will need to inhabit it. Some portable versions of equipment could be used in labs where space is limited. Many universities now have cleanrooms for their advanced students. A nanotech engineering cleanroom will have different needs from a biological or pharmaceutical cleanroom, but all cleanrooms have some common equipment needs. Here are five types of cleanroom equipment that every successful science lab may consider.
1. A Lab Hood
Even with a good airflow and filtration system, some form of laboratory hood should also be installed. In labs where harmful fumes and gases can be produced, a laboratory hood will protect those conducting the experiments. If sensitive or delicate compounds are involved, laminar flow hoods are more gentle in their action and should not damage any experimental samples.
2. Measuring Devices
Meters and measuring devices for air quality, humidity, and safety should be available in any good cleanroom. Some experiments need a low-humidity environment. Other cleanrooms might require an oxygen meter. Any kind of experimental particulate, whether nano, chemical, or biological, should be monitored. Having meters and handheld devices available is important for the safety and integrity of the cleanroom.
3. Desiccator Cabinets
Some science experiments need to be performed in specific low-humidity, gas-specific, or vacuum environments. Desiccator cabinets are the premier way to help ensure that these experiments can be conducted accurately. Some desiccator cabinets offer specific gas mixing abilities, while others can create a vacuum environment safely and efficiently.
4. Glove Box System
One asset that a good cleanroom should have is a glove box system. Some experiments cannot be exposed to normal atmospheric gases. Others could emit fumes or particulates that, even with a good hood system, could be dangerous for workers or produce unexpected byproducts. In these situations, a glove box system helps ensure the safety of the experiment and the workers.
5. Contamination Control
Another necessary item for a successful cleanroom is some form of contamination control. These are normally in the form of air showers or pass-through boxes. Air showers keep your cleanroom actually clean from the environmental contaminants that will come in with any people entering the space or items that they bring with them. Pass-through boxes are used to transfer items into or out of the cleanroom without people having to leave the space and risk introducing contamination to the cleanroom itself or to the environment from the cleanroom. Not only do pass-through boxes limit contamination, but they also save time because anything that leaves or enters must be decontaminated, and people take longer to decontaminate.
With the rise in more complicated experiments and tests in education, even in schools, more cleanrooms are needed. In order for a cleanroom to be functional, it needs to have the proper equipment. Ensure your cleanroom is prepared and meets safety standards.
Published by: Josh Tatunay