Inside a Clean Room

It’s quite unlikely that the majority of us will ever work in or even encounter a clean room in our lifetimes. These highly specialised workplace environments are designed to maintain an extremely high degree of cleanliness through various controlling factors, removing tiny particles from the air, so work that could potentially be ruined by the presence of dust or similar tiny contaminants can be carried out safely.

They are prevalent in the medical and pharmaceutical industries where lowering the risk of infection to an absolute minimum is of the utmost important. Clean rooms are also used by the electronics industry for the assembly of highly sensitive equipment such as semiconductors.

Typically graded via an ISO classification, ISO 1 being the highest, clean rooms are classified by how many particles per cubic metre they allow in. For example, in a clean room classified as ISO1 there is never more than 12 particles of 0.3μm (that’s micro metres or 1/1000 of a millimetre) or smaller per cubic metre. Compare that to the ambient air outside, which on average contains about 35,000,000 particles of 0.5μm or greater per cubic metre, and you get an idea of just how clean a high-grade clean room is!

This incredible level of cleanliness is maintained through specialised HEPA air filters that ensure no particles can pass into the room and control the airflow very carefully. Also, what is and is not permitted within the boundaries of a clean room is managed strictly. Every single item within the clean room, including the furniture, cleaning equipment and even the wall clock will is designed especially to easily clean and to shed an absolute minimum of particles.

Staff who work in clean rooms must also go through rigorous measures to ensure that they do not bring contaminants into the clean environment. Protective clothing (protecting the clean room from the people rather than the other way round) is always worn; suits that completely cover the body, head coverings, latex gloves, and eyewear ensure that no hair or shedding skin can enter the environment. Staff will also have to pass through an airlock to get into a clean room , which in many cases will be equipped with an ‘air-shower’ that blasts away particles of dust that might be clinging to the staff member’s protective gear. Additionally, staff will be unable to bring in materials such as paper, natural fibres or pencils, so alternatives are used.

Everyone conceivable method of lowering the risk of extremely tiny particles getting into a high level clean room has been thought of and is implemented efficiently. However, this incredible level of control doesn’t occur in all clean rooms, and some that carry lower classification will not have such strict measures in place, although this is by comparison only! Even an ISO7 clean room will have tight control methods.

Here at The Glove Club we stock an extensive selection of protective and sterile gloves made from latex as well as other materials. Many of the products that we carry are suitable for use in sterile and clean environments. For further information about any of the products in our range then please do not hesitate to contact The Glove Club directly or give us a call on 0500 456 832. We’ll be happy to assist you with any queries you may have.