What is the EN-ISO 14644-1 standard for clean rooms?

 

First we must define what is a clean room or clean room, it is a space characterized by maintaining extremely low levels of contamination.

To carry out this sterilization indoors, rigorous control systems are necessary to control the environment.

These systems are used in activities thatrequire air free of impurities or polluting particles. They are very common in medicine and the pharmaceutical industry, although we can also find them in the sector

  • Optics.
  • Biotechnology. .
  • Agri-food.
  • Floriculture and horticulture
  • Microelectronics

It should be differentiated that although we have two rooms with the same classification, depending on their dimensions, scope of application, workload, etc. Specific materials and technologies will be used that will adjust to the characteristics of each room.

 

ClassMaximum limits of particle concentration per cubic meter (m3) of air.
≥0.1 µm≥0.2 µm≥0.3 µm≥0.5 µm≥1 µm≥5 µm
ISO 110
ISO 21002410
ISO 31,00023710235
ISO 410,0002,3701,02035283
ISO 5100,00023,70010,2003,520832
ISO 61,000,000237,000102,00035,2008,320293
ISO 7352,00083,2002,930
ISO 83,520,000832,00029,300
ISO 935,200,0008,320,000293,000

 

Characteristics and classification of clean rooms

 

We take as a reference the UNE EN-ISO 14644-1 or FED-STD-209E regulations, which are grouped by classes according to the number of particles in the air.

That is, if in a classroom 6 the 102,000 particles in the 0.3 µm column will also include those of a larger size, so the values ​​in the table will be cumulative. On the other hand, the values ​​not shown in the table are either so low that they are not reliably measurable or so high that it is not worth setting a limit.

  • Class 9 room corresponds to an ordinary room without any special air filtering system.

 

Aspects that we must take into account when lighting clean rooms, clean rooms or sterilized rooms

 

 

The first thing we must take into account ispersonal contamination. Without a doubt, one of the main sources of microorganisms in a clean room is the users themselves. For this reason, in most cases, the appropriate equipment must be carried when we are inside the room.

 

The types of airflow in a clean room

  • Turbulent or multidirectionalair flow the degree of purity is achieved by “diluting” the contamination by supplying clean air.
  • Laminar or unidirectional air flow(whether vertical, horizontal or inclined) this uniformly crosses the room so that contamination is eliminated without the possibility of spreading.

Regardless of the type of link flow, we can differentiate open or closed-loop systems. The latter are very common, for example, in processes where toxic substances are used.

 

Static and moisture levels

It must be kept constant between 40% -60%so that static electricity is not produced. In turn, at no time should there be condensation.

In addition, the installation of having an independent ground network from the rest of the building with a very low resistance where all electrical devices, furniture, etc. will be connected.

 

Temperature

The temperature of the room is determinedby the type of activity carried out in it. The temperature tolerance is very limited, in certain industries it can be only ± 0.5 °.

The demand for temperature control and stability requires that the hot / cold, control and regulation systems, in addition to the room’s own insulation, be of the highest performance.

 

Cleanroom lighting

 

 

As in any other space, lighting must provide the amount of light necessary for the activities to be carried out. Given that the processes carried out in them usually require a high degree of precision, a quality lighting system is essential.

Unlike other types of installations, the lighting of a clean room represents a negligible part of the costs of this, both in the installation and start-up part and in the maintenance or energy consumption part.

The difficulty in designing the lighting system is imposed by the often scarce space that remains for the luminaires. Since, depending on the class of the room, the surface that the ventilation system occupies usually occupies more than 90% of that available.

Finally, having luminaires with a high color rendering index is highly recommended, as it does not distort colors.

For all these reasons, LED lighting is the most recommended option. Its design is highly adaptable, it is extremely efficient and the quality of light is very high.

Recommended products

An option to illuminate hospitals, clean rooms, laboratories or spaces where a relatively low level of particles in the air must be kept or in the processes must limit the presence of electromagnetic fields, are LED panels.