Cleanrooms demand the utmost cleanliness to safeguard sensitive processes and ensure the integrity of vital products.
Yet, the airlocks that control safe and secure entry to and exit from the cleanroom often present inherent challenges that can introduce delays, contamination risks, and operational inefficiencies, necessitating an innovative approach to the design and construction of new airlock systems.
In this article, Chris Barbieri, VP of Engineering, examines the challenges of traditional airlocks and how innovations in design and construction approaches can provide an efficient solution that can seamlessly integrate into all cleanroom environments without the need for on-site construction.
The critical role of airlocks
Every facet of cleanroom design and operation is carefully orchestrated to uphold stringent cleanliness standards, minimise contamination risks, and safeguard public health.
Based on the permissible number and size of airborne particles, their classifications ensure a precisely calibrated environment tailored to specific process requirements. Adherence to these classifications and associated regulatory standards is imperative for ensuring product quality and regulatory compliance.
A vital component of cleanroom design is the transition space or airlock system, which serves as a barrier that regulates the transfer of personnel, materials, and equipment between areas of varying cleanliness levels.
A vital component of cleanroom design is the transition space or airlock system
Through an interlocking door system, airlocks create a controlled buffer zone, ensuring that only one door can open at a time, preventing the direct transfer of contaminants when personnel or materials move between environments.
Maintaining controlled airflow, pressure differentials, and procedural guidelines within the airlock during transfer reduces the risk of airborne contamination contaminants and pollutants from the external environment before they can enter the cleanroom.
Pressure differentials and procedural guidelines within the airlock during transfer reduce the risk of contamination.
Limitations of conventional airlocks in cleanroom environments
However, the very design and construction of traditional airlocks can introduce challenges leading to:
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