Total service cleans up

Close attention to contamination control is now a key feature of nearly all production environments.

Gone are the days when cleanroom concepts were confined to the 'leading edge' industries of space, electronics and pharmaceuticals. Contamination control can now be found in sectors as diverse as vehicle finishing or food processing, where all important added value factors are reliant on quality and performance. Garments have a major role to play in contamination control. Although the equipment used in controlled environments is being improved to make it more compatible with the demands of its surroundings, the human body still produces as many particles as ever. Cleanroom users, garment suppliers, laundries and research institutes have performed numerous studies on the efficiency of cleanroom garment systems in different situations. Particle contamination is not the only consideration when choosing a garment system: microbiological and chemical contaminants as well as electrical charge behaviour should also be taken into account.

Comfort a priority At the same time wearer comfort has become a priority in European cleanrooms, and this adds an extra challenge for the garment supply chain. The introduction of specially developed undergarments is certainly a major contribution in this field, while at the same time adding improved control of human contamination. Changing materials and requirements for garments led to evolution in the decontamination and sterilisation processes. For example, in collaboration with Centexbel, the Belgian Textile Institute, research is being carried out on a specific decontamination process for microbiologically contaminated garments. This leads to a growing number of situations where sterilisation – with all its disadvantages – can be avoided, at the same time as maintaining or even improving the quality of the garments used in the pharmaceutical industry. International co-operation in standardisation work and r&d efforts is proving to be a key factor in the success of the service supplier. Test methods are being improved or developed based on the worldwide experiences of major users and suppliers. Better prediction of real life behaviour and improved reproducibility and repeatability are the concerns of the groups of experts working on standards and recommended practices, such as IEST RP003. But garment management is more than merely performing the best possible decontamination process. Making sure that every wearer in the controlled environment has the designated garment system available when he or she needs it requires a smooth organisation. Barcodes or microchips incorporated in each individual garment make it possible to trace every step in the lifetime of an item. All processes are continuously monitored in the laundry to ensure the quality, and additional testing in the in-house lab confirms compliance with the requirements of the customer. Whether garments are rented or are the property of the user, stock management is an essential element in the total cost. Rental laundries have developed tools in this area to ensure efficient use of the resources. Making sure that the distribution in-house runs smoothly is part of these tools. Professional garment service companies will also assist with the training of cleanroom personnel in the correct use of the garment systems. With their extensive experience they will, for instance, be able to set up the most suitable dressing procedures for each situation, taking into account the layout of the dressing room, the garments and the classification and type of cleanroom. At the same time, garment suppliers become total service suppliers. Indeed, developments in related fields, such as textiles used for cleaning purposes, are being carried out by Micronclean companies. Reusable textiles clearly have environmental and cost advantages over disposable materials. And if the decontamination of these textiles has been the main concern in the past, adapted construction of the textiles as well as specialised decontamination processes now assure the required quality level for the most demanding cleanrooms. Training in correct use and management of the material flow are again part of the service available. Cleanroom users rely nowadays on their 'laundry' for far more than just washing their dirty garments. Service suppliers such as Micronclean are an essential link in the contamination control chain, tailoring their services to match developments in the industries they supply.