Cleanroom Basics

What is a critical environment or cleanroom?

An area in which the concentration of airborne particles is controlled, and which is

constructed and used in a manner to minimise the introduction, generation, and
retention of particles inside the room and in which other relevant parameters, e.g.
temperature, humidity, and pressure, are controlled as necessary.

Where does contamination originate?

Particles can either be viable or non-viable. They come in different shapes and sizes,
the most common are less than 10 microns, and are invisible to the naked eye.
People are a major source of contamination through body regenerative processes,
behaviour and work habits.

The threat of contamination.

Independent studies have revealed that 80% of contamination enters the clean
room or critical area through entrances and exits mostly at or near floor level.

Who needs a contamination free environment?

The electronic, high-tech, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, aerospace, automotive,

medical, hospital and many other industries depend on methods of reducing
contamination.

What are benefits of effective contamination control?

In the electronics markets - benefits include enhanced stamper quality and reduced
stamper-finishing times in CD/DVD Manufacturing, Improved PCB manufacturing
and assembly process, reduced defects in wafer production, flat panel displays .

In the life science markets, - Unbiased experimentation in laboratory setting, lower

pathogen counts and reduced contamination in hospitals.

Overall this results in improved product yield (lower rejection rates) , an Increase in
product quality and reduced operating costs.

More resources at www.GSFCC.org

Cleanroom classifications:

ISO Maximum concentration limits (particles/m 3 of air) for particles of

Classification the considered sizes shown below
Number
N >= 0,1 >= 0,2 >= 0,3 >= 0,5 µm >= 1 µm >= 5 µm
µm µm µm
ISO Class 1 10 2 10 4 8 29

ISO Class 2 100 24 102 35 83 293

ISO Class 3 1 000 237 1 020 352 832 2 930

ISO Class 4 10 000 2 370 10 200 3 520 8 320 29 300

ISO Class 5 100 000 23 700 102 000 35 200 83 200 293 000

ISO Class 6 1 000000 237 000 352 000 832 000

ISO Class 7 3 520000 8 320

000
ISO Class 8 35 200
000
ISO Class 9

Definitions

Micron:
A unit of measurement equal to one-millionth of a meter: 0.00003937 inches

Air Lock:
A room attached to the Cleanroom. This room has interlocking doors and its
function is to act as a buffer zone between the cleanroom and the outside
atmosphere, during the transfer of material or personnel. It helps keep the
cleanroom pressurized and free from infiltrating dirt.

Fiber:
Particle with a length-to-width ratio exceeding 10:1 and a minimum length of 100
µm.

Pass Thru:
A small enclosure that mounted through the cleanroom wall and allows product to
be passed through efficiently. Pass thru's cut down on personnel traffic, hence
reducing contamination.

More resources at www.GSFCC.org

Particle:
Small quantity of solid or liquid material with definable shape or mass.

Particle Size:
Maximum linear dimension or diameter of a particle

Peel-off/tacky mats:
Are sticky mats are multiple layers of treated film with adhesive, aim to clean shoe
bottoms before entering a critical environment.

More resources at www.GSFCC.org