Introduction
According to Transparency Market Research, global cleanroom technology was valued at US $4.4 billion in 2021. With a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 7.6% from 2022 to 2032, the market will be valued at $9.7 billion by 2032.
Cleanrooms are not just used to create sterile environments in hospitals and labs. They are also used extensively in manufacturing, where the goal is to protect sensitive machinery from contamination. The creation of cleanrooms isn’t easy, but it’s an important step for any company that wants its products to be free from outside contaminants or interference.
What Is a cleanroom?
A cleanroom is an enclosed space designed to be free from airborne particles, microorganisms, and other contaminants. It’s used in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, food, and electronics industries, as well as research institutes.
Cleanrooms are usually constructed using HEPA-filtered air systems that maintain high levels of air quality. The air is filtered in order to ensure that particulates like dust and bacteria don’t enter the room. This ensures that products made in a cleanroom can be produced without contamination from these particles.
Location of a Cleanroom
The location of your cleanroom is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. It must be separate from other rooms in order to prevent contamination from entering or leaving. The location has to be far enough away from these areas so that no particles can travel between zones. Additionally, there are a few things you should consider when determining where your cleanroom should be:
- Proximity to other rooms in your building – If you have a room directly next door to an area where chemical products are stored or manufactured, then you may need another barrier between those areas and yours. This extra layer can help prevent any chemicals that come out of their room from getting into yours.
- Proximity to the outside world – If there are open windows or ventilation shafts nearby, then contaminants could enter through them. You may need additional layers protecting these openings, too, like seals around windows with plastic covers over vents.
- Proximity to other cleanrooms – If you have multiple cleanrooms in your building, then it is best if they are not directly next to each other. This way, any particles that get into one room will be contained within the walls of their own section instead of spreading into others. Having a gap between rooms can also help prevent contamination from outside sources.
Cleanroom Wall Construction
The walls of the cleanroom should be constructed in a way that prevents dust and other particles from entering the room. The walls can be made of glass, plastic, or metal.
A popular material for constructing cleanroom walls is polycarbonate. This type of plastic is ideal because it’s transparent, so people can see through it while still blocking out contaminants that might otherwise get into the room. Market studies reveal that the global market size of polycarbonate will grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 5.6% from 2020 to 2030. In the year 2021, it was valued at US $21.8 billion.
It’s often necessary to seal off entire rooms in order to prevent outside contaminants from getting inside, which means that doors are only opened as needed. They must remain closed at all times during operation. In addition to this, many doors are equipped with airlocks, so nobody goes inside without changing clothing first.
How to Insulate Cleanrooms
Insulation is an important part of the construction of cleanrooms. Several different types of insulation can be used to insulate a cleanroom, including fiberglass and foam.
These materials are often fire retardant and can be purchased in varying thicknesses to suit your needs. When choosing insulation for your cleanroom, pay attention to its ability to block out sound and light as well as heat.
Cleanroom Windows, Doors, and Ducts
Cleanrooms require windows, doors, and ducts that are made of materials that prevent particulate contamination. The most common material used to construct these elements is glass with a low-emission coating. However, windows can also be manufactured with polymers or other materials that will block out contaminants while still letting in light.
Ducts should be constructed from stainless steel or aluminum rather than PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Stainless steel or aluminum ductwork is preferred because it can withstand the high moisture levels required for cleanrooms without becoming brittle and cracking easily due to corrosion. Ducts should also have HEPA filters installed on them, which do not allow any particles larger than 0.5 microns to pass through them.
In addition, seals around air intake grilles must be tight-fitting so as not to allow outside air into your cleanroom environment. This could cause contamination problems if any dust gets trapped inside these grilles during construction activities.
Fans and Air Conditioning
Fans are important for a cleanroom because they help to keep the air circulating and prevent contaminants from settling on equipment. They also help to draw outside air into the room, allowing in fresh air so that contaminants don’t get trapped inside. If you’re thinking about putting fans in your cleanroom, you’ll need to make sure that you can control their speed and direction.
Air conditioning is also important because it helps keep the temperature inside your cleanroom at a constant level. This is especially important if there are any volatile chemicals or materials being used in your workplace.
If they reach high temperatures, they can become dangerous or even explode. To control this issue effectively, an HVAC system should be installed along with other systems, such as lighting fixtures or electrical outlets.
Finishing Touches
Once the cleanroom construction is complete, some finishing touches need to be added. The first thing you will want to do after your cleanroom is built is apply a vapor retarder system. This will keep any moisture from getting into the walls of your cleanroom and causing any problems with equipment or people who work in it. A vapor retarder system can reduce condensation on walls by as much as 90%.
After building your new cleanroom, the next step is installing an air filtration system. An air filtration system ensures that only high-quality air enters the room. This prevents germs and contaminants from affecting employees during their workdays. Filtration systems remove dust particles larger than 1 micron, which are commonly found in large amounts around many different types of buildings today.
Conclusion
Cleanrooms are an important part of many industries, from food processing to manufacturing. They’re also used in hospitals, schools, and laboratories because they help keep germs at bay and make sure that everything is sanitary. While the construction process can seem complicated, it’s actually quite simple when you break down all the steps involved into manageable chunks.
The most important thing about cleanroom construction is making sure that every aspect is done correctly, so nothing gets contaminated by outside influences like dust particles or bacteria.
