ARE CLEANROOMS AN OBSOLETE TECHNOLOGY?

摘要

To evaluate whether cleanrooms are the best method of protecting today's products and operators in set environmental conditions, one must consider the cleanroom classifications. Cleanrooms are classified according to the number and size of particles permitted per volume of air (see Figure 1). For a typical cleanroom, the relevant particle size is 0.5μm and this is directly related to the bacterial contamination levels. Along with the classifications come the requirements for hypergeometric distribution sampling, utilities consumption and cleaning that has to be both validated and repeatable. Cleanroom technology sets out to minimise particulates and maintain set environmental conditions - but why not consider the alternative, containment technology?