Measurement Testing

Mjr · Site Admin Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 294

Do you require a clean room or just a “Cleanroom Manufacturing Attitude”?

A lot can be done (with little $) by having one's manufacturing personnel incorporating Cleanroom-manufacturing attitudes and behaviors involving cleanroom disciplines & protocol along with putting good housekeeping and preventative maintenance in place.

Install Non-Shedding Ceiling Tile:
The biggest concern (and most costly) your company may encounter is installing a non-shedding ceiling tile in place of the existing commercial ceiling tile that is a contaminate generator (there is a trade off here: the commercial ceiling tile is a better sound absorber than non-shedding ceiling tile). Your company may need to re-hang the ceiling grid to accommodate any possible additional weight. Don't forget to clean the ceiling grid before putting new tiles in place. You might also want to install a sealed light fixture (with energy efficient ballasts) after cleaning the lamps interior.

Install Pressure Gages:
Install differential-pressure gauges to assure the space working you're in is positive to other area of less concern. Use a 0.025 pressure differential gage for this purpose and follow the manufacturers recommendations on “zeroing” the gage after installation. Rebalance the HVAC that is supplying this area if necessary.

Low Floor Air Returns:
If your facility has only ceiling returns for the airflow, you may not be getting a good removal of the contaminates at the work level. Do an airflow visualization study to determine the difference’s and effects of both the ceiling and low air returns.

Clean Your Existing Facility:
Clean your facility from top to bottom by first using a hepa filtered vacuum cleaner then wiping down with a non-shedding cleanroom wipe and cleaning solvents that is compatible with your process.

Train Your Personnel:
Train your personnel in proper cleanroom protocol/disciplines along with items needed to be restricted due to their contamination generating properties. You may need cleanroom garments, too.

Create and use a Housekeeping Program:
Establish and maintain a good-housekeeping program that not only incorporates the work areas but also the ceiling, walls and floor. Create a check-off list so that nothing is overlooked.

Set Up a Preventative Maintenance Program:
Establish and maintain a good preventative maintenance program for all of the equipment in the room along with the HVAC equipment supporting you cleanspace. Create a check-off list so that nothing is overlooked.

Set Up a Periodic Monitoring Program:
Establish and maintain an on-going monitoring program for both viable, non-viable’s and ESD, as this will be your indicator of how well your area is doing and alert you to any negative’s that may be cropping up. Create a check off list so that nothing is overlooked.