When it comes to the design of your clean room there is a lot to consider. Ceiling panels, for instance, need to be easy to clean while at the same time protecting FFUs or lighting components. Shelving, carts, consoles, and more, well… they all need to be easy to clean and to keep clean. So, what about the first point of entry? In this article we are going to talk about clean room doors so that we may expound a little on the different types, check out a few examples, and hopefully make the decision for the one which you choose just a little easier. Without further ado, let’s talk about clean room doors!
So, are there many types of clean room doors?
Yes, indeed, there are a number of different types of doors based on what a particular section or specific modular clean room is going to be used for, For instance, if you were using a softwall cleanroom (a small, modular clean room, often consisting of a steel frame and vinyl panels) then your entryway might well consist of vinyl stripping, as the chief purpose of this type of clean room is to utilize the HEPA fan units to draw contaminants from the air in order to protect sensitive equipment. However, if your clean room has air pressure requirements, then you would be using a hardwall clean room (a more solid structure capable of meeting stricter standards than a softwall clean room) and you would need a higher grade door, perhaps stainless steel. We’ll go into some considerations to keep in mind when picking your door but first, here are some examples of the most commonly used clean room doors:
- Airtight doors
- Decontamination Airlock doors
- Guillotine-style doors
- Sliding doors (often pneumatic)
- Swing doors
Are there some general rules to selecting clean room doors?
There are some basic considerations that should be kept in mind when selecting a clean room door. We’ve broken them down into some basic rules to make your decision a little easier. When selecting your clean room door, always consider the following:
- Is it compatible with your current hardware? – You always want to make sure before purchasing a clean room door that it is not limited to proprietary components. These are called ‘System Independent doors’ and may be integrated into any clean room configuration. You don’t want to purchase a top of the line door only to find out it only works with a clean room setup that uses only the manufacturer’s equipment and many companies DO offer doors like this!
- Is it a ‘flatter and no-shatter’ door? – A flatter surface is going to be most resistant to contaminants and easier to clean as well. This is especially important in doors with windows. Make sure that the window of the door is completely flat and shatter-resistant, so that if any damage is done you don’t have to worry about a spray of fragment contaminating the clean room.
- What about the materials and thickness? – The material of the door itself needs to be resistant to erosion from the chemicals that are going to be used to clean it. Aluminum is an example with these properties. You also want a thickness that is resistant to shock and 60mm is good for this if you are using the clean room for more industrial standards.
- Is it airtight (enough)? – Be sure to choose a door that fits the air pressure requirements of your application. If you aren’t sure, 3.5 m3 / hm2 measuring in at a Pa pressure of 200 is a solid choice for an airtight door.
- Does it have Anti-static properties – An antistatic surface is important in every item in your clean room, as it helps to minimize the attraction of contaminants (and you don’t want static in an area where chemicals are used or processed, of course, for safety concerns)
- Service guarantees – You want to ensure that there is some level of protection should a door become prematurely damaged (how quickly parts may be sent, for instance) and see what services are offered in regards to its installation.
Example #1 – Terra Universal BioSafe CleanSeam 316L Stainless Steel Manual Swing door
This model is a great example of an easy to clean door that is also functional and quite solid. Incorporating their ‘seamline’ technology, this door is specially welded to minimize cracks where
“The windows are double pane installed flush to the steel.”
contaminants can build up and it is also pre-hung to the door frame for easy installation. The windows are double pane installed flush to the steel as well so they won’t be a problem to clean either. A gasket seal is incorporated in the design so it is going to be better rated for air pressure and it uses an aluminum door-closer that is ADA and ANSI Grade 1 compliant.
For further details you can click the link below:
Click here to view the Terra Universal Biosafe door
Example #2 – Terra Universal Aluminum automatic swing door
This model is excellent for making things easier for those pushing carts or carrying items. Capable of manual opening or opening by waving your hand in front of a sensor, these are great for clean rooms where negative or positive air pressure needs to be maintained (though not intended for mitigating chemical exposure, as it is not hermetically sealed). The powder coated aluminum construction means that it is easy to clean and you won’t have to worry about cleaning chemical erosion on the door and this model is ADA compliant.
For further details you can click the link below:
Click here to view the Terra Universal aluminum door
In closing
Today we have discussed clean room doors in regards to their selection, rules for procurement, and we’ve reviewed a few examples to show you what these sort of listings look like. Remember that these doors are going to be application specific, so in some cases you aren’t going to need anything fancy. Just check the compliance specifications for the clean room’s intended use and be sure to use a reputable vendor!
