Whether it’s an ISO class 8 or ISO class 5 cleanroom, manufacturers in pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, medical device, electronic, and other critical manufacturing industries require their cleanrooms to be simultaneously functional, flexible, economical, practical, and of course, clean.
Air Pressure and Sealing: To support air filter technology, maintaining appropriate room pressure and seal is of utmost importance. With airflow levels and negative pressures in the hallway between suites, particles can travel easily and threaten the quality of controlled substances manufactured at any given facility. This is exactly why door system design should contain proper sealing to control predetermined air circulation rates as well as reduce airborne contamination.
Cleanability: Logically, cleanroom doors are cleaned frequently. Clean-room designers are constantly looking for cleanroom doors that can maximize cleanability, while standing up to chemical treatment. Cleanroom doors should also be manufactured with minimal ledges, crevices, and angles. This inhibits dirt and bacteria from easily collecting and makes it easier to withstand frequent cleaning.
Corrosion: Problems with corrosion go hand-in-hand with constant cleaning, especially with older door systems. It is not uncommon for old-style cleanroom and lab areas to be outfitted with hollow metal or aluminum doors. Eventually, these types of doors start to flake, deteriorate, and sometimes virtually dissolve after being exposed to toxic and severe cleaners. When it comes to corrosion, clean-room designers can’t afford anything less than perfectly seamless door solutions for their facilities.
Flexibility and Security: Besides the cleanability and durability factors, cleanroom doors should offer various options for flexibility to fit personnel’s needs as well as process requirements. Having flexible door systems enables project engineers to outfit cleanrooms with doors needing vision panels, pushplates or other activation devices, magnetic locks, and interlocking systems.
Efficiency: Ultimately, the new age of cleanroom design gravitates toward greater efficiency and cost savings. Practical cleanroom design minimizes HVAC requirements, reduces cleaning and maintenance costs, and withstands the conditions in which they function.
In short, cleanroom doors significantly contribute to the clean level of critical environments. There are plenty of cleanroom door companies out there. Make sure to look for a company with experience in the marketplace and proven technology and performance. Making these considerations now will make all the difference in the future.
From: “High-Performance Door Systems Keep Cleanrooms”
