What is a hardwall clean room?

What is a hardwall Clean room?

Definition and Purpose

A hardwall clean room is a controlled environment designed to minimize airborne particles and contamination. It features rigid, solid walls made from materials such as metal or composite, which provide superior structural integrity. This design is crucial in industries like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and Semiconductor manufacturing, where product sterility and precision are paramount.

Construction and Design

Typically, hardwall clean rooms have a non-porous surface that can withstand rigorous cleaning protocols. The walls are often insulated and equipped with sealed joints to prevent particle ingress. According to ISO 14644-1, clean rooms are categorized by their maximum allowable particle counts, with hardwall clean rooms often achieving ISO5 or better, allowing a maximum of 3,520 particles (≥0.5 µm) per cubic meter of air.

Airflow and Filtration

Hardwall clean rooms are designed with controlled airflow systems and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) or ultra-low penetration air (ULPA) filters. These filters can capture 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns. The air changes per hour (ACH) rate in a hardwall clean room typically ranges from 20 to 100, depending on the cleanliness class required, ensuring a constant supply of filtered air and maintaining low particle levels.

Advantages Over Other clean room types

Compared to softwall Clean rooms, hardwall clean rooms offer better durability and long-term cost-effectiveness. Their rigid structure allows for more complex systems and utilities, such as integrated monitoring systems for temperature and humidity control. This stability makes hardwall clean rooms the preferred choice for applications demanding unwavering environmental conditions.

Why is it Called A Clean Room?

1. Definition of Clean Room

A clean room is a controlled environment specifically designed to maintain low levels of airborne particles, dust, and contaminants. The term emphasizes the room’s purpose: to provide a clean space for sensitive processes.

2. Air Quality Control

The primary reason for calling it a clean room is its strict air quality control measures. Using specialized filtration systems, these rooms can filter out particles as small as 0.3 microns, ensuring a highly controlled atmosphere.

3. Application in Industries

Clean rooms are crucial in industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and semiconductor manufacturing. Their design minimizes contamination risk, thus ensuring the integrity and quality of sensitive products and processes.

What is HardWall for?

• Structural Integrity

HardWall refers to clean rooms with rigid walls, providing enhanced structural integrity. This design supports complex utilities and equipment while maintaining an environment necessary for sensitive manufacturing processes.

• Enhanced Contamination Control

HardWall clean rooms offer superior contamination control compared to softwall variants. The solid construction minimizes particle ingress and allows for better maintenance of cleanliness standards required in critical applications.

• Durability and Longevity

The durable materials used in HardWall clean rooms ensure longevity and resilience. This design reduces the need for frequent replacements or repairs, making it a cost-effective solution for industries needing consistent cleanliness.

• Flexibility in Design

HardWall clean rooms can accommodate various layouts and configurations. This flexibility allows organizations to customize their environments according to specific operational needs, enhancing efficiency in production processes.

The Difference Between a Buffer Room and a Clean Room

Purpose and Function

A buffer room serves as a transitional space between controlled environments and less sterile areas. In contrast, a modular clean room maintains strict standards for cleanliness, preventing contamination during critical processes.

Air Quality Standards

Clean rooms are designed to meet specific air quality standards, such as ISO classifications, ensuring low levels of particulate contamination. Buffer rooms, however, may not adhere to such stringent requirements, focusing more on transitional control.

Structural Features

Clean rooms have sophisticated filtration systems and rigid structures, while buffer rooms may feature less rigorous designs. This difference reflects their distinct roles in maintaining contamination control in manufacturing processes.

What is a Clean Room in Construction?

1. Definition and Purpose: In construction, a clean room is a specialized area designed to control environmental conditions, particularly dust and airborne particles. These spaces are essential for ensuring that construction activities do not compromise sensitive equipment or materials.

2. Controlled Environment: Clean rooms in construction maintain controlled environments through advanced HVAC systems that filter out dust and particles. This control is critical during the installation of sensitive systems, such as electrical and HVAC components.

3. Applications in Sensitive Projects: These clean rooms are commonly used in projects involving high-tech installations, such as data centers or laboratories. By minimizing contamination, they help guarantee the integrity and performance of sensitive equipment and materials.

4. Compliance with Standards: Construction clean rooms must adhere to specific industry standards, such as ISO 14644. Compliance ensures that the clean room meets necessary cleanliness levels, protecting both the project and the final occupants from potential contaminants.

Clean Room in IC Fabrication

Specialized Equipment

These clean rooms are equipped with advanced filtration systems, including HEPA and ULPA filters, which remove particles from the air. Additionally, they often utilize laminar flow systems to direct clean air across work surfaces.

Workflow Optimization

The design of clean rooms in IC fabrication is optimized for workflow efficiency. They include designated areas for different processes, minimizing the risk of cross-contamination while facilitating smooth transitions between stages of production.