Cleanroom ISO Classes and Equipment Selection

A cleanroom enquiry often starts with an ISO class and a request for an air shower, pass box or workbench. The class is useful information, but equipment selection also needs a description of the process, the people using the space and the conditions on site. Separating these requirements gives suppliers a clear brief and makes quotations easier to compare.

What an ISO class describes

ISO 14644-1:2015 classifies air cleanliness in cleanrooms and clean zones by airborne particle concentration.[S1] List particle cleanliness, microbiological control and product quality requirements separately so that each has a clear control and acceptance arrangement.

Give each item of equipment its own brief

An environmental requirement describes the conditions needed in a space. An equipment specification describes what an individual item must do. For an air shower, explain staff entry arrangements. For a pass box, describe the objects, packaging and door opening directions. For a workbench, describe the task, the equipment placed on it and the cleaning method. An ISO class alone leaves these practical questions unanswered.

Prepare two requirements lists

Use one list for the room: its purpose, process, intended operating conditions and agreed cleanliness, temperature or humidity requirements. Record the specification source. Use a separate list for equipment, covering function, quantity, dimensions, position, frequency of use and power supplies. Update both lists as the design develops and use the agreed version when placing the order.

Check what supporting documents actually cover

When reviewing a report, certificate or technical sheet, identify whether it concerns a material, component, individual machine or the complete room. Check the model, date, method and stated conditions. Match each document to the relevant purchasing requirement and list the site checks needed. This gives your team a clear basis for comparing proposals.

Agree how delivery and acceptance will be checked

Keep the equipment delivery checks and the room acceptance arrangements clearly identified. Dimensions, finish, accessories and functions should correspond to the order. Environmental acceptance should follow the agreed project specification. If equipment positions or operating arrangements change, ask the project technical team to review the implications and retain an updated drawing and requirements record. This keeps the purchasing and engineering teams working from the same information.

Discuss your equipment requirements

Send your available project specification, layout and equipment list to info@hop-yuen.com to discuss equipment applications and configurations with Hop Yuen Industrial. If the classification or acceptance arrangements are still being decided, identify those open points in the enquiry so they can be addressed in the project discussion.

Related pages: Cleanroom services