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Cleanrooms are incredibly sensitive environments, and it doesn’t take much to compromise some of the processes within the room. Great measures are taken to protect these controlled environments, including specialized clothing and a strict set of procedures for entering the cleanroom. First off, it is important to note that the number one contributor to cleanroom contamination is humans. Even though cleanrooms are designed to keep particulates out of the room with things like powerful HVAC systems and HEPA filters, cleanroom workers are the biggest threat to the cleanroom environment. As humans, we are constantly shedding particulates via skin cells, spittle and hair. Furthermore, cosmetics like hair spray, makeup, cologne and perfume can also be harmful to the cleanroom environment. Wearing the proper cleanroom attire, depending on the cleanliness level of the room, may range from a full “bunny suit” to various types of gloves or head and face coverings. Most cleanrooms have a specialized dressing area prior to entering the cleanroom. Some of these rooms even go as far as painting a line across the ground that separates the room. The purpose of this line is specifically for footwear and to signify the “clean” side of the room. Some cleanrooms require specialized footwear, and these shoes are put on across the “clean” line. In addition to the clean dressing area, many of these rooms employ the use of tacky or sticky mats. These mats sit in front of doors and are usually long enough to accommodate about three steps. By walking across the mat, the particulates are captured there so they don’t enter the cleanroom. Lastly, before entering the cleanroom there may be a smaller room containing an air shower. Air showers work by spraying jets of air at different angles at the cleanroom operator. The air blowing at different angles blows the particulates off the users. In conclusion, these are just some of the many steps cleanroom workers take to help keep cleanrooms operating at the proper cleanliness. Although these steps are a lot of work, they are a necessary practice to ensure that none of the work within the room is compromised.
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