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Cleanrooms are controlled environments where dust, dirt, bacteria, chemical vapors, airborne contaminants, and other pollutants are controlled to specific levels. Cleanrooms are found in almost all types of industries that require clean and /or sterile rooms, from scientific to manufacturing. Examples would be pharmaceuticals, medical laboratories, biotech, and rooms used to assemble or manufacture precision equipment. Cleanrooms require controlling contamination as well as the room environment, which would include such things as humidity, temperature, and airflow.

As a building service contractor, how do you clean a "cleanroom"?

The humidity, temperature and airflow in a clean room are carefully controlled so that particles are kept to a minimum. There is a big difference between the air in a typical office building and a cleanroom - office building air contains 500,000 to 1,000,000 particles (that are 0.5 microns or larger) per cubic foot of air. Compare that to a Class 100 cleanroom, which is designed so that there is never more than 100 particles (0.5 microns are larger) per cubic foot of air, or to a Class 1000 clean room (1000 particles per cubic foot of air) or a Class 10,000 (10,000 particles per cubic foot of air).

The difference is quite obvious. Just one human hair is 75-100 microns in diameter. A particle that is 200 times smaller than the average human hair (0.5 micron) can cause a great deal of damage to a microchip, circuit or other type of precision products.

Contamination can be one of two broad categories: film type or particulates. Both types can be disastrous to delicate equipment. The key is keeping contaminants from entering a cleanroom. Strict procedures must be followed not only when people enter the room, but also when the room is being cleaned.

Cause of cleanroom contamination

The major sources include:

Contamination comes from the facility itself - from walls, floors, ceilings, paint and coatings, construction materials (sheet rock, construction dust, etc.), air conditioning debris, spills, and the room air. Contamination comes from people in the room - from their skin and hair, clothing debris (lint, fibers, animal hair that's on their clothing, etc.), cosmetics and perfumes, and from coughing, sneezing, etc.
Contamination comes from the tools that are being used in the clean room - there is friction and wear particles from the equipment; lubricants and oil; and from brooms, mops, etc. that may be used in the cleaning process.
Contamination comes from the fluids being used or found in the room - from particulates that are floating in the air; on floor finishes and coatings; cleaning chemicals; and on bacteria and organics that are found in the room.
Contamination comes from the product that is being manufactured - from chips and flakes; debris and particles.

As a building service contractor, how do you clean a "cleanroom"?

Procedures for cleaning a cleanroom as well as gowning and glove protocol will differ according to the classification, the individual company, the methods occurring within the clean facility, and degrees of cleanliness required.

First off, you should sit down with the building owner or facility/cleanroom manager and ask the following questions:

What is considered clean and how will it be measured?
What type of cleaning materials (supplies, equipment, etc.) can be used in the cleanroom?
Do the required cleaning equipment and supplies need pre-approval?
When can the cleanroom be cleaned and how frequently are the cleaning tasks required?

TIP- It's always important to have a contractual agreement in place with the details and specifications spelled out before taking on any job, especially a cleanroom. You don't want to be held responsible for problems or damages after the fact because you were not informed of all the processes and procedures required keeping the cleanroom clean and within required parameters.

Correct maintenance of the cleanroom is critical to assuring quality. Cleaning should be done on a daily basis while other tasks may be required to be performed several times a day. It is important to select the appropriate equipment and supplies. Wipes, cleaning chemicals and other products should be pre-approved or certified to meet specific performance requirements.

The supplies you will need may include:

Cleaning and disinfecting solutions
Floor sealer and floor stripper
Tacky mats
Cleanroom apparel (gloves, shoe/boot covers, masks, coveralls, etc.)
Cleanroom microfiber mops and buckets (or pre-approved mops, buckets, wringers)
Squeegees and sponges
DI/Deionized Water (water that has the ions removed)
Cleanroom HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) or an ULPA (ultra-low penetration air) vacuum cleaner (some facilities may not allow vacuums)
Cleanroom wipes
Specialized equipment (to reach small corners and edges that may be missed when mopping or wiping down)

Below are a few cleanroom suppliers that can assist you in making the correct purchases that meet the specifications for the specific class of cleanroom you are maintaining:

Valutek

ULINE

Cleanroom World

You may be required to have the cleanroom manager approve the equipment and supplies that you will be using to clean. (When submitting your proposal make sure it is clear if the building owner or cleanroom manager must approve the supplies and equipment.)

Following are basic recommended procedures for cleanroom maintenance. Keep in mind that a building owner or manager may have more specific or more stringent requirements that you need to follow. The frequency of the cleaning will vary depending on the class and type of facility.

Clean all work surfaces
Vacuum floors and hard surface areas. Vacuums may not be allowed in the cleanroom. (Make sure you know this when putting together a proposal for the cleanroom.)
Empty trash cans, waste and recycling receptacles. There may be special waste streams (chemicals, etc.) that need to be disposed of. If any types of special waste streams are your responsibility, make sure you know the appropriate way to dispose of these items. Note: never take waste receptacles into a clean room.
Sweep and mop floors with approved disinfectant cleaner.
Clean doors, door frames, locks and surfaces in the pre-staging area and gowning areas (areas where people prepare to enter the cleanroom).
Mop pre-staging and gowning areas.
Change tacky mats - this may need to be done several times during a shift. (Tacky mats are floor mats designed to remove foot contaminants.)
Wipe walls and trim.

There are also general cleanroom regulations that will apply to all individuals entering the cleanroom.

Following is a list of general regulations (make sure you know if there are additional rules that apply to the cleanroom you are cleaning):

All personal items (including keys, watches, cell phones, rings, etc.) should be stored in a locker outside the gowning room.
If any valuable personal items (such as wallets) are allowed in the cleanroom, they should not be removed from beneath protective clothing.
The appropriate protective garments should always be worn in the cleanroom.
No eating, smoking, or gum chewing is allowed in a cleanroom.
Cosmetics (rouge, lipstick, eye shadow, mascara) cannot be worn in cleanrooms.
Only approved paper is generally allowed in a cleanroom.
Any equipment or supplies brought into a cleanroom must be sterilized.
No employee who is physically ill should enter a clean room.
Items, tools, cleaning supplies, etc., should not be set down on benches or tables. If you need to set something down, it must be placed on a cleanroom wiper.
Paper and fabric towels will most likely be prohibited. Make sure whatever wipes you use are approved by the building owner or cleanroom manager.

It is important in any building for employees to act appropriately, but it takes on an even higher priority when an employee is working in a cleanroom. Fast motions, running, walking and horseplay can lead to more contamination in the clean room. Employees should not lean or sit on equipment, tables or work stations or handle any items or products within the cleanroom.

Cleanroom cleaning can be very profitable for your cleaning company. However, before taking on the responsibility of cleaning a cleanroom, make sure you understand what tasks are required and that you have the appropriate equipment and staff to do the job.