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A cleanroom is a controlled environment where the air is filtered to remove particles like dust and bacteria are removed from the air we breathe. It is a safer space for your employees to work in as there are fewer contaminants present.
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for monitoring air quality is paramount. As a result, the global particle counter market grew at a rate of 10% in 2021 and is projected to reach US$661 million by 2029.
Many businesses are currently exploring setting up cleanrooms, but the life sciences and medical devices segment is the primary revenue driver, contributing to 42% of the market.
If you are exploring the possibility of setting up a cleanroom for your business, you must understand different classifications of cleanrooms and the standards they need to comply with. By checking out verified online resources on cleanrooms and their types, you can make a better decision regarding the kind of cleanroom you currently need.
Cleanrooms are used in a variety of industries, and there are many benefits to having them. Below we have outlined five of the most important reasons why investing in a cleanroom makes business sense.
1. Risk Reduction
By investing in a cleanroom, you will be reducing the risk of contamination and cross-contamination. This is achieved through the use of HEPA filters that are installed at the point of entry.
This ensures all air entering the cleanroom is filtered for particles and contaminants. Inside your cleanroom, you can isolate different departments or workstations to prevent any chance of spreading germs or bacteria from one area to another.
Cleanrooms also reduce the risk of spreading viruses by isolating them using UV lighting and air sterilization. People will remain safe from any type of illness transmitted by other people’s bodily fluids like sweat when working inside a cleanroom environment.
2. Flexibility
In addition to being a great way to reduce costs, cleanroom applications like modular cleanrooms are also flexible.
The size and design of your application can be tailored to meet your needs, whether that means covering one room or an entire building.
You can choose the location for your cleanroom. It can be installed in your office building or on-site at a manufacturing facility. You can use it however you see fit. It can be a research lab or a testing facility.
Cleanrooms-on-demand is a concept you can think of if cost is a key constraint, though the industry is currently in a nascent stage. Recently Azzur Group tied up with Moderna to rent COD services across the US. It allows companies to pivot fast as it allows them to get a cleanroom whenever one is needed, and when the need for one is gone, it is returned to the renting company.
For example, for a short product run, 500 square feet of space can be utilized for building two modular cleanrooms, one each for product development and packaging.
3. Cost Savings
By incorporating a cleanroom into your facility, you’ll be able to reduce the need for cleaning staff and chemicals, which will save money in the long run.
Cleanrooms require fewer cleaning products like vacuums and sterilizing equipment. Your cleaning staff will only have to maintain the cleanroom as the deposition of particulate dust will be significantly reduced, and it will be almost negligible.
Reduction in maintenance costs happens due to design characteristics. The open space allows for easy cleaning. The usage of high-quality materials like stainless steel ensures surfaces are resistant to corrosion and prevent rusting.
4. Quality Control
Cleanrooms serve as a quality control mechanism, keeping your products safe and consistent. In addition, they provide an extra layer of protection against contamination to ensure that the product is delivered to customers without damage or is exposed to any potential contaminants.
Thanks to the HEPA filters, the majority, almost 99.97%, of air contaminants, including dust, pollen, bacteria, and other airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns, can be removed. HEPA is short for High Energy Particulate Air filter, as defined officially by the U.S. Dept of Energy.
The efficiency of these HEPA filters is measured by MERV rating. Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERVs, are a measure of the ability of a HEPA filter to capture particles between 0.3 and 10 microns. The average particle size efficiency in microns is used to calculate the MERV for any filter.
5. Efficiency
A cleanroom can help your business by improving efficiency. A good example of this is that it reduces the time spent on cleaning. Some studies have shown that a cleanroom can reduce the time spent on cleaning by up to 70%.
This happens because time spent on routine tasks like inspections reduces, which in turn frees up the schedule for your team to focus on other important tasks.
We hope we were able to illustrate the advantages of a cleanroom well in the above article. To summarise, by investing in a cleanroom, you not only get the benefit of improving quality and production speed but also reduce costs through less waste and less use of chemicals.
Before you decide to go ahead with a cleanroom, do research on which model suits your business the best and whether it is scalable and flexible. Your business requirements are best known by you, so make sure you are involved in all the key meetings with the cleanroom service provider to ensure your cleanroom can cater to your business needs in the most optimum way possible.
