All You Need to Know about the Construction of a Cleanroom

As you are reading this article right now, we think it would be fair to assume that you already know exactly what a cleanroom is. However, just in case you stumbled upon this little guide and are now intrigued by the prospect, a cleanroom is a working environment with a particularly low level of everyday pollutants, such as chemical vapours, airborne microbes and even dust.

You will usually find cleanrooms in buildings dedicated to scientific research or manufacturing, as they tend to be the only industries which would need an environment so free of contamination.

So, if you are thinking about getting a cleanroom constructed within the confines of your facility, here are all the facts that we deem necessary to know – read up and get informed!

Does the Method of Construction Matter?

To put it simply – yes. As with most things in life, there are a number of choices to be made when you are constructing a cleanroom. If you want the absolute best value, you will want the cleanroom to be designed to suit your needs perfectly, and you will want it to be as cost-effective as possible.

Also, when you are planning the design, if you are working with a third party on the construction, talk to them and ensure that your new cleanroom will meet or exceed all current certification requirements.

Are There Different Methods of Cleanroom Construction?

Usually, broadly speaking, there are only two different major construction options. As the facility manager, you will have to choose – do you want a standard or a modular construction?

The standard construction will be cheaper, as it is the same all over – it uses more common building materials (like drywall) to build the walls and ceilings, and these are covered with either fiberglass or PVC.

Modular is a more bespoke option – you can choose your own configuration from a number of different modular components. This allows you to choose exactly what you want, and it can be put together quickly and easily.

There is a third option: prefab. Using this method, the cleanroom will be assembled offsite; this allows for minimum disruption, but is otherwise almost the same as the standard variety.

What Are the Major Differences?

You can (and should) get in contact with a specialist company, such as BES, to find out exactly what is offered by the various types of cleanroom, but here is a quick run-down.

Modular cleanrooms have a number of different advantages, but the main one is in knowing exactly what you are going to receive. Although it can be more expensive on paper, using the modular components reduces the amount of time needed for design and architecture, which could in fact save you money overall.

Standard cleanrooms do tend to be cheaper in terms of pure product cost, but they will take anywhere up to 40% longer to construct, so the ball is in your court to decide which method you wish to plump for.