Cleanrooms are critical environments designed to maintain low levels of particulates, microorganisms and other contaminants. They serve essential roles across industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, electronics manufacturing and healthcare. Whether you’re producing life-saving medications or microchips, even microscopic particles can cause catastrophic failures.
Therefore, to achieve the required air purity standards, HVAC systems in cleanrooms must incorporate advanced air filtration solutions. Additionally, as sustainability becomes a central focus globally, the cleanroom industry is exploring innovative ways to balance high-performance filtration with environmental responsibility.
The Importance of HVAC Filtration in Cleanrooms
Cleanrooms operate under strict environmental controls to ensure product quality, regulatory compliance and personnel safety. Key components affecting air quality in a cleanroom include airflow management for contaminant control, pressure differentials to prevent contamination between the cleanroom and surrounding areas, and the air-change rate (ACR).
Management of airflow uniformity is vital in cleaning pockets of air where particulates may have accumulated in greater amounts. Airflow uniformity refers to the consistent flow of filtered air in one direction, typically in a vertical flow. The ACR is the number of times in a 60-minute period that filtered air is recirculated within the cleanroom. Cleanroom ACR is dependent on factors such as size and usage, so it can range from 10 to 600 times in a 60-minute period.
Of course, air filters play a significant role in maintaining contaminant-free cleanrooms. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can capture a minimum of 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, making them ideal for cleanroom air management. Ultra-low penetration air (ULPA) filters remove 99.999% of particles down to 0.12 microns, offering an additional layer of protection for the most critical environments. Air filtration experts often recommend a multi-stage filtration system that includes minimum efficiency reporting value with Appendix J (MERV A) 13A filters and HEPA filters to ensure a high level of contamination control.
International Cleanroom Standard
ISO 14644-1 is an international standard that classifies the cleanliness of air in cleanrooms and controlled environments based on the concentration of airborne particles. This standard defines the classification of cleanrooms by particle concentration, using units of particles per cubic meter. Classifications range from ISO Class 1 (the cleanest) to ISO Class 9 (the least clean). For example, natural air in a typical urban environment contains about 35 million particles that are .5 microns or larger in size, per cubic meter. Air of this quality would be allowed in an ISO class 9 environment. In an ISO class 1 environment, there must be 0 particles of .5 microns or larger and only 12 particles of .3 microns and smaller, per cubic meter.
This standard was first published in 1999 and revised in 2015. In 2001, the international ISO 14644-1 standard officially superseded the Federal Standard 209E, which was widely used in the U.S.
ASHRAE Cleanroom Design Guidance
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) publishes a design guide for cleanrooms. While absolute non-contamination is unattainable, cleanrooms can be engineered, managed and maintained to meet precise indoor air cleanliness standards tailored to specific process needs.
The ASHRAE Design Guide for Cleanrooms provides an in-depth resource on cleanroom concepts, fundamentals, performance control strategies, testing methods and industrial applications. Designed for accessibility, it serves as a technical reference for cleanroom designers, builders, owners and operators.
Solutions for Sustainable Air Filtration
Balancing sustainability with cleanroom requirements poses unique challenges because, despite the importance of high-performance air filtration, it comes at a cost—energy consumption. Over time, as air filters collect particles, their resistance increases, placing additional strain on the HVAC system.
Innovations in filter technology help to tackle these challenges. These advanced filters feature longer lifespans and are designed to reduce pressure drop, enabling efficient airflow and lowering energy costs while ensuring clean air quality.
In addition, cleanrooms rely on multi-stage HVAC systems to meet stringent air quality requirements. These systems use a tiered filtration approach, with pre-filters serving as the first line of defense. Pre-filters capture larger particulates before air reaches the more efficient secondary and final filters, such as HEPA and ULPA filters.
By intercepting large contaminants early, pre-filters reduce the workload on downstream filters, which are designed to capture ultra-fine particles. Protecting these high-efficiency filters from excessive exposure to larger particulates is critical, as clogging or damage can compromise their performance, shorten their lifespan, and lead to more frequent replacements—resulting in higher operational costs and increased downtime.
Pre-filtration is essential for extending the life of high-quality filters, minimizing maintenance expenses, and ensuring the smooth operation of HVAC systems. By safeguarding downstream filters, pre-filters also help maintain consistent airflow, enhance overall system performance, and reduce energy consumption.
Camfil’s Commitment to Cleanroom Excellence
Camfil’s cleanroom filtration solutions are designed to combine cutting-edge technology, durability and energy efficiency. In particular, Camfil’s Megalam ES and Absolute VG air filters stand out for their ability to ensure air quality that meets or exceeds industry requirements while optimizing operational costs.
Camfil’s Megalam ES HEPA panel filters offer a long lifespan while maintaining airflow and efficiency. These filters are engineered to reduce airflow resistance and pressure drop, which lowers energy consumption and enables facilities to maintain clean air without excessive operational costs. They are made with durable ePTFE media, are resistant to damage during shipping and installation, reducing the risk of compromised filters and avoiding costly downtime.
Camfil’s Absolute VG V-bank style HEPA filters feature advanced media designed to achieve high-efficiency particulate capture while minimizing airflow resistance. This design reduces the strain on HVAC systems, enabling facilities to meet stringent air quality standards for regulatory compliance while keeping energy consumption and costs under control.
With an extended service life, Absolute VG air filters further enhance energy efficiency by decreasing the need for frequent replacements. This not only reduces operational costs but also minimizes interruptions to production. Their ability to maintain superior filtration performance over time makes them an ideal choice for cleanroom environments where reliable HEPA filtration is essential.
The Future of Cleanroom Air Filtration
As industries grow increasingly reliant on cleanroom environments, the demand for reliable energy-efficient and reliable air filtration solutions will escalate. Camfil is leading the charge by continually refining its products to address emerging challenges. With a focus on sustainability, Camfil ensures that future offerings will not only enhance air quality but also align with environmental and energy-saving goals.
For more information about Camfil’s high-efficiency air filtration solutions, visit https://www.camfil.com/en-us/.
¹ Providing a more effective cleanroom air filtration strategy, https://cleanair.camfil.us/2016/11/11/air-filtration-update-from-camfil-usa-federal-guidelines-for-cleanrooms-may-help-provide-a-more-effective-air-filtration-strategy/
² ISO 14644-1:2015, Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments, https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:14644:-1:ed-2:v1:en
³ A Look Inside Life Science Cleanrooms, https://cleanair.camfil.us/2016/09/12/a-look-inside-life-science-cleanrooms-by-air-filtration-leader-camfil-usa/
⁴ ASHRAE Design Guide for Cleanrooms, https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/bookstore/ashrae-design-guide-for-cleanrooms
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