Hardwall modular cleanrooms provide a completely enclosed, rigid free-standing structure with vents to exhaust air. Terra Universal fabricates the framing from powder-coated or stainless steel; wall panels are available in clear acrylic, static-dissipative PVC, polycarbonate and tempered glass, as well as opaque white polypropylene.
Because they can be specified, built and installed in a fraction of the time associated with brick-and-mortar clean rooms, modular hardwall rooms are ideal for fast ramp-up projects or short production cycles that may not merit the expense and delay of a conventional room.
Why should I choose a hardwall clean room over a softwall clean room?
Hardwall clean rooms can maintain pressure differentials, which may be required to meet certain standards for cleanliness (ISO 5 or 6, as well as USP compounding regulations). Their wall panels are more durable and easier to clean than softwall panels or curtains.
Hardwall construction also allows temperature and humidity control, which is enhanced in a recirculating clean room design using vertical air returns in conjunction with A/C units. Unlike softwall designs, hardwall cleanrooms can provide negative-pressure containment.
What modifications are required for a containment clean room application?
A negative-pressure containment room must pull more air out than it introduces through ceiling fan/filter units. Air is typically exhausted through ductwork tied to a ventilation fan.
Ductwork most often runs along the bottom perimeter of the clean room and draws air from multiple locations along the room perimeter to minimize disruption to laminar flow. The ventilation fan mounts on the floor outside the cleanroom, or ductwork may pass exhaust upward to a roof-mounted fan. In order to maintain negative pressure, this fan must be capable of pulling about 30% more air than the HEPA filters introduce.
Depending on the application, a containment room may require exit filtration: either HEPA/ULPA filters for particles and aerosols, and/or carbon filters to remove chemical fumes.
Can a hardwall clean room accommodate multiple production suites?
Internal walls and careful positioning of ceiling Fan/Filter Units (FFU) allows you to configure a facility with many rooms, each operating at a different ISO cleanliness level. Some points to keep in mind:
Clean room requirements typically specify a pressure differential between 0.025 – 0.05”WC between adjoining rooms of differing ISO classifications. Terra’s Smart Control Systems simplify this task by allowing FFU speed adjustment from a central control panel.
Certification of multi-room facilities often requires logging of pressure levels, which correlate to cleanliness and (in a containment application) environmental safety. Smart Controls are available with automated data logging that helps meet this requirement.
Smart Controls also provide automated end-of-shift set-back mode, which saves energy without compromising clean room integrity.
What other environment controls or protections can hardwall cleanrooms provide?
Beside controlling particulate contamination and internal positive or negative pressure, hardwall cleanrooms are available to meet these special requirements:
Static Control: select static-dissipative PVC panels for optimal protection against electro-static discharge. Ceiling-mount ionizing bars neutralize charges on workstations. Eliminating surface charge build-ups also removes “static cling” that attracts and holds airborne particles.
Temperature: in addition to module A/C units, Terra also provides insulated hardwall panels to enhance thermal stability. For improved thermal efficiency, select a double-wall BioSafe Clean Room.
Relative Humidity: Terra offer desiccant-based dehumidification modules as well as ultrasonic humidifiers.
Fire and Explosion Resistance: Call to discuss requirements for NEMA Class I, Division 1 explosion-proof FFUs, lights and wiring, available on any Terra clean room. Terra also provides fire-safe wall and ceiling panels that meet FM 4910 Clean Room Materials Flammability Test Protocol for flame spread, smoke contamination and resistance to corrosives.
Microbial Control: UV germicidal lights with an occupancy-sensor safety cut-off help maintain sterile conditions in bio/pharmaceutical clean rooms.
Vapor and Particle Removal: Reverse-flow FFUs capture particles generated in localized cleanroom spaces to minimize contamination. Vapor removal FFUs eliminate trace amounts of VOCs from make-up air to prevent chemical fume contamination.
Energy-Efficiency Compliance: Terra helps meet Title 24 and other energy-efficiency requirements through use of EC motors, LED lighting and other low-energy devices.
ADA Compliance: Call for information on ADA-compliant access ramps, doors and controls.
Terra manufactures five distinct cleanroom designs. Each design is ideal for different user requirements, based on ISO rating and environmental controls, for medical device, semiconductor, defense, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and aerospace applications. As a pioneer in the critical environment industry, Terra Universal has developed and manufactured innovative solutions for over 45 years. Combining high-throughput, automated fabrication equipment with a robust, active stock of raw material, Terra is capable of producing cleanrooms of any design, size, scope and complexity at industry-leading build times. In the past 6 years, we have installed 2,132 cleanrooms, based on Terra’s scope, in active operation across the globe.
Class ISO 146144-1 (Federal Standard 209E)
Average Airflow Velocity m/s (ft/min)
Air Changes Per Hour
Ceiling Coverage
Application
Terra Cleanroom Design
ISO 8 (Class 100,000)
0.005 – 0.041 (1 – 8)
5 – 48
5 – 15%
Automotive Environmental Research Food Manufacturing
Cleanrooms for Aerospace, Defense, Electronics and Semiconductor Development and Manufacturing
Cleanrooms designed for aerospace, defense and semiconductor development and manufacturing must meet standards set forth by the International Organization of Standards (ISO). These standards provide a common framework for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of cleanrooms and help to ensure that cleanroom performance is consistent across different industries and regions.
There are several ISO cleanroom standards, each of which specifies requirements for different aspects of cleanroom design and operation. The most commonly used standards are:
ISO 14644-1: Specifies the classification of air cleanliness in cleanrooms based on the concentration of airborne particles at different particle sizes. The standard defines nine cleanliness classes, ranging from ISO Class 1 (the cleanest) to ISO Class 9 (the least clean).
ISO 14644-2: Defines the testing and monitoring methods used to measure the particle count in cleanrooms and provides guidance on how to interpret the results.
ISO 14644-3: Offers guidance on the selection and use of air-cleaning equipment in cleanrooms, including HEPA, ULPA and MERV filters.
ISO 14644-4: Provides guidance on the design, construction, and start-up of cleanroom facilities.
ISO 14644-5: Offers guidance on the operational aspects of cleanrooms, including cleaning, disinfection, and personnel training.
ISO 14644-6: Offers guidance on the use of airborne particle counters for the classification of cleanrooms.
ISO 14644-7: Provides guidance on the requirements for secondary devices, such as laminar flow cabinets, used in cleanrooms.
ISO 14644-8: Provides guidance on the classification and testing of cleanroom clean-in-place (CIP) systems.
In addition to the standards published by the International Organization of Standards (ISO), cleanrooms built for aerospace, defense, electronics and semiconductor applications must adhere to supplemental requirements set forth by the IEST.
The Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) is a professional organization that develops standards and guidelines for cleanrooms and other controlled environments. The IEST has developed a set of cleanroom standards that complement and expand upon the ISO cleanroom standards. The IEST cleanroom standards cover a wide range of topics related to cleanroom design, operation, and maintenance. Some of the key IEST cleanroom standards include:
IEST-RP-CC001.6: Provides guidance on the classification of cleanrooms based on the concentration of airborne particles, in accordance with ISO 14664-1.
IEST-RP-CC002.4: Provides guidance on the testing and monitoring of cleanrooms and anterooms, including methods for measuring airborne particles, surface particles, and microbial contamination.
IEST-RP-CC003.4: Offers guidance on the design, construction, and start-up of cleanrooms, including the selection and installation of air filtration systems, lighting, and flooring.
IEST-RP-CC004.3: Offers guidance on the operation and maintenance of cleanrooms, including cleaning procedures, equipment maintenance, and personnel training.
IEST-RP-CC006.3: Provides guidance on the design and construction of cleanroom facilities, including the selection of building materials, HVAC systems, and utilities, including plumbing, electrical and waste disposal.
IEST-RP-CC007.2: Provides guidance on the testing and certification of cleanrooms and cleanroom equipment, including the qualifications required for personnel who perform the testing.
IEST-RP-CC034.2: Offers guidance on the use of ionizing radiation to control microbial contamination in cleanrooms.
ISO-rated and IEST-compliant cleanrooms are classified based on the maximum allowable particles per cubic meter of air. The classification system is based on the ISO-14644-1 standard. Some common features of ISO-rated cleanrooms include:
Air Filtration: ISO cleanrooms use HEPA or ULPA filters to remove airborne particles from the air entering the cleanroom. ISO-rated cleanrooms are designed to protect the products, or components, from cross-contamination, rather than protecting the operators or outside environment from exposure to harmful agents.
Positive Pressure: ISO and IEST-rated cleanrooms maintain positive air pressure differentials between the cleanroom environment and adjacent spaces, protecting the cleanroom from an influx of contaminants.
Lighting: ISO-rated cleanroom must include energy-efficient LED lights, with flush-mount covers for easy disinfection. While many ISO-rated spaces are equipped with white LED lighting, certain applications, such as photolithography or aerospace system assembly, require red or amber LED lighting (to prevent degradation of light-sensitive products).
Surface Materials: ISO and IEST-compliant cleanrooms must be manufactured from chemical-resistant, aseptic materials capable of withstanding frequent cleaning with common ISO-grade disinfectants, like 70% IPA and 20% bleach solutions. Certain applications, like photolithography and aerospace assembly, require specialized wall panels, such as light-resistant amber acrylic and static-dissipative PVC.
Environmental Monitoring and Control: ISO and IEST cleanrooms must include monitoring systems to control temperature, humidity and pressure. Certain applications, such as semiconductor fabrication, must include particle counters and static-control systems, like ionization modules. The monitoring systems must include audible and visual alarms and remote access through a mobile app for 24 hours surveillance.Â
Terra’s Design for Aerospace, Defense, Electronics, and Semiconductor Industries: Hardwall Modular Cleanrooms
Terra’s hardwall modular cleanrooms provide a completely enclosed, rigid freestanding structure with positive pressure air exhaust vents. The ASTM-rated powder-coated steel frame supports a ceiling grid and a wide selection of wall panels, including static-dissipative PVC, thermal-resistant polycarbonate, high-clarity tempered glass, clear acrylic, or chemical resistant polypropylene. Hardwall modular rooms maintain defined pressure differentials through HEPA-or ULPA-filtered fan units installed in the ceiling grid to remove contaminants from incoming air. Terra’s hardwall modular cleanrooms feature static control, through ceiling mounted ionizers, and temperature control, through modular air conditioning systems. UL-listed cleanroom monitoring systems provide real-time outputs of environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, particle counts and static levels. For title 24 compliance, energy-efficient filter fan units, LED lighting, and night mode settings are available.
Terra builds and installs over 500 cleanrooms per year, on average. All cleanroom components are pre-engineered, quality control tested, and stocked for quick integration and assembly. In addition to product manufacturing, Terra offers a wide range of value-add services, including white glove delivery, cleanroom installation, structural seismic analysis, expedited production, qualification documentation and extended warranties. Order-specific certificates of compliance, listing each product’s adherence to ISO, UL, OSHA and seismic standards, are supplied with every qualifying sale. The leader in critical environment solutions, Terra also manufactures laminar flow hoods, desiccator cabinets, glove box isolators, pass through chambers, and a broad array of cleanroom-compliant furniture, storage and gowning equipment. To determine the appropriate ISO rating, room design and configuration for your project; please call 714-578-6100 to consult with a Terra cleanroom professional.
Terra's modular designs allow versatile configurations using standard components, whether you need a small equipment enclosure or a multi-suite processing facility
Versatile plug-and-play Power Distribution Modules allow addition of ceiling fan/filter units and lights to meet any cleanliness requirement or to upgrade ISO levels or lighting levels after installation
Modular frame and panel designs, in several application-specific materials, adapt to any floor plan requirement
Automated fan controls simplify pressure balancing, Building Management System (BMS) integration, and certification of large, multi-suite facilities
Stand-alone A/C modules or integration with existing air handling system
Consultation services available to meet industry-specific regulations, such as USP 797/800 compounding requirements
Terra’s full engineering services adapt designs to accommodate unique equipment or facility integration challenges
Call or submit a QuickQuote Form for assistance with a modular cleanroom tailor-made to your application!
Pre-Fabricated ValuLine Hardwall Cleanroom
Pre-engineered ValuLine Cleanrooms cut costs without compromising performance; available in ISO 7 and ISO 8 compliant designs, with acrylic or static-dissipative PVC wall panels
Adjustable Exhaust Vents
Adjustable IsoVents help control internal pressure to meet ISO regulations and maintain cascading pressure differentials.
In Stock Pre-Fabricated Cleanroom Components
Since each pre-fabricated cleanroom component is tested and stocked, room pre-assembly is no longer required. Our lead times consist solely of the time it takes draw, package and ship the components to you.
Optional Raised Flooring
Raised flooring is ideal for cleanroom classifications below ISO 5 to optimize vertical laminar fow.
Interchangeable Panels for Quick Install
Wall panels are mounted by clean and attractive mirror-finished stainless steel L-brackets that clamp the panel in place, creating a showcase cleanroom and allowing panel change-out in minutes, with no special tools.
Standard panel include pressure gauge, on/off and night switches; security system adds access restriction; automated fan system monitors and controls fan speed, pressure, temperature and RH.
Multi-Suite Hardwall Modular Cleanroom
Economical modular construction is ideal for multiple cleanroom suites with cascading pressures and ISO cleanliness levels. Rigid steel frame supports sections up to 30 feet wide without internal support columns or ceiling suspension cables.
Insulated Cleanrooms
Insulated Hardwall Cleanroom includes rigid foam insulation sealed between dual polypropylene panels to provide better temperature stability in temperature-controlled operations.
UV-C Germicidal Lamp installs on a cleanroom ceiling grid for line-of-sight room disinfection; safety occupancy sensor prevents personnel exposure.
Custom Work is Standard!
Modular designs allow versatile configurations tailored to your requirements. Terra's design and fabrication capabilities accommodate unique facility challenges.
Cleanroom Power Distribution Diagram
Terra’s Power Distribution Modules (PDM's) drastically simplify connection of FFUs, lights, and control panels. They also allow room for growth. FFUs and lights use quick-connect fittings so they can be added at any time to existing PDMs, without the need for an electrician or hard-wiring.
Seismic Safe Cleanroom Design
Terra’s modular cleanrooms are designed with seismic safety in mind. Rigid steel frames and ceiling grids are designed with sufficient factors of safety to provide vertical and lateral strength recommended by professional engineers. Both hardwall and softwall designs can be installed to adhere to local seismic codes. Optional seismic and structural calculations can be drafted and stamped by a licensed PE to help meet municipal permitting requirements.
Cleanroom Air Conditioning Module
Cleanroom AC modules, available in several capacities with deumidification capability, ensure comfort and productivity of garbed cleanroom personnel.
Pre-Designed Hardwall Cleanrooms
Cleanroom ISO Class Chart
Custom 3-Room Suite for Optical Assembly
Custom 3-Room Suite for Optical Assembly
Custom 3-Room Suite for Optical Assembly
Custom 3-Wall Cleanroom for Medical Device Manufacturing
Custom 3-Wall Cleanroom for Medical Device Manufacturing
Custom 3-Wall Cleanroom for Medical Device Manufacturing
On-Site Hardwall Cleanroom Installation
Terra Universal IQ-OQ Process
Static Dissipative Sheet Benefits
Extra Tall Class 1,000 Modular Cleanroom for Electronics Assembly
Terra's cleanroom designs meet the entire range of ISO 14644-1 standardsCleanroom ISO Class ChartTerra's cleanroom designs meet the entire range of ISO 14644-1 standards
Terra's cleanroom ceiling grid design can support wide spans, allowing for large open spaces in critical production areas. | 6600-73A displayedCustom 3-Room Suite for Optical Assembly
This cleanroom suite included an ISO 7 gowning room and two ISO 6 cleanrooms for processing sensitive components. | 6600-73A displayedCustom 3-Room Suite for Optical Assembly
The 8'-high walls (9'-3" including the top trim) leave just enough space for the fan filter units to operate under the drop ceiling. | 6600-73A displayedCustom 3-Room Suite for Optical Assembly
This custom 3-sided hardwall cleanroom was designed to be anchored to an existing wall in the facility. | 6600-73A displayedCustom 3-Wall Cleanroom for Medical Device Manufacturing
The sliding doors make entry and exit a smoother experience, especially when rolling carts through the doorway. | 6600-73A displayedCustom 3-Wall Cleanroom for Medical Device Manufacturing
White polypropylene lower panels provide some privacy while allowing natural light through the static-dissipative PVC upper panels. | 6600-73A displayedCustom 3-Wall Cleanroom for Medical Device Manufacturing
Design, manufacture and assembly of 5000 square-foot modular cleanroomOn-Site Hardwall Cleanroom InstallationVideo showing installation of a 5000-square-foot hardwall modular cleanroom at a customer site. The room is factory designed, manufactured and tested, then shipped overseas to install.
This video describes the IQ/OQ process for Equipment and CleanroomsTerra Universal IQ-OQ ProcessThis video describes the IQ/OQ process for Equipment and Cleanrooms
The benefits of using static dissipative sheets in a short videoStatic Dissipative Sheet BenefitsDon't turn your clean enclosure into a particle magnet, how static dissipative sheets can prevent this.
Modular hardwall cleanroom, Extra-tall multi-suite design, Class 1,000 with recirculating air returns, 17’ high | 6600-64A displayedExtra Tall Class 1,000 Modular Cleanroom for Electronics AssemblyThis extra-tall modular cleanroom features cascading cleanliness classifications for each room ranging from Class 100,000 to Class 1,000. The vertical air returns mounted outside the room recirculate air to improve efficiency and lower operating costs.
Free-standing modular hardwall cleanroom, multi-suite floorplan, rigid powder-coated steel frame construction, 17’ high | 6600-68A displayedFree Standing Multi-Suite Modular Hardwall CleanroomLarge modular cleanrooms of this size have many benefits: flexibility for reorientation or expansion, lower cost, and more construction material choices (most brick-and-mortar rooms are composed of dry wall).
Modular hardwall cleanroom with multi-suite floorplan, 17’ high, for high-precision coil manufacturing and electronics assembly | 6600-68A displayedExtra Tall Multi-Suite Modular Cleanroom for Electronics AssemblyTerra’s versatile modular cleanroom frame and panel designs adapt to any floor plan requirement. The UL-rated and scalable plug-and-play power distribution system further simplifies installment of FFU's and lights to cleanrooms of any size.
Large multi-suite modular hardwall cleanroom; spacious floorplan with modesty wall panel design (opaque polypropylene and transparent polycarbonate, both chemic | 6600-68A displayedLarge Multi-Suite Modular Hardwall Cleanroom for Precision Coil ManufacturingTerra’s modular cleanroom design is ideal for multiple cleanroom suites with cascading pressures and ISO cleanliness levels. The rigid free-standing steel frame allows for tall, spacious interiors to move and position large equipment within the cleanroom.
Hardwall modular cleanrooms, shown with 10'-high economical acrylic wall panels, meet ISO 5 - 8 requirementsISO-Rated Hardwall Cleanroom with Acrylic Wall PanelsHardwall modular cleanrooms come in several application-specific materials, including these 10'-high economical acrylic wall panels mounted on a powder-coated steel frame.
Multi-room configurations with automated FFU controls automate compliance with ISO standards for cascading pressure gradientsHardwall Modular Cleanroom – Multi-Room ConfigurationMulti-room configurations with automated FFU controls automate compliance with ISO standards for cascading pressure gradients and particle counts.
Airlocks safeguard cleanrooms, preventing cross contamination during transfersWatch Terra's Video on Pharmaceutical Air Lock DesignsAirlocks are a crucial part of protecting your cleanroom from contamination while maintaining the required ISO rating. By preserving pressure differentials between adjoining rooms, air locks prevent cross contamination when personnel, materials and samples are transferred between contiguous spaces. The pressure cascade created from the gowning room to the personnel air lock to the ISO-rated cleanroom acts as a safeguard against the accidental influx of particles, dust and microbial contaminants.
Terra Universal’s modular hardwall cleanrooms convert any space into an ISO-compliant cleanroomHardwall Modular Cleanroom – Polycarbonate Wall PanelsTerra Universal’s modular hardwall cleanrooms convert any space into an ISO-compliant cleanroom; multi-suite configuration shown with polycarbonate panels.
ISO 7 multi-suite modular hardwall cleanroom with acrylic clear/opaque panels and air conditioning module.Modular Hardwall CleanroomHardwall modular cleanrooms provide an economical enclosure for ISO 5 - 8 requirements in semiconductor, medical, pharmaceutical, and other critical manufacturing processes.
Fire-resistant modular cleanroom with polypropylene wall panelsFire-Resistant Hardwall CleanroomModular Cleanroom with fire-resistant construction; available with steel or FM 4910 white polypropylene or clear CPVC panels. Explosion-proof HEPA fan/filter units and lights available.
Insulated ISO-Rated Hardwall Cleanroom with polypropylene panels | 6601-19 displayedInsulated ISO-Rated Hardwall Modular CleanroomInsulated Hardwall Cleanroom with polypropylene panels reduces energy costs and increases temperature stability.
Horizontal Hardwall Cleanrooms meet cleanliness standards to ISO 5 | 6604-12 displayedHorizontal Hardwall Cleanroom Polypropylene PanelsHorizontal Hardwall Cleanrooms meet cleanliness standards to ISO 5; ideal for height-restricted facilities (shown without front panel).
Terra’s modular cleanrooms accommodate tight space restrictions | 6600-64A displayedHardwall Modular CleanroomTerra’s modular cleanrooms are configured for tight spaces and accommodate posts, overhead obstructions and other floor plan restrictions.
This enclosure serves as the shop leader’s office on the production floor, offering reduced noise and climate controlModular Production Control RoomThis enclosure serves as the shop leader’s office on the production floor, offering reduced noise and climate control.
Static-dissipative PVC clean room modified to accommodate a thermal vacuum chamberThermal Vacuum Chamber EnclosureStatic-dissipative PVC hardwall clean room modified to accommodate utility drops and clearance requirements of a thermal vacuum chamber used to test micro-satellites.
Rigid foam insulation is sandwiched between two polypropylene panels to provide better temperature stability when used with climate control systems | 6601-19 displayedInsulated Hardwall CleanroomRigid foam insulation is sandwiched between two polypropylene panels to provide better temperature stability when used with climate control systems.
When floor space is limited, a lightweight modular cleanroom can be installed on top of an existing structure inside the facility (stairs not included)Mezzanine CleanroomWhen floor space is limited, a lightweight modular cleanroom can be installed on top of an existing structure inside the facility (stairs not included).
This video demonstrates benefits of a BioSafe cleanroom and the easy-clean feature of a tempered glass, including suitability for wash-down disinfection.
