Hardwall Modular Cleanrooms

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.

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:

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. ISO 14644-3: Offers guidance on the selection and use of air-cleaning equipment in cleanrooms, including HEPA, ULPA and MERV filters.
4. ISO 14644-4: Provides guidance on the design, construction, and start-up of cleanroom facilities.
5. ISO 14644-5: Offers guidance on the operational aspects of cleanrooms, including cleaning, disinfection, and personnel training.
6. ISO 14644-6: Offers guidance on the use of airborne particle counters for the classification of cleanrooms.
7. ISO 14644-7: Provides guidance on the requirements for secondary devices, such as laminar flow cabinets, used in cleanrooms.
8. 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:

1. IEST-RP-CC001.6: Provides guidance on the classification of cleanrooms based on the concentration of airborne particles, in accordance with ISO 14664-1.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. IEST-RP-CC004.3: Offers guidance on the operation and maintenance of cleanrooms, including cleaning procedures, equipment maintenance, and personnel training.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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).
4. 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.
5. 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. 

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.

Learn More: Hardwall Modular Cleanrooms

Terra’s Manufacturing Capabilities

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.