Cleanrooms
The Construction Quality Improvement Collaborative (CQIC) define the primary use of cleanrooms as
'The primary use for cleanrooms is to limit contamination from dust, vapour, microbes, fibres, or other biological hazards. Cleanroom systems can also be used to regulate temperature, humidity, airflow, filtration, and pressure. They have complex systems to achieve these requirements which are time consuming and expensive to set up, commission and calibrate. Going back into a cleanroom facility to rectify defects would have severe consequences for the environment and consequently the processes, which are carried out in them, would have to stop. This would have enormous repercussions for the operator of the facility.'
As such the CQIC further describe the 4 stages of developing a cleanroom below.
'Planning, planning, planning! Cleanrooms take years to plan and the designs for these are agreed upon long before a piece of steel is installed, or a brick is laid. There is a strict process for cleanroom construction which is the Qualification Process. This process is made up of 4 stages and these should be followed strictly with work not being allowed to move to the next stage until the one before it has been completed and validated by competent professionals experienced in this field of work.'
The 4 stages are:
- Design Qualification – This is the first and most important stage in the whole process. In this stage, there will be a requirement to provide proof that the design of the cleanroom and all its component parts is compliant with regulatory requirements and the process needs. To ensure that no errors are allowed to pass this stage the designs are reviewed and approved to then allow materials and products to be procured for the cleanroom build.
- Installation Qualification – In this stage, the installation is checked to ensure that what was signed off at the design stage is exactly what was built on site. If the approved design drawing required 10 sockets to be installed in a room at a certain height and spacing centre, then this is what will be checked against to ensure that is what has been installed. Again, the purpose of this stage, like all of the others, is built on evidence to prove that the installation is compliant and confirms that the installed cleanroom is consistent with what was specified. There can be no deviation and those charged with doing the work are aware that this is the case.
- Operational Qualification – means showing it works as intended in all respects. This could be in the form of a door opening and closing, a ventilation fan running or a piece of equipment operating. The evidence of this operational check is recorded to allow the process to move into the final step.
- Performance Qualification – As with all of the earlier steps, the proving of these items isn’t in the form of testing but relies on showing (which is a fundamental of auditing – you could argue that each stage of the qualification is audited before the next stage is allowed to progress with any corrective actions being rectified before moving on). This stage means showing that the cleanroom delivers the overall desired performance together in an operating state when integrated with all other elements of the build from air-locks, EMS (environmental monitoring systems), lighting and pressure cascade (either positive or negative).
This article is based on the text from the article A Cleanroom Approach published in 2024 by the Construction Quality Improvement Collaborative (CQIC)
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Deleterious materials.
- Designing to reduce the chemical, biological and radiological vulnerability of new buildings (IP 7/15).
- Disposal.
- Hazardous substances.
- Health and safety.
- Method statement.
- Occupational health.
- Personal protective equipment.
- Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990.
- Pollution.
- Risk assessment.
- Sterile touch points.
- Volatile organic compounds.
- Workplace exposure limits.
Featured articles and news
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.