5 tips for choosing cleanroom doors

Well-designed and efficient door solutions are therefore essential, to help to keep operations running smoothly and deliver long-term functionality and efficiency in these sensitive zones.

The cleanroom: High safety and hygiene requirements

In industries including pharmaceuticals, research institutions and electrical and semiconductor production, working in cleanrooms is a daily occurrence. These special environments need to be isolated from influences such as draughts, fluctuating room humidity, dust, dirt and particles, and the installation of safe and functional door solutions serves to create airtight, easy-to-use access to the highly sensitive locations.

In order to ensure the uniform quality of cleanrooms, the separate areas are divided into different cleanroom classes. Among other things, the international standards for cleanrooms define the air quality and detail the respective hygiene requirements for each individual cleanroom class. Cleanroom doors from ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems meet these standards and guidelines and are certified according to the classification by the Fraunhofer Institute, one of the world's leading research institutes.

In addition to their high opening and closing speed, reliable safety devices and complex seals, these special doors can be connected to external systems that constantly monitor the cleanroom climate.

No compromises: 5 key points for selecting the right cleanroom door solution

1. When selecting and planning your cleanroom door solution, the focus should always be on maximum functionality, both now and for the long term. Features such as leakage prevention, maintenance of hygiene regulations and pressure resistance should be a given as well as an efficient opening and closing process and high-quality workmanship.
2. If the door is used in a cleanroom (according to ISO 14644 or GMP), the door must also have appropriate certifications. Non-certified products can cause problems with the compliance of the cleanroom or, in the worst case, even cause contamination due to high leakage or particle emissions.
3. High-quality cleanroom doors should be manufactured in stainless steel so that particles do not adhere well. The smooth surfaces can then simply be treated regularly with commercially available cleaners and disinfectants to maintain cleanliness.
4. In addition, cleanroom doors should have a high opening and closing speed (min. 2.0 m/s opening speed). This reduces the pressure loss during each cycle and helps to minimise the penetration of draughts, which could impair the sensitive indoor climate in the cleanroom. It also means less energy is required to restore conditions after the doors have opened, improving energy efficiency.
5. The colour of the doors is more of an aesthetic than a functional issue but it does need to be clarified before ordering. Since most cleanrooms are designed to be white, the door curtains of the cleanroom doors are usually also made of white PVC material with a transparent part. This increases both the safety standard, as you can see through the door leaf, and allows light to enter. If colour is to be used as a design element in the cleanroom, it is possible to manufacture cleanroom doors in different colours based on RAL codes.

Considerations when installing in cleanroom environments

Attempting to install cleanroom doors while the cleanroom is in operation not only involves considerable extra effort but is also likely to result in contamination. Therefore, ideally, you should plan ‘shutdown’ phases for the duration of the assembly work.

By forward-planning and adhering to a well-thought-out schedule of work, it’s possible to minimise the duration of the shutdown and ensure that the doors are ready for use quickly. Communicating requirements early is key in helping to ensure a smooth assembly process so give detailed instructions for the activation and additional protection of the gates, as well as any desired airlock functions, in good time. An important part of the fitting process also involves connecting the power supply to ensure the cabling through the cleanroom walls or via the cleanroom ceiling is as invisible as possible and this can cause considerable disruption.

If you are planning on adding a skirting board to your door solution, this element should only be installed after the door has been fitted and an on-site service provider must seal the doors in order to achieve a perfect finish. Bear in mind also that where cladding must be dismantled for maintenance purposes it may also be necessary to remove joints and skirting boards. When selecting such elements, you should therefore always take into account the additional maintenance required in the future.

Installing the ideal cleanroom door solution

In summary, there are five things to consider when it comes to installing the right door solution in your cleanroom zone:

- Plan ahead – especially when it comes to installation and power cabling.

- For long-term quality assurance, choose products with cleanroom certification.

- Choose a stainless steel construction for easy and effective cleaning.

- High opening and closing speed will minimise pressure loss and draughts.

- Choice of colours for door construction ensures both safety and aesthetic standards are met.