Choosing Types of Cleanroom Doors
There are several types of cleanroom doors that we use in our builds. In this article, we lay out the common features that make a good cleanroom door, which support safety and cleanliness standards, before discussing the types of cleanroom doors and their different purposes. When we design cleanrooms, we pay attention to every detail, and doors are just one small part that help the whole work as it should.
Low Contamination Doors
In every cleanroom installation we complete, we prioritise low-contamination materials to support the aims of the specification. These are non-negotiable features of all cleanroom doors and are important to prevent particulate build-up and entry.
Seamless Surface
Cleanroom doors should be completely flat on both sides. This prevents dust and debris from settling in edges, such as around windows or push plates. It also removes steps from cleaning, as the doors can simply be wiped clean. This is essential to maintain the highest hygiene standards and save time during lengthy cleaning operations. The hinges and frame should be completely flush with the cleanroom walls, and glazing should be seamless.
Anti-Static Surface
Some plastics such as uPVC create a mild static charge, which can attract dirt, hairs and other small contaminants. Cleanroom doors must be made from Antistatic surfaces to keep a cleanroom’s hygiene as high as possible. This also applies to other surfaces such as work benches, cupboards and equipment.
Air-Tight Gaskets
Air pressure cascades are an important anti-contamination feature of cleanroom facilities. Maintaining the precise pressure levels in each zone requires strong seals around cleanroom doors. A hygienic door with a reliable gasket at 200Pa pressure is strong enough for ISO 7 cleanrooms, though it doesn’t stop airflow completely. Higher cleanroom specifications may require further features to improve air tightness, such as additional gaskets and hermetic seals.
Hands-Free Operation
Automatic opening for high-traffic cleanroom doors helps prevent cross-contamination as operatives can move between zones without touching doors. These require motion sensors and motors to trigger opening, and can be sliding doors as well as swing doors.
Staggered Opening
To slow traffic and airflow between low-risk and high-risk zones, we often install antechambers and gowning areas. These have two doors, programmed so that only one can open at a time. Staggered doors mean operatives must wait and move slowly between zones, enforcing good cleanroom practice, and that airflow between spaces is dramatically reduced.
Durable Doors
With the scale of investment involved in building a cleanroom, doors should last a long time. Durable features will reduce downtime and improve safety in your cleanroom facility.
Door Thickness
Shock-resistant doors that are at least 60mm thick provide strength and reliability that stand up to most industrial standards. Many cleanroom doors are made from aluminium, which won’t warp or bend over time. Consistent door shape makes for reliable seals.
Chemical and Corrosion-resistance
Daily cleaning with strong chemicals ensures proper cleanroom hygiene, but puts some restrictions on the materials we can work with. Cleanroom doors must be resistant to the chemical make-up of cleanroom-approved detergents, to avoid corrosion, reactions and deterioration of surfaces.
Cleanroom Security
High-risk spaces should not be open to all, and security and safety are key considerations in our designs. Choosing cleanroom doors involves considering both locks and materials, for both HSE and security purposes.
Locking Options
Doors should have manual and electronic locks in case of power supply failures. Our cleanroom projects often include security features such as card access systems to support access hierarchies.
Safety Glazing
Glazed doors must use shatterproof glass to prevent contamination by small shards or dust. Shatterproof safety glazing means that the window stays in place if it breaks, with no risk of scattered glass and particles entering the cleanroom.
Each Type of Cleanroom Door has a Purpose
In every cleanroom design and build, we use multiple door types to suit each area. There are distinct door set-ups for gown rooms, equipment transfer spaces and pass-throughs that place particular requirements on the doors we install.
Gown Room
Gown room doors are the most-used doors in any cleanroom. They are single doors built on a narrow frame to limit the amount of contaminated air passing into the cleanroom, and may be swing or sliding, depending on space requirements.
Equipment Transfer
To move large equipment in and out of cleanrooms, it’s important to have larger doors, despite the contamination risk. We can reduce the opening period significantly using high-speed doors.
Material Transfer
Airlocks for cleaning incoming materials prior to entering the cleanroom usually have large double doors or automatic roll-up doors. These allow space for palletised materials to enter via forklift or pallet truck, minimising the number of times the door is opened.
Access a Wide Range of Cleanroom Door Options with Our Designs
Trusted cleanroom companies will provide high-quality cleanroom doors that meet the best practices laid out in this article.
- It is important that doors are flat, antistatic and fitted with appropriate seals to maintain cleanliness.
- They must be durable and easy to clean, and their designs must minimise touching and opening as much as possible.
- Automatic doors and sliding doors are not strictly necessary, though they certainly help reduce touching and air disturbance, respectively.
The doors you choose for your cleanroom design will be determined by the space and budget available. Advice is on hand from our team at any time before, during and after your project.
