Controlled environments and cleanrooms have similarities, but the terms are not interchangeable. There are significant enough differences to impact how your project is engineered. We’ll explore controlled environment/cleanroom specifics and differences, including International Organization of Standardization (ISO) requirements.
WHAT IS A CLEANROOM?
Cleanrooms are controlled environments that are free of dust, microorganisms, mold, and other contaminants. They are classified per regulatory requirements as to the maximum number of acceptable particles in the air per cubic meter (there are nine classifications identified by ISO 14644-1). Particle size is also a major consideration. A cleanroom must be tested on a regular basis to ensure compliance with its exact classification.
