What are the differences?
What Do You Need?
How To Tell Them Apart And Make The Determination.
Both controlled environments and cleanrooms are segregated areas intentionally separated from the main facility in which they are located when a higher level of environmental control over the space needs to be consistently maintained. Both can be used for assembly work, manufacturing, storage, shipping, R&D, or other activities. Both have internal environments controlled and monitored for temperature, humidity, air pressurization, air flow, particle count, particle size and particle type.
The important difference between the two hinges on who sets and verifies the environmental performance of the space - the operator or a separate outside industry-based standard, a regulatory agency or other governmental entity?
A controlled environment's performance parameters are set by the operator of the controlled environment, and are predicated on whatever performance metrics the operator feels necessary to achieve its operational objectives. For example, a manufacturer may need to have stringent environmental controls to achieve its desired quality control standards. Achieving these goals may be of vital importance to achieve desired product performance, and to the operator and its customers, but these standards are not tested and verified by an outside source.
On the other hand a research laboratory may need to have specific environmental benchmarks tested and certified by an authorized outside source, and be certified as being in compliance, before its test results can be accepted as valid.
It is also not uncommon to have both controlled environments and cleanrooms in the same facility as requirements change as a product or process moves through the production chain.
For example, you may switch from a controlled environment at one stage when metrics are less stringent to a cleanroom (which usually requires more monetary expenditure, energy and effort) when requirements become tighter and outside verification is required.
If you're still unsure about whether your specific application requires a controlled environment , cleanroom or both, please contact us for a free consultation to discuss your needs.
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