Cleanroom Air Filtration

Cleanrooms Are Defined by a Number, Not a Feeling A cleanroom isn't just "very clean." It's classified by an exact particle count, and that number is what everything else in the room gets designed around. The ISO 1464...

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Cleanrooms Are Defined by a Number, Not a Feeling

A cleanroom isn't just "very clean." It's classified by an exact particle count, and that number is what everything else in the room gets designed around.

The ISO 14644 standard sets nine classes, from ISO 1, the strictest, down to ISO 9, based on how many particles of a given size are allowed per cubic meter of air. People are usually the biggest source of contamination in an occupied cleanroom, shedding skin cells and fibers with every movement, which is why gowning and controlled entry procedures matter as much as the filtration itself. Equipment, packaging materials, and even the process being run inside the room add their own particle load. And a cleanroom that passes classification when empty can fail it the moment people start working, which is why in-operation testing matters separately from at-rest testing.

Signs Your Cleanroom Classification Is at Risk

  • Particle counts drift upward during in-operation testing versus at-rest testing

  • Your process requires a stricter ISO class than your current filtration supports

  • HEPA filters haven't been tested or certified in the required interval

  • You're adding equipment, processes, or staff to an existing cleanroom

  • Airlock or gowning procedures aren't consistently followed

  • You're designing a new cleanroom and haven't settled on a target class

Filtration Sized to Your Required ISO Class

Electrocorp builds HEPA and ULPA filtration around the specific ISO class your process requires, since an ISO 5 cleanroom and an ISO 8 cleanroom need very different air change rates and filter efficiency to hold their classification. Systems account for both at-rest and in-operation conditions, since particle counts rise once people and equipment are active in the room. We can work from your target classification or help you determine what class your process actually needs.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between at-rest and in-operation classification?

At-rest testing happens with no one in the room and equipment idle. In-operation testing happens during actual work, when people and machinery are the main particle sources, and it's the more realistic measure of your real air quality.

Do all cleanrooms need the same air change rate?

No. Stricter classes like ISO 5 need far more air changes per hour than a looser class like ISO 8, so the right filtration setup depends heavily on which class your process actually requires.

How often does cleanroom filtration need to be retested?

Requalification intervals depend on your class, with stricter classes typically requiring more frequent testing. Equipment changes, filter replacement, or facility modifications can also trigger a retest outside the normal schedule.

Is HEPA filtration enough for every cleanroom application?

For most particle-based classification, yes. Some applications, particularly in semiconductor and pharmaceutical work, also need gas-phase filtration for chemical contamination that particle filters don't address.

How do I know what ISO class my application actually needs?

That depends on your industry and process, pharmaceutical, medical device, and electronics work often have different baseline requirements. We can help you work out the right target before sizing a system.

Need help finding the right solution?

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