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Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Laminar Flow Clean Room Products


Clean room hoods like laminar flow hoods have filtration systems controlling airflow and velocity to keep airborne particles from having contact with other objects or particles. Laminar flow clean room hoods help protecting and keep areas sanitary and contaminant –free, retaining the ability to protect samples and laboratory workers from contamination.

Laminar flow clean room products such as biological safety cabinets, fume hoods, flow hoods and clean benches. Fume hoods keep toxic vapors out of the working area. Biological safety cabinet can protect the specimen and the worker from biological contamination. Flow hoods either horizontal or vertical air streams that protect the specimen with their own contamination-free filtered air. They can be used whenever a controlled environment at the bench top level is required.

In the industries including the research, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, bioscience, aerospace and food processing industries, use laminar flow clean room hoods everyday. Below is some sample of products by Clean Air Products manufacturer:

Fume Hoods – Series 1411

Clean Air Products' fume hoods have several sizes and configurations. The flexibility allows their customers' needs to be satisfied with a minimum of compromise.For maximum chemical resistance, the fume hoods are fabricated by stainless steel, polypropylene or fire-retardant polypropylene. Safeguarding the operators was a major concern and high priority in the design of this fume hood. An extensive list of options is available to adapt each fume hood to its particular application.

Features of Fume Hoods

Designed for maximum chemical resistance
Available in stainless steel, white polypropylene or fire-retardant white polypropylene
Units are available in 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 ft. widths and 30, 36, and 42 in. depths. Other sizes are available upon request
Units are available in 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 ft. widths and 30, 36, and 42 in. depths. Other sizes are available upon request
Superior quality, excellent appearance, and ruggedness have been achieved through a safety-oriented design
An extensive list of options available to meet your application requirements

Laminar Flow Hoods Workstation – Series 301

Laminar Flow Hoods Workstation (Series 301) is a general-purpose, horizontal flow clean bench is suitable to many types of mechanical or processing work. It is designed to provide a Class 100 or Class 10 clean air environment ideally for laboratory work, manufacturing, testing, inspection and/or pharmaceutical operations.The clean HEPA-filtered air flows outward from the cabinet. This horizontal laminar flow air washes out particulates and protect from contamination by entering the clean work zone. The Laminar Flow Workstation features "clean edge" construction that puts the hood and table top in shear with the media edge of the HEPA filters. It will reducing turbulence along the sides of the hood, improves the laminar flow hoods, and prevents contamination infiltration around the perimeter of the hoods.

Features of Laminar Flow Hoods

FLEX DUCT provides a factory sealed clean laminar airflow system with simple front HEPA filter removal
HEPA filter 99.99% efficient
Motor speed infinitely variable with solid state controller
Protective grill for absolute filter
Fiberglass prefilter easily removable
Formica tabletop
Duplex outlet for auxiliary equipment
"Clean" edge air-shear of the absolute filter
Shipped fully assembled, ready for operation, certified to meet or exceed Class 100 conditions of Federal Standard 209E
Superior quality, excellent appearance, and ruggedness have been achieved through the use of new wraparound structural design
Vinclad steel or painted structural materials offer the ultimate in appearance and a surface resistant to abuse
Selected sizes and options UL listed

Clean Room Benches – Series 416

The 416VF Series of Clean Room Benches are a vertical laminar flow clean room benches designed to install on top of typical metro wire or eagle-type wire shelving. The Clean Room Benches Series 416HF are a horizontal laminar flow clean room bench unit designed to set on table top and blow horizontally. Clean Room Benches come in several sizes of 2 x 2 ft., 2 x 3 ft., 2 x 4 ft., and 2 x 6 ft.

Features of Clean Room Benches

Decorative white painted steel housing
Internal motorized filter unit for full filter coverage
Solid curtains on three sides
Strip door on front
2 ft. x 4ft. shelving size
120 V power cord

Clean Room Inflow Dust Containment Cabinet – Series 1522

The Series 1522 Clean Room inflow dust containment cabinet comes in several of sizes and styles. The features are depending on the design of unit you choose. The standard Series 1522 Clean Room Dust Containment Cabinet units build of painted steel. This finish is designed to be compatible with normal clean room environments. The Clean Room Dust Containment Cabinet system is patterned to draw air into the wall-mounted filters that filtered and discharged back into the space.Note: The Clean Room Dust Containment Cabinet system is not designed to work with flammable vapors, odors, or corrosives. Protective garments and respirators should be worn by personal to prevent exposure to materials being used within the system.

Features of Clean Room Inflow Dust Containment Cabinet

Acrylic hood
Standard prefilter provides efficiency of 40% by NBS Test Method using atmospheric dust or better; high efficiency filters available
Customized options available
99.99% filter efficiency on 0.3 Micron (standard) HEPA and on 0.12 Micron ULPA
Effective solution for mailroom protection, hazardous materials, and bio-safety cabinet applications
Requires very little maintenance to achieve continuous optimum performance

Clean Air Products has been designing and manufacturing high quality clean room hoods systems, clean room components, clean room equipment and clean room supplies for a broad range of clean room applications since 1969, including those in the semiconductor, biomedical, pharmaceutical and aerospace/military industries, among others. They can be contacted at 763.425.9122.

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Sunday, June 29, 2008

Clean Room Hoods & Other Facilities - maintenance and monitoring

Cleanliness of the clean room hoods must be maintained. We must have maintenance and cleaning schedule of the clean room hoods in daily, weekly and monthly basis. Regular environmental cleaning, monitoring and maintenance must be occurred to provide sterility and safety for patients receiving medications as well as the health care team who preparing the medications. Below are some ideas how to clean Laminar Airflow Hood (vertical and horizontal airflow hood) and other exercise of cleaning practice in clean room area.

Cleaning of Clean Room Hoods (Laminar Airflow Hoods; vertical and horizontal)

You can do cleaning of Laminar Airflow Hoods once a week or whenever spill occurs by using Conclikt cleaner. If possible, remove the pan and the vent covers. Use spray bottle to apply Conflikt cleaner to remove pieces as well as inside the hood. Wait for approximately 12 minutes to allow surfaces to soak. Wipe surfaces starting from back of the hood. The direction of wiping is from side to side towards the front opening of the hood. Use lint free gauze pads when wiping.

For any glass surfaces of clean room hoods, use water to avoid hazing of the glass. You also need to use isopropyl to apply to all surfaces. Wipe the surfaces from back to front of the hood and wiping from side to side in broad strokes. Allow surfaces for air dry without wiping. Depend on the pan and vent covers condition, you also required to replace it if needed.

Clean once a shift with isopropyl alcohol. Apply isopropyl alcohol to all surfaces. Wipe from back to front of hood wiping from side to side in broad strokes. Allow surfaces to air dry without wiping.

Cleanroom Maintenance: Trash, Waste and Cleaning of Surfaces

Collection and removal of trash, biohazard waste and cleaning of non-sterile surfaces are part of immediate maintenance in clean room area. The following events will occur on a scheduled basis and will be documented in the log adjacent to the clean room area.

You should put in daily schedule to clear and empty waste and replace liners. Cleanse laminar airflow hood and cleaning of non-sterile environment surfaces also in daily scheduled.

For weekly basis cleaning are removing biohazardodous waste, replace liner and/or receptacle. Cleaning of countertops, stool tops and other equipment (i.e pump) should be done in daily basis. Floor moping should be done twice a week, but subject to floor conditions. For cleaning of the walls, windows and doors is in monthly basis. Other exercise is doing monthly are cleaning and sanitize the bins.

Facilities Monitoring: Refrigerator, Freezer and Room Temperature Monitoring For those equipment that monitored by MadgeTech®: Temperature data will be downloaded monthly. The data must be printed and saved in proper file location. Each unit will be regulated for every six (6) months. For the units equipped with an audible alarm system will be tested once every 30 days to ensure proper function.

Corrective Action for Units Displaying Temperatures Outside of Range Designated:

1. For units with remote monitoring, an alarm will notify Facilities Management at OHSU if and when the temperature has gone out of predetermined range. Research Pharmacy Services personnel will be notified immediately via paging system or telephone.

2. In cases of an audible, non-remote monitored system, valuation of the unit will be made. Every effort will be made to find out the cause of alarm prior to movement of stock as outlined below.

3. In the event that the system is not functioning and it is suspected or confirmed that the unit is non-operational, immediately transfer all products to a similar, working, monitored unit in the department. Submit an inventory list to the broken unit that includes date and time the items were moved, a complete list and quantity of the items moved, and the location of the new storage space. Inform the RPS Pharmacist in Charge of the unit failure and inventory transfer.

4. Within 48-hour (2 working days) observation period will occur in case of unit malfunction. The temperature and conditions of the unit will be observed prior to return of inventory into the unit.

In any and all cases, the monitoring firm and study team will be notified in writing regarding the alarm, the cause and the status of study inventory.

Facilities Maintenance: Refrigerator and Freezer Maintenance, Calibration and Cleaning

1. Units equipped with an audible alarm system will be tested once every 30 days to ensure proper function.

2. The following USP temperature ranges will be maintained

Room Temperature - 20°C -25°C
Refrigerator - 2°C -8°C
-20 Freezer - -20°C - -10°C
-70C Freezer - ≤-70°C

The above exercise and practice to maintain the clean room hoods, maintain and monitor other facilities in the clean room area should be done in regular basis to ensure the clean environment in the work place.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Biological Safety by NuAire


In laboratory industries, clean room hoods that can provide biological safety are very important. The Laminar Air Flow Equipment especially the Biological Safety Cabinets are important for science research, clinical industries and industrial applications.

There are many manufacturers can produce quality and dependability products for the future. Like NuAire clean room hoods, for over 30 years has been universally established as the leader in providing laboratory professionals with reliable products for the most demanding environments. NuAire manufactures clean room hoods Biological Safety Cabinets, Laminar Airflow Equipment, Ultralow Temperature Freezers, CO2 Water-Jacketed Incubators, and variety of complementary products and systems to serve the needs of the world's laboratory community.

Each NuAire product you'll find brilliant and practical pattern, keen attention to detail in every phase of the invantion and assembly process, thoroughly tested, outstanding value, and reliable service. These are the foundation for NuAire's international reputation, and practical reasons why NuAire is universally recognized as the finest.

NuAire also claimed that their products are the Finest Biological Safety Cabinets in the World. It’s great to have the premier Biological Safety Cabinet in the world to work for you. NuAire's LabGard™ Biological Safety Cabinets will meet your laboratory requirements for life science research, clinical or industrial applications. Each comes with NuAire's legendary reputation for a commitment to quality and dependability, and backed by a level of customer service available only from NuAire in clean room hoods industries.

See what more NuAire AireGard™ Laminar Air Flow Products can do for your clean room. NuAire AireGard™. Laminar Air Flow Products deliver a higher level of product protection for work in progress. Not only that the Ergonomic Features provides more flexibility, more comfort options and accessories to fit your requirements. It is also Universally Tested. These exceptional laminar air flow products don't just meet or conform to requirements and qualities, they have been tested by independent companies and proven to meet or exceed test specifications.

The AireGard™ 201 is the finest laminar airflow workstation available in the market. The NU-201 Horizontal Laminar Airflow Workstation is specially designed to provide the ideal particle-free, bacteria-free, clean-air environment needed for laboratory work testing, manufacturing, inspection, or pharmaceutical procedures. The exclusives design innovations built into the NU-201 will provide excellent performance in the most demanding environments.

True clean room hoods - laminar airflow, the highest quality HEPA filters, and the zero leak airflow system are the factors which create the foundation of a superior airflow cabinet. NuAire make the NU-201 the finest laminar airflow workstation available in the clean room hoods industries.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Amazing!! From 5 Million to Zero - video

Amazing!! From 5 million to zero. This video I get from Myspace as an example how clean room hoods works. Just after 1 minute of operation, the result showed amazingly. It really works!!..


Laminar Flow Hood - Portable Clean Room



Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Clean Room Hoods - secondary tips


In my previous article, I already touch the 5 primary tips that can be a guideline for you before you make any decision to buy clean room hoods. The 5 tips are the clean room hoods is customize base on your requirement; the supplier provide consultation and training for your team; the supplier provide 24 hours and 7 days service and technical assistance; the clean room hoods equipped by HEPA filters and it is comply with ISO standard. However, there are some other factors that can assist you to get a suitable clean room hoods for your industry. Check it out!!

In a clean room hoods, the main compartment that play a major role in air purification is the filter. Check with your supplier, how long is the life span of the filter. The longer of the filter life span of your clean room hood is better. It will reduce hazel while you are focusing in your product analysis.

Check also from your supplier on the maintenance of you clean room hoods. Get the lowest maintenance of operation from the suppliers. Minimum maintenance of operation required, will make the hoods more friendly use. For the price, get quotation from them and take a little bit of your time to make comparison. It is not necessary the lowest price will give the lowest quality. Sometimes it’s depending on the package of the product and how the negotiation conducted.

Also ask your supplier on the efficiency of the clean room hoods. Normally, clean room hoods suppliers can provide some data analysis to show on the effectiveness of the hoods. They can conduct a clean room hoods performance test by using portable scan-pro airborne laser particle counter. Before start, in some test, it is recorded more than 5 millions particles at 0.3 microns in size per cubic foot (depend to the room condition). Just after 1 minute operation of clean room hoods, zero particles recorded in the area of the clean room hoods itself.

Work concentration is very important for the industries such as Laboratory, Pharmaceutical, Medical, Manufacturing, Sterile Assembly and Industrial facilities. Not only sound, small vibration also will affect the result of the analysis. To have a good clean room hoods, get the quiet operation and very minimum vibration. The result will be more accurate.

A conducive working environment also important to the staffs. Attractive appearance and presentable display of clean room hoods will create a good and professional working environment.

If your industry required small and portable clean room hoods, make sure it is lightweight. It will help when you need to do some relocation and shifting the hoods to different area. Features of the clean room hoods with adjustable speed control and hinged sloping lid will ease you to meet your needs.

Some suppliers of clean room hoods provide additional service to their client. They can provide extensive consultancy service, do planning, troubleshooting and surveys. They also can provide comprehensive proposal and maintenance, compliance and control.

So, before you make any decision to buy any clean room hoods, read the above articles first. It may help you to purchase a clean room hoods that worth for your money.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Clean Room Hoods - tips before you buy


Clean room hoods are designed to eradicate of contamination from the most critical process in the industries such as Laboratory, Pharmaceutical, Medical, Manufacturing, Sterile Assembly and Industrial facilities. If you are involved in these industries, you cannot run from using clean room hoods that suit with your requirement. Before you plan to buy any clean room hoods, there are some tips that you can use to ensure it is worth for money.

There are many manufacturers in the market producing variety of clean room hoods. Some of them designed the hoods base on your requirement. The best tip before you sign contract with any manufacturer is, you should get a manufacturer or supplier that is not only makes the clean room hoods that suit with your industries and work place, but also can provide consultation and frequent services of the device.

Since the manufacturer or supplier is specialize in this industries, they could advise you on the design and type of clean room hoods either floor type, bench top, mounted or portable air purification devices. They can customize the clean room hoods and providing service tailored to individual customer needs, now and for the future. They could create some in-house designs that using the integrated CAD systems. They are also created clean room hoods to suite each customer’s requirements, drawing on their knowledge and experience to provide easy adaptation to meet individual needs.

Man factor is very important. The best clean facility will fail, without proper understanding by its operators of the requirements of clean room hoods operation. The good suppliers, they will share their knowledge and you can utilize their knowledge based on operating clean facilities, to assist you providing training procedures, good manufacturing practices, validation, protocols and maintenance.

Also do not forget to ask your supplier on their after sales services. Good supplier of clean room hoods has a special maintenance and service team that providing 24 hours and 7day services. They are every time ready to serve you with technical assistance. A good regular maintenance contracts ensure regular care of your plant and your peace of mind.

Make sure when you buy your new clean room hoods, it is equipped with HEPA filters. HEPA is stand for High Efficiency Particulate Air. The best clean room hoods are equipped by HEPA filters 99.97% at 0.3 microns and pre-filter. Some suppliers claim that their filter is up to 99.99% efficiency. HEPA filters are rated by the ability to retain particles of 0.3 microns in size and tested with Poly Alpha Olefin (PAO). It consists of a thin pleated sheet of boron silicate micro-fibers with aluminum separators. They are particulate filters that retain airborne particles and microorganisms (gases pass freely through). So, ask your supplier about this feature for your new clean room hoods before you buy.

Another main factor to ensure you do a right decision to buy a clean room hoods is the products are complied with ISO standard (International Organization for Standardization). Good supplier of clean room hoods complies with relevant standards and guidelines are an integral part of their approach. Some of the Standards and guidelines normally meet typically include ISO 14644-1: 1999 Cleanrooms and Associated Controlled Environments - Part 1: Classification of air cleanliness , ISO 14644-2: 2000 Cleanrooms and Associated Controlled Environments - Part 2: Specifications for testing and monitoring to prove continued compliance with IOS 14644-1, ISO 14644-4: 2001 Cleanrooms and Associated Controlled Environments - Part 4: Design, construction and start-up ISO 14644.

*(Different countries have issued their own standards for measuring Clean Room cleanliness (e.g. Federal Standards 209e (USA) and BS 5259 (UK). The International Standard (ISO 14644) is being introduced in stages and the various country specific methods for the classification of clean rooms are being superseded)

So before you buy any clean room hoods, there are 5 primary tips that you should consider. One; the manufacturer or supplier can design and customize base on individual needs. Two; the supplier can also provide consultation, share knowledge, provide training and prepare some standard operation procedure for you. Three; the supplier is providing 365 days service and technical assistance. Four; the clean room hoods are equipped with HEPA filters, and last but not least is all product comply with ISO standard. On my next article, I will write about secondary factor as your tips before you buy your new clean room hoods.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Clean Room Hoods - info




Clean room hoods with Hepa Filters and Activated Carbon Filters is to provide Air Purification in room. The efficiency of the clean room hoods to the user, make it a “must have” device in certain industries especially that need really clean working environment. The Laboratory, Pharmeceutical, Medical, Manufacturing, Sterile Assembly and Industrial facilities required clean room hoods to purified air in the rooms.

Clean room hoods offer particle-free work areas designed to increase productivity. Laminar air flow prevents the product or process from contaminants introduced by many sources such as equipment, personnel or from the product itself. Even though a laminar flow hood is not a substitute for good aseptic technique, it does help to ensure sterility when used properly.

In the market, clean room hoods may be divided into two basic types, base on the air stream; horizontal and vertical flow hoods. Both offer same degree of product protection via a constant flow of filtered air within the work area. Vertical flow hoods are recommended for applications where the process generates vapors, solvents, chemicals or other fine powders. In some cases where noxious fumes are being used, a vertical flow exhaust hood should be utilized. Clean room hoods may be floor or table top mounted depending on the available space.

In a horizontal type of clean room hoods, filtered air flows parallel to the work surface, toward the operators. As such, this type of flow hoods only provides product protection. Cell culture work, which falls into low risk categories (e.g, Medical Research Council Level A) may by conducted using a horizontal laminar flow hoods.

Beyond the low risk level a vertical flow safety cabinet is a necessity. The vertical clean room hoods are designed to provide the ideal particle-free, bacteria-free, clean-air environment required for laboratory work, testing, and manufacturing, inspection, or pharmacuetical procedures. It also gives protection for personnel, products and environment.

In vertical type of clean room hoods, filtered air flows from the top of the cabinet toward the work surface. The drawing in of room air at the front of the work surface decreases the possibility of harmful agents leaving the work area.

There are wide range of ductless laminar flow hoods, workstations and clean benches in the market, for creating a particle-free Class 100 (ISO 5) environment. Class 100 (US Fed Std 209E) products should be protected by HEPA filter.

What are HEPA filters? HEPA stand for High Efficiency Particulate Air. In the industries, all clean room hoods are equipped by HEPA filters 99.97% at 0.3 microns and pre-filter. HEPA filters are rated by the ability to retain particles of 0.3 microns in size and tested with Poly Alpha Olefin (PAO). It consists of a thin pleated sheet of boron silicate micro-fibers with aluminum separators. They are particulate filters that retain airborne particles and microorganisms (gases pass freely through). Filtration occurs by five distinct methods / primary mechanisms:

· Sedimentation
· Electrostatic attraction
· Interception
· Inertial impaction
· Diffusion

There are many manufacturers in the industry producing variety of clean room hoods. Some of them provide the service and designed the hoods with the end users comfort and durability. Just see your requirement, they will designed your clean room hoods either floor type, bench top, mounted or portable air purification devices.