Disinfectants Used in Cleanrooms

There are very stringent protocols governing what comes in and out of a cleanroom, and also for disinfecting the cleanroom environment. Ensuring cleanliness in a cleanroom is an essential part of maintaining the cleanroom’s productivity and efficacy. For this vital task, choosing the wrong disinfectant can have catastrophic results.

Depending on the activities performed in the cleanroom, different types of disinfectants should be selected. That being said, there is a common set of criteria and guidelines that govern what a cleanroom disinfectant should be able to do, so let’s explore these incredible disinfectants and the criteria that they must fulfill.

Criteria for cleanroom disinfectants:

• Non-reactivity: any disinfectant used in a cleanroom environment needs to be as chemically inert as possible to avoid any chemical reactions and possible contamination. This is also why cleanroom disinfectants that have been opened and used need to be utilized or removed within 30 days. This will help avoid contamination, even though this is almost impossible.
• Low residue: all disinfectants leave residue. Cleanroom disinfectants need to limit that to a minimum while maintaining effectiveness, so a low residue and highly effective disinfectant is the norm in a cleanroom environment.
• Sterile: it goes without saying that just like anything else entering the cleanroom, sterility of a disinfectant product is a must.
• Effectiveness: disinfectants need to be effective at cleaning and destroying any microorganisms they come into contact with, be it bacteria, fungi or any bio-contaminant. Chlorine-based disinfectants tend to dominate the market due to their proven efficacy in eliminating biohazards, but there are alternatives, depending on the desired properties of the disinfectant.
• Fast-acting: disinfectants need to act fast and evaporate quickly to avoid trapping any particles while drying out.
• Safety and environmentally friendly: disinfectants need to meet environmental guidelines and pose no hazard to users.
• User-friendly: disinfectants and/or disinfectant-impregnated wipes need to be ready to use and easy to handle, with no complicated intermediate preparation phase.

After choosing the right disinfectant for the cleanroom, it is important to assess the best maintenance and cleaning protocol. This will be dependent on operational activities, the level and type of contamination threat, and the qualities of the disinfectant used. Regular controls and checks for any bio-contamination are essential for assessing the efficacy of both protocols and disinfectants.

At Blue Thunder Technologies, we are a market leader in cleanroom supplies and materials. Give us a call and let us help you keep your cleanroom clean.

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