Take it easy, please!

When a person enters a cleanroom, the level of cleanliness there changes in a fraction of a second. Why is that? Because, frankly, we are real particle slingers. Depending on the type of movement, we emit between 100,000 and 110,000,000 particles ≥ 0.5 µm per minute – an unimaginable amount! Even when strolling slowly, we can emit up to 35 million particles per minute. Running, jumping, dancing and similar fast movements are therefore an absolute no-go in the cleanroom. Sneezing and coughing are also a big deal: with a small sneeze, we eject up to 1.4 million particles into our environment.

The solution to this problem: Special protective clothing, hygiene concepts, complex induction procedures and adapted behaviour in the cleanroom. Simply wearing a cleanroom coat and fleece bonnet significantly reduces the release of particles through clothing and hair. Full protection, such as that usually required in cleanrooms from ISO class 5 or GMP areas B and A, further reduces human particle emission to minimum values. This is essential, as only 35 particles ≥ 0.5 µm per cubic metre are permitted in an ISO class 3 cleanroom in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14644.

Of course, people are not the only source of contamination in the cleanroom. Contamination also comes, for example, from production equipment, machines, materials and abrasion (internal contamination). As well as process media, tools and of course the air (external contamination).

Published: March 2025