Best Practices for Clean Room Operations

Best Practices for Clean Room Operations

Maintaining a clean room environment is critical for successful nanofabrication. Here are the essential best practices every user should follow.

Gowning Procedures

Proper gowning is your first line of defense against contamination:

1. Enter the gowning room - Never enter with outdoor shoes
2. Remove jewelry and accessories - These can harbor particles
3. Don coveralls - Ensure complete coverage with no gaps
4. Wear hair cover - All hair must be contained
5. Put on shoe covers - Both feet, no exceptions
6. Add face mask - Cover nose and mouth completely
7. Don gloves - Final step before entering clean room

Behavior Guidelines

Your actions directly impact clean room quality:

• Move slowly and deliberately
• Avoid unnecessary talking
• Never write with pencils (graphite particles)
• Don’t touch your face or adjust PPE
• Report any sneezes or coughs immediately
• Exit properly if you need to scratch or adjust

Material Transfer

Bringing items into the clean room requires care:

• Use pass-through chambers when available
• Wipe down all items with appropriate cleaners
• Remove unnecessary packaging outside
• Never bring food, drinks, or gum
• Check for loose particles before transfer

Equipment Usage

Responsible equipment operation maintains facility standards:

• Complete training before using any tool
• Follow standard operating procedures exactly
• Clean tools after use
• Report any spills or contamination immediately
• Don’t modify settings without authorization
• Log all usage in facility management system

Common Contamination Sources

Be aware of these frequent contamination culprits:

• Particles from clothing - Wear facility-provided garments only
• Skin cells and hair - Proper gowning prevents this
• Writing materials - Use clean room-approved pens
• External items - Minimize what you bring in
• Improper handling - Touch wafers only by edges

Monitoring and Maintenance

Help maintain clean room classification:

• Participate in particle count readings
• Report any unusual observations
• Follow cleaning schedules
• Replace HEPA filters on schedule
• Monitor temperature and humidity

Emergency Procedures

Know what to do in contamination events:

1. Stop work immediately
2. Don’t spread contamination
3. Notify facility manager
4. Quarantine affected areas
5. Document the incident
6. Implement corrective actions

Quick Reference Checklist

Print this and keep it handy:

• ☐ Proper gowning completed
• ☐ No jewelry or accessories
• ☐ Hair completely covered
• ☐ Mask properly positioned
• ☐ Gloves clean and intact
• ☐ Movements slow and controlled
• ☐ Only approved materials present
• ☐ Equipment logged and ready

Additional Resources

• Clean Room Classification Standards
• Equipment Training Schedule
• Facility Rules and Regulations

Remember: Everyone is responsible for maintaining clean room integrity. When in doubt, ask!