Introducing The Knowledge Center
The Best Way To Learn About Contamination Control! We are very excited to announce our new Knowledge Center: the tool to make you the smartest person in the room! Over the last 40 years, we’ve become known as the clean room monitoring experts of the world. So we’ve decided to put our heads together and publish as much information as possible to equip you with the knowledge you need to make the best possible decisions for your cleanroom and business. What Will...
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What is not allowed in a cleanroom?
Cleanrooms are just that: clean. Therefore, there are strict requirements around what is allowed in a cleanroom and what is not. While exact guidelines might change in different cleanrooms, the following are considered general guidelines and best practices about what should not be allowed in a cleanroom. Street Clothes Your street clothes carry billions of particles on them from your home, your car, the Starbucks you stopped at this morning, the woman who brushed...
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Portable Cleanrooms and You
Looking for an affordable alternative to a permanent cleanroom? Portable cleanrooms (also called modular cleanrooms) are usually constructed with a rigid frame such as steel and have panels made from plastic, vinyl or clear flat materials. They offer many of the benefits of a permanent cleanroom, but with the added versatility of being movable and more affordable. Portable cleanrooms can also be expanded when needed. Portable cleanrooms might not be the perfect permanent...
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How Do You Measure Air Particles?
Air particles are measured by forcing air through a cavity in a particle counter which uses a laser to measure and count the particles. This is done through a process called light scattering. Parts Of A Particle Counter Inside a particle counter, you will find a laser sensor block. This is where the particles are sized and counted using a process called light scattering. The laser sensor block is made up of: ● Sensor housing- Is the...
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What Are Fine Particles?
Fine particles are a form of particulate matter (pm) that have diameters below 2.5 micrometers in size. They can be solids or liquids and are formed both indoors and outdoors through chemical reactions. In human interactions, they can be harmful to health or just a nuisance. What Is The Difference Between Fine & Coarse Particles? The main difference between fine and coarse particles is size. Coarse particles (sometimes referred to as PM10-2.5) have a diameter...
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Data Integrity in Environmental Monitoring
Features to look for in your particle monitor to ensure compliance of your cleanroom
Environmental monitoring lies at the heart of regulatory compliance for cleanrooms used in pharmaceutical, bio-pharmaceutical, and healthcare facilities. Facility managers need to understand what components are needed for a monitoring program, but they must also ensure the data they produce is complete, consistent, and...
The Guide to Creating A GMP Training Program
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs - sometimes referred to as Current Good Manufacturing Practices or CGMPs) are federal regulations set by the FDA to cover how pharmaceuticals and food products are manufactured. They are guidelines taken for granted by many consumers - they assume what they put in their body will have been safely produced - but as manufacturers, it’s critical you maintain and monitor these standards. You must also be able to show how you are...
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What Types Of Paper Are In The Cleanroom?
Cleanrooms are designed for a myriad of purposes, but many cleanrooms are used for research and product development. This means that people use a lot of paper in the cleanroom. But traditional paper is made up of millions of tiny fibers just waiting to contaminate products in your cleanroom, which is the exact opposite of what we want. So how do we avoid paper creating extra particles in a cleanroom? We use cleanroom paper. How Is Cleanroom Paper...
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What Are Handheld Particle Counters?
Handheld particle counters are just what it sounds like: particle counters that you can hold in your hand. They are typically use to spot check a cleanroom or to test air temperature and humidity. Handheld particle counters are a versatile, ergonomic tool that deserves its place in the modern cleanroom, along with indoor air quality applications. . For many companies and industries, they serve a valuable purpose, as they also monitor air temperature and humidity. But the...
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How Do Light Scattering Airborne Particle Counters Work?
Light scattering is a technology that revolutionized the airborne particle counter industry, because it is able to quickly, efficiently, and accurately determine the size and number of particles that pass through an airborne particle counter in real time. Today, it is used in the airborne particle counters that set industry standards, because it is the most accurate and efficient technology on the market. But before we get into exactly what light scattering is, we need...
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Ergonomics And Your Cleanroom
Ever felt that tension in your upper back and neck after sitting at a computer for too long? We’ve all been there - and resented going to sit at another desk for it. That’s where ergonomics comes in. And your cleanroom’s ergonomics matter just as much as any other workplace. What Are Ergonomics? According to Human Scale, ergonomics is “defined as the science of fitting a workplace to the user’s needs, [it] aims to increase efficiency and...
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10 Ways To Improve Your Cleanroom’s Gowning Protocols
What is a foundational piece of your cleanroom contamination control strategy? Your gowning protocol. Humans, by far, produce the most particles in a cleanroom and your gowning protocol can limit that number. While we have a number of ways to improve your gowning protocol across the board, it is important to recognize that different ISO classifications require different gowning protocols and procedures. When reviewing your protocols, make sure to know your...
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Foundations of a Cleanroom Contamination Control Strategy
Your cleanroom contamination control strategy is the frontline between you and contaminated products, which can lead to yield loss, slowed production, and possible reputation damage. So when was the last time you really dove into your cleanroom contamination strategy? We highly recommend reviewing your strategy yearly to make sure you are still meeting industry best standards and your employees are making the most of the strategy. And there are a few foundations you can...
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Which Is Right For You: Handheld Particle Counter vs Remote Particle Counter vs Portable Particle Counter
Are you considering a new particle counter for your cleanroom? There are a number of options that might be right for you. Before reading through the pros and cons of each particle counter, we recommend you create a list of what you are looking for in your particle counter. On this list, we recommend you note the practical things you need in a particle counter - outside of its ability to measure particle count and size (but we’ll get to that). Handheld Particle...
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4 Industries That Use An Ultrapure Water System
Did you know that water might be clean enough to drink but not clean enough to use in your food? When it comes to water used in a cleanroom and manufacturing setting, it’s critical that the water is free of all contaminants and particles to maintain consumer safety. But what industries exactly need an ultrapure water system? 1.Technology & Semiconductors Semiconductors are well known in the cleanroom industry, as they are constantly getting smaller and...
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What is Cleanroom Paper anyway?
a closer look
What Is Cleanroom Paper? [Case Study]
Do you use print-outs in your cleanroom? What kind of paper do you use? Could we be doing better than current industry standards? We think so. This is why we’ve started to investigate “cleanroom paper” and how this paper can impact the number of particles in a cleanroom while...
What Is An Ultrapure Water System?
Water is an extremely powerful force. We see it carve its way through land to form amazing geographical features like the Grand Canyon. So what can water do in your system? Ultrapure water systems clean water - keeping it particle free - so it can be used to clean and etch in manufacturing, especially in the semiconductor industry. Industries that use ultrapure water use a lot of it. For instance, to process a single wafer, over 1,000 gallons of water is needed. So...
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8 Ways To Prevent Contamination In Pharmaceuticals
Contamination in pharmaceuticals can quickly turn into a nightmare with yield loss, recalls, bad press, and harmed consumers. Thus, it’s critical to stop contamination from ever being an issue during production in your cleanroom. Here at Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions - the world’s clean air experts - we’re pros at keeping cleanrooms extra clean. It’s our business and passion to prevent yield loss and set industry standards in cleanliness. How Can...
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Cleanroom Classifications Explained
A cleanroom classification basically tells you how clean a cleanroom is. While we typically consider cleanrooms to use HEPA filters and multiple layers of protection, cleanrooms can really be any room where precautions are taken to ensure that the product stays clean from contaminants. But if that’s the case, then what makes one cleanroom stand above the other? That’s where cleanroom classifications come into play. Who Sets Cleanroom Classifications? Cleanroom...
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Improve Your Cleanroom Workflow With Barcodes
We’re always looking for ways to improve cleanroom workflow through whatever is necessary. While completely changing the set-up of the cleanroom might not be possible, there are simple, cost-effective measures you can take to improve your cleanroom workflow - like using barcodes. Think about how often you see barcodes in society. They’re used in just about every warehouse and store in the world - and there’s a reason for that. They save hundreds,...
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