3 Systems for Cleanroom Walls
Excerpt form the GMP Compliance Adviser, Chapter 3.E Cleanroom construction components
8 min. reading time | by Harald Flechl
Published in LOGFILE 08/2021
Over the past several years, wall and ceiling systems have become the established state of the art in finishing technology. The numerous manufacturers of such systems also offer solutions that are suitable for fire zones and large, high rooms – such as warehouse storage rooms.
Wall and ceiling systems are flexible when it comes to planning and installation; subsequent modifications can be made quickly and easily. The most common application is a "room-within-a-room" solution. This means that a conventional building made of concrete or brick with columns and support structures serves as a shell, and the clean rooms are fitted with system walls and ceilings inside it. To be able to benefit from the advantages of a walkable ceiling with fixtures, appropriate heights must be planned for the structure. A further advantage is the short assembly time at the construction site and the possibility of plan changes until shortly before assembly. As they are state of the art, there is little need for discussion with the authorities.
Wall systems made from metal panels are typically constructed according to one of three design principles:
- mono-block
- band grid
- axis grid
The last-mentioned type is the most commonly used. Typically, the choice is made based on the desired design finish to achieve a sealed cleanroom surface.
Glass walls made of single-pane safety glass (SPSG) were still a ground-breaking achievement in the nineties, but today such fully transparent systems are offered by several manufacturers. During operation, it is often the case that special collision protection is not always necessary, as the employees are more "cautious" with glass. Due to their full transparency, SPSG wall systems often allow simpler visual communication and natural lighting into rooms with lower ceilings.
When cleaning, make sure that no streaks remain. Although streaks are not a sign of poor cleaning, people tend to equate optical clarity with the effectiveness of cleaning.
In Figure 3.E-14 you will find an overview of the most important information for each of the three systems.
Figure 3.E-14 Comparison of wall system variants
Figure 3.E-15 Wall element with simple floor rail installation
Figure 3.E-16 Wall element with recessed baseboard
Figure 3.E-17 Wall element with ceiling installation profile
Figure 3.E-18 Cross section of installation components including pre-installed electrical outlets
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please contact us at: redaktion@gmp-verlag.de
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