Classification of Cleanrooms in Electronic Manufacturing and Requirements for Cleanroom Equipment

In the context of the continuous development of high-precision, miniaturised electronic products, the electronic manufacturing industry has increasingly stringent requirements for the cleanliness of production environments. Electronic Cleanrooms not only affect product yield rates, but also directly impact the reliability and performance of products such as chips, sensors, and LEDs. This article will outline the common grade requirements for electronic manufacturing cleanrooms and the corresponding cleanroom equipment standards.

What is an electronic manufacturing cleanroom?

An electronic manufacturing cleanroom is a controlled environment that specifically regulates airborne particles, microorganisms, and temperature/humidity. It is widely used in production scenarios such as semiconductors, optoelectronics, liquid crystal displays, lithium batteries, and precision electronic assembly. The design standards for such cleanrooms are typically classified and managed according to the ISO Cleanroom Standard (International Cleanroom Standard) or the national standard GB50073.

Common Grade Requirements for Electronic Manufacturing Cleanrooms

ISO Cleanroom Grade Comparison

According to ISO 14644 standards, cleanroom grades are classified based on the number of particles per unit volume of air, with lower grades indicating higher cleanliness.

In the electronics manufacturing industry, commonly used cleanroom grades typically fall between ISO 5 and ISO 8. Different manufacturing processes have varying cleanliness requirements. For example:

Front-end chip manufacturing processes require ISO 5 grade or higher

SMT assembly and module assembly typically take place in ISO 7–8 environments

Common equipment requirements for electronic manufacturing cleanrooms

To ensure a consistently stable clean environment, electronic manufacturing cleanrooms are equipped with various cleanroom devices. The following are several common devices and their functions:

Air filtration system

The core components are pre-filters, medium-efficiency filters, and high-efficiency HEPA filters, which progressively filter airborne particles to maintain them within standard limits.

Air Shower Room

Before entering or exiting the cleanroom, personnel must pass through the Air Shower Room to quickly remove dust particles adhering to their bodies or cargo, effectively preventing contamination sources from entering the clean area. This is a critically important protective measure in electronic manufacturing cleanrooms.

FFU Air Supply Unit

The Fan Filter Unit (FFU) filters external air through multiple stages before delivering it into the cleanroom in a laminar flow, ensuring stable airflow and compliance with cleanliness standards in the work area.

Why is the ISO Cleanroom standard essential for electronic manufacturing?

The microcircuits and transistors in electronic products are highly sensitive to dust and static electricity. Even micron-level contamination can cause issues such as short circuits, malfunctions, and unstable performance. Adopting ISO standards to unify cleanroom grade specifications helps companies ensure product quality while meeting the factory inspection requirements of international customers and third-party testing institutions.

Summary

Whether it is semiconductor chip production or precision electronic module assembly, electronic manufacturing cleanrooms are the foundation for ensuring product yield and stable performance. Selecting appropriate cleanroom equipment such as Air Shower Rooms, FFUs, and air filtration systems based on different production process stages, and implementing them in accordance with ISO Cleanroom standards, is essential for providing an efficient and reliable clean environment for electronic manufacturing.