The Difference And Comparison between Clean Booth And Clean Room

Definition of a Clean Booth

A Clean Booth or Clean Shed (dust-free shed, operating workbench, etc.) is an air purification device applied to locations within an active space where a high degree of purification is needed. It uses an industrial aluminum, stainless steel, or plastic-sprayed iron frame. The perimeter has anti-static curtains or tempered glass. The top of the booth has a fan-filter unit (FFU) air supply system, which has attained internal cleanliness of Class 100-10000. Air showers and Transfer Windows are other cleanup gadgets that can be installed in clean booths.

Definition of a Clean Room

The Clean Room is a special room designed to eliminate contaminants like particulate matter, dangerous air, and bacteria in the air in a specified zone, regulating the temperature of the room, the level of cleanliness in the room, the pressure in the room, the air velocity and distribution in the room, the noise level in the room, the vibrations, the light, and the electricity present in the room within specified limits. That is, despite the variability of the external air conditions, the room retains the necessary cleanliness, temperature, humidity, and pressure. The main role of a clean room is to regulate the cleanliness, temperature, and humidity of the environment that products are exposed to so that products can be produced and created in a healthy environment.

Comparison of Clean Booth and Clean Room Materials

There are mostly three types of Clean Booth frames, and they are stainless steel square tubes, painted iron square-tubes, and industrial aluminum profiles. The ceiling can be made out of stainless steel, cold-formed steel that has been painted, anti-static mesh curtains and acrylic glass. It is normally made up of anti-static mesh screens around its perimeter, and the air supply system is made up of FFU (Flush Filter Units).

Foamed color steel or rock wool ceilings and vertical walls are generally used in Clean Rooms. They are supplied with independent air conditioning/ventilation, and air flows through three planes of primary, secondary, and high-efficiency filtration. Personnel and material filtration is done using Air Showers and Transfer Windows.

Choosing a Clean Booth Purification Level

Many customers choose Class 1000 or Class 10000 Clean Booth, while a smaller number opt for Class 100 or Class 10000. In short, the Clean Shed level chosen depends on the client's desired cleanliness requirements. However, because Clean Booth is relatively enclosed, choosing a lower clean booth level often has some side effects: insufficient cooling capacity, which can make employees feel stuffy and hot inside. This is something to keep in mind when communicating with clients.

Moreover, the Clean Booth incorporates FFU fan to bring in air and purify it through a primary filter and high-efficiency filter (HEPA/ULPA) to produce a vertical non-spiraling flow. This filter is capable of filtering 99.97% of the particles over 0.3 μm or 99.995% of the particles over 0.12 μm. Its modular construction facilitates universal mobility of the wheel and growth through the addition of several units. It is economical, quickly installed, and provides space flexibility. It is common in core process applications in electronics, biopharmaceuticals, food packaging, and cosmetics.

Cost Comparison between Clean Booths and Cleanrooms

A clean booth is equivalent to a simple clean room, with a localized cleanliness class of 100-10000. Clean booths are usually constructed in a cleanroom, so there is no use of air showers, pass-through windows, and air conditioning systems. This is very cost effective in comparison to a clean room. This is, of course, subject to the materials, dimensions, and cleanliness grade of the clean booth.

However, some customers prefer not to build a separate cleanroom. Without air conditioning, air showers, pass-through windows, and other purification equipment, the cost of a clean booth can be approximately 40%-60% of the cost of a cleanroom. This depends on the customer's choice of Clean Booth materials and size. The larger the area to be cleaned, the smaller the cost difference between a clean booth and a cleanroom.

Pros and Cons of Clean Booths and Cleanrooms

Clean Booths

Clean booths are quick to install, low-cost, easy to disassemble, and reusable.

Since clean booths are typically around 2 meters tall, using a large number of FFUs can result in high noise levels inside the cleanroom.

Because they lack independent air conditioning and ventilation systems, clean booths can often feel stuffy and hot.

If clean booths are not located within a clean room, the lack of medium-efficiency air filters shortens the lifespan of HEPA filters relative to clean room air, leading to increased costs associated with frequent HEPA filter replacement.

Clean Rooms

Clean rooms are slow to install and costly.

Clean rooms are typically around 2600 mm tall, ensuring workers feel comfortable working within them.