New draft of International Standard on classification of surface particle cleanliness now available

Published: 8-Aug-2008

ISO DIS 14644-9 Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments—Classification of surface particle cleanliness is now available from the US-Based Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST). This new ISO Draft International Standard describes the classification of particle contamination levels on solid surfaces in cleanrooms and associated controlled environment applications.


This part of ISO 14644 will benefit personnel working in or managing cleanrooms since it applies to all solid surfaces in cleanrooms and associated controlled environments such as walls, ceilings, floors, working environment, tools, equipment, and devices. The surface particle cleanliness (SPC) classification is limited to particles between 0.05 µm and 500 µm.

Surface cleanliness depends on material and design characteristics, stress loads (complexity of loads acting on a surface), and prevailing environmental conditions, along with other factors. Measurement methods of the classification should be adapted for surface characteristics (such as porosity, roughness, electrostatic charge, and surface energy). Recommendations on testing and measuring methods as well as information about surface characteristics are given in informative annexes.

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