4 Key Points to Consider When Buying Modular Aerospace Cleanrooms

Modular aerospace cleanrooms provide fast, flexible, and compliant environments for spacecraft and large-component assembly. For procurement and project decision-makers, selecting the right system requires a focused technical checklist covering standards, performance, materials, cost, installation, and validation. This article—authored with input from Deiiang™ product designer Deiiang Jason.peng—presents 10 technical buying points to help you specify and evaluate a modular aerospace cleanroom.

1. Standards and Regulatory Compliance — ISO 14644 and Aerospace Guidance

ISO 14644

• Ensure the cleanroom design, construction, and validation follow ISO 14644-1 through -4 (air cleanliness, testing methods, monitoring, and classification) and ISO 14698 for biocontamination when applicable. For aerospace-specific requirements, reference AS9100 quality systems and NASA/ESA contamination control guidelines.
• Procurement note: require documentation demonstrating compliance (test reports, calibration certificates, traceable particle count logs). Deiiang™ recommends including ISO 14644 classification limits in the contract.
• Example: Specify ISO 5 at rest and ISO 7 in work mode for optical assembly. Require particle count test results per ISO 14644-1 (sample size and probe locations) at handover.

2. Key Performance Features and Advantages

• Quick assembly & flexibility: Prefab panels and bolted frames reduce on-site build time by weeks; modular aerospace cleanroom systems support reconfiguration and relocation.
• High-ceiling capability: Systems supporting 22–30 ft clear heights enable vertical assembly of large structures.
• Vibration and shock control: Specify structural damping, isolated mounts, and equipment anchoring limits (e.g., modal frequency >30 Hz, RMS vibration <0.5 g where required).
• ESD management: Conductive flooring, bonded grounding, controlled humidity (40–60%), ionizers for neutralization.
• Contamination control to particulate and molecular levels: HEPA/ULPA filtration, VOC monitoring, and low-outgassing materials.
• Lifting and fixturing integration: Dedicated crane rails, rated lifting points, and ceiling rigging plans.

Procurement annotation: request vendor test data for vibration attenuation, ESD resistance, and outgassing (TML/CMRR per ASTM E595). Deiiang Jason.peng advises including a factory acceptance test (FAT) checklist.

3. Performance Parameters and Calculation Examples

• ACH and airflow: Define required air changes per hour (ACH). Example: For ISO 5 workstations, design target 300–600 ACH for localized unidirectional flow; for ISO 7 production halls, 30–60 ACH may suffice.
• Particle limits: Use ISO 14644-1 table of maximum allowable particles. Example: ISO 5 allows 3,520 particles ≥0.5 µm/m3.
• Pressure zoning and differential: Typical pressure cascade: ISO 5 at +15–30 Pa over adjacent ISO 6/7; maintain minimum 10 Pa differential for critical zones.
• Temperature & RH control: Specify stability and setpoints, e.g., 20 ±1°C and 45% ±5% RH for sensitive optical adhesives; energy budget calculation: Qlatent = ρ·V·Cp·ΔT used in HVAC sizing.
• Airflow layout: Choose between full ceiling laminar flow versus local laminar hoods. Use CFD to verify airflow and particle trajectories—require vendor-provided CFD validation files.

Deiiang™ note: include these numeric targets in the RFP to avoid ambiguity.

modular cleanroom windows

modular cleanroom floor

modular cleanroom celling

modular cleanroom door

Example of a modular aerospace cleanroom with high-ceiling and integrated lifting systems

4. Materials and Structural Systems

• Wall and panel systems: Aluminum honeycomb or composite sandwich panels with sealed joints; specify coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and surface finish to limit particle shedding.
• Joints & seals: Use continuous EPDM or silicone gaskets rated for cleanroom cleaning agents; require leak test acceptance criteria (e.g., no visible dust ingress under smoke test).
• Floor systems: Conductive epoxy or copper-stripped vinyl with surface resistivity 1×10^5–1×10^8 Ω/sq for ESD control.
• Doors, windows, and pass-throughs: Hermetic gasketed doors, vision panels with laminated glass, and transfer hatches with interlocks; specify door airlock cycle times and interlock logic.
• Lifting & rail systems: Structural steel rails with rated capacity and redundancy; specify proof load test at 125% of rated capacity.
• Lighting and fixtures: High-CRI, flicker-free LED panels with low thermal output; fixtures sealed to IP54 or better.
• Filtration and air handling: HEPA (H13/H14) or ULPA filters where needed; specify final filter efficiency and initial pressure drop. Deiiang™ recommends material certificates and surface contamination (TML <1%) reports.

FAQs (Common Questions)

Conclusion

Selecting a modular aerospace cleanroom requires marrying standards compliance (ISO 14644, AS9100, NASA/ESA guidance) with quantified performance targets—ACH, pressure differentials, vibration limits, and ESD controls—plus robust materials, transport/installation planning, validation, and lifecycle cost analysis. Embedding specific numeric targets and testable acceptance criteria in your RFP (as recommended by Deiiang™ and Deiiang Jason.peng) reduces ambiguity, shortens procurement cycles, and de-risks delivery.

References

1. ISO 14644-1:2015 Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments — Classification of air cleanliness.
2. ISO 14644-2:2015 — Testing and monitoring to prove continued compliance.
3. AS9100 Rev D — Quality management systems — Requirements for aviation, space and defense organizations.
4. NASA-STD-8739.8 — Control of particulate contamination.

If you’d like, Deiiang™ can convert these 10 points into an RFP checklist, IQ/OQ/PQ templates, or into a downloadable bid-specification document.