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When designing modern cleanrooms and laboratories, special attention needs to be paid to material flow. Whether it is ISO 14611 or a GMP application, there are very specific requirements that dictate where and how the material enters and exits the room.
This is when the pass box comes into the picture. Many industries rely on pass box technology to manage material transfer between a non-controlled and controlled environment (or two cleanrooms with different standards). Pass boxes ensure that no contamination occurs when materials are transferred to the cleanroom and thus, maintain lab hygiene.
However, just as different industries use different types of cleanrooms, different types of cleanrooms use different types of pass boxes. Kleanlabs distinguishes between three basic models of pass boxes that you must know about if you are in the industry:
Static model
Static models can be considered the standard version of cleanroom pass boxes, as they do not have their own separate air supply and exhaust system or ventilation. These non-ventilated units are recommended for simple laboratories or cleanrooms up to ISO07 category.
Static model doors usually have an electromagnetic lock. They can be built into almost any type of structure and can be easily customized to special needs such as box designs, ‘combi’ models where two controlled environments are on top of each other or a design suitable for cars.
Semi-active pass box
Semi-active pass boxes, similarly to static ones, do not have their own motorized ventilation system, but are equipped with an animostat with an H13 HEPA filter. And this filter can be connected to an existing central ventilation system. The box also has an exhaust valve, which can be used to relieve excess pressure in the pass box.
Semi-active pass boxes can be easily installed on a wall or floor, or they can operate on their own.
Active pass box
Active pass boxes provide the cleanest and most sterile solution for cleanrooms. Their individual fan filter includes an H13 or ULPA filter, which allows only high purity air to enter the pass box. Active pass boxes are also recommended for ISO04 category cleanrooms. Active pass boxes are highly customizable and have no installation restrictions.
