Table of Contents

When Should I Replace a Cleanroom Fan Filter?

Pre-Filter Replacement

Pre-filter media should be replaced every six months and inspected regularly. Pre-filters in gowning rooms should be inspected and replaced more frequently, as un-gowned individuals introduce more contamination before they’ve donned cleanroom attire. If pre-filters in the main cleanroom appear visibly dirty at less than six month intervals, inspection is beneficial every 2 – 3 months.

HEPA & ULPA Filter Replacement

As a HEPA filter loads with particulate, its resistance to airflow increases, forcing the fan to work harder to produce the required amount of air throughput. Pressure loss across the filter has a significant impact on the larger system at work. Although it is not uncommon that HEPA filters in medical device assembly last five or more years, proactive replacement prevents unnecessary energy costs.

Optimal Fan Filter Efficiency and Cost Savings

Yes, extending the operating life of a filter reduces overhead and maintenance costs. Longer filter life cycles increase energy use as the filter clogs with particulate. The energy penalty to move air through a dirty filter often outweighs the cost of replacement.

Operating a filter to its most extreme boundaries rarely has an economic advantage. Maximize performance and filtration investment by replacing dirty fan filters once the pressure drop has doubled from the initial installation value.

Fan Filter Servicing

Each fan filter can be changed out as needed. Unlike a dedicated air handling unit, filter servicing does not require shutting down an entire system. The unit in question can be shut down, while the other units can operate independently so that cleanliness of the space is maintained. Fan filter units are not only easy to service and maintain as needed, but also produce a much lower noise floor when in operation.

Reducing Air Handling Noise & Cleanroom Footprint

MicroSound Fan Filter Units include a 99.99% efficient HEPA filter, 30% ASHRAE pleated type prefilter, seismic clip suspension points, and a safety switch which disables the unit while servicing. A solid state variable speed control with RFI suppression allows fine-tuned airflow.

MicroSound Fan Filter Units

Housings are fabricated from steel with a white powder coat finish. Final filters are protected with a white epoxy diamond pattern grille and are tested according to accepted procedures as described by the Institute of Environmental Sciences (IEST) and/or ISO standards.

Critical applications may require 99.99% efficient HEPA or 99.9995% efficient ULPA filters. An anodized aluminum frame holds the media which is protected by a diamond pattern white epoxy coated steel grille. Once the unit is removed from the housing removing and reinstalling the filter is , placing on a bench, removing and replacing the filter and re-installing the unit in the ceiling.

Need Info on a Specific Cleanroom Filter?

How do I Calculate ISO 5 Cleanroom Air Change Rates (Class 100)
What is the proper way to calculate ISO 5 cleanroom air change rates? View ISO air velocity requirements and cleanroom benchmarks. (Class 100)
The Truth about Cleanroom Air Change Rates, Charts & Methods of Calculation
Why Can't Anyone Agree on Benchmarks for Cleanroom Air Change Rates? There are a number of best practice guides and benchmarks for cleanroom air change rates (ACR). Many of which reference charts dating back as…
Cleanroom Fan Filter Testing and Maintenance - HEPA Filter Replacement and Troubleshooting
How do I know when to replace my cleanroom HEPA air filters? How do I test a cleanroom HEPA filter? What are the best practices for cleanroom HEPA filter replacement?
Medical Device Cleanroom Construction Part 3: Fan Filter Units - Ceiling Grids
In this post, we overview technical considerations for clean room fan filter unit selection, installation, and features. You'll learn how PAC approaches design and configuration of cleanroom HEPA filter units and fan filter housing specifications.…
Medical Device Cleanroom Construction Part 5: HVAC Balancing & Calibration
Before cleanroom validation, a cleanroom requires mechanical calibration. HVAC calibration first ensures that the room meets the performance parameters which would deliver the expected results during final ISO validation, such as differential pressure, air change…
Cleanroom Fan Filter Units vs Air Handling Units
A cleanroom air handling unit (AHU) is a cornerstone of temperature, humidity, and pressurization within controlled environments. Today, modular fan filter units allow more adaptable configuration with simplified maintenance procedure. Both systems serve conditioned and…
Cleanroom HEPA Vacuum Use and Applications
Cleanroom HEPA Vacuum Components and Applications Simply put, every square inch of a cleanroom should be absolutely pristine. Ceiling panels, lighting units, HEPA filtration units, sprinkler heads, walls, glass surfaces, process equipment, piping systems, floors,…
CleanPro® Chemotherapy & CSP Cleanroom Installation
This modular, sterile compounding cleanroom is designed for USP 797 and USP 800 compliance, particularly for compounding chemotherapy drugs. Safe handling of sterile compounds requires special considerations: heat-welded floors, anterooms and buffer areas.

Share this Article:

Mitch Walleser

Mitch is a contributing writer for Production Automation Corporation. PAC is a factory-direct distributor of products and environmental solutions for industrial and critical requirements within electronics, medical device, life science, pharmaceutical, and general manufacturing industries. Mitch has worked with manufacturing engineers, in-house specialists, and factory experts to highlight and uncover manufacturing solutions. His background includes 3D printing, electronics, and cleanroom manufacturing.

Was this post helpful?

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Right Fluid Dispensing System

Introducing TableWorx™ from Metro

New Weller WATC100 Automatic Tip Cleaner

Search Posts

About Production Automation

Production Automation Corporation (that’s us) is an essential business supplier for medical device, cleanroom, and general manufacturing industries.

All products featured on the PAC blog are available through the www.gotopac.com webstore. Online orders are shipped and fulfilled Monday – Friday from PAC warehouses in California, Minnesota, and Texas.

Production Automation Corporation (PAC) stands 100% behind a product catalog of over 40,000 products, which includes support for factory warranties, value added services, and returns. Get help from a PAC sales rep during business hours via email, phone, or live chat.

Shop Online: www.gotopac.com
Toll Free: (888) 903-0333
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: 8am - 5pm CST