Frequently Asked Question - Cleanroom Section

      Cleanroom Exit Changing Procedures

When leaving a cleanroom, personnel will either (i) discard all their garments and on re-entry use a new set of garments (this is normally only employed in an aseptic pharmaceutical cleanroom), or (ii) discard their disposable items, such as masks and gloves, but reuse their coverall, smock, etc. on re-entry.

If a complete change of clothing is required on re-entry, then the disposable items such as bouffant hats, gloves, facemask and disposable overshoes are placed in a container for disposal. If the remainder of the garments are not disposable then they should be placed in a separate container for dispatch to the cleanroom laundry for processing.

If the garments are to be used again on re-entry, they should be removed so that the outside of the garment is contaminated as little as possible. The cleanroom footwear should be removed, one at a time, at a cross-over bench, as each leg is taken over the bench. The coverall should then be unzipped and removed using the hands within the garment to remove it over the shoulder and down to the waist. In a sitting position, one leg is now removed the garment. The empty arm and leg of the garment should be held so that they do not touch the floor. The other leg can now be removed. The facemask and hood can now be removed.

Garments to be used again on re-entry should be stored to prevent contamination. This can be done in several ways, as follows:

• Each item of clothing can be rolled up. In the case of cleanroom footwear this should be done so that the dirty soles are to the outside. The footwear can now be placed in separate pigeon holes and the hood and coverall (or cap and gown) in another. If thought necessary, the items of clothing can be placed into bags before being put into the pigeon holes.
  
  
• The hood (or cap) can be attached to the outside of the coverall (or gown) by means of a snap (stud) and hung up, preferably in a cabinet. The cleanroom footwear can be placed at the bottom of the cabinet. It is best that their garments should not touch the wall, or each other. In higher grade cleanrooms, clothing is often hung up in unidirectional flow cabinets , specifically designed to ensure that garments are not contaminated.
  
  
• Garment bags can be used. These will have separate pockets for the various clothing items and should be regularly laundered.