Frequently Asked Question - Cleanroom Section

      Pre-Change Zones

Within the pre-change zone the following tasks may be carried out:

1. Personnel should remove sufficient street or factory clothes to feel comfortable in the cleanroom. If the company provides dedicated clothing to wear under the cleanroom garments, then all street clothing should be removed and replaced with factory garments.

2.  Watches and rings should be removed. They can harbour dirt, produce chemical and particle contamination, and are liable to tear gloves. Wedding rings that are smooth may be kept on if the ring (and under the ring) is kept clean. Rings that are not smooth can be taped over. Items such as cigarettes and lighters, wallets and other valuables should be securely stored.

3.  Remove cosmetics and, if required, apply a suitable skin moisturiser. The composition of any moisturiser should be considered to ensure that no chemicals used in the formulation cause contamination problems in the product being manufactured.

4.  Don a disposable bouffant hat, or hairnet. This ensures that hair does not stick out from under the cleanroom hood.

5.  Put on a beard cover, if appropriate.

6.  Put on a pair of disposable footwear coverings, or change into dedicated cleanroom shoes.

7.  If a hand washing system is located in this area then wash the hands, dry them and, if necessary, apply a suitable hand lotion. However, it is probably best if hands are washed within the change area just before the clean garments are put on . If gloves are used to put on cleanroom clothing, then hand washing can be done here. In bioclean areas, it will be necessary to wash the hands in a suitable skin disinfectant. Hands can be dried with a non-linting towel or a hand drier. If a hand drier is used then the best type is one that does not disturb the dirt on the floor.

8.  Cross over from the pre-entry area into the change zone. The demarcation between these two zones may be a door or a crossover bench, or both. A sit-on transfer bench may be built across the zones to ensure that personnel cannot walk round but must cross over it. If a bench is used footwear should be attended to as it is crossed. If a bench is not used, then a cleanroom mat or flooring should be used. Personnel should stop at the mat and put their footwear three times to the mat to make certain that it is clean and the minimum of contamination is tracked into the Next zone.