25 Jun Hardwall vs Softwall Cleanrooms: What’s the Difference?
Over- or under-engineering a cleanroom can either raise costs carelessly or put compliance at risk. When planning to build a cleanroom (or making a checklist), there are many factors to consider, and one of the most important is whether to use a softwall or hardwall environment. In this guide, we cover what makes each type different (hardwall vs softwall cleanrooms), how each of them is used, and more.
What Are Hardwall Cleanrooms?
A hardwall cleanroom is a controlled environment made of rigid, solid walls. Hardwall spaces can be either traditionally built or modular, but the important part is that they are not soft or flimsy. They are built with materials like aluminum, steel, acrylic, and polycarbonate. Like all other cleanrooms, their purpose is to control contamination to a certain level.
Hardwall cleanrooms are able to create strict environments, but may be used for less strict ones as well. The environment within hardwall cleanrooms is much easier to control than in softwall spaces. And in general, they’re suited for long-term use.
Furthermore, they are used in many different industries. They can be used for pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devices, aerospace manufacturing, semiconductors, electronics, and more.
What Are Softwall Cleanrooms?
Softwall cleanrooms, on the other hand, are controlled environments made from lightweight or “soft” materials, like flexible curtain walls (typically made of vinyl strips). These cleanrooms use a metal frame that’s usually steel or aluminum, and the curtain walls contain the air within the space. They are relatively quick to install, and are often freestanding (or even on wheels [casters]).
Softwall cleanrooms are generally used for less strict environments, such as ISO 7 or ISO 8, partly because they don’t recirculate air. This means that the air which enters makes one pass and then exits the room. Though it’s technically possible to add recirculation, this is not often done because of the cost.
However, all things considered, softwall cleanrooms are the more flexible choice, and are easy to relocate. They are also cheaper than hardwall cleanrooms.
Softwall cleanrooms are used in similar industries as hardwall cleanrooms, but for less important applications, such as packaging, assembly, and early-stage R&D.
Comparing Hardwall vs Softwall Cleanrooms
| Softwall Cleanrooms | Hardwall Cleanrooms | |
|---|---|---|
| Wall Type | Flexible vinyl curtains. | Solid walls (e.g., glass, acrylic, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, aluminum, stainless steel). |
| Flexibility | Flexible, easy to reconfigure. | Slightly less adaptable once installed, but stronger. |
| Cost | Least expensive option. | More expensive due to stricter requirements and materials. |
| Maintenance | Requires more frequent maintenance due to wear and tear. | Requires less maintenance, strong and durable. |
| ISO Classes | Typically used for less strict classes (ISO 7 or ISO 8). | Suitable for the strictest ISO classes, better at particle control. |
| Air Recirculation | Usually no recirculating air. | Can include recirculating air systems. |
The Bottom Line
In short, hardwall cleanrooms are used when you need tight control over the environment, stricter ISO classifications, or long-term use. On the other hand, softwall cleanrooms are better used for short-term projects, smaller budgets, or when flexibility is more important than cleanliness.
Interested in setting up cleanrooms at your location? Reach out to the experts at Allied Cleanrooms to get a quote on new environments today:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Softwall vs Hardwall Cleanrooms
1. Is there a difference in noise levels between hardwall and softwall cleanrooms?
Yes, absolutely. Softwall cleanrooms, given the fact that they are made from lighter materials, will allow more noise to escape to the surrounding environment; curtain walls, as you might expect, don’t insulate sound well. Hardwall cleanrooms can contain noise better because the panels are solid/rigid.
2. Do both types support special environmental controls like humidity and temperature?
Yes, they both can, but hardwall cleanrooms are better for controlling environmental conditions in general. Solid walls can hold temperature and humidity levels much more effectively than the curtain walls of softwall cleanrooms.
3. Are there differences in shipping and assembly between hardwall and softwall cleanrooms?
Yes, softwall cleanrooms are much easier to ship and assemble, as they are made of fewer parts (usually). This also means they’re faster to set up, and often can be completed in a matter of days. Hardwall cleanrooms (if modular), on the other hand, will require more pieces, and will take longer to assemble on-site.