
16 Aug What is a Gown Room? Understanding the Basics
Did you know that personnel contribute to around 80% of the contamination found in cleanrooms? This surprising fact underscores the necessity for proper gowning, and by extension, well-functioning gown rooms. In this article, we will cover what exactly a gown room is, what their purpose is, the types of gowning used in cleanrooms, and more.
What is a Gown Room?
A gown room is a special space within a cleanroom where personnel change from their street clothes into sterile attire before entering a controlled environment. It is often divided into a clean and a dirty side (usually marked by a step-over bench), with the dirty side for removal of street clothes and the clean side for putting on cleanroom gowning. The exact gowning procedures, however, will largely depend on what the cleanroom is being used for.
What’s the Purpose of a Gown Room?
As you might expect, the primary purpose of a gown room is to reduce the number of contaminants that may pass into cleaner spaces. As we said before, human beings are one of the most significant sources of contamination; we are shedding particles all the time. This can, of course, compromise the sterility of a cleanroom. By requiring personnel to change into special attire before they enter clean environments, gown rooms act as a sort of buffer or intermediary space.
What Types of Gowning are Used in Cleanrooms?
You may also be wondering what exactly cleanroom gowning consists of. The answer depends, as usual, on the level of cleanliness required by the environment. Typically speaking, gowning attire includes items such as head/hair covers, frocks, face masks, beard covers, gloves, coveralls, boots/boot covers, hoods, and facial enclosures.
In less strict environments, like ISO Class 8, basic gowning might include just head covers, frocks, and boots/boot covers. By contrast, stricter spaces, such as ISO Class 5, may require full-body coveralls, hoods, boots/boot covers, and sterile gloves.
Here is a table to summarize the recommended gowning for each ISO Class. (Please note that this list is not set in stone, and will also depend on how the cleanroom is being used.):
ISO Class | Gowning |
---|---|
ISO Class 8 | Boots/boot covers, head covers, and frocks |
ISO Class 7 | Boots/boot covers, head covers, and frocks |
ISO Class 6 | Boots/boot covers, hoods, beard covers, and gloves |
ISO Class 5 | Boots/boot covers, coveralls, hoods, masks, and gloves |
ISO Class 4 | Boots/boot covers, hoods, coveralls, face masks, and gloves |
Entry and Exit Protocols
Furthermore, every cleanroom will have special entry and exit protocols. The protocol in each gown room will depend on the application of the cleanroom. As a result, we can only speak in general about these procedures.
Upon entry, personnel usually follow a sequence of actions to don their garments properly. This involves selecting the correct size of garments, putting on facemasks, hoods, and coveralls (whatever the ISO class requires), and making sure that all parts of the body are covered. Gloves are often the last item to be put on (if used).
When exiting the cleanroom, personnel either discard all garments or retain some items for reuse, depending again, on how strict the environment is. Extremely strict spaces, such as ISO Class 5 and above, may need to fully discard their garments. If the cleanroom is not as strict, then garments can be cleaned or reused if they are stored properly.
What is a Gown Room? The Bottom Line
In short, gown rooms are intermediary spaces where cleanroom personnel change from their street clothes into special attire. They are used to further reduce possible contamination from particles that people may have brought in with them, and also to act as transitional spaces between progressively cleaner rooms. The entry and exit protocols in gowning rooms will depend largely on the application of the cleanrooms, but in general, they are procedures to keep the environment sterile and personnel safe.
Are you considering adding a gown room to your facility? Reach out to Allied Cleanrooms today to get a free quote on a custom-built solution.
FAQs About Gown Rooms
1. How is a gown room different from an anteroom?
Technically, a gowning room is a type of anteroom. An anteroom is a more general term for a transitional or buffer space. Gowning rooms are specifically designed for changing into cleanroom garments, while anterooms may be used for things like managing air pressure, storing items, or even handwashing.
2. What happens if personnel don’t follow gowning protocol?
Gowning protocol should be taken seriously, as without it, you will likely have a lot more contamination. This can compromise manufacturing and research outcomes, or even create health and safety risks. It is always important to follow the specific gowning procedures outlined in relevant regulations.
3. Do all cleanrooms require a gown room?
No, not all cleanrooms require a gown room, but most do, especially those that operate under strict standards (that is, ISO Class 7 or better).
4. Are gowning procedures/protocols the same across industries?
No, gowning procedures can vary depending on what the cleanroom is being used for. For example, when dealing with hazardous drugs (under USP 800) gowning may include chemotherapy-resistant gloves, respirators, and other kinds of personal protective equipment (PPE).
5. Is it necessary to dispose of cleanroom garments after every use?
As we mentioned above, it’s not always necessary to dispose of cleanroom garments. Whether or not you have to do this depends on the ISO class of the cleanroom and the specific protocols in use. In strictly controlled environments, such as ISO Class 5 or cleaner, garments may be single-use and discarded after each session.
6. Why are step-over benches used in gown rooms?
Step-over benches are used in gown rooms to create a physical barrier between the dirty and clean sides. They are put into place so that personnel do not accidentally bring contaminants from the dirty side, where street clothes are removed, to the clean side, where garments are put on.
7. How often should gowning rooms be cleaned?
Gown rooms should be cleaned regularly, with the frequency depending on the level of contamination control required. High ISO class environments typically require more frequent cleaning. The cleaning process usually includes wiping down surfaces, disinfecting high-touch areas, and ensuring that any debris or contaminants are quickly and properly removed. Cleaning procedures may also differ depending on which regulations the space must follow.