Connect 2 Cleanrooms Evolves Validations with Particles Plus Technology

Since Connect 2 Cleanrooms’ Installation & Validation team has started using Particles Plus particle counters to provide particle counts for cleanroom validations, Mark Jackson, Installation & Validation Manager, reports increased efficiency during validations.

“The handheld Particles Plus units are easy to use, intuitive and robust”, says Jackson.  “Our technicians are confident in programming them to perform the most efficient validation route”. He gives the example of a cleanroom which needs counts at 9 validation locations. Usually locations are numbered consecutively in rows, for example, locations: 1-3 (row 1), 4-6 (row 2), 7-9 (row 3). Particles Plus handheld particle counters allow you to change the location order to provide the quickest route through the cleanroom – increasing efficiency and reducing turbulence. Auto advance allows the Validation Technician to progress automatically to the next programmed location and a delay can be configured to allow them time to move away from the unit once it is in position to prevent them contaminating the counts.

“Our technicians demonstrate these best practice methods to our clients, as ideally, organisations should use a particle counter to perform regular checks to ensure the cleanroom is performing to its ISO class parameters.” Graphs are generated as a visual indication of the history of particles per second in a graph with p/s (y axis) against time (x axis).  Spikes can be annoted and comments saved, i.e. ‘door opened’ or ‘identified broken seal’ for full transparency. “If an unprecedented event occurs which causes counts to spike” continues Jackson, “operators can exclude data if they require.  However in accordance with the ISO 14644 standard, only one exclusion can be made or the test will be validated to protect its integrity”.

It is the technology contained inside the Particles Plus units that really set them apart in the market.  Upon entering a cleanroom’s cubic volume, the unit will calculate how many locations and the sample size which is required, to meet ISO 14644 requirements (GMP or Federal Standard can also be calculated), as well as suggesting the particle sizes to be considered. Up to 50 user-defined recipes can be set, with different sample sizes, delays, location times, etc. For Connect 2 Cleanrooms, these are used for saving different locations for clients for whom validations are performed regularly.  There is also the choice of metric or imperial measurements for the raw data to be extrapolated to, giving them international appeal.

With a number of data extraction options, the data flow can be driven by organisation’s desired communication protocol, rather than limited to the capabilities of the device. Modbus TCP/IP is available as standard, (Modbus 485 and 232 are optional extras), whereas only Particles Plus units offer wireless transfer through Wi-Fi (optional), as well as offering USB to PC or to USB memory stick. The particle counters can hold 45,000 recorded data records simultaneously, which is enough for continuous particle counts (series of 1 minute samples taken with no break in between) to be run for 33 days without having to download data. For its busy installation and validation team, this capacity means Connect 2 Cleanrooms’ client data is protected and not in danger of being over-written prior to it being downloaded.  Data is time stamped to allow full traceability following extraction.

Patented technology offers concurrent interface sessions through the use of multi-core processors, which safeguards data logging, so there are no interruptions to sampling. Also patented is the remote diagnostics and configuration technology, giving the option to provide quick fixes - such as machine data, pump data, laser run time, etc. - without the need to send the unit off.  The performance of the smart batteries can also be analysed through the remote diagnose tool, right down to individual cells and battery temperature.

Jackson says the Li-ion battery provides enough power for Technicians to confidently use the units all week without having to recharge.  In fact, after a full charge, they can take 10.5 hours of continuous sampling.  That is with the screen at full brightness, so with some power saving tactics, such as dimming the screen, it could run even longer. The unit illustrates how much additional battery life can be gained by making these changes. Welcome news for operatives reliant on battery power performance to prevent them from requiring a mid-validation power break.

The counters feature icon driven menus and a large colour 4.3” display with a touch screen interface that today’s users expect from devices.  Jackson likes the way the icons are grouped intuitively and how items such as graphs can be expanded with a single click. The calibration date is also displayed at a touch, so Technicians can quickly check their unit is calibrated.

The comfortable handle, allows ergonomic control and the durable case features laser cut foam to protect the unit during frequent transit.  It houses accessories such as the purge filter, which allows for the unit to be cleaned following use in dirty or toxic environments, and the temperature and humidity sensor. An integrated HEPA filter on the extract ensures no particles are introduced back into the cleanroom during sampling. Spot monitoring is facilitated through the Real-Time Meter™ feature, meaning if a broken seal or perforated filter is allowing contamination to be introduced into a cleanroom, the units help users to pinpoint contamination sources through a visual real-time graph with selectable sensitivity adjustment showing peaks of particle counts per second during sampling.

The handheld units can also be used as a continuous monitoring system, as you can connect them to a network and give them an IP address, which allows live data to be streamed to the PC desktop application or viewed remotely from any internet browser. “This gives organisations the reassurance that its cleanrooms are still achieving the standards they are built to meet, in between validation visits” concludes Jackson.