What is an Air Shower Room?

Air Shower Room
An air shower is a self-contained chamber that utilizes high velocity jets to remove contaminants from someone entering or leaving a cleanroom. They are typically located at a cleanroom’s entrance and exit and connect to a HEPA or ULPA filter system.

The air shower is used to clean gowned personnel before and after they enter a high-class cleanroom, or after exiting a dangerous workspace. This is important because one instance of excess particulate can ruin a batch of pharmaceuticals or cause malfunctioning equipment. The air shower prevents these major issues from happening by eliminating as much particulate as possible before people get into the work space.

In addition to ensuring that all loose particles are removed from the body, an air shower will also eliminate any residual dust left on clothing or footwear. This is done by blowing a continuous stream of high-velocity air over the entire surface of the person in the shower. Then, a second door will open leading into the cleanroom and the person can be allowed to proceed.

Air showers are most commonly used in industries that require a strict level of contamination control. These include electronic manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and biotech where a high level of sanitation is required. They are also often found in laboratory environments that are required to maintain higher biosafety levels.

While there are many different types of air showers on the market, most have similar features. They consist of a body, a centrifugal blower, an air distribution system (HEPA or ULPA filter), and an air nozzle assembly. All of these components are connected to a programmable logic controller, or PLC, which controls the operation of the shower.

Regardless of the type or make of air shower, the goal is always the same: to reduce the amount of particulate that can be blown into a cleanroom by removing loose contaminants from the people in and out of it. This not only helps ensure that products are produced properly, but it can also lower the stress on HEPA filters and other ventilation systems within a cleanroom.

Different air showers vary in size, dimensions and material, but most have a similar design: a self-contained chamber with a blower that is activated when a person enters the room. This is generally attached to an airlock with dual interlocked doors that cannot be opened at the same time.

Once an employee has entered the air shower, the doors will lock and a steady stream of high-velocity air will be blown over their entire surface. This will effectively “scrub” them of all contaminants and leave them contaminant free. Once the second door opens leading into the cleanroom, the employees can then begin their work. The air shower is an integral part of cleanroom operations and has been proven to be effective in reducing particulate build-up within a cleanroom. It can also be used to scrub the surface of any carts or supplies entering a cleanroom.