What clothes do I have to wear in a clean room — A beginner's guide

The right clothing is crucial to ensure cleanroom cleanliness and prevent contamination. This is not only about protecting the products, but also about the safety of personnel. In this article, you will find out which clothing is necessary in various cleanrooms and why it also plays a major role in your project.

Why is cleanroom clothing important?

Cleanrooms are controlled environments in which even the smallest particles can interfere with processes. Since humans are one of the biggest sources of contamination — through dander, hair or microorganisms — suitable protective clothing is essential. The requirements for this clothing are based on the cleanroom class defined in accordance with ISO 14644-1 is defined: The stricter the class, the more comprehensive the protective measures【1】【2】.

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Clean room clothing: From head to toe

1. Hoods and head covers

The scalp constantly produces dander and sebum, which can get into the air. To prevent this, hoods are mandatory:

• requirements: Scalps must fit snugly and completely cover the hair.
• ISO classes: In ISO 5 and higher class clean rooms, full masks or respiratory protection systems are also used to minimize respiratory air particles【1】【3】.

2. Face masks

Face masks prevent the release of particles through breathing or talking.

• types: Disposable masks or reusable masks with filter functions.
• Practical example: In highly sensitive areas such as microelectronics, respirators with filtration systems are often required【2】【4】.

3. Overalls and coats

The jumpsuit is at the heart of cleanroom clothing and protects the entire body from the release of particles.

• materials: Special antistatic and particle-tight substances.
• ISO classes: In ISO 5 clean rooms, overalls with completely closed seams are mandatory, while in ISO 7 coats may be sufficient.

4. gloves

Hands are one of the biggest sources of contamination as they are constantly in contact with surfaces.

• materials: latex, nitrile or PU-coated fabrics.
• ISO classes: Sterile gloves are required in sensitive areas. They are often worn twice to ensure contamination safety【1】【3】.

5. Shoes and overshoes

The soles of shoes also carry dirt and particles into the clean room.

• requirements: Special cleanroom shoes or shoe covers made from antistatic material.
• ISO classes: In higher grades, overshoes with adhesive strips are required for extra support【2】【4】.

Areas of application and clothing regulations

The requirements for cleanroom clothing vary greatly depending on the industry and application. Here are a few examples that are specifically aimed at our target groups:

• photonics: Complete protection is required when manufacturing laser modules or optical components. This includes overalls, caps and anti-static shoe covers, as dust particles can impair the precision of optical components (ISO 5).
• Microelectronics: Overalls with fully closed seams, gloves and face masks are standard here to protect sensitive circuits from particles and electrostatic discharge. ISO 6 conditions are often sufficient.
• Research laboratories: In research environments, such as in materials science or biotechnology, gowns, bonnets and sterile gloves are usually used. ISO 7 or ISO 8 standards are sufficient for many experiments.

Regardless of the area of application, the following applies: Cleanroom clothing is put on in accordance with defined protocols to prevent contamination of the clean room as soon as it enters.

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Conclusion: Purity starts with clothing

The right cleanroom clothing is not only important protection for products and processes, but also for employees themselves. In fact, it also protects against toxic substances and allergens that can be released in sensitive production processes. From the head cap to the shoes, all components must be carefully selected and regularly checked in order to meet the requirements of the respective ISO class.

If you are unsure which clothing is necessary for your applications, we will be happy to help you with our network of competent partners — so that your cleanroom meets your standards.

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Source citations

1. ISO 14644-1:2015, clean rooms and associated clean room areas — classification of air purity according to particle concentration.
2. ISO 14644-5:2004, clean rooms and associated clean room areas — cleaning and operating practices.
3. Whyte W. (2011), Cleanroom Clothing Requirements for Particulate and Microbial Control. European Journal of Parenteral and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 16 (4).
4. Ljungqvist B., Reinmuller B. (2020), People as a Contamination Source in Pharmaceutical Cleanrooms.

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