Cost of Cleanliness: Building a Budget-Friendly Modular HEPA Cleanroom

Customized HEPA Cleanrooms Using Modular Office Spaces

Cleanrooms are specially designed spaces used for specific applications where cleanliness and air-quality control are paramount. They’re commonly used for medical research, pharmaceutical packaging, agriculture and food operations, medical device manufacturing, powder coating, and other purposes. They’re built to strict design specifications to accommodate ISO requirements and ensure maximum cleanliness, safety, and infection control. 

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has nine “classes” of cleanrooms with Class 1 being the “cleanest”. Class is decided by the number of particles in the air per cubic foot and the number of air changes per hour. The lower the class number, the cleaner the room, and likely the more costly due to HVAC requirements which can amount to 25% – 50% of the total cleanroom cost. While you may be weighing the costs of integrating a cleanroom into your facility, consider two things: 1. Can you afford not to? 2. A modular HEPA cleanroom can help give you everything you need, and nothing you don’t to help keep within your budget. 

Comparison between selected equivalents of FS 209 and ISO 14644-1

What Types of Cleanrooms Best Suit My Needs? 

There are multiple applications for modular cleanrooms, depending upon your needs, spatial concerns, existing facility footprint, and workflow; however, when it comes to modular hard-wall design, there are two main types, including: 

• Recirculating – Recirculating cleanrooms offer more humidity and temperature control by preventing the air within the room from mixing with the air outside the room. HEPA filters in the ceiling absorb particulates and return chambers in the walls recirculate fresh, clean air back through the room.
• Non-Recirculating – in a non-circulating cleanroom, the air is gathered from above through the HEPA filters in the ceiling, filtered, circulated through the space, and drawn out through small gaps under the walls or through grill vents.
• Positive Pressure – Positive pressure is used in cleanrooms where keeping any possible germs or contaminants out of the cleanroom is important. In the event that there was a door opened, clean air would be forced out of the cleanroom, preventing unfiltered air from being allowed into the cleanroom.
• Negative Pressure – Negative air pressure is used in cleanrooms to keep any possible contamination from escaping the cleanroom. Windows and doors have to be completely sealed. Using a low-pressure system, the air outside the cleanroom flows into the cleanroom instead of air flowing out of the cleanroom.

The United States Department of Energy states that HEPA filters shall exhibit a minimum efficiency of 99.97% when tested with an aerosol of 0.3-micrometer diameter. Both types of cleanroom HEPA filters satisfy these requirements. 

Non-recirculating cleanrooms are generally more budget-friendly because they require no ductwork, but they may not be able to offer the exact level of cleanliness and infection control you require. For reference purposes, some of the more specific types of modular cleanrooms may include, but are not limited to: 

• Automotive Parts Manufacturing  and Aerospace 
• Manufacturing Equipment Enclosures
• Environmental Testing 
• Microelectronics and Nano-Technology Manufacturing
• Research and Development Labs
• Medical Isolation Rooms
• Metrology Labs
• CMM Rooms with Humidity Control

While filtration and quality-control specifications for cleanrooms are standardized, design specifications for modular buildings can vary based on purpose and application. 

Advantages of Modular Cleanrooms vs Standard Build HEPA Cleanroom

Like other types of buildings, a modular HEPA cleanroom offers multiple distinct benefits, including: 

• Fast shipping & installation
• Less costly than fixed wall structures for design, engineering & construction 
• Customizable design & functionality features  
• Easy assembly disassembly /relocation if necessary 
•  Durable, clean construction
• Adaptable to reconfiguration, expansion & modification
• Elevated and two-story structures 

Modular buildings or Inplant offices can also offer more significant tax advantages than fixed wall construction that can help offset initial costs. Since modular buildings are not part of your existing structure, they can be depreciated faster than the building. Talk to your tax professional for explicit guidance on tax laws particular to your state.  

Design Features and Filtration Specifications

Modular cleanrooms can be built to accommodate all 9 ISO classifications and be outfitted with either recirculating or non-recirculating air systems. They are equipped with high-powered HEPA filters or HEPA fan units to maintain particulate-circulation requirements and can include several other customized design feature, such as: 

• Different types of wall surface material 
• Specialized flooring options (heated, anti-static, epoxy, etc.)
• Single, double, and automated doors 
• Air showers, gowning rooms,  and pass-thrus
• Modular lab equipment 

One of the primary advantages of modular HEPA filter cleanrooms is that they can be built to your exact floor plan and specifications so you can save space, save money and get to work quicker. 

Find the Right Modular Cleanroom for Your Needs & Budget with WOI

You don’t have to break the bank to integrate a cleanroom into your facility’s operations. WOI is ready to work with you to identify the exact types of modular office space that will work for your budget and priorities. We offer decades of experience and a team of experienced, qualified professionals to help you get the job done. With our 5-Step Total Satisfaction Experience™, WOI guarantees that we will 1. Listen to your needs, 2. Execute your project with special attention to your unique application, 3. Stick to project timelines, 4. Ensure a safe environment, and 5. Pay close attention to the appearance of the finished product.

The WOI team will walk you through each stage of the process and provide expert customer service to deliver outstanding results and peace of mind. Contact a member of our team today, and let’s chat or Zoom. Call (865) 540-4004 for a prompt response. We proudly serve customers in Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeast.