Cleanroom Operations: Grasping Launderable & Disposable Garment Options

At their core, cleanroom garments are designed to contain viable and non-viable particulates that are released by the operator. It’s estimated that over 70% of cleanroom contamination comes from humans, so choosing the right garments is critical to maintaining your controlled environment.

Cleanroom garments also protect operators from hazardous materials and offer splash protection, however, the main purpose is to serve as a barrier between humans and the critical processes, equipment, and products inside the controlled environment.

Ensure operational efficiency by selecting the optimal mix of launderable and disposable garments for your cleanroom.

In selecting the right type of cleanroom garments, you’ll need to consider a combination of advantages, limitations and tradeoffs.

What’s the Difference Between Launderable and Disposable Cleanroom Garments? 

Both types of cleanroom garments serve the same purpose – minimizing operator-produced contamination and particle shedding.

The primary differences between launderable and disposable garments are in the substrate materials, maintenance requirements, cost and environmental impact.

Like everything used inside a controlled environment, choosing the right launderable or disposable garment, or a combination of both, depends on specific environmental requirements, such as cleanliness levels, number of operators, frequency of use, budget considerations, and type of application.

How Do Launderable Cleanroom Garments Work?

The first step in acquiring reusable, launderable cleanroom garments is deciding if you should lease from a laundry provider, or if you should purchase your own items.

Cleanroom garments can’t just be thrown in a regular washer and dryer – they require specialized equipment and procedures that ensure the materials are cleaned to the highest standards and are packaged in a cleanroom that is compatible with your facility. Because of these requirements, and the high upfront costs of a garment set, in some situations it’s easier to lease garments from a laundry provider so they can handle the cleaning and maintenance.

Leasing Launderable Cleanroom Garments 

Some uniform rental companies have specialized cleanroom segments. These providers have cleanroom garment services that include leasing, cleaning, sterilization, packaging, pickup and delivery.

When leasing reusable cleanroom garments from a specialized vendor, you know your garments are being washed in processing facilities that follow documented ISO Class requirements. Most providers also inspect garments and perform repairs, when necessary, as well as track the number of wash cycles per garment.

The downside to leasing cleanroom garments is that there are typically long-term contractual obligations with fixed monthly charges. This can become costly when the number of users in the cleanroom fluctuates seasonally or from month-to-month. You may be paying for hundreds of sets and only using a few dozen per week.

Customer surveys have revealed that these unbudgeted fees can add an additional 5-25% cost increase to a monthly bill.

Before entering a lease contract, it is important to understand and budget for any “loss, damaged or ruined” charges. Customer surveys have revealed that these unbudgeted fees can add an additional 5-25% cost increase to a monthly bill. When evaluating costs and budgeting for your cleanroom operation, take the time to understand additional fees, and negotiate a “loss, damaged or ruined” charge ceiling. Also take note of the fees associated with terminating a contract prior to the expiration date, for whatever reason. These fees can add up and end up being cost prohibitive.  

It’s also important to confirm the depreciation schedule defined in your contract. Industry research indicates that some laundry providers may not always account for the depreciation of garment sets in their lease programs. As a result, an older garment that may be nearing the end of its wash lifecycle is damaged and users can be charged fees totaling 100% of a new garment cost, even if that garment is a decade old.

Lastly, make sure that all documentation is reviewed thoroughly. Some contracts are “evergreen” – meaning they automatically renew unless a specific contract non-renewal notice is sent to a specific address within a specific time frame.

Garment leasing programs can be an ideal solution for many cleanroom facilities, but it’s crucial to fully understand the terms from the start. This helps prevent any unexpected fees that could diminish the value of the leasing agreement.

Owning Your Launderable Cleanroom Garments

Another option to consider is purchasing and maintaining your own garments. In the industry, this is commonly referred to as “customer-owned goods” (COGs). COGs give you more control, flexibility, and options. You can still contract with a laundry provider of your choice to provide the washing service, or you can invest in your own cleanroom laundry equipment. Although the initial investment of purchasing your own garments is higher than leasing, studies reveal there can be long-term cost savings in certain cases.

When owning your own launderable cleanroom apparel, it’s important to consider that you are responsible for following recommended practices and upholding the integrity of the garment, or finding the right vendor who does.

If you choose to wash your COG in-house, or contract with an outside laundry provider, proper cleanroom laundry procedures must be followed:

• Use a pass-through laundering machine that allows garments to be transferred into an ISO-certified controlled environment to prevent the risk of contamination.
• Track the number of wash cycles, and always inspect garments for tears, holes and other damages.
• Follow manufacturer instructions on washing and drying. These include proper water and drying temperatures, washing and rinse cycle duration, types of heat sources, equipment capacities, etc.
• Use only 18 megohm deionized (DI) water.
• Use only non-ionic detergents designed for cleanroom garments.
• Use a system to track the number of wash cycles and test the garments periodically to validate the material’s performance (air particle testing, filtration efficiency testing, static dissipation testing, etc.).
• Once garments are dry and removed from the pass-through, package them in cleanroom-compatible bags.

Disposable and Limited Use Apparel

You might be thinking this all sounds complicated, and it can be. For those who want to cut out the laundry process altogether, there are a variety of disposable and limited use garments out there.

Disposable garments are typically made from non-woven polypropylene, polyethylene or microporous and can include lab coats, coveralls, sleeves, hoods, masks, bouffant caps, shoe/boot covers beard covers, and more. These products are typically designed for less-stringent controlled environments or for use as undergarments for outer launderable garments in more stringent controlled environments.

Polypropylene and polyethylene apparel is lightweight and breathable, which also means the substrate material isn’t as durable and can only be worn for limited durations.

On the other hand, microporous film-bonded or film-laminated garments are more durable, cleaner (low particle counts), and typically offer barrier protection against non-toxic particulates, liquids, sprays and dust.

Protective barrier technology enhances the durability of limited use garments, allowing them to be worn multiple times across shifts in certain environments without shedding particles, provided they are properly donned, worn, doffed and stored.

The Verdict: Which Cleanroom Garment Solution is Right for You?

Choosing between the best launderable and disposable cleanroom garment program is a decision that hinges on a delicate balance of various factors, including cleanliness level requirements, number of operators, cost, environmental impact, and operational convenience. Each garment option offers distinct advantages and limitations that should align with the specific needs of your controlled environment.

With over 35 years of industry experience, let Valutek be a resource to help you make an informed decision that ensures optimal protection for your processes, products, equipment and personnel while maintaining the integrity of your controlled environment.

EXPLORE MORE RESOURCES:

Cleanroom Apparel Selection Fundamentals: What You Need to Know

Cleanroom Apparel Selection Fundamentals: Cleanliness and Application Requirements

Four Steps to Close the Cleanliness-Comfort Gap in Cleanroom Apparel