A particle counter for clean room is essential for measuring air quality in a cleanroom, helping manufacturers maintain regulatory compliance and protect product integrity. These devices allow precise monitoring of airborne particles, ensuring the facility consistently meets ISO standards. But how do particle counters work, and which type is best suited for your cleanroom?

Why a Particle Counter for Cleanroom is Essential

Using a cleanroom particle counter is critical for maintaining cleanliness levels in controlled environments. Most facilities require third-party certification at least once per year and rely on internal checks—monthly or weekly—to monitor particle counts. A particle counter measures both the number and size of particles in the air, providing key data to sustain a controlled environment. Without reliable particle counters, facilities risk non-compliance, reduced product quality, and potential contamination incidents

How Particle Counters Work

A typical particle counter for clean room works by drawing a fixed volume of air through a laser chamber, which counts particles across multiple size ranges. The accuracy of measurement improves with larger air samples. Standard devices usually measure particles in five size ranges to classify the cleanroom according to ISO standards.

Types of Cleanroom Particle Counters

There are three main types of particle counters used in cleanroom monitoring:

Handheld Cleanroom Particle Counters

Handheld units, often called portable air particle counters, cost between $1,000 and $3,000. They are useful for qualitative checks, such as identifying major particle sources in a facility. However, their readings can be inconsistent due to challenges in maintaining a fixed height and position during measurement. They are not recommended for formal certification purposes.

Tabletop Cleanroom Particle Counters

Tabletop cleanroom particle counters are the most common choice for modular cleanrooms, costing $6,000 to $11,000. Usually mounted on carts, they can be moved to multiple test points while maintaining a consistent height. These counters provide reliable and repeatable data for regular monitoring and internal quality assurance.

 Fixed Particle Counting Systems

For large or pharmaceutical cleanrooms, fixed particle counting systems offer comprehensive monitoring. These systems, ranging from $20,000 to $100,000, use pumps and piping to collect air samples from multiple locations, providing real-time data for regulatory compliance. Fixed systems are increasingly popular in high-demand cleanroom environments due to their automation and accuracy.

Choosing the Right Particle Counter

Selecting the correct particle counter for clean room depends on the cleanroom’s ISO classification and size. For ISO7 and ISO8 cleanrooms, 0.1 cfm particle counters are generally adequate. For ISO5 and ISO6 cleanrooms, larger 1.0 cfm counters are necessary to ensure accurate measurements. Larger air samples provide more precise data, critical for sensitive manufacturing processes.

Conclusion

A particle counter for clean room is an essential tool for maintaining cleanroom standards across industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, and semiconductor manufacturing. From handheld portable air particle counters to fixed systems, using the right particle counters ensures regulatory compliance, protects product integrity, and supports internal quality assurance. For companies like Wonclean, providing high-quality particle monitoring solutions is key to achieving reliable and safe cleanroom operations.