Clickable areas are briefly highlighted when pages open.
Tap any area to open linked web page, even after highlights fade.
Want to view this catalog again?
Here’s how to add it to your home screen.
When the e-catalogue opens, tap the Share button at the bottom center of the screen.
Scroll down; tap on
Add to Home screen.
Clickable areas are briefly highlighted when pages open.
Tap any area to open linked web page, even after highlights fade.
Want to view this catalog again?
Here’s how to add it to your home screen.
When the e-catalogue opens, tap the 3 dots at the top right corner of the screen.
Scroll down; tap on
Add to Home screen.
Modular Cleanrooms
A - Air Flow Design
(back to chart)
A1 - Laminar Flow/Positive Pressure
Laminar flow air and positive pressure cleanroom design are ideal for non-hazardous, ultra-clean applications. Positive pressure mitigates dirt from entering the cleanroom when opening doors or pass-through chambers. Laminar airflow design ensures that air maintains a singular, uniform direction and velocity from intake to exhaust port. Terra's positive pressure cleanrooms include HEPA filtration systems capable of ISO Class 3 - ISO Class 8 air quality conditions. ULPA filtration units are available for the most sensitive ISO 3 - ISO 5 product applications including pharmaceutical compounding, semiconductor wafer processing, sterile packaging, and micro-nanofabrication.
A2 - Laminar Flow/Negative Pressure
A negative pressure laminar flow cleanroom is best suited for hazardous environments. Particularly, when the product is also sensitive or reactive to chemical, environmental, or particulate contamination. Negative pressure cleanrooms prevent the escape of toxic or hazardous air from the containment structure. Laminar airflow design ensures that air flows without interruption between intake and exhaust, which ensures that sterile or biologically sensitive samples remain pure and unadulterated. Terra's negative pressure cleanrooms provide capable and safe production environments for reducing operator hazards in high-risk applications such as USP 800 compounding, infectious disease research, and chemically intensive processes that require volatile chemical handling.
Terra manufactures and designs cleanrooms to BSL-1 and BSL-2 criteria. Some operations that fall under BSL-2 may require single-pass air that is filtered before being exhausted to the outside; others may allow recirculation of air and release of unfiltered exhaust air.
A3 - Ventilation/Negative Pressure
Negative pressure ventilation rooms are designed for handling chemicals that produce toxic, carcinogenic, or noxious vapors. Reverse-flow FFUs capture particles generated in localized cleanroom spaces to minimize contamination and ensure operator protection. Vapor removal FFUs eliminate trace amounts of VOCs from make-up air to prevent chemical fume contamination. Depending on the application, a containment room may require exit filtration: either HEPA/ULPA filters for particles and aerosols and/or carbon filters to remove chemical fumes.
A4 - Recirculation/Neutral Pressure
A neutral pressure cleanroom system is designed to ventilate environmental nuisances away from the operator; it is not intended to provide personnel or environmental protection against hazardous substances. In some cases, the environment does not require any specific ISO-rated classification, thus the primary purpose is to isolate particulates and aerosols that would otherwise congregate in adjacent areas or corridors. If it is safe to do so, a recirculating cleanroom allows filtration and reintroduction of room air and reduces heating and energy costs. Neutral pressure is the least energy-intensive when compared to positive and negative pressure designs. Recirculating negative pressure cleanrooms are commonly selected for purity testing, weighing, capsulizing, and packaging pharmaceutical powders.
A5 - Horizontal Flow/Positive Pressure
Horizontally configured cleanrooms are advantageous when vertical space and ceiling access is limited or extra tall ceiling requirements. Ceiling height is an important consideration for cleanroom design, especially for large objects found within aerospace, satellite, and telescope manufacturing environments. Horizontal flow cleanrooms introduce air from fan filter units mounted within sidewalls instead of traditional ceiling-mounted blowers. Air moves in parallel with the floor instead of perpendicularly. Air flows from a side-wall integrated with HEPA fan filter units and exits through a parallel wall with an integrated plenum for air return or exhaust. Wall-to-wall laminar airflow is advantageous when handling small parts and liquids which would otherwise be problematic for vertical floor cleanrooms with grated false-flooring.
B - Wall Panel Material
(back to chart)
B1 - Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a golden standard among cleanroom construction materials. Easy cleaning, favorable heat properties, and chemical resistance make stainless an ideal choice for biopharmaceutical and semiconductor environments. The smooth surface is easy to wipe down, resists biofilm buildup, and will not off-gas.
B2 - Powder-Coated Steel
Powder-coated steel is an economical choice that also provides favorable heat and chemical resistance for most applications. Terra’s signature white powder coat finish provides a high quality, durable barrier to protect against corrosion, plus a clean and attractive aesthetic. The advanced heat-fused formulation exceeds ASTM and ISO paint standards to resist chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing.
B3 - Acrylic
Acrylic is widely used in cleanrooms and other critical environment applications. Its low initial cost, lightweight, transparency, and tensile strength makes it an attractive choice in many situations. Terra offers economical acrylic enclosures as a budget-friendly option. While acrylic is fairly durable against UV light and impact-resistant, the material is easily degraded by alcohols and solvents.
B4 - Static Dissipative PVC
Static-Dissipative PVC comes in rigid or flexible material for use on hardwall cleanroom panels or cleanroom curtains, dust covers, microenvironments, and other applications requiring a softer material. Non-dissipative plastics quickly accumulate surface charges that attract contaminants. Dissipative plastics prevent static build-up that attracts airborne particulate and lint fibers, which makes surfaces easier to wipe down. Static-dissipative PVC (SD-PVC) will not hold a static charge, offers wide chemical compatibility, and cleans easily. SD-PVC retains a surface resistivity of 10^6 - 10^8 ohms/square indefinitely unlike spray-on coatings that can wear off after a few years. SD-PVC also resists alcohol and most other sterilizing solutions, thus supporting standard disinfecting procedures and extending the life of your enclosure.
B5 - Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is transparent with a slight gray tint and offers broad-spectrum chemical resistance, high impact resistance, and excellent thermal resistance (to 200°F / 93.3°C). Polycarbonate is stronger and cracks less easily than both acrylic (15x stronger) and glass (250x stronger).
B6 - Polypropylene
Polypropylene is an opaque thermoplastic with excellent chemical resistance against acids and solvents.
B7 - Chlorinated PVC (C-PVC)
Cleanroom chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (C-PVC) wall panels are tested and certified to meet ISO 5 – 8 cleanliness standards. These compressed panels have excellent chemical resistance and prevent particle emission and microbial growth. Their unique solvent-free silicone adhesive allows installation on wallboard substrate creating a strong, rigid structure when mounted to Terra’s steel frame. Welded seams are trim-free, without cracks or gaps. Optional PVC coving is available for floors and corners to further simplify cleaning.
B8 - Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP)
Class A and C FRP panels feature a unique non-outgassing advanced polymer adhesive for installation on drywall or other substrates. A specialized seam sealant provides trim-free seams that expand and contract to accommodate temperature-induced dimensional changes without creating cracks or gaps. A patented surfacing technology seals panels uniformly to enhance durability and prevent particle emission and microbial growth.
B9 - Tempered Glass
Tempered cleanroom glass is a type of safety glass processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared with normal glass. Tempered glass is not only impact resistance, but also ideal for its high visual clarity and aesthetic. Glass wall cleanrooms allow easy monitoring of operators and processes within the cleanroom and tend to appear larger and more spacious. Tempered glass is non-outgassing and chemical-resistant, making it ideal for frequent decontamination.
B10 - Vinyl Curtains
Cleanroom vinyl curtains are lightweight and rapidly installable for creating room partitions, isolating equipment and processes, or mobile isolation when configured with wheel casters. Curtain strips are available in either 4' -wide softwall panels made of blur-free 40 mil vinyl or 8” -wide strip curtains made of blur-free 60 mil vinyl. Static-Dissipative PVC vinyl includes built-in static inhibitors and is recommended for all cleanrooms to minimize particle cling. A T-Grid Mounting System allows suspension of curtains or strip shields from Terra's cleanroom ceiling grid.
B11 - Modesty Panels
Modesty panels provide the combined benefits of natural light while also maintaining a degree of privacy. These panels are ideal for multi-level cleanroom mezzanines that require additional office space or unclassified storage. Modesty panels include an opaque lower panel and upper panel of transparent glass or cleanroom-rated plastic such as polycarbonate or static dissipative PVC. A solid lower panel provides a balance of privacy while the transparent window allows the introduction of natural light and tends to make the space appear larger and less constricted.
B12 - Insulated Panels
A double-wall, insulated wall panel promotes a stable environment for long-term sample storage, cell cultivation, or high-volume process equipment. Terra's double-wall insulated panels are adaptable to the customer’s temperature range specifications and application requirements including cold rooms, incubation, and sound isolation. Double-wall construction with 1”-thick polyurethane insulation enhances cleanroom heating/cooling efficiency and thermal stability. Rigid foam insulation paired with a climate control system provides better temperature stability for applications that require raised flooring for true laminar flow. Double-wall structure allows air to circulate through the inter-wall plenum which further increases filtration and A/C efficiency in high-performance applications.
B13 - Center-Mount Panels With Mirror-Finish Steel Brackets
Most of Terra’s competitors affix the cleanroom wall panels directly to the frame (mounted on the internal or external side of the frame. With this design, replacing cleanroom wall panels is a cumbersome task and requires cleanroom shutdown. If the panels are affixed externally to the frame, installing coved flooring is virtually impossible and the customers are tasked with sterilizing the frame along with all of its crevices. If the panels are mounted internally, the customer loses precious cleanroom space. If the flooring is coved to the internal panels, the customer loses even more space. Terra’s center-mount panel design alleviates these issues.
C - Frame Material
(back to chart)
C1 - Stainless Steel (<20% or -5" Hg)
Unlike most competitors who offer only aluminum extruded frames, Terra Universal provides steel and stainless steel frame materials that maintain structural integrity far longer than aluminum under fire conditions. Terra Universal’s BioSafe stainless steel cleanrooms may be ideal for sterile applications since they are not affected by harsh wash-down chemicals.
Double-Wall Steel Panels
Double-wall panels, available in 304/316 stainless or powder-coated steel, create a freestanding structure for affixing a ceiling grid. Each panel consists of an inside and outside portion, which are joined by a compression ball-and-socket fastener. Once joined, the walls can be detached by means of magnetic-grip handles (not included). The hollow space created by these panels provides a convenient installation zone for electrical conduit, gas, and vacuum service line enhancing systems, cleanliness, and appearance. In controlled temperature applications, this void may be insulated to optimize thermal stability and reduce energy costs.
All Steel BioSafe Cleanrooms
Terra’s all-steel BioSafe® Modular Cleanroom creates a rigid, self-supporting structure without a separate frame or external bracing, a key advantage over other designs that require special permitting and contractor installation.
316L Stainless steel contains the same corrosion-resistant materials as 316 but includes the added benefit of lower carbon content—eliminating the opportunity for excessive metallic contamination and making cracking less likely. Both 316 and 316L can withstand chlorides and chlorinated solutions, such as Spor-Klenz® and Isopropyl Acetate.
C2 - Powder-Coated Steel
Terra's powder-coated steel cleanroom frames support free-standing softwall spans of up to 20 feet without internal posts or ceiling suspension cables. If necessary, reinforcements are provided for high-clearance, long-span rooms. Reinforcements ensure stability and additional seismic requirements for particle-sensitive samples and analytical instruments.
- Excellent for cleanroom applications
- Good weather resistance
- Good mechanical properties
- Good chemical resistance
- Excellent UV protection
- Good storage stability
- Underwriter Laboratories recognized component (UL approved)
D – Standard Components
(back to chart)
D1 - Filter Fan Units (FFUs)
Terra’s WhisperFlow® FFU’s feature UL-listed components and built-in baffles that quietly produce uniform laminar airflow across the face of the filter. UL-listed products meet the highest manufacturing standards and reduce the risk of damage, injuries, and electrical hazards.
Smart® Fan Filter Units with EC Motors provide annual energy savings of nearly $500 per fan filter unit. The control card features industry-standard MODBUS® networking, precision speed control (1-100%), and closed-loop control capability for air pressure, airflow, and particle count sensors.
Terra fan filter unit housings are configurable for room-side replaceable, explosion-proof, heated, and low-profile configurations. The same high performance fan filter units are found throughout Terra products including cleanrooms, laminar flow hoods, and containment systems. Filter fan units are stocked, pre-tested, crated, and ready for immediate shipment from Terra's distribution centers.
- Explosion-proof fan filter units are rated for hazardous areas and reduce fire or explosion risks
- Reverse flow fan filters evacuate contaminated air.
- Portable HEPA fan filter units allow rapid deployment and filtration of stagnant air.
D2 - LED Lights
Terra's LED flat panel troffer lights include dimmable brightness and 5 selectable color temperatures to achieve the perfect balance of light including 3000K / 3500K / 4000K / 5000K / 6500K. When paired with Terra's cleanroom control panels, lighting control is available from a centralized location out of the cleanroom. Terra's power distribution modules (PDMs) allow connection of lighting and fan filter via quick connections that do not require hardwiring. LED panels are available with integrated backup batteries that allow for up to an hour of continued visibility in the case of a power failure.
D3 - Control Panels
Cleanroom Control Panels centralize control of cleanroom lighting, power, fan speed, and assignable groups.
Standard Control Panels provide central control and connection of lights and filters. A Fan Filter Replacement Alarm provides a reliable, quantitative method for determining when a HEPA filter requires replacement. An optional Night Service Switch drops all Fan/Filter Units (FFUs) into a low-energy mode for nights and weekends.
Smart® Control Panels connect to EC FFUs for individual or grouped fan control and remote monitoring of room differential pressure, particle counts, temperature, and humidity. Robust systems offer advanced control for up to 200 fan filter units and 16 independently controlled rooms.
D4 - Power Distribution Modules (PDMs)
PDMs allow the addition of ceiling fan/filter units and lights to meet any cleanliness requirement or to upgrade ISO levels or lighting levels after installation. Terra’s PDMs use 3-pin or 4-pin quick connect fittings to power all FFUs, and lights, no matter the cleanroom size. Hardwiring is only required to connect the Primary, Secondary, Booster, and Duplex PDM modules. Because no additional hard wiring is required to connect and disconnect power to additional lights and fan filters, contractors save time, money, and resources during cleanroom installation, expansion, or modification.D5 - Doors
Standard doors with aluminum frames are available in either single or double door configurations and a choice of acrylic or static-dissipative PVC panels.
Swing doors are either Left Hand Reverse (LHR) or Right Hand Reverse (RHR) when viewed from outside the cleanroom (dirty side) to minimize particulate impact on the cleanroom when the door opens.
Cleanroom doors on prehung frames install easily for negative or positive pressure cleanrooms. Choose from swing-out or sliding doors that are UL leak-rated and suitable for ISO 4 - ISO 8 environments.
BioSafe® 316L stainless steel doors have continuous seam welds for sterile and aseptic environments. Terra's BioSafe products forgo cracks and crevices known to harbor particles and microbes. Dual-pane, flush-mount windows minimize horizontal surfaces and crevices where contaminants collect.
Fire-rated doors include insulated double stainless steel walls, wire-free construction, and a fire-rated glass-ceramic viewing window that is impact resistant.
D6 - Windows
Terra's cleanroom windows are compatible with any cleanroom wall material or thickness and designed for compliance within healthcare, pharmaceutical, and GMP manufacturing applications. These easy-to-clean, hygienic windows enhance the visibility of operations and foot traffic without jeopardizing GMP design standards.
Flush-mount cleanroom windows easily and seamlessly install into modular and stick-built cleanrooms and labs. Developed specifically for aseptic requirements in bio-pharmaceutical and cGMP cleanrooms, these hygienic cleanroom windows bring more light and visibility to your workspace without compromising cleanliness requirements. Choose from easy-to-clean framed or frameless stainless steel designs. Fire-rated cleanroom window designs meet building code requirements to protect your employees, operations, and business.
D7 - Filter Replacement Alarm System
Fan filter replacement alarms provide automatic replacement alerts to avoid costly and unexpected operational interruptions. Alarms trigger an audible buzzer when differential pressure reaches an adjustable setpoint. Alarms provide a reliable method for establishing fan filter replacement intervals while also reducing the risk of electrical/fire hazards caused by overworked motors pushing against overloaded HEPA filters.
BioSafe® cleanroom windows include compression fittings for fast, hardware-free installation. Framed and frameless designs are compliant with BSL-rated rooms and ISO 4-compliant spaces.
Related: Cleanroom Window Types and Flushmount Advantages
E – Compatible Cleanroom Class
(back to chart)
ISO 14644-1 is a document issued by the International Standards Organization which classifies a controlled environment into six categories of air cleanliness. ISO 14644-1 supersedes previous standards for cleanroom testing and validation such as Federal Standard 209E (FS209E). While references to FS209E are still used, ISO 14644-1 is internationally endorsed for testing and validating a cleanroom that meets FDA, USP, GMP, CGMP, or EU standards. An ISO 14644-1 cleanroom is classified on a scale between ISO Class 3 to ISO Class 8. The ISO class for a particular room is determined for the entire room and not for individual components or materials.
Terra hardwall and BioSafe cleanrooms are configurable for the cleanest ISO 3 - 5 applications including wafer fabrication, microelectronics, nanotechnology, and sterile or biologically sensitive processes. Most industries fall within ISO 6 - ISO 8 cleanroom requirements including medical devices, general manufacturing, electronics assembly, food/beverage, and particulate or aerosol enclosures. Terra's modular hardwall configurations are available in steel, stainless steel, and plastic panels for ISO 5 - ISO 8 spaces with precise particulate and climate control requirements. ValuLine Softwall Modular Cleanrooms configurations are economical for less intensive or non-classified environments and available with preconfigured and ready-to-ship options.
F – Air Conditioning
(back to chart)
F1 - Temperature
Terra will work with a local HVAC contractor to provide an air control system that meets your cooling requirements and local codes. If the existing HVAC system cannot be used, Terra will provide the ducting and recirculation system that routes exhaust air to the compressor and delivers cool air to the ceiling FFUs in ample volume to maintain the desired air velocity inside the enclosure. Additional Cleanroom A/C Module provides economical cooling in facilities without adequate HVAC. Based on the cleanroom size, desired temperature, and heat dissipated inside the cleanroom, Terra will configure the appropriate number of AC units required for the space. With larger cleanrooms, Terra works with a local contractor to install a split A/C system, which moves the heat-generating compressor outside the building to reduce heat loads inside the facility.
F2 - Humidification
Terra’s Ultrasonic Humidifier is designed to be a turnkey system as an addition to your cleanroom. Simply place and rest the unit on an open 2’x4’ ceiling grid from above the cleanroom. No fasteners or gaskets are required to secure the unit in place. The system uses five ultrasonic transducers to generate mist and operates on only 150W, less power than conventional steam canister humidifiers. Humidification and dehumidification modules are controlled by a humidistat independent of the thermostat. The Ultrasonic Humidifier comes with a remote control to turn on the unit and set your desired RH levels (up to 100% RH).
F3 - Dehumidification
Cleanroom Dehumidification Modules use silica gel desiccant housed in a rotor to produce dry airflow.
F4 - AC Module Interface
Air Conditioning Modules provide economical cooling in facilities without adequate HVAC. Air Conditioning Modules incorporate dehumidification circuitry and are controlled by a humidistat independent of the thermostat. The unit includes a powder-coated steel air distribution plenum mounted to the external cleanroom wall, which provides conditioned air to up to six FFUs.
Terra can provide custom HVAC modules that operate similarly to an environmental test chamber, adjusting the supply air's temperature and humidity to maintain specific conditions within tight tolerances. This type of system is particularly useful when the environment immediately outside of the cleanroom experiences significant fluctuations in temperature or relative humidity.
G – Environmental Monitoring
(back to chart)
Smart® Fan Filter Power & Control Panels centralize control over assignable groups or specific targets when conducting cleanroom pressure-balancing, troubleshooting, or maintenance. An upgraded Smart Control System allows additional environmental sensors and FFU control to meet critical performance/monitoring requirements. A control panel assembly includes power controls for the Fan/Filter Units, lights, and is configurable for other integrations including temperature, humidity, particle counts, differential pressure, and air velocity sensors.
G1 - Temperature
Terra's thermometers, hygrometers, and data recording instruments help monitor, control, and document environmental conditions in your cleanroom or laboratory. Temperature, dew point, and humidity monitoring are essential for products with known sensitivities to heat, environmental drift, static, or trace moisture. Terra Universal provides decades of field-proven expertise and a wide selection of thermometers and sensors for complete room monitoring.
G2 - Humidity
Many labs and cleanrooms choose to maintain a 30% RH level. Anything more than that may cause other issues, such as damage to moisture-sensitive materials. Every Terra cleanroom is available with integrated sensors and monitoring equipment for measuring and recording relative humidity values within the cleanroom.
G3 - Differential Pressure
Magnehelic® Differential Pressure Gauges monitor room-to-room pressure or filter back-pressure. Digital and alarm models are available for activating alerts when pressures fall out of specification.
G4 - Particle Counting
Particle counters are available as standalone handheld units for spot-checking and validation, or as built-in modules for remote monitoring after connection to a centralized building management system (BMS) such as MODBUS.
H – Ventilation & Contaminate Control
(back to chart)
H1 - False Ceiling Exhaust
False Ceiling Exhaust: Use of a plenum mounted above the drop ceiling to divert air away from the work area. A false ceiling exhaust includes an array of ceiling-mounted reverse flow fan filter units. Reverse fan filter designs remove air from the work environment and port to an outside environment or dedicated HVAC exhaust. Reverse flow fan filter units mount to the ceiling grid and are available with integrated blowers, or with motorless designs for connection to a remote HVAC blower.
H2 - False Floor Exhaust (Complete Laminarity)
False Floor Exhaust: Raised grated or air-permeable flooring with bottom plenum underneath to achieve full airflow laminarity. False floor exhaust systems, also known as pass through floor exhausts, feature a grated flooring that provides unidirectional airflow and passage of contaminated air. Raised flooring is common for semiconductor applications and ideal for cleanroom classifications below ISO 5 to optimize vertical laminar flow.
p - Floor-Mounted Exhaust
Floor-Mounted Exhausts use side-wall plenums and floor-mounted air handlers to divert air away from the work area. The plenum is mounted directly to the frame and connects to ceiling ducts that exhaust air from the negative pressure room. Floor mount exhausts include internal airflow baffles to smooth corner flow and a pass vent at the bottom with an optional fixed position damper. Containment (negative pressure) rooms require customer furnished in-house exhaust systems capable of pulling the air volume required to create adequate negative pressure
H4 - Biosafety Levels I & II
Biosafety Level 1 is specified as work with well-characterized agents that are known to cause disease in healthy, non-immunocompromised adults. Special containment practices and devices are generally not required, but institutional laboratory practices must be implemented to reduce risk to laboratory personnel.
Biosafety Level 2 is specified as work that poses moderate hazards to personnel and the environment. Research or diagnostic activities that are administered with pathogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus or Salmonella, fall into this category. This Biosafety Level builds upon Biosafety Level 1; all of the precautions and practices spelled out in Biosafety Level 1 must be followed in addition to those found in Biosafety Level 2. Special containment practices and devices are generally required to mitigate risk to laboratory personnel.
I – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
I1 - Ion Bars
Ionization bars neutralize electrostatic charges, a common requirement for mixing, packaging, or high-speed assembly lines. Static ionizing bars remove errant charges and have special importance for products with insulative properties.
I2 - Air Curtains
Air curtains produce a jetstream of ULPA Class 10 micro-filtered air at the entry and exit points of a controlled environment. Air curtains are ideal when doors are frequently opened or for doorless entryways. Operating modes include either motion sensor activation with adjustable delay or continuous operation.
I3 - Uninterrupted Power Supply
An uninterrupted power supply (UPS) is only used to maintain power in the cleanroom for a brief time during an unanticipated power outage. A UPS guarantees uninterrupted visibility inside a cleanroom in the event of power loss and provides power for one light (LED or fluorescent) for one hour.
I4 - Cleanroom Emergency Lights
The cleanroom emergency light is an LED light with a backup battery that will remain on during a power outage so employees can see well enough to shut down operations, secure any sensitive products, and evacuate safely in the case that power cannot be immediately restored.
The LED light has a red/green indicator to inform employees after power has returned and the cleanroom is safe to re-enter. When receiving power, the light both operates normally and charges the emergency battery.
I5 - Germicidal UV Lights
UV sanitizing modules affix to the cleanroom ceiling grid to neutralize bacteria, viruses, and mold spores. UV light is particularly effective when targeting resistant bacteria, mold/fungal spores, and gram-negative microbes. The UV-C Germicidal Lamps install on a cleanroom ceiling grid for line-of-sight room disinfection. A safety occupancy sensor switches off the UVC lighting to prevent radiation exposure when occupied.
I6 - Fire Detection System
Terra provides fire detection and suppression systems ideal for wet benches, exhaust fume lines, and locations involving volatile chemicals. Terra cleanrooms support traditional sprinkler and heat sensor configurations or CO2-based suppression systems. The FS System 7 is an integrated fire detection and CO2 suppression system that includes electro-optical sensors for detecting any type of hydrocarbon or non-hydrocarbon fire, even through gas or vapor. A dual-stage alarm triggers an early warning for fires too small to be sensed by overhead sprinklers. An intelligent multi-stage response system prevents the damaging effects of fire suppression in the case that a small fire self-extinguishes or is suppressed rapidly. Terra engineers work with you to determine the fire suppression system appropriate for your requirements and local fire codes.
I7 - Fingerprint Scanner
Biometric fingerprint scanners prevent unauthorized access via shared keys or passwords while also providing data logging capability. An integrated proximity card reader enables two-factor authentication.
I8 - Iris Scanner
Fully automated iris scanner for secure, hands-free access (includes data logging and optional secondary keycard reader).
I9 - Keycard Reader
Keycard readers provide a durable and economical method for maintaining secured keycard access within a cleanroom facility. The low-profile device reads cards up to 3" away and integrates with access control software for data logging and remote monitoring.
I10 - Pass Through
General-Use Pass-Through Chambers are an economical choice for non-sterile items with a low risk of cross-contamination potential including samples, fluids, tools, packaging, or documents.
ValuLine™ Pass-Through Chambers are configurable with economical black acrylic, chemical resistance polypropylene, or stainless steel for unmatched cleanliness and durability within cleanrooms.
BioSafe® Pass-Through chambers with continuous seam welds eliminate hard-to-clean cracks and crevices that can harbor particles and germs. CleanSeam™ design conceals the door interlock mechanism behind the chamber’s wall for a completely unobstructed, easy-to-clean chamber interior.
I11 - Talk Through
Communication and vocal clarity are critical for successful outcomes within cleanrooms, laboratory, and hospital isolation environments. Mechanical and electronic talkthroughs allow easier communication between internal partitions or outside areas of the cleanroom. Both the mechanical and electronic talk throughs include cleanroom-grade components and are easy to mount in either a stick-built cleanroom wall or Terra hardwall modular cleanroom.
I12 - Interlocking Doors
Interlocking doors are common for passthrough chambers and air showers. The interlock prevents doors on either side of the enclosure from opening at the same time. Single side access helps to maintain airflow cascades between rooms of differing pressure and limits room pressure loss after opening and closing of doors.
J – Services
(back to chart)
J1 - Cleanroom Installation
Terra Universal is one of few cleanroom manufacturers to provide in-house engineering, in-house design services, and in-house component manufacturing from a single source. While most contractors rely on external engineering teams for drafting and floorplanning, Terra reduces layers of communications and simplifies facility planning and construction to a single point of contact. If requirements change, our modular design allows you to add filters, lighting, ionization, or additional floor space—all at a fraction of the cost you'd face with other systems.
J2 - White Glove Delivery
Terra Universal provides specialized freight service on a per-project basis. Extended delivery options include inside delivery and delivery after business hours. Terra is committed to ensuring the timely and safe delivery of your product. Terra provides product on-site placement and assembly services for facilities that lack the necessary equipment or expertise during the installation and startup process. Our shipment consolidation services provide our customers extended control over shipment and delivery dates by streamlining pickup and delivery times. In-transit freight consolidation ensures pickup and shipment of items at prespecified times. Items are transported from the factory as needed or held at a consolidation terminal for later delivery to the end destination within a prespecified time window.
J3 - FasTrak Expedited Production
Terra's FasTrak limited guarantee is to ship on or before the date specified or to refund up to 100% of FasTrak charges on the client's approved request. This guarantee does NOT cover direct, special, consequential, or other damages and is strictly limited to 100% of the amount paid for FasTrak service.
J4 - Cleanroom Certification
Terra Universal is the leading expert in the design and fabrication of critical environment applications. Terra offers end-to-end certification and testing services for cleanrooms, hoods, glove box isolators, biosafety cabinets, and lab equipment. Services include HEPA leak testing, airflow velocity, airborne particle counting, room pressurization, airflow visualization, ASHRAE 110, and volatile organic compound testing.
J5 - Cleanroom Equipment Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
Terra Universal provides comprehensive, turnkey equipment validation packages on a per-project basis. Contact your Terra Universal product specialist to discuss project-specific requirements with our validation engineering team.
Services include:
- Installation Qualification
- Olierational Qualification
- lierformance Qualification
- Construction Qualification
- Factory Accelitance Testing
- Site Accelitance Testing
- User Requirement Sliecification
- Statement of Work
- Feasibility Study
J6 - Decontamination and Cleaning
The Terra Universal network includes trusted vendors for deep micro-cleaning after commissioning and regular cleaning services on a monthly, weekly, or as-needed basis. Through our critical environment cleaning professionals and the use of innovative technology, we make certain your cleanroom environment meets or exceeds the industry’s highest regulations for contamination control, maintenance and safety. We offer comprehensive decontamination service packages for a multiverse of cleanroom applications, gown rooms, vivariums, biomedical facilities, laboratories, and cold/dry rooms.
J7 - USP <797> Consultation
Terra Universal provides uncompromising informational and consultative support for USP 797 and USP 800 compliance. If applicable, Terra will offer a 60-minute phone call with staff compounding pharmacist (CPHA Policy Committee member) Dr. Chris Munoz. Terra USP compounding suites include (as requested) custom cleanroom drawings outlining dimensions, layout, and placement of HEPA filters.
Due to high demand for this consultation and the scope of service provided, Terra must require an up-front consultation fee that will be applied to the purchase of a Terra USP cleanroom; however, even those who do not purchase from Terra will receive cost-saving guidance far exceeding the price of this bundle.
J8 - Seismic Structural Analysis
Terra’s modular cleanrooms are designed with seismic safety in mind. Rigid steel frames and ceiling grids are designed with sufficient factors of safety to provide vertical and lateral strength recommended by professional engineers. Both hardwall and softwall designs can be installed to adhere to local seismic codes. Optional seismic and structural calculations can be drafted and stamped by a licensed PE to help meet municipal permitting requirements.
Hardwall Cleanrooms
A - Air Flow Design
(back to chart)
A1 - Laminar Flow/Positive Pressure
Laminar flow air and positive pressure cleanroom design are ideal for non-hazardous, ultra-clean applications. Positive pressure mitigates dirt from entering the cleanroom when opening doors or pass-through chambers. Laminar airflow design ensures that air maintains a singular, uniform direction and velocity from intake to exhaust port. Terra's positive pressure cleanrooms include HEPA filtration systems capable of ISO Class 3 - ISO Class 8 air quality conditions. ULPA filtration units are available for the most sensitive ISO 3 - ISO 5 product applications including pharmaceutical compounding, semiconductor wafer processing, sterile packaging, and micro-nanofabrication.
A2 - Laminar Flow/Negative Pressure
A negative pressure laminar flow cleanroom is best suited for hazardous environments. Particularly, when the product is also sensitive or reactive to chemical, environmental, or particulate contamination. Negative pressure cleanrooms prevent the escape of toxic or hazardous air from the containment structure. Laminar airflow design ensures that air flows without interruption between intake and exhaust, which ensures that sterile or biologically sensitive samples remain pure and unadulterated. Terra's negative pressure cleanrooms provide capable and safe production environments for reducing operator hazards in high-risk applications such as USP 800 compounding, infectious disease research, and chemically intensive processes that require volatile chemical handling.
Terra manufactures and designs cleanrooms to BSL-1 and BSL-2 criteria. Some operations that fall under BSL-2 may require single-pass air that is filtered before being exhausted to the outside; others may allow recirculation of air and release of unfiltered exhaust air.
A3 - Ventilation/Negative Pressure
Negative pressure ventilation rooms are designed for handling chemicals that produce toxic, carcinogenic, or noxious vapors. Reverse-flow FFUs capture particles generated in localized cleanroom spaces to minimize contamination and ensure operator protection. Vapor removal FFUs eliminate trace amounts of VOCs from make-up air to prevent chemical fume contamination. Depending on the application, a containment room may require exit filtration: either HEPA/ULPA filters for particles and aerosols and/or carbon filters to remove chemical fumes.
A4 - Recirculation/Neutral Pressure
A neutral pressure cleanroom system is designed to ventilate environmental nuisances away from the operator; it is not intended to provide personnel or environmental protection against hazardous substances. In some cases, the environment does not require any specific ISO-rated classification, thus the primary purpose is to isolate particulates and aerosols that would otherwise congregate in adjacent areas or corridors. If it is safe to do so, a recirculating cleanroom allows filtration and reintroduction of room air and reduces heating and energy costs. Neutral pressure is the least energy-intensive when compared to positive and negative pressure designs. Recirculating negative pressure cleanrooms are commonly selected for purity testing, weighing, capsulizing, and packaging pharmaceutical powders.
A5 - Horizontal Flow/Positive Pressure
Horizontally configured cleanrooms are advantageous when vertical space and ceiling access is limited or extra tall ceiling requirements. Ceiling height is an important consideration for cleanroom design, especially for large objects found within aerospace, satellite, and telescope manufacturing environments. Horizontal flow cleanrooms introduce air from fan filter units mounted within sidewalls instead of traditional ceiling-mounted blowers. Air moves in parallel with the floor instead of perpendicularly. Air flows from a side-wall integrated with HEPA fan filter units and exits through a parallel wall with an integrated plenum for air return or exhaust. Wall-to-wall laminar airflow is advantageous when handling small parts and liquids which would otherwise be problematic for vertical floor cleanrooms with grated false-flooring.
B - Wall Panel Material
(back to chart)
B1 - Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a golden standard among cleanroom construction materials. Easy cleaning, favorable heat properties, and chemical resistance make stainless an ideal choice for biopharmaceutical and semiconductor environments. The smooth surface is easy to wipe down, resists biofilm buildup, and will not off-gas.
B2 - Powder-Coated Steel
Powder-coated steel is an economical choice that also provides favorable heat and chemical resistance for most applications. Terra’s signature white powder coat finish provides a high quality, durable barrier to protect against corrosion, plus a clean and attractive aesthetic. The advanced heat-fused formulation exceeds ASTM and ISO paint standards to resist chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing.
B3 - Acrylic
Acrylic is widely used in cleanrooms and other critical environment applications. Its low initial cost, lightweight, transparency, and tensile strength makes it an attractive choice in many situations. Terra offers economical acrylic enclosures as a budget-friendly option. While acrylic is fairly durable against UV light and impact-resistant, the material is easily degraded by alcohols and solvents.
B4 - Static Dissipative PVC
Static-Dissipative PVC comes in rigid or flexible material for use on hardwall cleanroom panels or cleanroom curtains, dust covers, microenvironments, and other applications requiring a softer material. Non-dissipative plastics quickly accumulate surface charges that attract contaminants. Dissipative plastics prevent static build-up that attracts airborne particulate and lint fibers, which makes surfaces easier to wipe down. Static-dissipative PVC (SD-PVC) will not hold a static charge, offers wide chemical compatibility, and cleans easily. SD-PVC retains a surface resistivity of 10^6 - 10^8 ohms/square indefinitely unlike spray-on coatings that can wear off after a few years. SD-PVC also resists alcohol and most other sterilizing solutions, thus supporting standard disinfecting procedures and extending the life of your enclosure.
B5 - Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is transparent with a slight gray tint and offers broad-spectrum chemical resistance, high impact resistance, and excellent thermal resistance (to 200°F / 93.3°C). Polycarbonate is stronger and cracks less easily than both acrylic (15x stronger) and glass (250x stronger).
B6 - Polypropylene
Polypropylene is an opaque thermoplastic with excellent chemical resistance against acids and solvents.
B7 - Chlorinated PVC (C-PVC)
Cleanroom chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (C-PVC) wall panels are tested and certified to meet ISO 5 – 8 cleanliness standards. These compressed panels have excellent chemical resistance and prevent particle emission and microbial growth. Their unique solvent-free silicone adhesive allows installation on wallboard substrate creating a strong, rigid structure when mounted to Terra’s steel frame. Welded seams are trim-free, without cracks or gaps. Optional PVC coving is available for floors and corners to further simplify cleaning.
B8 - Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP)
Class A and C FRP panels feature a unique non-outgassing advanced polymer adhesive for installation on drywall or other substrates. A specialized seam sealant provides trim-free seams that expand and contract to accommodate temperature-induced dimensional changes without creating cracks or gaps. A patented surfacing technology seals panels uniformly to enhance durability and prevent particle emission and microbial growth.
B9 - Tempered Glass
Tempered cleanroom glass is a type of safety glass processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared with normal glass. Tempered glass is not only impact resistance, but also ideal for its high visual clarity and aesthetic. Glass wall cleanrooms allow easy monitoring of operators and processes within the cleanroom and tend to appear larger and more spacious. Tempered glass is non-outgassing and chemical-resistant, making it ideal for frequent decontamination.
B10 - Vinyl Curtains
Cleanroom vinyl curtains are lightweight and rapidly installable for creating room partitions, isolating equipment and processes, or mobile isolation when configured with wheel casters. Curtain strips are available in either 4' -wide softwall panels made of blur-free 40 mil vinyl or 8” -wide strip curtains made of blur-free 60 mil vinyl. Static-Dissipative PVC vinyl includes built-in static inhibitors and is recommended for all cleanrooms to minimize particle cling. A T-Grid Mounting System allows suspension of curtains or strip shields from Terra's cleanroom ceiling grid.
B11 - Modesty Panels
Modesty panels provide the combined benefits of natural light while also maintaining a degree of privacy. These panels are ideal for multi-level cleanroom mezzanines that require additional office space or unclassified storage. Modesty panels include an opaque lower panel and upper panel of transparent glass or cleanroom-rated plastic such as polycarbonate or static dissipative PVC. A solid lower panel provides a balance of privacy while the transparent window allows the introduction of natural light and tends to make the space appear larger and less constricted.
B12 - Insulated Panels
A double-wall, insulated wall panel promotes a stable environment for long-term sample storage, cell cultivation, or high-volume process equipment. Terra's double-wall insulated panels are adaptable to the customer’s temperature range specifications and application requirements including cold rooms, incubation, and sound isolation. Double-wall construction with 1”-thick polyurethane insulation enhances cleanroom heating/cooling efficiency and thermal stability. Rigid foam insulation paired with a climate control system provides better temperature stability for applications that require raised flooring for true laminar flow. Double-wall structure allows air to circulate through the inter-wall plenum which further increases filtration and A/C efficiency in high-performance applications.
B13 - Center-Mount Panels With Mirror-Finish Steel Brackets
Most of Terra’s competitors affix the cleanroom wall panels directly to the frame (mounted on the internal or external side of the frame. With this design, replacing cleanroom wall panels is a cumbersome task and requires cleanroom shutdown. If the panels are affixed externally to the frame, installing coved flooring is virtually impossible and the customers are tasked with sterilizing the frame along with all of its crevices. If the panels are mounted internally, the customer loses precious cleanroom space. If the flooring is coved to the internal panels, the customer loses even more space. Terra’s center-mount panel design alleviates these issues.
C - Frame Material
(back to chart)
C1 - Stainless Steel (<20% or -5" Hg)
Unlike most competitors who offer only aluminum extruded frames, Terra Universal provides steel and stainless steel frame materials that maintain structural integrity far longer than aluminum under fire conditions. Terra Universal’s BioSafe stainless steel cleanrooms may be ideal for sterile applications since they are not affected by harsh wash-down chemicals.
Double-Wall Steel Panels
Double-wall panels, available in 304/316 stainless or powder-coated steel, create a freestanding structure for affixing a ceiling grid. Each panel consists of an inside and outside portion, which are joined by a compression ball-and-socket fastener. Once joined, the walls can be detached by means of magnetic-grip handles (not included). The hollow space created by these panels provides a convenient installation zone for electrical conduit, gas, and vacuum service line enhancing systems, cleanliness, and appearance. In controlled temperature applications, this void may be insulated to optimize thermal stability and reduce energy costs.
All Steel BioSafe Cleanrooms
Terra’s all-steel BioSafe® Modular Cleanroom creates a rigid, self-supporting structure without a separate frame or external bracing, a key advantage over other designs that require special permitting and contractor installation.
316L Stainless steel contains the same corrosion-resistant materials as 316 but includes the added benefit of lower carbon content—eliminating the opportunity for excessive metallic contamination and making cracking less likely. Both 316 and 316L can withstand chlorides and chlorinated solutions, such as Spor-Klenz® and Isopropyl Acetate.
C2 - Powder-Coated Steel
Terra's powder-coated steel cleanroom frames support free-standing softwall spans of up to 20 feet without internal posts or ceiling suspension cables. If necessary, reinforcements are provided for high-clearance, long-span rooms. Reinforcements ensure stability and additional seismic requirements for particle-sensitive samples and analytical instruments.
- Excellent for cleanroom applications
- Good weather resistance
- Good mechanical properties
- Good chemical resistance
- Excellent UV protection
- Good storage stability
- Underwriter Laboratories recognized component (UL approved)
D – Standard Components
(back to chart)
D1 - Filter Fan Units (FFUs)
Terra’s WhisperFlow® FFU’s feature UL-listed components and built-in baffles that quietly produce uniform laminar airflow across the face of the filter. UL-listed products meet the highest manufacturing standards and reduce the risk of damage, injuries, and electrical hazards.
Smart® Fan Filter Units with EC Motors provide annual energy savings of nearly $500 per fan filter unit. The control card features industry-standard MODBUS® networking, precision speed control (1-100%), and closed-loop control capability for air pressure, airflow, and particle count sensors.
Terra fan filter unit housings are configurable for room-side replaceable, explosion-proof, heated, and low-profile configurations. The same high performance fan filter units are found throughout Terra products including cleanrooms, laminar flow hoods, and containment systems. Filter fan units are stocked, pre-tested, crated, and ready for immediate shipment from Terra's distribution centers.
- Explosion-proof fan filter units are rated for hazardous areas and reduce fire or explosion risks
- Reverse flow fan filters evacuate contaminated air.
- Portable HEPA fan filter units allow rapid deployment and filtration of stagnant air.
D2 - LED Lights
Terra's LED flat panel troffer lights include dimmable brightness and 5 selectable color temperatures to achieve the perfect balance of light including 3000K / 3500K / 4000K / 5000K / 6500K. When paired with Terra's cleanroom control panels, lighting control is available from a centralized location out of the cleanroom. Terra's power distribution modules (PDMs) allow connection of lighting and fan filter via quick connections that do not require hardwiring. LED panels are available with integrated backup batteries that allow for up to an hour of continued visibility in the case of a power failure.
D3 - Control Panels
Cleanroom Control Panels centralize control of cleanroom lighting, power, fan speed, and assignable groups.
Standard Control Panels provide central control and connection of lights and filters. A Fan Filter Replacement Alarm provides a reliable, quantitative method for determining when a HEPA filter requires replacement. An optional Night Service Switch drops all Fan/Filter Units (FFUs) into a low-energy mode for nights and weekends.
Smart® Control Panels connect to EC FFUs for individual or grouped fan control and remote monitoring of room differential pressure, particle counts, temperature, and humidity. Robust systems offer advanced control for up to 200 fan filter units and 16 independently controlled rooms.
D4 - Power Distribution Modules (PDMs)
PDMs allow the addition of ceiling fan/filter units and lights to meet any cleanliness requirement or to upgrade ISO levels or lighting levels after installation. Terra’s PDMs use 3-pin or 4-pin quick connect fittings to power all FFUs, and lights, no matter the cleanroom size. Hardwiring is only required to connect the Primary, Secondary, Booster, and Duplex PDM modules. Because no additional hard wiring is required to connect and disconnect power to additional lights and fan filters, contractors save time, money, and resources during cleanroom installation, expansion, or modification.D5 - Doors
Standard doors with aluminum frames are available in either single or double door configurations and a choice of acrylic or static-dissipative PVC panels.
Swing doors are either Left Hand Reverse (LHR) or Right Hand Reverse (RHR) when viewed from outside the cleanroom (dirty side) to minimize particulate impact on the cleanroom when the door opens.
Cleanroom doors on prehung frames install easily for negative or positive pressure cleanrooms. Choose from swing-out or sliding doors that are UL leak-rated and suitable for ISO 4 - ISO 8 environments.
BioSafe® 316L stainless steel doors have continuous seam welds for sterile and aseptic environments. Terra's BioSafe products forgo cracks and crevices known to harbor particles and microbes. Dual-pane, flush-mount windows minimize horizontal surfaces and crevices where contaminants collect.
Fire-rated doors include insulated double stainless steel walls, wire-free construction, and a fire-rated glass-ceramic viewing window that is impact resistant.
D6 - Windows
Terra's cleanroom windows are compatible with any cleanroom wall material or thickness and designed for compliance within healthcare, pharmaceutical, and GMP manufacturing applications. These easy-to-clean, hygienic windows enhance the visibility of operations and foot traffic without jeopardizing GMP design standards.
Flush-mount cleanroom windows easily and seamlessly install into modular and stick-built cleanrooms and labs. Developed specifically for aseptic requirements in bio-pharmaceutical and cGMP cleanrooms, these hygienic cleanroom windows bring more light and visibility to your workspace without compromising cleanliness requirements. Choose from easy-to-clean framed or frameless stainless steel designs. Fire-rated cleanroom window designs meet building code requirements to protect your employees, operations, and business.
D7 - Filter Replacement Alarm System
Fan filter replacement alarms provide automatic replacement alerts to avoid costly and unexpected operational interruptions. Alarms trigger an audible buzzer when differential pressure reaches an adjustable setpoint. Alarms provide a reliable method for establishing fan filter replacement intervals while also reducing the risk of electrical/fire hazards caused by overworked motors pushing against overloaded HEPA filters.
BioSafe® cleanroom windows include compression fittings for fast, hardware-free installation. Framed and frameless designs are compliant with BSL-rated rooms and ISO 4-compliant spaces.
Related: Cleanroom Window Types and Flushmount Advantages
E – Compatible Cleanroom Class
(back to chart)
ISO 14644-1 is a document issued by the International Standards Organization which classifies a controlled environment into six categories of air cleanliness. ISO 14644-1 supersedes previous standards for cleanroom testing and validation such as Federal Standard 209E (FS209E). While references to FS209E are still used, ISO 14644-1 is internationally endorsed for testing and validating a cleanroom that meets FDA, USP, GMP, CGMP, or EU standards. An ISO 14644-1 cleanroom is classified on a scale between ISO Class 3 to ISO Class 8. The ISO class for a particular room is determined for the entire room and not for individual components or materials.
Terra hardwall and BioSafe cleanrooms are configurable for the cleanest ISO 3 - 5 applications including wafer fabrication, microelectronics, nanotechnology, and sterile or biologically sensitive processes. Most industries fall within ISO 6 - ISO 8 cleanroom requirements including medical devices, general manufacturing, electronics assembly, food/beverage, and particulate or aerosol enclosures. Terra's modular hardwall configurations are available in steel, stainless steel, and plastic panels for ISO 5 - ISO 8 spaces with precise particulate and climate control requirements. ValuLine Softwall Modular Cleanrooms configurations are economical for less intensive or non-classified environments and available with preconfigured and ready-to-ship options.
F – Air Conditioning
(back to chart)
F1 - Temperature
Terra will work with a local HVAC contractor to provide an air control system that meets your cooling requirements and local codes. If the existing HVAC system cannot be used, Terra will provide the ducting and recirculation system that routes exhaust air to the compressor and delivers cool air to the ceiling FFUs in ample volume to maintain the desired air velocity inside the enclosure. Additional Cleanroom A/C Module provides economical cooling in facilities without adequate HVAC. Based on the cleanroom size, desired temperature, and heat dissipated inside the cleanroom, Terra will configure the appropriate number of AC units required for the space. With larger cleanrooms, Terra works with a local contractor to install a split A/C system, which moves the heat-generating compressor outside the building to reduce heat loads inside the facility.
F2 - Humidification
Terra’s Ultrasonic Humidifier is designed to be a turnkey system as an addition to your cleanroom. Simply place and rest the unit on an open 2’x4’ ceiling grid from above the cleanroom. No fasteners or gaskets are required to secure the unit in place. The system uses five ultrasonic transducers to generate mist and operates on only 150W, less power than conventional steam canister humidifiers. Humidification and dehumidification modules are controlled by a humidistat independent of the thermostat. The Ultrasonic Humidifier comes with a remote control to turn on the unit and set your desired RH levels (up to 100% RH).
F3 - Dehumidification
Cleanroom Dehumidification Modules use silica gel desiccant housed in a rotor to produce dry airflow.
F4 - AC Module Interface
Air Conditioning Modules provide economical cooling in facilities without adequate HVAC. Air Conditioning Modules incorporate dehumidification circuitry and are controlled by a humidistat independent of the thermostat. The unit includes a powder-coated steel air distribution plenum mounted to the external cleanroom wall, which provides conditioned air to up to six FFUs.
Terra can provide custom HVAC modules that operate similarly to an environmental test chamber, adjusting the supply air's temperature and humidity to maintain specific conditions within tight tolerances. This type of system is particularly useful when the environment immediately outside of the cleanroom experiences significant fluctuations in temperature or relative humidity.
G – Environmental Monitoring
(back to chart)
Smart® Fan Filter Power & Control Panels centralize control over assignable groups or specific targets when conducting cleanroom pressure-balancing, troubleshooting, or maintenance. An upgraded Smart Control System allows additional environmental sensors and FFU control to meet critical performance/monitoring requirements. A control panel assembly includes power controls for the Fan/Filter Units, lights, and is configurable for other integrations including temperature, humidity, particle counts, differential pressure, and air velocity sensors.
G1 - Temperature
Terra's thermometers, hygrometers, and data recording instruments help monitor, control, and document environmental conditions in your cleanroom or laboratory. Temperature, dew point, and humidity monitoring are essential for products with known sensitivities to heat, environmental drift, static, or trace moisture. Terra Universal provides decades of field-proven expertise and a wide selection of thermometers and sensors for complete room monitoring.
G2 - Humidity
Many labs and cleanrooms choose to maintain a 30% RH level. Anything more than that may cause other issues, such as damage to moisture-sensitive materials. Every Terra cleanroom is available with integrated sensors and monitoring equipment for measuring and recording relative humidity values within the cleanroom.
G3 - Differential Pressure
Magnehelic® Differential Pressure Gauges monitor room-to-room pressure or filter back-pressure. Digital and alarm models are available for activating alerts when pressures fall out of specification.
G4 - Particle Counting
Particle counters are available as standalone handheld units for spot-checking and validation, or as built-in modules for remote monitoring after connection to a centralized building management system (BMS) such as MODBUS.
H – Ventilation & Contaminate Control
(back to chart)
H1 - False Ceiling Exhaust
False Ceiling Exhaust: Use of a plenum mounted above the drop ceiling to divert air away from the work area. A false ceiling exhaust includes an array of ceiling-mounted reverse flow fan filter units. Reverse fan filter designs remove air from the work environment and port to an outside environment or dedicated HVAC exhaust. Reverse flow fan filter units mount to the ceiling grid and are available with integrated blowers, or with motorless designs for connection to a remote HVAC blower.
H2 - False Floor Exhaust (Complete Laminarity)
False Floor Exhaust: Raised grated or air-permeable flooring with bottom plenum underneath to achieve full airflow laminarity. False floor exhaust systems, also known as pass through floor exhausts, feature a grated flooring that provides unidirectional airflow and passage of contaminated air. Raised flooring is common for semiconductor applications and ideal for cleanroom classifications below ISO 5 to optimize vertical laminar flow.
p - Floor-Mounted Exhaust
Floor-Mounted Exhausts use side-wall plenums and floor-mounted air handlers to divert air away from the work area. The plenum is mounted directly to the frame and connects to ceiling ducts that exhaust air from the negative pressure room. Floor mount exhausts include internal airflow baffles to smooth corner flow and a pass vent at the bottom with an optional fixed position damper. Containment (negative pressure) rooms require customer furnished in-house exhaust systems capable of pulling the air volume required to create adequate negative pressure
H4 - Biosafety Levels I & II
Biosafety Level 1 is specified as work with well-characterized agents that are known to cause disease in healthy, non-immunocompromised adults. Special containment practices and devices are generally not required, but institutional laboratory practices must be implemented to reduce risk to laboratory personnel.
Biosafety Level 2 is specified as work that poses moderate hazards to personnel and the environment. Research or diagnostic activities that are administered with pathogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus or Salmonella, fall into this category. This Biosafety Level builds upon Biosafety Level 1; all of the precautions and practices spelled out in Biosafety Level 1 must be followed in addition to those found in Biosafety Level 2. Special containment practices and devices are generally required to mitigate risk to laboratory personnel.
I – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
I1 - Ion Bars
Ionization bars neutralize electrostatic charges, a common requirement for mixing, packaging, or high-speed assembly lines. Static ionizing bars remove errant charges and have special importance for products with insulative properties.
I2 - Air Curtains
Air curtains produce a jetstream of ULPA Class 10 micro-filtered air at the entry and exit points of a controlled environment. Air curtains are ideal when doors are frequently opened or for doorless entryways. Operating modes include either motion sensor activation with adjustable delay or continuous operation.
I3 - Uninterrupted Power Supply
An uninterrupted power supply (UPS) is only used to maintain power in the cleanroom for a brief time during an unanticipated power outage. A UPS guarantees uninterrupted visibility inside a cleanroom in the event of power loss and provides power for one light (LED or fluorescent) for one hour.
I4 - Cleanroom Emergency Lights
The cleanroom emergency light is an LED light with a backup battery that will remain on during a power outage so employees can see well enough to shut down operations, secure any sensitive products, and evacuate safely in the case that power cannot be immediately restored.
The LED light has a red/green indicator to inform employees after power has returned and the cleanroom is safe to re-enter. When receiving power, the light both operates normally and charges the emergency battery.
I5 - Germicidal UV Lights
UV sanitizing modules affix to the cleanroom ceiling grid to neutralize bacteria, viruses, and mold spores. UV light is particularly effective when targeting resistant bacteria, mold/fungal spores, and gram-negative microbes. The UV-C Germicidal Lamps install on a cleanroom ceiling grid for line-of-sight room disinfection. A safety occupancy sensor switches off the UVC lighting to prevent radiation exposure when occupied.
I6 - Fire Detection System
Terra provides fire detection and suppression systems ideal for wet benches, exhaust fume lines, and locations involving volatile chemicals. Terra cleanrooms support traditional sprinkler and heat sensor configurations or CO2-based suppression systems. The FS System 7 is an integrated fire detection and CO2 suppression system that includes electro-optical sensors for detecting any type of hydrocarbon or non-hydrocarbon fire, even through gas or vapor. A dual-stage alarm triggers an early warning for fires too small to be sensed by overhead sprinklers. An intelligent multi-stage response system prevents the damaging effects of fire suppression in the case that a small fire self-extinguishes or is suppressed rapidly. Terra engineers work with you to determine the fire suppression system appropriate for your requirements and local fire codes.
I7 - Fingerprint Scanner
Biometric fingerprint scanners prevent unauthorized access via shared keys or passwords while also providing data logging capability. An integrated proximity card reader enables two-factor authentication.
I8 - Iris Scanner
Fully automated iris scanner for secure, hands-free access (includes data logging and optional secondary keycard reader).
I9 - Keycard Reader
Keycard readers provide a durable and economical method for maintaining secured keycard access within a cleanroom facility. The low-profile device reads cards up to 3" away and integrates with access control software for data logging and remote monitoring.
I10 - Pass Through
General-Use Pass-Through Chambers are an economical choice for non-sterile items with a low risk of cross-contamination potential including samples, fluids, tools, packaging, or documents.
ValuLine™ Pass-Through Chambers are configurable with economical black acrylic, chemical resistance polypropylene, or stainless steel for unmatched cleanliness and durability within cleanrooms.
BioSafe® Pass-Through chambers with continuous seam welds eliminate hard-to-clean cracks and crevices that can harbor particles and germs. CleanSeam™ design conceals the door interlock mechanism behind the chamber’s wall for a completely unobstructed, easy-to-clean chamber interior.
I11 - Talk Through
Communication and vocal clarity are critical for successful outcomes within cleanrooms, laboratory, and hospital isolation environments. Mechanical and electronic talkthroughs allow easier communication between internal partitions or outside areas of the cleanroom. Both the mechanical and electronic talk throughs include cleanroom-grade components and are easy to mount in either a stick-built cleanroom wall or Terra hardwall modular cleanroom.
I12 - Interlocking Doors
Interlocking doors are common for passthrough chambers and air showers. The interlock prevents doors on either side of the enclosure from opening at the same time. Single side access helps to maintain airflow cascades between rooms of differing pressure and limits room pressure loss after opening and closing of doors.
J – Services
(back to chart)
J1 - Cleanroom Installation
Terra Universal is one of few cleanroom manufacturers to provide in-house engineering, in-house design services, and in-house component manufacturing from a single source. While most contractors rely on external engineering teams for drafting and floorplanning, Terra reduces layers of communications and simplifies facility planning and construction to a single point of contact. If requirements change, our modular design allows you to add filters, lighting, ionization, or additional floor space—all at a fraction of the cost you'd face with other systems.
J2 - White Glove Delivery
Terra Universal provides specialized freight service on a per-project basis. Extended delivery options include inside delivery and delivery after business hours. Terra is committed to ensuring the timely and safe delivery of your product. Terra provides product on-site placement and assembly services for facilities that lack the necessary equipment or expertise during the installation and startup process. Our shipment consolidation services provide our customers extended control over shipment and delivery dates by streamlining pickup and delivery times. In-transit freight consolidation ensures pickup and shipment of items at prespecified times. Items are transported from the factory as needed or held at a consolidation terminal for later delivery to the end destination within a prespecified time window.
J3 - FasTrak Expedited Production
Terra's FasTrak limited guarantee is to ship on or before the date specified or to refund up to 100% of FasTrak charges on the client's approved request. This guarantee does NOT cover direct, special, consequential, or other damages and is strictly limited to 100% of the amount paid for FasTrak service.
J4 - Cleanroom Certification
Terra Universal is the leading expert in the design and fabrication of critical environment applications. Terra offers end-to-end certification and testing services for cleanrooms, hoods, glove box isolators, biosafety cabinets, and lab equipment. Services include HEPA leak testing, airflow velocity, airborne particle counting, room pressurization, airflow visualization, ASHRAE 110, and volatile organic compound testing.
J5 - Cleanroom Equipment Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
Terra Universal provides comprehensive, turnkey equipment validation packages on a per-project basis. Contact your Terra Universal product specialist to discuss project-specific requirements with our validation engineering team.
Services include:
- Installation Qualification
- Olierational Qualification
- lierformance Qualification
- Construction Qualification
- Factory Accelitance Testing
- Site Accelitance Testing
- User Requirement Sliecification
- Statement of Work
- Feasibility Study
J6 - Decontamination and Cleaning
The Terra Universal network includes trusted vendors for deep micro-cleaning after commissioning and regular cleaning services on a monthly, weekly, or as-needed basis. Through our critical environment cleaning professionals and the use of innovative technology, we make certain your cleanroom environment meets or exceeds the industry’s highest regulations for contamination control, maintenance and safety. We offer comprehensive decontamination service packages for a multiverse of cleanroom applications, gown rooms, vivariums, biomedical facilities, laboratories, and cold/dry rooms.
J7 - USP <797> Consultation
Terra Universal provides uncompromising informational and consultative support for USP 797 and USP 800 compliance. If applicable, Terra will offer a 60-minute phone call with staff compounding pharmacist (CPHA Policy Committee member) Dr. Chris Munoz. Terra USP compounding suites include (as requested) custom cleanroom drawings outlining dimensions, layout, and placement of HEPA filters.
Due to high demand for this consultation and the scope of service provided, Terra must require an up-front consultation fee that will be applied to the purchase of a Terra USP cleanroom; however, even those who do not purchase from Terra will receive cost-saving guidance far exceeding the price of this bundle.
J8 - Seismic Structural Analysis
Terra’s modular cleanrooms are designed with seismic safety in mind. Rigid steel frames and ceiling grids are designed with sufficient factors of safety to provide vertical and lateral strength recommended by professional engineers. Both hardwall and softwall designs can be installed to adhere to local seismic codes. Optional seismic and structural calculations can be drafted and stamped by a licensed PE to help meet municipal permitting requirements.
Softwall Cleanrooms
A - Air Flow Design
(back to chart)
A1 - Laminar Flow/Positive Pressure
Laminar flow air and positive pressure cleanroom design are ideal for non-hazardous, ultra-clean applications. Positive pressure mitigates dirt from entering the cleanroom when opening doors or pass-through chambers. Laminar airflow design ensures that air maintains a singular, uniform direction and velocity from intake to exhaust port. Terra's positive pressure cleanrooms include HEPA filtration systems capable of ISO Class 3 - ISO Class 8 air quality conditions. ULPA filtration units are available for the most sensitive ISO 3 - ISO 5 product applications including pharmaceutical compounding, semiconductor wafer processing, sterile packaging, and micro-nanofabrication.
A2 - Laminar Flow/Negative Pressure
A negative pressure laminar flow cleanroom is best suited for hazardous environments. Particularly, when the product is also sensitive or reactive to chemical, environmental, or particulate contamination. Negative pressure cleanrooms prevent the escape of toxic or hazardous air from the containment structure. Laminar airflow design ensures that air flows without interruption between intake and exhaust, which ensures that sterile or biologically sensitive samples remain pure and unadulterated. Terra's negative pressure cleanrooms provide capable and safe production environments for reducing operator hazards in high-risk applications such as USP 800 compounding, infectious disease research, and chemically intensive processes that require volatile chemical handling.
Terra manufactures and designs cleanrooms to BSL-1 and BSL-2 criteria. Some operations that fall under BSL-2 may require single-pass air that is filtered before being exhausted to the outside; others may allow recirculation of air and release of unfiltered exhaust air.
A3 - Ventilation/Negative Pressure
Negative pressure ventilation rooms are designed for handling chemicals that produce toxic, carcinogenic, or noxious vapors. Reverse-flow FFUs capture particles generated in localized cleanroom spaces to minimize contamination and ensure operator protection. Vapor removal FFUs eliminate trace amounts of VOCs from make-up air to prevent chemical fume contamination. Depending on the application, a containment room may require exit filtration: either HEPA/ULPA filters for particles and aerosols and/or carbon filters to remove chemical fumes.
A4 - Recirculation/Neutral Pressure
A neutral pressure cleanroom system is designed to ventilate environmental nuisances away from the operator; it is not intended to provide personnel or environmental protection against hazardous substances. In some cases, the environment does not require any specific ISO-rated classification, thus the primary purpose is to isolate particulates and aerosols that would otherwise congregate in adjacent areas or corridors. If it is safe to do so, a recirculating cleanroom allows filtration and reintroduction of room air and reduces heating and energy costs. Neutral pressure is the least energy-intensive when compared to positive and negative pressure designs. Recirculating negative pressure cleanrooms are commonly selected for purity testing, weighing, capsulizing, and packaging pharmaceutical powders.
A5 - Horizontal Flow/Positive Pressure
Horizontally configured cleanrooms are advantageous when vertical space and ceiling access is limited or extra tall ceiling requirements. Ceiling height is an important consideration for cleanroom design, especially for large objects found within aerospace, satellite, and telescope manufacturing environments. Horizontal flow cleanrooms introduce air from fan filter units mounted within sidewalls instead of traditional ceiling-mounted blowers. Air moves in parallel with the floor instead of perpendicularly. Air flows from a side-wall integrated with HEPA fan filter units and exits through a parallel wall with an integrated plenum for air return or exhaust. Wall-to-wall laminar airflow is advantageous when handling small parts and liquids which would otherwise be problematic for vertical floor cleanrooms with grated false-flooring.
B - Wall Panel Material
(back to chart)
B1 - Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a golden standard among cleanroom construction materials. Easy cleaning, favorable heat properties, and chemical resistance make stainless an ideal choice for biopharmaceutical and semiconductor environments. The smooth surface is easy to wipe down, resists biofilm buildup, and will not off-gas.
B2 - Powder-Coated Steel
Powder-coated steel is an economical choice that also provides favorable heat and chemical resistance for most applications. Terra’s signature white powder coat finish provides a high quality, durable barrier to protect against corrosion, plus a clean and attractive aesthetic. The advanced heat-fused formulation exceeds ASTM and ISO paint standards to resist chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing.
B3 - Acrylic
Acrylic is widely used in cleanrooms and other critical environment applications. Its low initial cost, lightweight, transparency, and tensile strength makes it an attractive choice in many situations. Terra offers economical acrylic enclosures as a budget-friendly option. While acrylic is fairly durable against UV light and impact-resistant, the material is easily degraded by alcohols and solvents.
B4 - Static Dissipative PVC
Static-Dissipative PVC comes in rigid or flexible material for use on hardwall cleanroom panels or cleanroom curtains, dust covers, microenvironments, and other applications requiring a softer material. Non-dissipative plastics quickly accumulate surface charges that attract contaminants. Dissipative plastics prevent static build-up that attracts airborne particulate and lint fibers, which makes surfaces easier to wipe down. Static-dissipative PVC (SD-PVC) will not hold a static charge, offers wide chemical compatibility, and cleans easily. SD-PVC retains a surface resistivity of 10^6 - 10^8 ohms/square indefinitely unlike spray-on coatings that can wear off after a few years. SD-PVC also resists alcohol and most other sterilizing solutions, thus supporting standard disinfecting procedures and extending the life of your enclosure.
B5 - Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is transparent with a slight gray tint and offers broad-spectrum chemical resistance, high impact resistance, and excellent thermal resistance (to 200°F / 93.3°C). Polycarbonate is stronger and cracks less easily than both acrylic (15x stronger) and glass (250x stronger).
B6 - Polypropylene
Polypropylene is an opaque thermoplastic with excellent chemical resistance against acids and solvents.
B7 - Chlorinated PVC (C-PVC)
Cleanroom chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (C-PVC) wall panels are tested and certified to meet ISO 5 – 8 cleanliness standards. These compressed panels have excellent chemical resistance and prevent particle emission and microbial growth. Their unique solvent-free silicone adhesive allows installation on wallboard substrate creating a strong, rigid structure when mounted to Terra’s steel frame. Welded seams are trim-free, without cracks or gaps. Optional PVC coving is available for floors and corners to further simplify cleaning.
B8 - Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP)
Class A and C FRP panels feature a unique non-outgassing advanced polymer adhesive for installation on drywall or other substrates. A specialized seam sealant provides trim-free seams that expand and contract to accommodate temperature-induced dimensional changes without creating cracks or gaps. A patented surfacing technology seals panels uniformly to enhance durability and prevent particle emission and microbial growth.
B9 - Tempered Glass
Tempered cleanroom glass is a type of safety glass processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared with normal glass. Tempered glass is not only impact resistance, but also ideal for its high visual clarity and aesthetic. Glass wall cleanrooms allow easy monitoring of operators and processes within the cleanroom and tend to appear larger and more spacious. Tempered glass is non-outgassing and chemical-resistant, making it ideal for frequent decontamination.
B10 - Vinyl Curtains
Cleanroom vinyl curtains are lightweight and rapidly installable for creating room partitions, isolating equipment and processes, or mobile isolation when configured with wheel casters. Curtain strips are available in either 4' -wide softwall panels made of blur-free 40 mil vinyl or 8” -wide strip curtains made of blur-free 60 mil vinyl. Static-Dissipative PVC vinyl includes built-in static inhibitors and is recommended for all cleanrooms to minimize particle cling. A T-Grid Mounting System allows suspension of curtains or strip shields from Terra's cleanroom ceiling grid.
B11 - Modesty Panels
Modesty panels provide the combined benefits of natural light while also maintaining a degree of privacy. These panels are ideal for multi-level cleanroom mezzanines that require additional office space or unclassified storage. Modesty panels include an opaque lower panel and upper panel of transparent glass or cleanroom-rated plastic such as polycarbonate or static dissipative PVC. A solid lower panel provides a balance of privacy while the transparent window allows the introduction of natural light and tends to make the space appear larger and less constricted.
B12 - Insulated Panels
A double-wall, insulated wall panel promotes a stable environment for long-term sample storage, cell cultivation, or high-volume process equipment. Terra's double-wall insulated panels are adaptable to the customer’s temperature range specifications and application requirements including cold rooms, incubation, and sound isolation. Double-wall construction with 1”-thick polyurethane insulation enhances cleanroom heating/cooling efficiency and thermal stability. Rigid foam insulation paired with a climate control system provides better temperature stability for applications that require raised flooring for true laminar flow. Double-wall structure allows air to circulate through the inter-wall plenum which further increases filtration and A/C efficiency in high-performance applications.
B13 - Center-Mount Panels With Mirror-Finish Steel Brackets
Most of Terra’s competitors affix the cleanroom wall panels directly to the frame (mounted on the internal or external side of the frame. With this design, replacing cleanroom wall panels is a cumbersome task and requires cleanroom shutdown. If the panels are affixed externally to the frame, installing coved flooring is virtually impossible and the customers are tasked with sterilizing the frame along with all of its crevices. If the panels are mounted internally, the customer loses precious cleanroom space. If the flooring is coved to the internal panels, the customer loses even more space. Terra’s center-mount panel design alleviates these issues.
C - Frame Material
(back to chart)
C1 - Stainless Steel (<20% or -5" Hg)
Unlike most competitors who offer only aluminum extruded frames, Terra Universal provides steel and stainless steel frame materials that maintain structural integrity far longer than aluminum under fire conditions. Terra Universal’s BioSafe stainless steel cleanrooms may be ideal for sterile applications since they are not affected by harsh wash-down chemicals.
Double-Wall Steel Panels
Double-wall panels, available in 304/316 stainless or powder-coated steel, create a freestanding structure for affixing a ceiling grid. Each panel consists of an inside and outside portion, which are joined by a compression ball-and-socket fastener. Once joined, the walls can be detached by means of magnetic-grip handles (not included). The hollow space created by these panels provides a convenient installation zone for electrical conduit, gas, and vacuum service line enhancing systems, cleanliness, and appearance. In controlled temperature applications, this void may be insulated to optimize thermal stability and reduce energy costs.
All Steel BioSafe Cleanrooms
Terra’s all-steel BioSafe® Modular Cleanroom creates a rigid, self-supporting structure without a separate frame or external bracing, a key advantage over other designs that require special permitting and contractor installation.
316L Stainless steel contains the same corrosion-resistant materials as 316 but includes the added benefit of lower carbon content—eliminating the opportunity for excessive metallic contamination and making cracking less likely. Both 316 and 316L can withstand chlorides and chlorinated solutions, such as Spor-Klenz® and Isopropyl Acetate.
C2 - Powder-Coated Steel
Terra's powder-coated steel cleanroom frames support free-standing softwall spans of up to 20 feet without internal posts or ceiling suspension cables. If necessary, reinforcements are provided for high-clearance, long-span rooms. Reinforcements ensure stability and additional seismic requirements for particle-sensitive samples and analytical instruments.
- Excellent for cleanroom applications
- Good weather resistance
- Good mechanical properties
- Good chemical resistance
- Excellent UV protection
- Good storage stability
- Underwriter Laboratories recognized component (UL approved)
D – Standard Components
(back to chart)
D1 - Filter Fan Units (FFUs)
Terra’s WhisperFlow® FFU’s feature UL-listed components and built-in baffles that quietly produce uniform laminar airflow across the face of the filter. UL-listed products meet the highest manufacturing standards and reduce the risk of damage, injuries, and electrical hazards.
Smart® Fan Filter Units with EC Motors provide annual energy savings of nearly $500 per fan filter unit. The control card features industry-standard MODBUS® networking, precision speed control (1-100%), and closed-loop control capability for air pressure, airflow, and particle count sensors.
Terra fan filter unit housings are configurable for room-side replaceable, explosion-proof, heated, and low-profile configurations. The same high performance fan filter units are found throughout Terra products including cleanrooms, laminar flow hoods, and containment systems. Filter fan units are stocked, pre-tested, crated, and ready for immediate shipment from Terra's distribution centers.
- Explosion-proof fan filter units are rated for hazardous areas and reduce fire or explosion risks
- Reverse flow fan filters evacuate contaminated air.
- Portable HEPA fan filter units allow rapid deployment and filtration of stagnant air.
D2 - LED Lights
Terra's LED flat panel troffer lights include dimmable brightness and 5 selectable color temperatures to achieve the perfect balance of light including 3000K / 3500K / 4000K / 5000K / 6500K. When paired with Terra's cleanroom control panels, lighting control is available from a centralized location out of the cleanroom. Terra's power distribution modules (PDMs) allow connection of lighting and fan filter via quick connections that do not require hardwiring. LED panels are available with integrated backup batteries that allow for up to an hour of continued visibility in the case of a power failure.
D3 - Control Panels
Cleanroom Control Panels centralize control of cleanroom lighting, power, fan speed, and assignable groups.
Standard Control Panels provide central control and connection of lights and filters. A Fan Filter Replacement Alarm provides a reliable, quantitative method for determining when a HEPA filter requires replacement. An optional Night Service Switch drops all Fan/Filter Units (FFUs) into a low-energy mode for nights and weekends.
Smart® Control Panels connect to EC FFUs for individual or grouped fan control and remote monitoring of room differential pressure, particle counts, temperature, and humidity. Robust systems offer advanced control for up to 200 fan filter units and 16 independently controlled rooms.
D4 - Power Distribution Modules (PDMs)
PDMs allow the addition of ceiling fan/filter units and lights to meet any cleanliness requirement or to upgrade ISO levels or lighting levels after installation. Terra’s PDMs use 3-pin or 4-pin quick connect fittings to power all FFUs, and lights, no matter the cleanroom size. Hardwiring is only required to connect the Primary, Secondary, Booster, and Duplex PDM modules. Because no additional hard wiring is required to connect and disconnect power to additional lights and fan filters, contractors save time, money, and resources during cleanroom installation, expansion, or modification.D5 - Doors
Standard doors with aluminum frames are available in either single or double door configurations and a choice of acrylic or static-dissipative PVC panels.
Swing doors are either Left Hand Reverse (LHR) or Right Hand Reverse (RHR) when viewed from outside the cleanroom (dirty side) to minimize particulate impact on the cleanroom when the door opens.
Cleanroom doors on prehung frames install easily for negative or positive pressure cleanrooms. Choose from swing-out or sliding doors that are UL leak-rated and suitable for ISO 4 - ISO 8 environments.
BioSafe® 316L stainless steel doors have continuous seam welds for sterile and aseptic environments. Terra's BioSafe products forgo cracks and crevices known to harbor particles and microbes. Dual-pane, flush-mount windows minimize horizontal surfaces and crevices where contaminants collect.
Fire-rated doors include insulated double stainless steel walls, wire-free construction, and a fire-rated glass-ceramic viewing window that is impact resistant.
D6 - Windows
Terra's cleanroom windows are compatible with any cleanroom wall material or thickness and designed for compliance within healthcare, pharmaceutical, and GMP manufacturing applications. These easy-to-clean, hygienic windows enhance the visibility of operations and foot traffic without jeopardizing GMP design standards.
Flush-mount cleanroom windows easily and seamlessly install into modular and stick-built cleanrooms and labs. Developed specifically for aseptic requirements in bio-pharmaceutical and cGMP cleanrooms, these hygienic cleanroom windows bring more light and visibility to your workspace without compromising cleanliness requirements. Choose from easy-to-clean framed or frameless stainless steel designs. Fire-rated cleanroom window designs meet building code requirements to protect your employees, operations, and business.
D7 - Filter Replacement Alarm System
Fan filter replacement alarms provide automatic replacement alerts to avoid costly and unexpected operational interruptions. Alarms trigger an audible buzzer when differential pressure reaches an adjustable setpoint. Alarms provide a reliable method for establishing fan filter replacement intervals while also reducing the risk of electrical/fire hazards caused by overworked motors pushing against overloaded HEPA filters.
BioSafe® cleanroom windows include compression fittings for fast, hardware-free installation. Framed and frameless designs are compliant with BSL-rated rooms and ISO 4-compliant spaces.
Related: Cleanroom Window Types and Flushmount Advantages
E – Compatible Cleanroom Class
(back to chart)
ISO 14644-1 is a document issued by the International Standards Organization which classifies a controlled environment into six categories of air cleanliness. ISO 14644-1 supersedes previous standards for cleanroom testing and validation such as Federal Standard 209E (FS209E). While references to FS209E are still used, ISO 14644-1 is internationally endorsed for testing and validating a cleanroom that meets FDA, USP, GMP, CGMP, or EU standards. An ISO 14644-1 cleanroom is classified on a scale between ISO Class 3 to ISO Class 8. The ISO class for a particular room is determined for the entire room and not for individual components or materials.
Terra hardwall and BioSafe cleanrooms are configurable for the cleanest ISO 3 - 5 applications including wafer fabrication, microelectronics, nanotechnology, and sterile or biologically sensitive processes. Most industries fall within ISO 6 - ISO 8 cleanroom requirements including medical devices, general manufacturing, electronics assembly, food/beverage, and particulate or aerosol enclosures. Terra's modular hardwall configurations are available in steel, stainless steel, and plastic panels for ISO 5 - ISO 8 spaces with precise particulate and climate control requirements. ValuLine Softwall Modular Cleanrooms configurations are economical for less intensive or non-classified environments and available with preconfigured and ready-to-ship options.
F – Air Conditioning
(back to chart)
F1 - Temperature
Terra will work with a local HVAC contractor to provide an air control system that meets your cooling requirements and local codes. If the existing HVAC system cannot be used, Terra will provide the ducting and recirculation system that routes exhaust air to the compressor and delivers cool air to the ceiling FFUs in ample volume to maintain the desired air velocity inside the enclosure. Additional Cleanroom A/C Module provides economical cooling in facilities without adequate HVAC. Based on the cleanroom size, desired temperature, and heat dissipated inside the cleanroom, Terra will configure the appropriate number of AC units required for the space. With larger cleanrooms, Terra works with a local contractor to install a split A/C system, which moves the heat-generating compressor outside the building to reduce heat loads inside the facility.
F2 - Humidification
Terra’s Ultrasonic Humidifier is designed to be a turnkey system as an addition to your cleanroom. Simply place and rest the unit on an open 2’x4’ ceiling grid from above the cleanroom. No fasteners or gaskets are required to secure the unit in place. The system uses five ultrasonic transducers to generate mist and operates on only 150W, less power than conventional steam canister humidifiers. Humidification and dehumidification modules are controlled by a humidistat independent of the thermostat. The Ultrasonic Humidifier comes with a remote control to turn on the unit and set your desired RH levels (up to 100% RH).
F3 - Dehumidification
Cleanroom Dehumidification Modules use silica gel desiccant housed in a rotor to produce dry airflow.
F4 - AC Module Interface
Air Conditioning Modules provide economical cooling in facilities without adequate HVAC. Air Conditioning Modules incorporate dehumidification circuitry and are controlled by a humidistat independent of the thermostat. The unit includes a powder-coated steel air distribution plenum mounted to the external cleanroom wall, which provides conditioned air to up to six FFUs.
Terra can provide custom HVAC modules that operate similarly to an environmental test chamber, adjusting the supply air's temperature and humidity to maintain specific conditions within tight tolerances. This type of system is particularly useful when the environment immediately outside of the cleanroom experiences significant fluctuations in temperature or relative humidity.
G – Environmental Monitoring
(back to chart)
Smart® Fan Filter Power & Control Panels centralize control over assignable groups or specific targets when conducting cleanroom pressure-balancing, troubleshooting, or maintenance. An upgraded Smart Control System allows additional environmental sensors and FFU control to meet critical performance/monitoring requirements. A control panel assembly includes power controls for the Fan/Filter Units, lights, and is configurable for other integrations including temperature, humidity, particle counts, differential pressure, and air velocity sensors.
G1 - Temperature
Terra's thermometers, hygrometers, and data recording instruments help monitor, control, and document environmental conditions in your cleanroom or laboratory. Temperature, dew point, and humidity monitoring are essential for products with known sensitivities to heat, environmental drift, static, or trace moisture. Terra Universal provides decades of field-proven expertise and a wide selection of thermometers and sensors for complete room monitoring.
G2 - Humidity
Many labs and cleanrooms choose to maintain a 30% RH level. Anything more than that may cause other issues, such as damage to moisture-sensitive materials. Every Terra cleanroom is available with integrated sensors and monitoring equipment for measuring and recording relative humidity values within the cleanroom.
G3 - Differential Pressure
Magnehelic® Differential Pressure Gauges monitor room-to-room pressure or filter back-pressure. Digital and alarm models are available for activating alerts when pressures fall out of specification.
G4 - Particle Counting
Particle counters are available as standalone handheld units for spot-checking and validation, or as built-in modules for remote monitoring after connection to a centralized building management system (BMS) such as MODBUS.
H – Ventilation & Contaminate Control
(back to chart)
H1 - False Ceiling Exhaust
False Ceiling Exhaust: Use of a plenum mounted above the drop ceiling to divert air away from the work area. A false ceiling exhaust includes an array of ceiling-mounted reverse flow fan filter units. Reverse fan filter designs remove air from the work environment and port to an outside environment or dedicated HVAC exhaust. Reverse flow fan filter units mount to the ceiling grid and are available with integrated blowers, or with motorless designs for connection to a remote HVAC blower.
H2 - False Floor Exhaust (Complete Laminarity)
False Floor Exhaust: Raised grated or air-permeable flooring with bottom plenum underneath to achieve full airflow laminarity. False floor exhaust systems, also known as pass through floor exhausts, feature a grated flooring that provides unidirectional airflow and passage of contaminated air. Raised flooring is common for semiconductor applications and ideal for cleanroom classifications below ISO 5 to optimize vertical laminar flow.
p - Floor-Mounted Exhaust
Floor-Mounted Exhausts use side-wall plenums and floor-mounted air handlers to divert air away from the work area. The plenum is mounted directly to the frame and connects to ceiling ducts that exhaust air from the negative pressure room. Floor mount exhausts include internal airflow baffles to smooth corner flow and a pass vent at the bottom with an optional fixed position damper. Containment (negative pressure) rooms require customer furnished in-house exhaust systems capable of pulling the air volume required to create adequate negative pressure
H4 - Biosafety Levels I & II
Biosafety Level 1 is specified as work with well-characterized agents that are known to cause disease in healthy, non-immunocompromised adults. Special containment practices and devices are generally not required, but institutional laboratory practices must be implemented to reduce risk to laboratory personnel.
Biosafety Level 2 is specified as work that poses moderate hazards to personnel and the environment. Research or diagnostic activities that are administered with pathogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus or Salmonella, fall into this category. This Biosafety Level builds upon Biosafety Level 1; all of the precautions and practices spelled out in Biosafety Level 1 must be followed in addition to those found in Biosafety Level 2. Special containment practices and devices are generally required to mitigate risk to laboratory personnel.
I – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
I1 - Ion Bars
Ionization bars neutralize electrostatic charges, a common requirement for mixing, packaging, or high-speed assembly lines. Static ionizing bars remove errant charges and have special importance for products with insulative properties.
I2 - Air Curtains
Air curtains produce a jetstream of ULPA Class 10 micro-filtered air at the entry and exit points of a controlled environment. Air curtains are ideal when doors are frequently opened or for doorless entryways. Operating modes include either motion sensor activation with adjustable delay or continuous operation.
I3 - Uninterrupted Power Supply
An uninterrupted power supply (UPS) is only used to maintain power in the cleanroom for a brief time during an unanticipated power outage. A UPS guarantees uninterrupted visibility inside a cleanroom in the event of power loss and provides power for one light (LED or fluorescent) for one hour.
I4 - Cleanroom Emergency Lights
The cleanroom emergency light is an LED light with a backup battery that will remain on during a power outage so employees can see well enough to shut down operations, secure any sensitive products, and evacuate safely in the case that power cannot be immediately restored.
The LED light has a red/green indicator to inform employees after power has returned and the cleanroom is safe to re-enter. When receiving power, the light both operates normally and charges the emergency battery.
I5 - Germicidal UV Lights
UV sanitizing modules affix to the cleanroom ceiling grid to neutralize bacteria, viruses, and mold spores. UV light is particularly effective when targeting resistant bacteria, mold/fungal spores, and gram-negative microbes. The UV-C Germicidal Lamps install on a cleanroom ceiling grid for line-of-sight room disinfection. A safety occupancy sensor switches off the UVC lighting to prevent radiation exposure when occupied.
I6 - Fire Detection System
Terra provides fire detection and suppression systems ideal for wet benches, exhaust fume lines, and locations involving volatile chemicals. Terra cleanrooms support traditional sprinkler and heat sensor configurations or CO2-based suppression systems. The FS System 7 is an integrated fire detection and CO2 suppression system that includes electro-optical sensors for detecting any type of hydrocarbon or non-hydrocarbon fire, even through gas or vapor. A dual-stage alarm triggers an early warning for fires too small to be sensed by overhead sprinklers. An intelligent multi-stage response system prevents the damaging effects of fire suppression in the case that a small fire self-extinguishes or is suppressed rapidly. Terra engineers work with you to determine the fire suppression system appropriate for your requirements and local fire codes.
I7 - Fingerprint Scanner
Biometric fingerprint scanners prevent unauthorized access via shared keys or passwords while also providing data logging capability. An integrated proximity card reader enables two-factor authentication.
I8 - Iris Scanner
Fully automated iris scanner for secure, hands-free access (includes data logging and optional secondary keycard reader).
I9 - Keycard Reader
Keycard readers provide a durable and economical method for maintaining secured keycard access within a cleanroom facility. The low-profile device reads cards up to 3" away and integrates with access control software for data logging and remote monitoring.
I10 - Pass Through
General-Use Pass-Through Chambers are an economical choice for non-sterile items with a low risk of cross-contamination potential including samples, fluids, tools, packaging, or documents.
ValuLine™ Pass-Through Chambers are configurable with economical black acrylic, chemical resistance polypropylene, or stainless steel for unmatched cleanliness and durability within cleanrooms.
BioSafe® Pass-Through chambers with continuous seam welds eliminate hard-to-clean cracks and crevices that can harbor particles and germs. CleanSeam™ design conceals the door interlock mechanism behind the chamber’s wall for a completely unobstructed, easy-to-clean chamber interior.
I11 - Talk Through
Communication and vocal clarity are critical for successful outcomes within cleanrooms, laboratory, and hospital isolation environments. Mechanical and electronic talkthroughs allow easier communication between internal partitions or outside areas of the cleanroom. Both the mechanical and electronic talk throughs include cleanroom-grade components and are easy to mount in either a stick-built cleanroom wall or Terra hardwall modular cleanroom.
I12 - Interlocking Doors
Interlocking doors are common for passthrough chambers and air showers. The interlock prevents doors on either side of the enclosure from opening at the same time. Single side access helps to maintain airflow cascades between rooms of differing pressure and limits room pressure loss after opening and closing of doors.
J – Services
(back to chart)
J1 - Cleanroom Installation
Terra Universal is one of few cleanroom manufacturers to provide in-house engineering, in-house design services, and in-house component manufacturing from a single source. While most contractors rely on external engineering teams for drafting and floorplanning, Terra reduces layers of communications and simplifies facility planning and construction to a single point of contact. If requirements change, our modular design allows you to add filters, lighting, ionization, or additional floor space—all at a fraction of the cost you'd face with other systems.
J2 - White Glove Delivery
Terra Universal provides specialized freight service on a per-project basis. Extended delivery options include inside delivery and delivery after business hours. Terra is committed to ensuring the timely and safe delivery of your product. Terra provides product on-site placement and assembly services for facilities that lack the necessary equipment or expertise during the installation and startup process. Our shipment consolidation services provide our customers extended control over shipment and delivery dates by streamlining pickup and delivery times. In-transit freight consolidation ensures pickup and shipment of items at prespecified times. Items are transported from the factory as needed or held at a consolidation terminal for later delivery to the end destination within a prespecified time window.
J3 - FasTrak Expedited Production
Terra's FasTrak limited guarantee is to ship on or before the date specified or to refund up to 100% of FasTrak charges on the client's approved request. This guarantee does NOT cover direct, special, consequential, or other damages and is strictly limited to 100% of the amount paid for FasTrak service.
J4 - Cleanroom Certification
Terra Universal is the leading expert in the design and fabrication of critical environment applications. Terra offers end-to-end certification and testing services for cleanrooms, hoods, glove box isolators, biosafety cabinets, and lab equipment. Services include HEPA leak testing, airflow velocity, airborne particle counting, room pressurization, airflow visualization, ASHRAE 110, and volatile organic compound testing.
J5 - Cleanroom Equipment Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
Terra Universal provides comprehensive, turnkey equipment validation packages on a per-project basis. Contact your Terra Universal product specialist to discuss project-specific requirements with our validation engineering team.
Services include:
- Installation Qualification
- Olierational Qualification
- lierformance Qualification
- Construction Qualification
- Factory Accelitance Testing
- Site Accelitance Testing
- User Requirement Sliecification
- Statement of Work
- Feasibility Study
J6 - Decontamination and Cleaning
The Terra Universal network includes trusted vendors for deep micro-cleaning after commissioning and regular cleaning services on a monthly, weekly, or as-needed basis. Through our critical environment cleaning professionals and the use of innovative technology, we make certain your cleanroom environment meets or exceeds the industry’s highest regulations for contamination control, maintenance and safety. We offer comprehensive decontamination service packages for a multiverse of cleanroom applications, gown rooms, vivariums, biomedical facilities, laboratories, and cold/dry rooms.
J7 - USP <797> Consultation
Terra Universal provides uncompromising informational and consultative support for USP 797 and USP 800 compliance. If applicable, Terra will offer a 60-minute phone call with staff compounding pharmacist (CPHA Policy Committee member) Dr. Chris Munoz. Terra USP compounding suites include (as requested) custom cleanroom drawings outlining dimensions, layout, and placement of HEPA filters.
Due to high demand for this consultation and the scope of service provided, Terra must require an up-front consultation fee that will be applied to the purchase of a Terra USP cleanroom; however, even those who do not purchase from Terra will receive cost-saving guidance far exceeding the price of this bundle.
J8 - Seismic Structural Analysis
Terra’s modular cleanrooms are designed with seismic safety in mind. Rigid steel frames and ceiling grids are designed with sufficient factors of safety to provide vertical and lateral strength recommended by professional engineers. Both hardwall and softwall designs can be installed to adhere to local seismic codes. Optional seismic and structural calculations can be drafted and stamped by a licensed PE to help meet municipal permitting requirements.
USP Compounding Cleanrooms
A - Fan Filter Air Flow Design
(back to chart)
A1 - Positive Pressure Fan Filter Units
Terra's positive pressure fan filter units include HEPA fan blowers capable of ISO Class 3 - ISO Class 8 air quality conditions. ULPA filtration units are available for the most sensitive ISO 3 - ISO 5 product applications including pharmaceutical compounding, semiconductor wafer processing, sterile packaging, and micro/nanofabrication.
A2 - Negative Pressure Fan Filter Units
Reverse-flow impeller FFUs capture particles generated in localized cleanroom spaces to minimize contamination and ensure operator protection.
Terra's negative pressure fan filters provide capable and safe production environments for reducing operator hazards in increased-risk applications such as USP 800 compounding, infectious disease research, and chemically intensive processes that require volatile chemical handling.
B - Compatible Cleanroom Fan Filters
(back to chart)
B1 - HEPA Fan Filter Units
HEPA filters remove 99.97% of airborne particles greater than or equal to 0.3μm in diameter. HEPA fan filter units are common for contamination and air quality control for industries including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, OEM assembly, healthcare, life sciences, infection control, and laboratory or testing environments.
B2 - ULPA Fan Filter Units
ULPA filters are 99.999% efficient for monodispersed particles 0.12 μm in diameter or larger. ULPA filtration offers additional particulate control for ultra-sensitive hardware including display panels, wafer chips, microoptics, satellite imaging, and nanotechnology applications.
C - Filter Replacement Design
(back to chart)
C1 - Top-Side Fan Filter Units
Top-side replaceable filters are a standard package available with Terra fan filter units. Standard FFUs offer a lower cost option and are ideal for small-scale and less critical cleanroom operations. To change the filter, the unit must be entirely pulled out of the ceiling bay. Climbing up to remove the bulky FFU can be difficult, dirty, and hazardous. The procedure may require tall ladders, multiple people, personal protective equipment, and perhaps worst of all, shutting down the cleanroom.
C2 - Room-Side Fan Filter Units (RSR)
Room Side Replaceable (RSR) fan filters eliminate the need for access to a roof or overhead ceiling space when conducting fan filter maintenance and replacement. Breaching the cleanroom ceiling is not required when installing or replacing RSR fan filter units or their HEPA filter media. The filter media is easily accessible from inside the cleanroom, an ideal trait for facilities with restricted ceiling heights or for pharmaceutical operations that require more frequent HEPA filter replacements.
D - Fan Filter Motor Type
(back to chart)
D1 - Electronically Commutated (EC)
Terra's Smart® electronically commutated (EC) brushless motors include an internal microprocessor and MODBUS® networking control card. Easily integrate your fan filter with a building management system, control panel, or additional air pressure, airflow, and particle count sensors.
D2 - Permanent Split Capacitor (PSC)
PSC motors are priced for affordability but are significantly less energy-efficient than their EC counterparts.
Read more: FFU Costs for an Energy-Efficient Cleanroom
D3 - None (HVAC Connection)
Motorless fan filter units include ducted collars for connection to an existing air handling unit or pre-conditioned air supply. Unlike actively powered FFU motors, motorless designs do not require electrical connections. The lightweight assembly makes for easy ceiling grid installation and includes the same baffles, diffusers, and HEPA media for smooth, quiet, and uniform air delivery.
E - Construction Material
(back to chart)
E1 - Stainless Steel Fan Filter Units
Stainless steel is a gold standard among cleanroom construction materials. Easy cleaning, favorable heat properties, and chemical resistance make stainless steel an ideal choice for biopharmaceutical and semiconductor environments. The smooth surface is easy to wipe down, resists biofilm buildup, and will not off-gas.
E2 - Powder-Coated Steel Fan Filter Units
Powder-coated steel is an economical choice that also provides favorable heat and chemical resistance for most applications. Terra’s signature white powder coat finish provides a high quality, durable barrier to protect against corrosion, plus a clean and attractive aesthetic. The advanced heat-fuse formulation exceeds ASTM and ISO paint standards to resist chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing.
F - Fan Filter Size
(back to chart)
Terra provides several fan filter unit sizes and styles to accommodate your existing ceiling grid. Each configuration is available with optional duct collars and optional 1/4 inch (6 mm) eyebolts in all (4) corners for hangwire support (order eye bolt package separately).
F1 - 24" x 24" Fan Filter Units
2' x 2' fan filters provide moderate flow rates and accommodate standard square ceiling grid installations. Lightweight (25 lbs) provides easier installation.
Approximate Weight: 25 LBS
F2 - 24" x 36" Fan Filter Units
2' x 3' fan filter units are intended for use with supported ceilings that can safely bear the weight of a fan filter unit or light panels to be installed. HEPA/ULPA packages provide a uniform flow of microfiltered air to meet cleanliness standards down to Class 10 (ISO 4).
Approximate Weight: 53 LBS
F3 - 24" x 48" Fan Filter Units
2' X 4' fan filter units accommodate standard cleanroom ceiling grid and laminar flow hood configurations and are intended for use with supported ceilings that can safely bear the weight of a fan filter unit or light panels to be installed. HEPA/ULPA filters provide a uniform flow of microfiltered air to meet cleanliness standards down to Class 10 (ISO 4). Optional with 1/4 inch (6 mm) eyebolts in all (4) corners for hangwire support (order eye bolt package separately).
Approximate Weight: 71 LBS.
F4 - 16" x 24" Fan Filter Units
Narrow fan filter units fit in a space-saving enclosure for a smaller footprint. Optional with 1/4 inch (6 mm) eyebolts in all (4) corners for hangwire support (order eye bolt package separately)
F5 - 16" x 36" Fan Filter Units
Narrow fan filter units provide a space-saving enclosure for a smaller footprint. Optional with 1/4 inch (6 mm) eyebolts in all (4) corners for hangwire support (order eye bolt package separately)
Approximate Weight: 50 Lbs
F6 - 16" x 48" Fan Filter Units
Narrow fan filter units fit in a space-saving enclosure for a smaller footprint. Optional with 1/4 inch (6 mm) eyebolts in all (4) corners for hangwire support (order eye bolt package separately)
Approximate Weight: 50 Lbs
G - Fan Filter Voltage
(back to chart)
G1 - 120 Volt Fan Filter Units
Standard 120 volt connection is suitable for standard residential power outlets in the US. Ideal for powering mobile-mounted fan filter units. Black and red wires are connected to the lower terminal. A along with a yellow jumper cable.
G2 - 240 Volt Fan Filter Units
240V connections require less current (amperage) and smaller conductors than appliances designed to operate at 120V. Ideal for fan filter units with optional heating, cooling, ionization, or UV lighting modules.
H - Special Fan Filter Application Features
(back to chart)
H1 - Integrated LED Fan Filter Light
Fan filter units with integrated LED lights enable 100% coverage of a ceiling grid with fan units while also providing adequate lighting. 100% integration of the ceiling grid is typically reserved for high-performance environments with ISO Class 5 ratings or cleaner.
H2 - Integrated Fan Filter Ionizer
Integrated ionizers provide a continuous stream of static-neutralizing ions to protect sensitive materials against ESD. Built-in ionizers enhance cleanliness by neutralizing charges that attract and hold particles on walls, tabletops, and other surfaces. Ionizers are known for being maintenance burdens that require frequent calibration. Unlike ionization technologies offered by Terra competitors, Terra systems require no calibration and automatically maintain a balance of ± 50 volts.
H3 - Automated Fan Filter Control & Pressure Balancing
Terra's Smart® Fan Filter Units paired with Smart® Cleanroom Control Panels adjust the fan speed up or down to “dial in” the proper air velocity, internal pressure, and air change rate. Variable fan filter control lets you balance FFU performance from one clean zone to another, ensuring that you maintain the pressure gradients and air change rates required. As the filters mature and air velocity decreases, the system lets you perform small speed adjustments that keep your cleanroom performing to spec.
H4 - Portable Fan Filter Units
ValuLine portable fan filter units are mobile, self-contained, hospital-grade HEPA purifiers mounted on a rolling stand. The small footprint, rolling stand, and plug-and-play operation allow easy transfer between rooms or departments.
H5 - NEC Class 1/Division 1 Compliant
Terra's explosion-proof fan filter units isolate fumes and vapor from any spark, hot surface, or friction-inducing electrical components.
Explosion-proof LED lights are available with a T5 temperature rating and are designed for low-profile pendant mounting to make maximum use of available space.
Division I environments contain ignitable concentrations of hazards under normal operating conditions and/or where the hazard is caused by frequent maintenance or repair work or frequent equipment failure.
Class I locations are those in which flammable vapor and gases may be present.
H6 - Remote Air Supply Connection
Terra's Laminar Flow Diffusers with HEPA Filters include a 12"-diameter collar for air supply connection for connecting the fan filter assembly to a remote air source. Threaded inserts in the top corners accommodate eyebolts to facilitate installation using suspended guy wires (order eyebolt packages separately).
H7 - 8" Tall Unit for Restricted Height Spaces
Low-profile 8"H fan filter units are ideal for cleanrooms installed within restricted height areas.
H8 - Integrated UPS Battery System
An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is a backup system that provides battery power to fan filter units when utility power is unavailable. In the event of a power outage, the UPS immediately activates without interruption and recharges when power is restored.
Smart® EC Fan Filter Units with UPS keep your FFU running long enough to safely store away contamination-sensitive materials, shut down work-in-progress, and/or switch to a backup power generator. Handy and convenient, the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) provides power when and where you need it. The included external 24V battery pack offers extended battery runtime when used with the main tower UPS system.
H9 - Cleanroom Fan Filter Contaminant Collector Pan
A fan filter collector pan accumulates dust particles that dislodge from the HEPA filter, preventing contaminants from re-entering the cleanroom. Terra's collector pan integrates with bag-in/bag-out (BIBO) systems and is easily removed for cleaning or maintenance.
Bag-in/Bag-out (BIBO) modules are optional accessories for applications involving toxic fumes or biohazards. BIBO modules seamlessly integrate with the filter media system for safe filter disposal and replacement from the inside of the room for contact-free removal of filters with potentially hazardous airborne contaminants.
H10 - Fan Filter Heating Element (up to 150°F)
Heated fan filter units provide high-temperature air of up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
H11 - Fan Filter VOC Removal Adapter
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Removal Adapters require an adapter module for each FFU. The package includes an adapter housing, one charcoal pre-filter, two sanitizing modules, and one PCO panel and must be ordered together with a Terra WhisperFlow FFU.
Photo-Catalytic Oxidation Panels (PCO) remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) remaining in the air stream after they pass the carbon filter. The PCO panel is highly efficient at vapor removal, yet imposes no restrictions on airspeed, allowing the Fan/Filter Module to maintain airspeed consistent with ISO cleanliness requirements (typically 80-100 feet/minute).
The carbon pre-filter removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to ensure a safe, clean processing environment. The pre-filter also helps compensate for VOC spikes that might occur during certain operations.
H12 - Fan Filter UV Sterilization Module
Terra Fan Filters Units with integrated UVC decontamination modules provide additional protection against bioaerosols and pathogenic organisms. UV-C lamps may not produce an entirely sterile surface, but they can maintain consistently low microbial loads throughout a wide range of operations and eliminate bioburden spikes that could necessitate extensive testing and decontamination measures. UV Sterilization modules are not compatible with the following FFU designs: Narrow, Explosion Proof, or Reverse Flow.
H13 - Cleanroom Leak Testing Challenge Port
Fan filter units with challenge ports provide a simple and efficient mechanism for conducting localized leak tests of each filter. Terra fan filter units are leak tested before delivery in accordance with IEST and UL 900 standards. For critical applications, the USP <797> framework requires that fan filter units undergo leak testing during initial installation, and semiannually throughout the life of the filter. Filter testing is also common in operating rooms, surgical suites, and CGMP facilities.
Leak testing requires the injection of an aerosol upstream of the filter. Fan filters with challenge ports allow for rapid and individual testing of each fan filter unit without requiring the introduction of test aerosols to the entire HVAC system. Challenge port testing is a more reliable method of ensuring that a test aerosol is uniformly applied and presents fewer variables.
I - Compatible Control Systems
(back to chart)
I1 - Cleanroom Fan Filter Power Distribution Module
Terra’s Power Distribution Modules (PDMs) use 3-pin or 4-pin quick connect fittings to power all FFUs and lights, regardless of the cleanroom size. The expertise of a licensed electrician is only needed to connect the main voltage to the Primary, Secondary, and Booster PDM modules; lights and fan filters are installed via quick-connect fittings without requiring hard wiring. The PDM modules must be wired to a dedicated 35A fused 120V circuit or a 30A fused 240V circuit to allow a quick fit connection of up to 5 light and 5 FFU connections per module.
I2 - Cleanroom Fan Filter Replacement Alarm System
Fan Filter Replacement Alarms provide a reliable, quantitative method for determining when HEPA fan filter media requires replacement. Automatic replacement alerts avoid costly and unexpected operational interruptions while also maximizing the working life of the fan filters.
I3 - Smart Control Panel for Filter Fan Units
Standard Control Panels provide central control and connection of lights and filters. An optional Night Service Switch drops all Fan/Filter Units (FFUs) into a low-energy mode for nights and weekends.
Smart® Control Panels connect to EC FFUs for individual or grouped fan control and remote monitoring of room differential pressure, particle counts, temperature, and humidity. The robust system offers advanced control for up to 200 fan filter units and 16 independently controlled rooms.
An upgraded Smart® Control System allows additional environmental sensors and FFU control to meet critical performance/monitoring requirements including programmable fan speed adjustment for energy savings, performance enhancement, or remote shutdown. Easily connect additional sensors to display humidity, differential pressure, and temperature data.
J - Compatible Accessories
(back to chart)
J1 - Cleanroom Fan Filter Unit Mounting Frames
Stainless steel mounting frames allow fan filter units or light panels to be installed in drywall or other hard ceilings without a ceiling grid.
J2 - Cleanroom LED Lights
Cleanroom LED lights are energy-efficient, produce low heat, carry long life spans, and are compatible with ISO class 3 spaces.
J3 - Cleanroom UV Lights
Although UV-C lamps may not produce an entirely sterile surface, they can maintain consistently low microbial loads throughout a wide range of operations and eliminate bioburden spikes that could necessitate extensive testing and decontamination measures.
J4 - Cleanroom Emergency Lights
Cleanroom LED Light Panels with Built-In Emergency Batteries allow for temporary backup lighting during a power outage. When receiving power, the light operates normally and charges the emergency battery. A UL recognized emergency driver allows the LED fixture to be used for normal and emergency operation. The LED light has a red/green indicator to inform employees after power has returned and the cleanroom is safe to re-enter.
J5 - Cleanroom Ceiling Panels
Cleanroom ceiling panels cover ceiling bays not occupied by fans or lights. These panels are available in several materials that support frequent cleaning and will not absorb water or crumble like conventional gypsum ceiling panels. Chemically resistant polypropylene panels are preferable for use with most chemical solvents and acids. Stainless steel panels are typical for pharmaceutical and USP-regulated environments that require aggressive chemical sterilants or vapor treatments during cleaning regimens. Vinyl-covered gypsum is cost-effective and fire-rated but does not offer the wider chemical compatibility of other materials. All Terra ceiling panels are cleanroom appropriate for ISO Classes 5 to 8 and Federal Standard 209 Classes 100 to 100,000.
Terra Universal is the leading US manufacturer of critical environment equipment with a diversified product line including cleanrooms, desiccators, hoods, glove boxes, cleanroom furnishings and similar equipment.
Shop online to view a wide selection of fan filtration systems, cleanroom components, and controlled environment enclosures.
Contact a Terra cleanroom specialist for assistance with product configuration or application compliance via web chat, email, or phone.
Shop Filtration Systems and Components
Cleanrooms and Containment Enclosures
Browse by Industries and Applications
Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding
Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment
Fan Filter Units
Fan/Filter Units
Pass-Through Chambers
A - Mounting Configurations:
(back to chart)
A1 - Wall Mounted: Terra offers flush-mount and center-mount options. Terra’s CleanMount® system affixes flush against the cleanroom wall to simplify disinfection and prevent particle accumulation.
A2 - Floor Mounted With Ramp: Cleanroom cart pass throughs with integral ramps support transfer of heavy equipment or sample racks into critical spaces.
A3 - Glass Panel Mounted: Stainless steel pass throughs smaller than 2 cubic feet may be mounted in tempered glass panels without support frames, saving facilities on additional hardware and cleaning costs.
B - Chamber Materials:
(back to chart)
B1 - Plastic: Terra manufactures and stocks pass through chambers made of economical acrylic, ESD-safe static-dissipative PVC, and chemical-resistant polypropylene.
B2 - Powder-Coated Steel: More economical than stainless steel, durable and rigid powder-coated steel is more resistant to chemical- or moisture-based corrosion than plastic designs.
B3 - 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
B4 - 316 Stainless Steel: 316-grade stainless steel contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade stainless steel, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
B5 - Electropolished Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of the stainless steel, and supports easy sterilization to reduce micro-cavities where microbes colonize.
C - CleanSeam Design:
(back to chart)
C1 - Continuous Seam: Terra’s CleanSeam™ pass through chambers feature fully-welded chambers with smooth, continuous seam welds for a seamless interior that is easy to disinfect. The internal chamber is free of crevices or cracks where contaminants can collect.
D - Double-Wall Design:
(back to chart)
Equipping a pass through cabinet with external components - such as door sensors, lighting and filtration – can be a challenge. Cleaning procedures dictate that pass through chambers should be seamless, crevice-free and easy to wipe down. Installing external components on the chamber will make the cleaning process more difficult and restrict the space available for sample transfer.
Terra has solved this issue with CleanMount® double-walled pass through chambers. All external components are enclosed within the space between the internal and external walls, so the integrity of the internal chamber is not jeopardized and the pass through cleanliness rating is not sacrificed.
Double-wall construction has additional benefits: the unit is more rigid and more stable within the wall, the doors achieve a tighter seal and more precise alignment with the chamber, and the interlocking mechanism operates flawlessly.
CleanMount® double-walled systems provide one additional benefit: they are pre-compatible with a wide array of Smart® electronic add-on features, such as UV lighting, valuline filtration, refrigeration modules and load presence sensors. As the bulk of the additional cost for these add-on features are built into the double-wall design, Terra’s pass throughs can be fully equipped with Smart® electronic controls for a negligible price. While the cost to add these features is low, the benefits are enormous - your pass through chamber is instantly transformed into more than a sample transfer system: a germicidal system, a method for employee communication, a data logger, or a security device.
D1 - Isolated Interlock: Effectively cleaning an internal chamber with an exposed interlock is a huge challenge. Terra offers a fully isolated automatic interlock, installed between the interior and exterior wall panels of the cleanroom transfer hatch.
D2 - Flush-Mount: Terra’s CleanMount® system mounts flush against the cleanroom wall to minimize particle accumulation and simplify cleaning.
D3 - Quick Install: The whole process of installing a pass-through was very messy, until Terra developed the CleanMount® pass-through. The CleanMount® fastening system installs directly into a clean, finished opening in the wall (not a dirty, rough cut-out) without any drilling or screwing into the surrounding wall that can contaminate and delay cleanroom operations. The innovative design firmly clamps to a variety of wall thicknesses without penetrating or damaging the finished surrounding wall. After the wall is fully prepared by your contractor, Terra’s CleanMount® pass through chamber can be installed seamlessly, within 5 minutes. Terra’s video tutorial will guide your contractor through the process to ensure the pass through is correctly installed.
D4 - Contamination-Free Removal: CleanMount® pass throughs also drastically simplify maintenance to minimize downtime of critical cleanroom operations. The units can be removed and reinstalled seamlessly, within minutes, by any member of your organization. If your pass through chamber needs servicing, Terra’s CleanMount® chamber easily slides out of the wall without creating scratches or abrasions that can leave debris and particle contamination in the cleanroom.
D5 - Lipless Front/Rear Edges: The edges of a pass through chamber are prone to snag garments and collect contaminants. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® design includes lipless front and rear edges for easy sterilization.
D6 - Rounded Corners: The corners inside a pass through chamber are a common spot for contaminates to collect or microbes to colonize. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass throughs feature fully rounded (radius) corners for easy disinfection.
D7 - Lift-Off Replaceable Doors: Effectively disinfecting pass-through doors can be a challenge. Both Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass-through chambers include removable doors. BioSafe® passthroughs feature autoclave-safe doors with blue elastomeric door seals.
E - BioSafe Design:
(back to chart)
E1 - Meets Aseptic Requirements: Terra’s pass through chambers are UL-rated, CE-marked and leak-tested. Specialty models meet USP <797> and <800> requirements, cGMP standards, UL-B fire ratings, and BSL 1 and 2 criteria. If you’re installing a pass through into a regulated space, talk to your Terra product specialist to find a model to fit your application.
E2 - BioSeal Door with Knife Edge Seal: For many applications, maintaining positive or negative pressure inside of a cleanroom is critical, whether the environment is sensitive to particles, microbial growth, moisture or static build-up. Your cleanroom’s pressure rating can be compromised by any personnel entrance or exit, including your pass through chamber. Terra’s pass through chambers will support the integrity of your cleanroom, allowing it to maintain your desired cleanliness levels and specifications. Terra’s BioSeal™ doors with elastomeric gaskets are pressure-rated, autoclave-safe and compatible with critical, regulated environments.
F - Smart Pass-Through Design – Standard Features:
(back to chart)
F1 - Electronic Door Interlock: Pass through chambers must be designed to prevent both doors from opening at the same time, causing cross contamination between two sterile spaces and a loss of your cleanroom’s pressure rating. A critical component in the pass through design, the interlocking mechanism, prevents this unwanted occurrence. The interlock can be mechanical, utilizing a hook and latch system, or electrical, using an e-strike. Mechanical interlocks come in two flavors: manual or automatic. For mechanical interlocks, Terra only offers automatic systems, as manual systems must be engaged by the operator, severely reducing transfer efficiency. In certain applications, Terra pass through chambers are opened every five seconds for the entirety of a work shift. This level of access frequency would not be possible with a manual, mechanical interlock. Electrical interlocks are often installed on passthrough chambers with automatic, hands-free doors or systems equipped with access controls, occupancy sensors, building management integration or event logs. Terra’s Smart® pass-through chambers can be equipped with these capabilities and more, including refrigeration modules, intercoms, UV germicidal lighting and HEPA filtration.
F2 - Electrical Integration/Control: When first introduced to the market, the pass through chamber had one specific job: to act as the gatekeeper for sample transfer into and out of the cleanroom, thereby reducing personnel traffic. As the pass through has become more integral to the operations within a cleanroom, the potential jobs it can perform and problems it can solve have increased. Terra has changed the definition of the pass through chamber by offering a menu of standard, add-on features that expand the role of the pass through chamber within a cleanroom. Beyond sample transfer, a pass through can now disinfect products, allow employees in separate areas to communicate, log environmental conditions, track personnel or packages, and add layers of security to your facility.
F3 - Service & Open Door Alerts: In regulated environments, like FDA or cGMP facilities, event logs that track employee movement, environmental conditions, equipment status, and service alerts are a requirement. Terra’s Smart® Pass Through captures these data and communicates with your building management system or LIMS software to export the data at stated intervals.
F4 - Door Status LED Display Bar: The interlocking mechanism is the lifeblood of the pass through chamber; its integrity dictates the life of the unit. If the interlock doesn’t function effectively, your facility may experience sample cross contamination, product failures, or employee safety issues. The interlock, and by proxy, the pass through doors must be operated correctly; misuse can shorten the lifespan of your pass through and decrease its effectiveness. To reduce interlock abuse, Terra has introduced several solutions, such as buzzers and color-coded warning signals. Terra’s Smart® LED Door Status Bar displays a red light when the opposite door is open, informing the operator to wait before attempting to open the door, and a green light when the opposite door is shut, informing the operator to proceed in opening the door. Without a status bar, interlock abuse is common: an operator will attempt to open the door, not knowing that the opposite door is open; when their door doesn’t open, the operator will use excessive force to pry the door open, causing damage to the door seal and the interlock. These signals act as the traffic lights for Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers, ensuring interlock abuse is prevented. If traffic lights didn’t exist on roadways, would car accidents be blamed on automotive manufacturers? In this same vein, Terra has taken the extra step in supporting pass through care, so our customers can reap the full benefits of our system for many years.
G - Smart Pass-Through Options:
(back to chart)
G1 - Hands-Free Automatic Door: In the semiconductor industry, the highest level of contamination control is achieved by totally eliminating the presence of humans in the critical manufacturing areas through full robotic automation and closed-loop enclosures. Terra Universal has developed and offered solutions for the semiconductor industry since its inception in 1976. We understand the benefits that reducing foot traffic will have on a company’s operations, processes and products. Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers can be equipped with automatic doors and electronic controllers that support integration with fully automated systems.
G3 - Recessed LED Lighting: LED lighting illuminates the internal chamber and mounts flush into the ceiling for easy sterilization. The light automatically activates when either door opens, supporting hands-free operation of the pass through chamber.
G4 - UV-C Sanitizing Module: Germicidal UV-C light, emitted at 254 nanometers, denatures microbial DNA after short, intense exposure. UV-C lighting will ensure your pass through box is fully sterilized and does not impact the bio-burden of your cleanroom.
G5 - ULPA/HEPA-Filtered Air Shower: Recirculating filtered pass throughs use a closed loop system to continuously recirculate air in the chamber through built-in HEPA or ULPA filters. These clean air pass thrus are self-contained and do not require any ventilation or exhaust ducting. They run continuously to reduce particle concentration within the chamber. This design is commonly used because the closed-loop system does not impact adjacent room pressure balances when operating.
With heavily mandated cleanliness requirements associated with USP 797 and USP 800 cleanrooms, a pharmacy pass thru is a vital point for sterile pharmaceutical compounding. Terra’s HEPA filtered pass through and Smart® HEPA filtered pass thru use recirculating ventilation to meet and exceed USP 797 and USP 800 guidelines.
Comprehensively wiping down a cart filled with patient samples or supplies can be time consuming. Terra’s high velocity air shower pass through is designed with high-pressure nozzles that wash the cart from every side with ULPA-filtered air. After a 30-second, hands-free wash cycle; your cart will be clean, particle-free and contamination-free. As a secondary disinfection mechanism, equip your cart with a germicidal, UV-C light to prevent microbial growth.
G6 - Refrigeration Module: For temperature sensitive samples or equipment, Terra’s Smart® pass throughs may be equipped with a refrigeration module that maintains a 4°C set point within the internal chamber. Terra’s high-security, refrigerated pass through chambers are utilized for overnight storage of patient samples.
G7 - Pushbutton Intercom: Built-in intercom system allows operators to easily communicate between rooms. Without intercoms, operators are prone to opening both pass through doors, by bypassing the interlock, to communicate, thus breaking the cleanroom seal and exposing sterile areas to cross contamination.
G8 - LCD Message Panel: LCD panels are designed for regulated environments, like FDA, cGMP, GLP or USP <797> facilities. They display critical environmental information related to the interior chamber conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity.
G9 - 90° Corner Configurations: Terra has 45 years of experience in customized equipment. Smart® pass-throughs with custom door configurations can be designed per-project to install in corner walls with multiple doors: 2 doors (L-shape), 3 doors (T-shape), or 4 doors (X-shape).
G10 - Load Presence Sensor: Infrared beams detect objects placed within the internal transfer chamber and can communicate data to an audible alarm or sample tracking system. They are ideal for highly-regulated facilities maintaining cGMP compliance or systems installed onto the external wall of a building for package delivery.
G11 - Video Camera: An interior HD video camera records continuously or upon door opening. The camera can also be adjusted to monitor spaces external to the pass through chamber.
G12 - Proximity Card Reader: Card readers with system lockout and keypad for two-factor authentication are ideal designed for pharmacies dispensing controlled substances.
G13 - Keyless Door Access Panel: Keypad readers for high-security areas prevent unauthorized access to the pass through chamber.
G14 - Fingerprint Reader: Biometric fingerprint scanners include proximity card reader for two-factor authentication.
G15 - Iris Scanner: A fully automated iris scanner provides secure, hands-free access and includes data logging plus a secondary keycard reader.
G16 - Access Data Logging: This software logs environmental conditions and exports the data to a local server or building management system.
G17 - Laminar Flow HEPA Filtration: Terra’s Smart® pass through cabinets may be equipped with a HEPA-filtered blower module, installed above the unit, that washes the internal chamber with uniform, unidirectional, micro-filtered air.
G18 - Ionization Module: Ion bars emit a static neutralizing stream of cations and anions to prevent ESD discharge. They are ideal for protecting static-sensitive medical devices and microelectronics.
H - Fire-Rates Pass-Throughs:
(back to chart)
H1 - Fire-Rated Doors: If you are installing a pass through chamber in a fire-rated space, the pass through must carry the same fire-rating as the wall in which it is installed. Terra’s fire-rated pass through chambers carry the UL-B label for 90-minute fire exposure, suitable for installation in areas with 2-hour wall ratings. Available in 11 different sizes to fit your sample transfer needs, Terra offers fire-rated units that are pre-tested, crated and in-stock for immediate shipment.
I - Other Optional Accessories:
(back to chart)
I1 & I2 - BioSafe Removable Racks and Shelves: Stainless steel racks and shelves can be removed for disinfection or replaced as user requirements change.
I3 - CleanTop Sloping Top: For non-flush mount pass through systems, Terra’s CleanTop™ sloping top provides a smooth, easy to disinfect surface between the pass through door and the wall.
I4 - Ventilation Module: A cleanroom pass thru chamber with exhausted ventilation (also known as a sink airlock) provides a single pass (open loop) supply of exhausted air. This extraction system creates negative pressure to prevent particles from escaping the chamber from either door. This design can be used for applications where hazardous materials or particulates must be contained and kept from passing through either side of the chamber. Ventilation units can also be used to duct fumes that might be present in a specimen, allowing the cleanroom pass thru box to act as a drying system. Specify a flange adapter to allow connection from the pass thru chamber to an in-house ventilation system. Exhaust air speed sensors can also be configured for added safety to alarm in the event air speed falls below a specified set point.
I5 - Grounding Terminals: For static-sensitive material, Terra’s cleanroom pass through box can be equipped with grounding terminals for an ESD-safe internal chamber.
I6 - High-Velocity side & Top HEPA Air Shower: Installed on floor mounted pass throughs, the air shower directs HEPA-filtered air through high-velocity nozzles installed on the ceiling and walls of the internal chamber to wash carts free of dust and contaminants.
I7 - Large-Clearance Roll-Up Doors: Terra’s roll-up door pass throughs are designed for consistent, high-throughput transfer of large, bulky equipment into and out of the cleanroom. Roll-up pass thru designs include safety pressure sensors, automatic interlocks, touch panel interfaces, and laser door positioning sensors.
I8 - Reinforced, Ruggedized Contruction: Rugged pass through transfer hatches featuring double-wall construction and heavy-duty self-closing doors are designed for high-throughput, high-security areas such as correctional facilities.
I9 - Locking Latches: For secure areas housing controlled substances or high-value products, Terra offers a variety of locking door latches and access controls for pass thru cabinets.
CleanMount® Pass-Through Chambers
A - Mounting Configurations:
(back to chart)
A1 - Wall Mounted: Terra offers flush-mount and center-mount options. Terra’s CleanMount® system affixes flush against the cleanroom wall to simplify disinfection and prevent particle accumulation.
A2 - Floor Mounted With Ramp: Cleanroom cart pass throughs with integral ramps support transfer of heavy equipment or sample racks into critical spaces.
A3 - Glass Panel Mounted: Stainless steel pass throughs smaller than 2 cubic feet may be mounted in tempered glass panels without support frames, saving facilities on additional hardware and cleaning costs.
B - Chamber Materials:
(back to chart)
B1 - Plastic: Terra manufactures and stocks pass through chambers made of economical acrylic, ESD-safe static-dissipative PVC, and chemical-resistant polypropylene.
B2 - Powder-Coated Steel: More economical than stainless steel, durable and rigid powder-coated steel is more resistant to chemical- or moisture-based corrosion than plastic designs.
B3 - 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
B4 - 316 Stainless Steel: 316-grade stainless steel contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade stainless steel, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
B5 - Electropolished Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of the stainless steel, and supports easy sterilization to reduce micro-cavities where microbes colonize.
C - CleanSeam Design:
(back to chart)
C1 - Continuous Seam: Terra’s CleanSeam™ pass through chambers feature fully-welded chambers with smooth, continuous seam welds for a seamless interior that is easy to disinfect. The internal chamber is free of crevices or cracks where contaminants can collect.
D - Double-Wall Design:
(back to chart)
Equipping a pass through cabinet with external components - such as door sensors, lighting and filtration – can be a challenge. Cleaning procedures dictate that pass through chambers should be seamless, crevice-free and easy to wipe down. Installing external components on the chamber will make the cleaning process more difficult and restrict the space available for sample transfer.
Terra has solved this issue with CleanMount® double-walled pass through chambers. All external components are enclosed within the space between the internal and external walls, so the integrity of the internal chamber is not jeopardized and the pass through cleanliness rating is not sacrificed.
Double-wall construction has additional benefits: the unit is more rigid and more stable within the wall, the doors achieve a tighter seal and more precise alignment with the chamber, and the interlocking mechanism operates flawlessly.
CleanMount® double-walled systems provide one additional benefit: they are pre-compatible with a wide array of Smart® electronic add-on features, such as UV lighting, valuline filtration, refrigeration modules and load presence sensors. As the bulk of the additional cost for these add-on features are built into the double-wall design, Terra’s pass throughs can be fully equipped with Smart® electronic controls for a negligible price. While the cost to add these features is low, the benefits are enormous - your pass through chamber is instantly transformed into more than a sample transfer system: a germicidal system, a method for employee communication, a data logger, or a security device.
D1 - Isolated Interlock: Effectively cleaning an internal chamber with an exposed interlock is a huge challenge. Terra offers a fully isolated automatic interlock, installed between the interior and exterior wall panels of the cleanroom transfer hatch.
D2 - Flush-Mount: Terra’s CleanMount® system mounts flush against the cleanroom wall to minimize particle accumulation and simplify cleaning.
D3 - Quick Install: The whole process of installing a pass-through was very messy, until Terra developed the CleanMount® pass-through. The CleanMount® fastening system installs directly into a clean, finished opening in the wall (not a dirty, rough cut-out) without any drilling or screwing into the surrounding wall that can contaminate and delay cleanroom operations. The innovative design firmly clamps to a variety of wall thicknesses without penetrating or damaging the finished surrounding wall. After the wall is fully prepared by your contractor, Terra’s CleanMount® pass through chamber can be installed seamlessly, within 5 minutes. Terra’s video tutorial will guide your contractor through the process to ensure the pass through is correctly installed.
D4 - Contamination-Free Removal: CleanMount® pass throughs also drastically simplify maintenance to minimize downtime of critical cleanroom operations. The units can be removed and reinstalled seamlessly, within minutes, by any member of your organization. If your pass through chamber needs servicing, Terra’s CleanMount® chamber easily slides out of the wall without creating scratches or abrasions that can leave debris and particle contamination in the cleanroom.
D5 - Lipless Front/Rear Edges: The edges of a pass through chamber are prone to snag garments and collect contaminants. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® design includes lipless front and rear edges for easy sterilization.
D6 - Rounded Corners: The corners inside a pass through chamber are a common spot for contaminates to collect or microbes to colonize. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass throughs feature fully rounded (radius) corners for easy disinfection.
D7 - Lift-Off Replaceable Doors: Effectively disinfecting pass-through doors can be a challenge. Both Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass-through chambers include removable doors. BioSafe® passthroughs feature autoclave-safe doors with blue elastomeric door seals.
E - BioSafe Design:
(back to chart)
E1 - Meets Aseptic Requirements: Terra’s pass through chambers are UL-rated, CE-marked and leak-tested. Specialty models meet USP <797> and <800> requirements, cGMP standards, UL-B fire ratings, and BSL 1 and 2 criteria. If you’re installing a pass through into a regulated space, talk to your Terra product specialist to find a model to fit your application.
E2 - BioSeal Door with Knife Edge Seal: For many applications, maintaining positive or negative pressure inside of a cleanroom is critical, whether the environment is sensitive to particles, microbial growth, moisture or static build-up. Your cleanroom’s pressure rating can be compromised by any personnel entrance or exit, including your pass through chamber. Terra’s pass through chambers will support the integrity of your cleanroom, allowing it to maintain your desired cleanliness levels and specifications. Terra’s BioSeal™ doors with elastomeric gaskets are pressure-rated, autoclave-safe and compatible with critical, regulated environments.
F - Smart Pass-Through Design – Standard Features:
(back to chart)
F1 - Electronic Door Interlock: Pass through chambers must be designed to prevent both doors from opening at the same time, causing cross contamination between two sterile spaces and a loss of your cleanroom’s pressure rating. A critical component in the pass through design, the interlocking mechanism, prevents this unwanted occurrence. The interlock can be mechanical, utilizing a hook and latch system, or electrical, using an e-strike. Mechanical interlocks come in two flavors: manual or automatic. For mechanical interlocks, Terra only offers automatic systems, as manual systems must be engaged by the operator, severely reducing transfer efficiency. In certain applications, Terra pass through chambers are opened every five seconds for the entirety of a work shift. This level of access frequency would not be possible with a manual, mechanical interlock. Electrical interlocks are often installed on passthrough chambers with automatic, hands-free doors or systems equipped with access controls, occupancy sensors, building management integration or event logs. Terra’s Smart® pass-through chambers can be equipped with these capabilities and more, including refrigeration modules, intercoms, UV germicidal lighting and HEPA filtration.
F2 - Electrical Integration/Control: When first introduced to the market, the pass through chamber had one specific job: to act as the gatekeeper for sample transfer into and out of the cleanroom, thereby reducing personnel traffic. As the pass through has become more integral to the operations within a cleanroom, the potential jobs it can perform and problems it can solve have increased. Terra has changed the definition of the pass through chamber by offering a menu of standard, add-on features that expand the role of the pass through chamber within a cleanroom. Beyond sample transfer, a pass through can now disinfect products, allow employees in separate areas to communicate, log environmental conditions, track personnel or packages, and add layers of security to your facility.
F3 - Service & Open Door Alerts: In regulated environments, like FDA or cGMP facilities, event logs that track employee movement, environmental conditions, equipment status, and service alerts are a requirement. Terra’s Smart® Pass Through captures these data and communicates with your building management system or LIMS software to export the data at stated intervals.
F4 - Door Status LED Display Bar: The interlocking mechanism is the lifeblood of the pass through chamber; its integrity dictates the life of the unit. If the interlock doesn’t function effectively, your facility may experience sample cross contamination, product failures, or employee safety issues. The interlock, and by proxy, the pass through doors must be operated correctly; misuse can shorten the lifespan of your pass through and decrease its effectiveness. To reduce interlock abuse, Terra has introduced several solutions, such as buzzers and color-coded warning signals. Terra’s Smart® LED Door Status Bar displays a red light when the opposite door is open, informing the operator to wait before attempting to open the door, and a green light when the opposite door is shut, informing the operator to proceed in opening the door. Without a status bar, interlock abuse is common: an operator will attempt to open the door, not knowing that the opposite door is open; when their door doesn’t open, the operator will use excessive force to pry the door open, causing damage to the door seal and the interlock. These signals act as the traffic lights for Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers, ensuring interlock abuse is prevented. If traffic lights didn’t exist on roadways, would car accidents be blamed on automotive manufacturers? In this same vein, Terra has taken the extra step in supporting pass through care, so our customers can reap the full benefits of our system for many years.
G - Smart Pass-Through Options:
(back to chart)
G1 - Hands-Free Automatic Door: In the semiconductor industry, the highest level of contamination control is achieved by totally eliminating the presence of humans in the critical manufacturing areas through full robotic automation and closed-loop enclosures. Terra Universal has developed and offered solutions for the semiconductor industry since its inception in 1976. We understand the benefits that reducing foot traffic will have on a company’s operations, processes and products. Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers can be equipped with automatic doors and electronic controllers that support integration with fully automated systems.
G3 - Recessed LED Lighting: LED lighting illuminates the internal chamber and mounts flush into the ceiling for easy sterilization. The light automatically activates when either door opens, supporting hands-free operation of the pass through chamber.
G4 - UV-C Sanitizing Module: Germicidal UV-C light, emitted at 254 nanometers, denatures microbial DNA after short, intense exposure. UV-C lighting will ensure your pass through box is fully sterilized and does not impact the bio-burden of your cleanroom.
G5 - ULPA/HEPA-Filtered Air Shower: Recirculating filtered pass throughs use a closed loop system to continuously recirculate air in the chamber through built-in HEPA or ULPA filters. These clean air pass thrus are self-contained and do not require any ventilation or exhaust ducting. They run continuously to reduce particle concentration within the chamber. This design is commonly used because the closed-loop system does not impact adjacent room pressure balances when operating.
With heavily mandated cleanliness requirements associated with USP 797 and USP 800 cleanrooms, a pharmacy pass thru is a vital point for sterile pharmaceutical compounding. Terra’s HEPA filtered pass through and Smart® HEPA filtered pass thru use recirculating ventilation to meet and exceed USP 797 and USP 800 guidelines.
Comprehensively wiping down a cart filled with patient samples or supplies can be time consuming. Terra’s high velocity air shower pass through is designed with high-pressure nozzles that wash the cart from every side with ULPA-filtered air. After a 30-second, hands-free wash cycle; your cart will be clean, particle-free and contamination-free. As a secondary disinfection mechanism, equip your cart with a germicidal, UV-C light to prevent microbial growth.
G6 - Refrigeration Module: For temperature sensitive samples or equipment, Terra’s Smart® pass throughs may be equipped with a refrigeration module that maintains a 4°C set point within the internal chamber. Terra’s high-security, refrigerated pass through chambers are utilized for overnight storage of patient samples.
G7 - Pushbutton Intercom: Built-in intercom system allows operators to easily communicate between rooms. Without intercoms, operators are prone to opening both pass through doors, by bypassing the interlock, to communicate, thus breaking the cleanroom seal and exposing sterile areas to cross contamination.
G8 - LCD Message Panel: LCD panels are designed for regulated environments, like FDA, cGMP, GLP or USP <797> facilities. They display critical environmental information related to the interior chamber conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity.
G9 - 90° Corner Configurations: Terra has 45 years of experience in customized equipment. Smart® pass-throughs with custom door configurations can be designed per-project to install in corner walls with multiple doors: 2 doors (L-shape), 3 doors (T-shape), or 4 doors (X-shape).
G10 - Load Presence Sensor: Infrared beams detect objects placed within the internal transfer chamber and can communicate data to an audible alarm or sample tracking system. They are ideal for highly-regulated facilities maintaining cGMP compliance or systems installed onto the external wall of a building for package delivery.
G11 - Video Camera: An interior HD video camera records continuously or upon door opening. The camera can also be adjusted to monitor spaces external to the pass through chamber.
G12 - Proximity Card Reader: Card readers with system lockout and keypad for two-factor authentication are ideal designed for pharmacies dispensing controlled substances.
G13 - Keyless Door Access Panel: Keypad readers for high-security areas prevent unauthorized access to the pass through chamber.
G14 - Fingerprint Reader: Biometric fingerprint scanners include proximity card reader for two-factor authentication.
G15 - Iris Scanner: A fully automated iris scanner provides secure, hands-free access and includes data logging plus a secondary keycard reader.
G16 - Access Data Logging: This software logs environmental conditions and exports the data to a local server or building management system.
G17 - Laminar Flow HEPA Filtration: Terra’s Smart® pass through cabinets may be equipped with a HEPA-filtered blower module, installed above the unit, that washes the internal chamber with uniform, unidirectional, micro-filtered air.
G18 - Ionization Module: Ion bars emit a static neutralizing stream of cations and anions to prevent ESD discharge. They are ideal for protecting static-sensitive medical devices and microelectronics.
H - Fire-Rates Pass-Throughs:
(back to chart)
H1 - Fire-Rated Doors: If you are installing a pass through chamber in a fire-rated space, the pass through must carry the same fire-rating as the wall in which it is installed. Terra’s fire-rated pass through chambers carry the UL-B label for 90-minute fire exposure, suitable for installation in areas with 2-hour wall ratings. Available in 11 different sizes to fit your sample transfer needs, Terra offers fire-rated units that are pre-tested, crated and in-stock for immediate shipment.
I - Other Optional Accessories:
(back to chart)
I1 & I2 - BioSafe Removable Racks and Shelves: Stainless steel racks and shelves can be removed for disinfection or replaced as user requirements change.
I3 - CleanTop Sloping Top: For non-flush mount pass through systems, Terra’s CleanTop™ sloping top provides a smooth, easy to disinfect surface between the pass through door and the wall.
I4 - Ventilation Module: A cleanroom pass thru chamber with exhausted ventilation (also known as a sink airlock) provides a single pass (open loop) supply of exhausted air. This extraction system creates negative pressure to prevent particles from escaping the chamber from either door. This design can be used for applications where hazardous materials or particulates must be contained and kept from passing through either side of the chamber. Ventilation units can also be used to duct fumes that might be present in a specimen, allowing the cleanroom pass thru box to act as a drying system. Specify a flange adapter to allow connection from the pass thru chamber to an in-house ventilation system. Exhaust air speed sensors can also be configured for added safety to alarm in the event air speed falls below a specified set point.
I5 - Grounding Terminals: For static-sensitive material, Terra’s cleanroom pass through box can be equipped with grounding terminals for an ESD-safe internal chamber.
I6 - High-Velocity side & Top HEPA Air Shower: Installed on floor mounted pass throughs, the air shower directs HEPA-filtered air through high-velocity nozzles installed on the ceiling and walls of the internal chamber to wash carts free of dust and contaminants.
I7 - Large-Clearance Roll-Up Doors: Terra’s roll-up door pass throughs are designed for consistent, high-throughput transfer of large, bulky equipment into and out of the cleanroom. Roll-up pass thru designs include safety pressure sensors, automatic interlocks, touch panel interfaces, and laser door positioning sensors.
I8 - Reinforced, Ruggedized Contruction: Rugged pass through transfer hatches featuring double-wall construction and heavy-duty self-closing doors are designed for high-throughput, high-security areas such as correctional facilities.
I9 - Locking Latches: For secure areas housing controlled substances or high-value products, Terra offers a variety of locking door latches and access controls for pass thru cabinets.
BioSafe® CleanMount® Pass-Through Chambers
A - Mounting Configurations:
(back to chart)
A1 - Wall Mounted: Terra offers flush-mount and center-mount options. Terra’s CleanMount® system affixes flush against the cleanroom wall to simplify disinfection and prevent particle accumulation.
A2 - Floor Mounted With Ramp: Cleanroom cart pass throughs with integral ramps support transfer of heavy equipment or sample racks into critical spaces.
A3 - Glass Panel Mounted: Stainless steel pass throughs smaller than 2 cubic feet may be mounted in tempered glass panels without support frames, saving facilities on additional hardware and cleaning costs.
B - Chamber Materials:
(back to chart)
B1 - Plastic: Terra manufactures and stocks pass through chambers made of economical acrylic, ESD-safe static-dissipative PVC, and chemical-resistant polypropylene.
B2 - Powder-Coated Steel: More economical than stainless steel, durable and rigid powder-coated steel is more resistant to chemical- or moisture-based corrosion than plastic designs.
B3 - 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
B4 - 316 Stainless Steel: 316-grade stainless steel contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade stainless steel, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
B5 - Electropolished Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of the stainless steel, and supports easy sterilization to reduce micro-cavities where microbes colonize.
C - CleanSeam Design:
(back to chart)
C1 - Continuous Seam: Terra’s CleanSeam™ pass through chambers feature fully-welded chambers with smooth, continuous seam welds for a seamless interior that is easy to disinfect. The internal chamber is free of crevices or cracks where contaminants can collect.
D - Double-Wall Design:
(back to chart)
Equipping a pass through cabinet with external components - such as door sensors, lighting and filtration – can be a challenge. Cleaning procedures dictate that pass through chambers should be seamless, crevice-free and easy to wipe down. Installing external components on the chamber will make the cleaning process more difficult and restrict the space available for sample transfer.
Terra has solved this issue with CleanMount® double-walled pass through chambers. All external components are enclosed within the space between the internal and external walls, so the integrity of the internal chamber is not jeopardized and the pass through cleanliness rating is not sacrificed.
Double-wall construction has additional benefits: the unit is more rigid and more stable within the wall, the doors achieve a tighter seal and more precise alignment with the chamber, and the interlocking mechanism operates flawlessly.
CleanMount® double-walled systems provide one additional benefit: they are pre-compatible with a wide array of Smart® electronic add-on features, such as UV lighting, valuline filtration, refrigeration modules and load presence sensors. As the bulk of the additional cost for these add-on features are built into the double-wall design, Terra’s pass throughs can be fully equipped with Smart® electronic controls for a negligible price. While the cost to add these features is low, the benefits are enormous - your pass through chamber is instantly transformed into more than a sample transfer system: a germicidal system, a method for employee communication, a data logger, or a security device.
D1 - Isolated Interlock: Effectively cleaning an internal chamber with an exposed interlock is a huge challenge. Terra offers a fully isolated automatic interlock, installed between the interior and exterior wall panels of the cleanroom transfer hatch.
D2 - Flush-Mount: Terra’s CleanMount® system mounts flush against the cleanroom wall to minimize particle accumulation and simplify cleaning.
D3 - Quick Install: The whole process of installing a pass-through was very messy, until Terra developed the CleanMount® pass-through. The CleanMount® fastening system installs directly into a clean, finished opening in the wall (not a dirty, rough cut-out) without any drilling or screwing into the surrounding wall that can contaminate and delay cleanroom operations. The innovative design firmly clamps to a variety of wall thicknesses without penetrating or damaging the finished surrounding wall. After the wall is fully prepared by your contractor, Terra’s CleanMount® pass through chamber can be installed seamlessly, within 5 minutes. Terra’s video tutorial will guide your contractor through the process to ensure the pass through is correctly installed.
D4 - Contamination-Free Removal: CleanMount® pass throughs also drastically simplify maintenance to minimize downtime of critical cleanroom operations. The units can be removed and reinstalled seamlessly, within minutes, by any member of your organization. If your pass through chamber needs servicing, Terra’s CleanMount® chamber easily slides out of the wall without creating scratches or abrasions that can leave debris and particle contamination in the cleanroom.
D5 - Lipless Front/Rear Edges: The edges of a pass through chamber are prone to snag garments and collect contaminants. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® design includes lipless front and rear edges for easy sterilization.
D6 - Rounded Corners: The corners inside a pass through chamber are a common spot for contaminates to collect or microbes to colonize. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass throughs feature fully rounded (radius) corners for easy disinfection.
D7 - Lift-Off Replaceable Doors: Effectively disinfecting pass-through doors can be a challenge. Both Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass-through chambers include removable doors. BioSafe® passthroughs feature autoclave-safe doors with blue elastomeric door seals.
E - BioSafe Design:
(back to chart)
E1 - Meets Aseptic Requirements: Terra’s pass through chambers are UL-rated, CE-marked and leak-tested. Specialty models meet USP <797> and <800> requirements, cGMP standards, UL-B fire ratings, and BSL 1 and 2 criteria. If you’re installing a pass through into a regulated space, talk to your Terra product specialist to find a model to fit your application.
E2 - BioSeal Door with Knife Edge Seal: For many applications, maintaining positive or negative pressure inside of a cleanroom is critical, whether the environment is sensitive to particles, microbial growth, moisture or static build-up. Your cleanroom’s pressure rating can be compromised by any personnel entrance or exit, including your pass through chamber. Terra’s pass through chambers will support the integrity of your cleanroom, allowing it to maintain your desired cleanliness levels and specifications. Terra’s BioSeal™ doors with elastomeric gaskets are pressure-rated, autoclave-safe and compatible with critical, regulated environments.
F - Smart Pass-Through Design – Standard Features:
(back to chart)
F1 - Electronic Door Interlock: Pass through chambers must be designed to prevent both doors from opening at the same time, causing cross contamination between two sterile spaces and a loss of your cleanroom’s pressure rating. A critical component in the pass through design, the interlocking mechanism, prevents this unwanted occurrence. The interlock can be mechanical, utilizing a hook and latch system, or electrical, using an e-strike. Mechanical interlocks come in two flavors: manual or automatic. For mechanical interlocks, Terra only offers automatic systems, as manual systems must be engaged by the operator, severely reducing transfer efficiency. In certain applications, Terra pass through chambers are opened every five seconds for the entirety of a work shift. This level of access frequency would not be possible with a manual, mechanical interlock. Electrical interlocks are often installed on passthrough chambers with automatic, hands-free doors or systems equipped with access controls, occupancy sensors, building management integration or event logs. Terra’s Smart® pass-through chambers can be equipped with these capabilities and more, including refrigeration modules, intercoms, UV germicidal lighting and HEPA filtration.
F2 - Electrical Integration/Control: When first introduced to the market, the pass through chamber had one specific job: to act as the gatekeeper for sample transfer into and out of the cleanroom, thereby reducing personnel traffic. As the pass through has become more integral to the operations within a cleanroom, the potential jobs it can perform and problems it can solve have increased. Terra has changed the definition of the pass through chamber by offering a menu of standard, add-on features that expand the role of the pass through chamber within a cleanroom. Beyond sample transfer, a pass through can now disinfect products, allow employees in separate areas to communicate, log environmental conditions, track personnel or packages, and add layers of security to your facility.
F3 - Service & Open Door Alerts: In regulated environments, like FDA or cGMP facilities, event logs that track employee movement, environmental conditions, equipment status, and service alerts are a requirement. Terra’s Smart® Pass Through captures these data and communicates with your building management system or LIMS software to export the data at stated intervals.
F4 - Door Status LED Display Bar: The interlocking mechanism is the lifeblood of the pass through chamber; its integrity dictates the life of the unit. If the interlock doesn’t function effectively, your facility may experience sample cross contamination, product failures, or employee safety issues. The interlock, and by proxy, the pass through doors must be operated correctly; misuse can shorten the lifespan of your pass through and decrease its effectiveness. To reduce interlock abuse, Terra has introduced several solutions, such as buzzers and color-coded warning signals. Terra’s Smart® LED Door Status Bar displays a red light when the opposite door is open, informing the operator to wait before attempting to open the door, and a green light when the opposite door is shut, informing the operator to proceed in opening the door. Without a status bar, interlock abuse is common: an operator will attempt to open the door, not knowing that the opposite door is open; when their door doesn’t open, the operator will use excessive force to pry the door open, causing damage to the door seal and the interlock. These signals act as the traffic lights for Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers, ensuring interlock abuse is prevented. If traffic lights didn’t exist on roadways, would car accidents be blamed on automotive manufacturers? In this same vein, Terra has taken the extra step in supporting pass through care, so our customers can reap the full benefits of our system for many years.
G - Smart Pass-Through Options:
(back to chart)
G1 - Hands-Free Automatic Door: In the semiconductor industry, the highest level of contamination control is achieved by totally eliminating the presence of humans in the critical manufacturing areas through full robotic automation and closed-loop enclosures. Terra Universal has developed and offered solutions for the semiconductor industry since its inception in 1976. We understand the benefits that reducing foot traffic will have on a company’s operations, processes and products. Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers can be equipped with automatic doors and electronic controllers that support integration with fully automated systems.
G3 - Recessed LED Lighting: LED lighting illuminates the internal chamber and mounts flush into the ceiling for easy sterilization. The light automatically activates when either door opens, supporting hands-free operation of the pass through chamber.
G4 - UV-C Sanitizing Module: Germicidal UV-C light, emitted at 254 nanometers, denatures microbial DNA after short, intense exposure. UV-C lighting will ensure your pass through box is fully sterilized and does not impact the bio-burden of your cleanroom.
G5 - ULPA/HEPA-Filtered Air Shower: Recirculating filtered pass throughs use a closed loop system to continuously recirculate air in the chamber through built-in HEPA or ULPA filters. These clean air pass thrus are self-contained and do not require any ventilation or exhaust ducting. They run continuously to reduce particle concentration within the chamber. This design is commonly used because the closed-loop system does not impact adjacent room pressure balances when operating.
With heavily mandated cleanliness requirements associated with USP 797 and USP 800 cleanrooms, a pharmacy pass thru is a vital point for sterile pharmaceutical compounding. Terra’s HEPA filtered pass through and Smart® HEPA filtered pass thru use recirculating ventilation to meet and exceed USP 797 and USP 800 guidelines.
Comprehensively wiping down a cart filled with patient samples or supplies can be time consuming. Terra’s high velocity air shower pass through is designed with high-pressure nozzles that wash the cart from every side with ULPA-filtered air. After a 30-second, hands-free wash cycle; your cart will be clean, particle-free and contamination-free. As a secondary disinfection mechanism, equip your cart with a germicidal, UV-C light to prevent microbial growth.
G6 - Refrigeration Module: For temperature sensitive samples or equipment, Terra’s Smart® pass throughs may be equipped with a refrigeration module that maintains a 4°C set point within the internal chamber. Terra’s high-security, refrigerated pass through chambers are utilized for overnight storage of patient samples.
G7 - Pushbutton Intercom: Built-in intercom system allows operators to easily communicate between rooms. Without intercoms, operators are prone to opening both pass through doors, by bypassing the interlock, to communicate, thus breaking the cleanroom seal and exposing sterile areas to cross contamination.
G8 - LCD Message Panel: LCD panels are designed for regulated environments, like FDA, cGMP, GLP or USP <797> facilities. They display critical environmental information related to the interior chamber conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity.
G9 - 90° Corner Configurations: Terra has 45 years of experience in customized equipment. Smart® pass-throughs with custom door configurations can be designed per-project to install in corner walls with multiple doors: 2 doors (L-shape), 3 doors (T-shape), or 4 doors (X-shape).
G10 - Load Presence Sensor: Infrared beams detect objects placed within the internal transfer chamber and can communicate data to an audible alarm or sample tracking system. They are ideal for highly-regulated facilities maintaining cGMP compliance or systems installed onto the external wall of a building for package delivery.
G11 - Video Camera: An interior HD video camera records continuously or upon door opening. The camera can also be adjusted to monitor spaces external to the pass through chamber.
G12 - Proximity Card Reader: Card readers with system lockout and keypad for two-factor authentication are ideal designed for pharmacies dispensing controlled substances.
G13 - Keyless Door Access Panel: Keypad readers for high-security areas prevent unauthorized access to the pass through chamber.
G14 - Fingerprint Reader: Biometric fingerprint scanners include proximity card reader for two-factor authentication.
G15 - Iris Scanner: A fully automated iris scanner provides secure, hands-free access and includes data logging plus a secondary keycard reader.
G16 - Access Data Logging: This software logs environmental conditions and exports the data to a local server or building management system.
G17 - Laminar Flow HEPA Filtration: Terra’s Smart® pass through cabinets may be equipped with a HEPA-filtered blower module, installed above the unit, that washes the internal chamber with uniform, unidirectional, micro-filtered air.
G18 - Ionization Module: Ion bars emit a static neutralizing stream of cations and anions to prevent ESD discharge. They are ideal for protecting static-sensitive medical devices and microelectronics.
H - Fire-Rates Pass-Throughs:
(back to chart)
H1 - Fire-Rated Doors: If you are installing a pass through chamber in a fire-rated space, the pass through must carry the same fire-rating as the wall in which it is installed. Terra’s fire-rated pass through chambers carry the UL-B label for 90-minute fire exposure, suitable for installation in areas with 2-hour wall ratings. Available in 11 different sizes to fit your sample transfer needs, Terra offers fire-rated units that are pre-tested, crated and in-stock for immediate shipment.
I - Other Optional Accessories:
(back to chart)
I1 & I2 - BioSafe Removable Racks and Shelves: Stainless steel racks and shelves can be removed for disinfection or replaced as user requirements change.
I3 - CleanTop Sloping Top: For non-flush mount pass through systems, Terra’s CleanTop™ sloping top provides a smooth, easy to disinfect surface between the pass through door and the wall.
I4 - Ventilation Module: A cleanroom pass thru chamber with exhausted ventilation (also known as a sink airlock) provides a single pass (open loop) supply of exhausted air. This extraction system creates negative pressure to prevent particles from escaping the chamber from either door. This design can be used for applications where hazardous materials or particulates must be contained and kept from passing through either side of the chamber. Ventilation units can also be used to duct fumes that might be present in a specimen, allowing the cleanroom pass thru box to act as a drying system. Specify a flange adapter to allow connection from the pass thru chamber to an in-house ventilation system. Exhaust air speed sensors can also be configured for added safety to alarm in the event air speed falls below a specified set point.
I5 - Grounding Terminals: For static-sensitive material, Terra’s cleanroom pass through box can be equipped with grounding terminals for an ESD-safe internal chamber.
I6 - High-Velocity side & Top HEPA Air Shower: Installed on floor mounted pass throughs, the air shower directs HEPA-filtered air through high-velocity nozzles installed on the ceiling and walls of the internal chamber to wash carts free of dust and contaminants.
I7 - Large-Clearance Roll-Up Doors: Terra’s roll-up door pass throughs are designed for consistent, high-throughput transfer of large, bulky equipment into and out of the cleanroom. Roll-up pass thru designs include safety pressure sensors, automatic interlocks, touch panel interfaces, and laser door positioning sensors.
I8 - Reinforced, Ruggedized Contruction: Rugged pass through transfer hatches featuring double-wall construction and heavy-duty self-closing doors are designed for high-throughput, high-security areas such as correctional facilities.
I9 - Locking Latches: For secure areas housing controlled substances or high-value products, Terra offers a variety of locking door latches and access controls for pass thru cabinets.
CleanSeam™ Pass-Through Chambers
A - Mounting Configurations:
(back to chart)
A1 - Wall Mounted: Terra offers flush-mount and center-mount options. Terra’s CleanMount® system affixes flush against the cleanroom wall to simplify disinfection and prevent particle accumulation.
A2 - Floor Mounted With Ramp: Cleanroom cart pass throughs with integral ramps support transfer of heavy equipment or sample racks into critical spaces.
A3 - Glass Panel Mounted: Stainless steel pass throughs smaller than 2 cubic feet may be mounted in tempered glass panels without support frames, saving facilities on additional hardware and cleaning costs.
B - Chamber Materials:
(back to chart)
B1 - Plastic: Terra manufactures and stocks pass through chambers made of economical acrylic, ESD-safe static-dissipative PVC, and chemical-resistant polypropylene.
B2 - Powder-Coated Steel: More economical than stainless steel, durable and rigid powder-coated steel is more resistant to chemical- or moisture-based corrosion than plastic designs.
B3 - 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
B4 - 316 Stainless Steel: 316-grade stainless steel contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade stainless steel, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
B5 - Electropolished Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of the stainless steel, and supports easy sterilization to reduce micro-cavities where microbes colonize.
C - CleanSeam Design:
(back to chart)
C1 - Continuous Seam: Terra’s CleanSeam™ pass through chambers feature fully-welded chambers with smooth, continuous seam welds for a seamless interior that is easy to disinfect. The internal chamber is free of crevices or cracks where contaminants can collect.
D - Double-Wall Design:
(back to chart)
Equipping a pass through cabinet with external components - such as door sensors, lighting and filtration – can be a challenge. Cleaning procedures dictate that pass through chambers should be seamless, crevice-free and easy to wipe down. Installing external components on the chamber will make the cleaning process more difficult and restrict the space available for sample transfer.
Terra has solved this issue with CleanMount® double-walled pass through chambers. All external components are enclosed within the space between the internal and external walls, so the integrity of the internal chamber is not jeopardized and the pass through cleanliness rating is not sacrificed.
Double-wall construction has additional benefits: the unit is more rigid and more stable within the wall, the doors achieve a tighter seal and more precise alignment with the chamber, and the interlocking mechanism operates flawlessly.
CleanMount® double-walled systems provide one additional benefit: they are pre-compatible with a wide array of Smart® electronic add-on features, such as UV lighting, valuline filtration, refrigeration modules and load presence sensors. As the bulk of the additional cost for these add-on features are built into the double-wall design, Terra’s pass throughs can be fully equipped with Smart® electronic controls for a negligible price. While the cost to add these features is low, the benefits are enormous - your pass through chamber is instantly transformed into more than a sample transfer system: a germicidal system, a method for employee communication, a data logger, or a security device.
D1 - Isolated Interlock: Effectively cleaning an internal chamber with an exposed interlock is a huge challenge. Terra offers a fully isolated automatic interlock, installed between the interior and exterior wall panels of the cleanroom transfer hatch.
D2 - Flush-Mount: Terra’s CleanMount® system mounts flush against the cleanroom wall to minimize particle accumulation and simplify cleaning.
D3 - Quick Install: The whole process of installing a pass-through was very messy, until Terra developed the CleanMount® pass-through. The CleanMount® fastening system installs directly into a clean, finished opening in the wall (not a dirty, rough cut-out) without any drilling or screwing into the surrounding wall that can contaminate and delay cleanroom operations. The innovative design firmly clamps to a variety of wall thicknesses without penetrating or damaging the finished surrounding wall. After the wall is fully prepared by your contractor, Terra’s CleanMount® pass through chamber can be installed seamlessly, within 5 minutes. Terra’s video tutorial will guide your contractor through the process to ensure the pass through is correctly installed.
D4 - Contamination-Free Removal: CleanMount® pass throughs also drastically simplify maintenance to minimize downtime of critical cleanroom operations. The units can be removed and reinstalled seamlessly, within minutes, by any member of your organization. If your pass through chamber needs servicing, Terra’s CleanMount® chamber easily slides out of the wall without creating scratches or abrasions that can leave debris and particle contamination in the cleanroom.
D5 - Lipless Front/Rear Edges: The edges of a pass through chamber are prone to snag garments and collect contaminants. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® design includes lipless front and rear edges for easy sterilization.
D6 - Rounded Corners: The corners inside a pass through chamber are a common spot for contaminates to collect or microbes to colonize. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass throughs feature fully rounded (radius) corners for easy disinfection.
D7 - Lift-Off Replaceable Doors: Effectively disinfecting pass-through doors can be a challenge. Both Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass-through chambers include removable doors. BioSafe® passthroughs feature autoclave-safe doors with blue elastomeric door seals.
E - BioSafe Design:
(back to chart)
E1 - Meets Aseptic Requirements: Terra’s pass through chambers are UL-rated, CE-marked and leak-tested. Specialty models meet USP <797> and <800> requirements, cGMP standards, UL-B fire ratings, and BSL 1 and 2 criteria. If you’re installing a pass through into a regulated space, talk to your Terra product specialist to find a model to fit your application.
E2 - BioSeal Door with Knife Edge Seal: For many applications, maintaining positive or negative pressure inside of a cleanroom is critical, whether the environment is sensitive to particles, microbial growth, moisture or static build-up. Your cleanroom’s pressure rating can be compromised by any personnel entrance or exit, including your pass through chamber. Terra’s pass through chambers will support the integrity of your cleanroom, allowing it to maintain your desired cleanliness levels and specifications. Terra’s BioSeal™ doors with elastomeric gaskets are pressure-rated, autoclave-safe and compatible with critical, regulated environments.
F - Smart Pass-Through Design – Standard Features:
(back to chart)
F1 - Electronic Door Interlock: Pass through chambers must be designed to prevent both doors from opening at the same time, causing cross contamination between two sterile spaces and a loss of your cleanroom’s pressure rating. A critical component in the pass through design, the interlocking mechanism, prevents this unwanted occurrence. The interlock can be mechanical, utilizing a hook and latch system, or electrical, using an e-strike. Mechanical interlocks come in two flavors: manual or automatic. For mechanical interlocks, Terra only offers automatic systems, as manual systems must be engaged by the operator, severely reducing transfer efficiency. In certain applications, Terra pass through chambers are opened every five seconds for the entirety of a work shift. This level of access frequency would not be possible with a manual, mechanical interlock. Electrical interlocks are often installed on passthrough chambers with automatic, hands-free doors or systems equipped with access controls, occupancy sensors, building management integration or event logs. Terra’s Smart® pass-through chambers can be equipped with these capabilities and more, including refrigeration modules, intercoms, UV germicidal lighting and general filtration.
F2 - Electrical Integration/Control: When first introduced to the market, the pass through chamber had one specific job: to act as the gatekeeper for sample transfer into and out of the cleanroom, thereby reducing personnel traffic. As the pass through has become more integral to the operations within a cleanroom, the potential jobs it can perform and problems it can solve have increased. Terra has changed the definition of the pass through chamber by offering a menu of standard, add-on features that expand the role of the pass through chamber within a cleanroom. Beyond sample transfer, a pass through can now disinfect products, allow employees in separate areas to communicate, log environmental conditions, track personnel or packages, and add layers of security to your facility.
F3 - Service & Open Door Alerts: In regulated environments, like FDA or cGMP facilities, event logs that track employee movement, environmental conditions, equipment status, and service alerts are a requirement. Terra’s Smart® Pass Through captures these data and communicates with your building management system or LIMS software to export the data at stated intervals.
F4 - Door Status LED Display Bar: The interlocking mechanism is the lifeblood of the pass through chamber; its integrity dictates the life of the unit. If the interlock doesn’t function effectively, your facility may experience sample cross contamination, product failures, or employee safety issues. The interlock, and by proxy, the pass through doors must be operated correctly; misuse can shorten the lifespan of your pass through and decrease its effectiveness. To reduce interlock abuse, Terra has introduced several solutions, such as buzzers and color-coded warning signals. Terra’s Smart® LED Door Status Bar displays a red light when the opposite door is open, informing the operator to wait before attempting to open the door, and a green light when the opposite door is shut, informing the operator to proceed in opening the door. Without a status bar, interlock abuse is common: an operator will attempt to open the door, not knowing that the opposite door is open; when their door doesn’t open, the operator will use excessive force to pry the door open, causing damage to the door seal and the interlock. These signals act as the traffic lights for Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers, ensuring interlock abuse is prevented. If traffic lights didn’t exist on roadways, would car accidents be blamed on automotive manufacturers? In this same vein, Terra has taken the extra step in supporting pass through care, so our customers can reap the full benefits of our system for many years.
G - Smart Pass-Through Options:
(back to chart)
G1 - Hands-Free Automatic Door: In the semiconductor industry, the highest level of contamination control is achieved by totally eliminating the presence of humans in the critical manufacturing areas through full robotic automation and closed-loop enclosures. Terra Universal has developed and offered solutions for the semiconductor industry since its inception in 1976. We understand the benefits that reducing foot traffic will have on a company’s operations, processes and products. Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers can be equipped with automatic doors and electronic controllers that support integration with fully automated systems.
G3 - Recessed LED Lighting: LED lighting illuminates the internal chamber and mounts flush into the ceiling for easy sterilization. The light automatically activates when either door opens, supporting hands-free operation of the pass through chamber.
G4 - UV-C Sanitizing Module: Germicidal UV-C light, emitted at 254 nanometers, denatures microbial DNA after short, intense exposure. UV-C lighting will ensure your pass through box is fully sterilized and does not impact the bio-burden of your cleanroom.
G5 - ULPA/general-Filtered Air Shower: Recirculating filtered pass throughs use a closed loop system to continuously recirculate air in the chamber through built-in general or ULPA filters. These clean air pass thrus are self-contained and do not require any ventilation or exhaust ducting. They run continuously to reduce particle concentration within the chamber. This design is commonly used because the closed-loop system does not impact adjacent room pressure balances when operating.
With heavily mandated cleanliness requirements associated with USP 797 and USP 800 cleanrooms, a pharmacy pass thru is a vital point for sterile pharmaceutical compounding. Terra’s general filtered pass through and Smart® general filtered pass thru use recirculating ventilation to meet and exceed USP 797 and USP 800 guidelines.
Comprehensively wiping down a cart filled with patient samples or supplies can be time consuming. Terra’s high velocity air shower pass through is designed with high-pressure nozzles that wash the cart from every side with ULPA-filtered air. After a 30-second, hands-free wash cycle; your cart will be clean, particle-free and contamination-free. As a secondary disinfection mechanism, equip your cart with a germicidal, UV-C light to prevent microbial growth.
G6 - Refrigeration Module: For temperature sensitive samples or equipment, Terra’s Smart® pass throughs may be equipped with a refrigeration module that maintains a 4°C set point within the internal chamber. Terra’s high-security, refrigerated pass through chambers are utilized for overnight storage of patient samples.
G7 - Pushbutton Intercom: Built-in intercom system allows operators to easily communicate between rooms. Without intercoms, operators are prone to opening both pass through doors, by bypassing the interlock, to communicate, thus breaking the cleanroom seal and exposing sterile areas to cross contamination.
G8 - LCD Message Panel: LCD panels are designed for regulated environments, like FDA, cGMP, GLP or USP <797> facilities. They display critical environmental information related to the interior chamber conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity.
G9 - 90° Corner Configurations: Terra has 45 years of experience in customized equipment. Smart® pass-throughs with custom door configurations can be designed per-project to install in corner walls with multiple doors: 2 doors (L-shape), 3 doors (T-shape), or 4 doors (X-shape).
G10 - Load Presence Sensor: Infrared beams detect objects placed within the internal transfer chamber and can communicate data to an audible alarm or sample tracking system. They are ideal for highly-regulated facilities maintaining cGMP compliance or systems installed onto the external wall of a building for package delivery.
G11 - Video Camera: An interior HD video camera records continuously or upon door opening. The camera can also be adjusted to monitor spaces external to the pass through chamber.
G12 - Proximity Card Reader: Card readers with system lockout and keypad for two-factor authentication are ideal designed for pharmacies dispensing controlled substances.
G13 - Keyless Door Access Panel: Keypad readers for high-security areas prevent unauthorized access to the pass through chamber.
G14 - Fingerprint Reader: Biometric fingerprint scanners include proximity card reader for two-factor authentication.
G15 - Iris Scanner: A fully automated iris scanner provides secure, hands-free access and includes data logging plus a secondary keycard reader.
G16 - Access Data Logging: This software logs environmental conditions and exports the data to a local server or building management system.
G17 - Laminar Flow general Filtration: Terra’s Smart® pass through cabinets may be equipped with a general-filtered blower module, installed above the unit, that washes the internal chamber with uniform, unidirectional, micro-filtered air.
G18 - Ionization Module: Ion bars emit a static neutralizing stream of cations and anions to prevent ESD discharge. They are ideal for protecting static-sensitive medical devices and microelectronics.
H - Fire-Rates Pass-Throughs:
(back to chart)
H1 - Fire-Rated Doors: If you are installing a pass through chamber in a fire-rated space, the pass through must carry the same fire-rating as the wall in which it is installed. Terra’s fire-rated pass through chambers carry the UL-B label for 90-minute fire exposure, suitable for installation in areas with 2-hour wall ratings. Available in 11 different sizes to fit your sample transfer needs, Terra offers fire-rated units that are pre-tested, crated and in-stock for immediate shipment.
I - Other Optional Accessories:
(back to chart)
I1 & I2 - BioSafe Removable Racks and Shelves: Stainless steel racks and shelves can be removed for disinfection or replaced as user requirements change.
I3 - CleanTop Sloping Top: For non-flush mount pass through systems, Terra’s CleanTop™ sloping top provides a smooth, easy to disinfect surface between the pass through door and the wall.
I4 - Ventilation Module: A cleanroom pass thru chamber with exhausted ventilation (also known as a sink airlock) provides a single pass (open loop) supply of exhausted air. This extraction system creates negative pressure to prevent particles from escaping the chamber from either door. This design can be used for applications where hazardous materials or particulates must be contained and kept from passing through either side of the chamber. Ventilation units can also be used to duct fumes that might be present in a specimen, allowing the cleanroom pass thru box to act as a drying system. Specify a flange adapter to allow connection from the pass thru chamber to an in-house ventilation system. Exhaust air speed sensors can also be configured for added safety to alarm in the event air speed falls below a specified set point.
I5 - Grounding Terminals: For static-sensitive material, Terra’s cleanroom pass through box can be equipped with grounding terminals for an ESD-safe internal chamber.
I6 - High-Velocity side & Top general Air Shower: Installed on floor mounted pass throughs, the air shower directs general-filtered air through high-velocity nozzles installed on the ceiling and walls of the internal chamber to wash carts free of dust and contaminants.
I7 - Large-Clearance Roll-Up Doors: Terra’s roll-up door pass throughs are designed for consistent, high-throughput transfer of large, bulky equipment into and out of the cleanroom. Roll-up pass thru designs include safety pressure sensors, automatic interlocks, touch panel interfaces, and laser door positioning sensors.
I8 - Reinforced, Ruggedized Contruction: Rugged pass through transfer hatches featuring double-wall construction and heavy-duty self-closing doors are designed for high-throughput, high-security areas such as correctional facilities.
I9 - Locking Latches: For secure areas housing controlled substances or high-value products, Terra offers a variety of locking door latches and access controls for pass thru cabinets.
General-Use Pass-Through Chambers
A - Mounting Configurations:
(back to chart)
A1 - Wall Mounted: Terra offers flush-mount and center-mount options. Terra’s CleanMount® system affixes flush against the cleanroom wall to simplify disinfection and prevent particle accumulation.
A2 - Floor Mounted With Ramp: Cleanroom cart pass throughs with integral ramps support transfer of heavy equipment or sample racks into critical spaces.
A3 - Glass Panel Mounted: Stainless steel pass throughs smaller than 2 cubic feet may be mounted in tempered glass panels without support frames, saving facilities on additional hardware and cleaning costs.
B - Chamber Materials:
(back to chart)
B1 - Plastic: Terra manufactures and stocks pass through chambers made of economical acrylic, ESD-safe static-dissipative PVC, and chemical-resistant polypropylene.
B2 - Powder-Coated Steel: More economical than stainless steel, durable and rigid powder-coated steel is more resistant to chemical- or moisture-based corrosion than plastic designs.
B3 - 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
B4 - 316 Stainless Steel: 316-grade stainless steel contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade stainless steel, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
B5 - Electropolished Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of the stainless steel, and supports easy sterilization to reduce micro-cavities where microbes colonize.
C - CleanSeam Design:
(back to chart)
C1 - Continuous Seam: Terra’s CleanSeam™ pass through chambers feature fully-welded chambers with smooth, continuous seam welds for a seamless interior that is easy to disinfect. The internal chamber is free of crevices or cracks where contaminants can collect.
D - Double-Wall Design:
(back to chart)
Equipping a pass through cabinet with external components - such as door sensors, lighting and filtration – can be a challenge. Cleaning procedures dictate that pass through chambers should be seamless, crevice-free and easy to wipe down. Installing external components on the chamber will make the cleaning process more difficult and restrict the space available for sample transfer.
Terra has solved this issue with CleanMount® double-walled pass through chambers. All external components are enclosed within the space between the internal and external walls, so the integrity of the internal chamber is not jeopardized and the pass through cleanliness rating is not sacrificed.
Double-wall construction has additional benefits: the unit is more rigid and more stable within the wall, the doors achieve a tighter seal and more precise alignment with the chamber, and the interlocking mechanism operates flawlessly.
CleanMount® double-walled systems provide one additional benefit: they are pre-compatible with a wide array of Smart® electronic add-on features, such as UV lighting, valuline filtration, refrigeration modules and load presence sensors. As the bulk of the additional cost for these add-on features are built into the double-wall design, Terra’s pass throughs can be fully equipped with Smart® electronic controls for a negligible price. While the cost to add these features is low, the benefits are enormous - your pass through chamber is instantly transformed into more than a sample transfer system: a germicidal system, a method for employee communication, a data logger, or a security device.
D1 - Isolated Interlock: Effectively cleaning an internal chamber with an exposed interlock is a huge challenge. Terra offers a fully isolated automatic interlock, installed between the interior and exterior wall panels of the cleanroom transfer hatch.
D2 - Flush-Mount: Terra’s CleanMount® system mounts flush against the cleanroom wall to minimize particle accumulation and simplify cleaning.
D3 - Quick Install: The whole process of installing a pass-through was very messy, until Terra developed the CleanMount® pass-through. The CleanMount® fastening system installs directly into a clean, finished opening in the wall (not a dirty, rough cut-out) without any drilling or screwing into the surrounding wall that can contaminate and delay cleanroom operations. The innovative design firmly clamps to a variety of wall thicknesses without penetrating or damaging the finished surrounding wall. After the wall is fully prepared by your contractor, Terra’s CleanMount® pass through chamber can be installed seamlessly, within 5 minutes. Terra’s video tutorial will guide your contractor through the process to ensure the pass through is correctly installed.
D4 - Contamination-Free Removal: CleanMount® pass throughs also drastically simplify maintenance to minimize downtime of critical cleanroom operations. The units can be removed and reinstalled seamlessly, within minutes, by any member of your organization. If your pass through chamber needs servicing, Terra’s CleanMount® chamber easily slides out of the wall without creating scratches or abrasions that can leave debris and particle contamination in the cleanroom.
D5 - Lipless Front/Rear Edges: The edges of a pass through chamber are prone to snag garments and collect contaminants. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® design includes lipless front and rear edges for easy sterilization.
D6 - Rounded Corners: The corners inside a pass through chamber are a common spot for contaminates to collect or microbes to colonize. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass throughs feature fully rounded (radius) corners for easy disinfection.
D7 - Lift-Off Replaceable Doors: Effectively disinfecting pass-through doors can be a challenge. Both Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass-through chambers include removable doors. BioSafe® passthroughs feature autoclave-safe doors with blue elastomeric door seals.
E - BioSafe Design:
(back to chart)
E1 - Meets Aseptic Requirements: Terra’s pass through chambers are UL-rated, CE-marked and leak-tested. Specialty models meet USP <797> and <800> requirements, cGMP standards, UL-B fire ratings, and BSL 1 and 2 criteria. If you’re installing a pass through into a regulated space, talk to your Terra product specialist to find a model to fit your application.
E2 - BioSeal Door with Knife Edge Seal: For many applications, maintaining positive or negative pressure inside of a cleanroom is critical, whether the environment is sensitive to particles, microbial growth, moisture or static build-up. Your cleanroom’s pressure rating can be compromised by any personnel entrance or exit, including your pass through chamber. Terra’s pass through chambers will support the integrity of your cleanroom, allowing it to maintain your desired cleanliness levels and specifications. Terra’s BioSeal™ doors with elastomeric gaskets are pressure-rated, autoclave-safe and compatible with critical, regulated environments.
F - Smart Pass-Through Design – Standard Features:
(back to chart)
F1 - Electronic Door Interlock: Pass through chambers must be designed to prevent both doors from opening at the same time, causing cross contamination between two sterile spaces and a loss of your cleanroom’s pressure rating. A critical component in the pass through design, the interlocking mechanism, prevents this unwanted occurrence. The interlock can be mechanical, utilizing a hook and latch system, or electrical, using an e-strike. Mechanical interlocks come in two flavors: manual or automatic. For mechanical interlocks, Terra only offers automatic systems, as manual systems must be engaged by the operator, severely reducing transfer efficiency. In certain applications, Terra pass through chambers are opened every five seconds for the entirety of a work shift. This level of access frequency would not be possible with a manual, mechanical interlock. Electrical interlocks are often installed on passthrough chambers with automatic, hands-free doors or systems equipped with access controls, occupancy sensors, building management integration or event logs. Terra’s Smart® pass-through chambers can be equipped with these capabilities and more, including refrigeration modules, intercoms, UV germicidal lighting and valuline filtration.
F2 - Electrical Integration/Control: When first introduced to the market, the pass through chamber had one specific job: to act as the gatekeeper for sample transfer into and out of the cleanroom, thereby reducing personnel traffic. As the pass through has become more integral to the operations within a cleanroom, the potential jobs it can perform and problems it can solve have increased. Terra has changed the definition of the pass through chamber by offering a menu of standard, add-on features that expand the role of the pass through chamber within a cleanroom. Beyond sample transfer, a pass through can now disinfect products, allow employees in separate areas to communicate, log environmental conditions, track personnel or packages, and add layers of security to your facility.
F3 - Service & Open Door Alerts: In regulated environments, like FDA or cGMP facilities, event logs that track employee movement, environmental conditions, equipment status, and service alerts are a requirement. Terra’s Smart® Pass Through captures these data and communicates with your building management system or LIMS software to export the data at stated intervals.
F4 - Door Status LED Display Bar: The interlocking mechanism is the lifeblood of the pass through chamber; its integrity dictates the life of the unit. If the interlock doesn’t function effectively, your facility may experience sample cross contamination, product failures, or employee safety issues. The interlock, and by proxy, the pass through doors must be operated correctly; misuse can shorten the lifespan of your pass through and decrease its effectiveness. To reduce interlock abuse, Terra has introduced several solutions, such as buzzers and color-coded warning signals. Terra’s Smart® LED Door Status Bar displays a red light when the opposite door is open, informing the operator to wait before attempting to open the door, and a green light when the opposite door is shut, informing the operator to proceed in opening the door. Without a status bar, interlock abuse is common: an operator will attempt to open the door, not knowing that the opposite door is open; when their door doesn’t open, the operator will use excessive force to pry the door open, causing damage to the door seal and the interlock. These signals act as the traffic lights for Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers, ensuring interlock abuse is prevented. If traffic lights didn’t exist on roadways, would car accidents be blamed on automotive manufacturers? In this same vein, Terra has taken the extra step in supporting pass through care, so our customers can reap the full benefits of our system for many years.
G - Smart Pass-Through Options:
(back to chart)
G1 - Hands-Free Automatic Door: In the semiconductor industry, the highest level of contamination control is achieved by totally eliminating the presence of humans in the critical manufacturing areas through full robotic automation and closed-loop enclosures. Terra Universal has developed and offered solutions for the semiconductor industry since its inception in 1976. We understand the benefits that reducing foot traffic will have on a company’s operations, processes and products. Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers can be equipped with automatic doors and electronic controllers that support integration with fully automated systems.
G3 - Recessed LED Lighting: LED lighting illuminates the internal chamber and mounts flush into the ceiling for easy sterilization. The light automatically activates when either door opens, supporting hands-free operation of the pass through chamber.
G4 - UV-C Sanitizing Module: Germicidal UV-C light, emitted at 254 nanometers, denatures microbial DNA after short, intense exposure. UV-C lighting will ensure your pass through box is fully sterilized and does not impact the bio-burden of your cleanroom.
G5 - ULPA/valuline-Filtered Air Shower: Recirculating filtered pass throughs use a closed loop system to continuously recirculate air in the chamber through built-in valuline or ULPA filters. These clean air pass thrus are self-contained and do not require any ventilation or exhaust ducting. They run continuously to reduce particle concentration within the chamber. This design is commonly used because the closed-loop system does not impact adjacent room pressure balances when operating.
With heavily mandated cleanliness requirements associated with USP 797 and USP 800 cleanrooms, a pharmacy pass thru is a vital point for sterile pharmaceutical compounding. Terra’s valuline filtered pass through and Smart® valuline filtered pass thru use recirculating ventilation to meet and exceed USP 797 and USP 800 guidelines.
Comprehensively wiping down a cart filled with patient samples or supplies can be time consuming. Terra’s high velocity air shower pass through is designed with high-pressure nozzles that wash the cart from every side with ULPA-filtered air. After a 30-second, hands-free wash cycle; your cart will be clean, particle-free and contamination-free. As a secondary disinfection mechanism, equip your cart with a germicidal, UV-C light to prevent microbial growth.
G6 - Refrigeration Module: For temperature sensitive samples or equipment, Terra’s Smart® pass throughs may be equipped with a refrigeration module that maintains a 4°C set point within the internal chamber. Terra’s high-security, refrigerated pass through chambers are utilized for overnight storage of patient samples.
G7 - Pushbutton Intercom: Built-in intercom system allows operators to easily communicate between rooms. Without intercoms, operators are prone to opening both pass through doors, by bypassing the interlock, to communicate, thus breaking the cleanroom seal and exposing sterile areas to cross contamination.
G8 - LCD Message Panel: LCD panels are designed for regulated environments, like FDA, cGMP, GLP or USP <797> facilities. They display critical environmental information related to the interior chamber conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity.
G9 - 90° Corner Configurations: Terra has 45 years of experience in customized equipment. Smart® pass-throughs with custom door configurations can be designed per-project to install in corner walls with multiple doors: 2 doors (L-shape), 3 doors (T-shape), or 4 doors (X-shape).
G10 - Load Presence Sensor: Infrared beams detect objects placed within the internal transfer chamber and can communicate data to an audible alarm or sample tracking system. They are ideal for highly-regulated facilities maintaining cGMP compliance or systems installed onto the external wall of a building for package delivery.
G11 - Video Camera: An interior HD video camera records continuously or upon door opening. The camera can also be adjusted to monitor spaces external to the pass through chamber.
G12 - Proximity Card Reader: Card readers with system lockout and keypad for two-factor authentication are ideal designed for pharmacies dispensing controlled substances.
G13 - Keyless Door Access Panel: Keypad readers for high-security areas prevent unauthorized access to the pass through chamber.
G14 - Fingerprint Reader: Biometric fingerprint scanners include proximity card reader for two-factor authentication.
G15 - Iris Scanner: A fully automated iris scanner provides secure, hands-free access and includes data logging plus a secondary keycard reader.
G16 - Access Data Logging: This software logs environmental conditions and exports the data to a local server or building management system.
G17 - Laminar Flow valuline Filtration: Terra’s Smart® pass through cabinets may be equipped with a valuline-filtered blower module, installed above the unit, that washes the internal chamber with uniform, unidirectional, micro-filtered air.
G18 - Ionization Module: Ion bars emit a static neutralizing stream of cations and anions to prevent ESD discharge. They are ideal for protecting static-sensitive medical devices and microelectronics.
H - Fire-Rates Pass-Throughs:
(back to chart)
H1 - Fire-Rated Doors: If you are installing a pass through chamber in a fire-rated space, the pass through must carry the same fire-rating as the wall in which it is installed. Terra’s fire-rated pass through chambers carry the UL-B label for 90-minute fire exposure, suitable for installation in areas with 2-hour wall ratings. Available in 11 different sizes to fit your sample transfer needs, Terra offers fire-rated units that are pre-tested, crated and in-stock for immediate shipment.
I - Other Optional Accessories:
(back to chart)
I1 & I2 - BioSafe Removable Racks and Shelves: Stainless steel racks and shelves can be removed for disinfection or replaced as user requirements change.
I3 - CleanTop Sloping Top: For non-flush mount pass through systems, Terra’s CleanTop™ sloping top provides a smooth, easy to disinfect surface between the pass through door and the wall.
I4 - Ventilation Module: A cleanroom pass thru chamber with exhausted ventilation (also known as a sink airlock) provides a single pass (open loop) supply of exhausted air. This extraction system creates negative pressure to prevent particles from escaping the chamber from either door. This design can be used for applications where hazardous materials or particulates must be contained and kept from passing through either side of the chamber. Ventilation units can also be used to duct fumes that might be present in a specimen, allowing the cleanroom pass thru box to act as a drying system. Specify a flange adapter to allow connection from the pass thru chamber to an in-house ventilation system. Exhaust air speed sensors can also be configured for added safety to alarm in the event air speed falls below a specified set point.
I5 - Grounding Terminals: For static-sensitive material, Terra’s cleanroom pass through box can be equipped with grounding terminals for an ESD-safe internal chamber.
I6 - High-Velocity side & Top valuline Air Shower: Installed on floor mounted pass throughs, the air shower directs valuline-filtered air through high-velocity nozzles installed on the ceiling and walls of the internal chamber to wash carts free of dust and contaminants.
I7 - Large-Clearance Roll-Up Doors: Terra’s roll-up door pass throughs are designed for consistent, high-throughput transfer of large, bulky equipment into and out of the cleanroom. Roll-up pass thru designs include safety pressure sensors, automatic interlocks, touch panel interfaces, and laser door positioning sensors.
I8 - Reinforced, Ruggedized Contruction: Rugged pass through transfer hatches featuring double-wall construction and heavy-duty self-closing doors are designed for high-throughput, high-security areas such as correctional facilities.
I9 - Locking Latches: For secure areas housing controlled substances or high-value products, Terra offers a variety of locking door latches and access controls for pass thru cabinets.
ValuLine™ Pass-Through Chambers
A - Mounting Configurations:
(back to chart)
A1 - Wall Mounted: Terra offers flush-mount and center-mount options. Terra’s CleanMount® system affixes flush against the cleanroom wall to simplify disinfection and prevent particle accumulation.
A2 - Floor Mounted With Ramp: Cleanroom cart pass throughs with integral ramps support transfer of heavy equipment or sample racks into critical spaces.
A3 - Glass Panel Mounted: Stainless steel pass throughs smaller than 2 cubic feet may be mounted in tempered glass panels without support frames, saving facilities on additional hardware and cleaning costs.
B - Chamber Materials:
(back to chart)
B1 - Plastic: Terra manufactures and stocks pass through chambers made of economical acrylic, ESD-safe static-dissipative PVC, and chemical-resistant polypropylene.
B2 - Powder-Coated Steel: More economical than stainless steel, durable and rigid powder-coated steel is more resistant to chemical- or moisture-based corrosion than plastic designs.
B3 - 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
B4 - 316 Stainless Steel: 316-grade stainless steel contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade stainless steel, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
B5 - Electropolished Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of the stainless steel, and supports easy sterilization to reduce micro-cavities where microbes colonize.
C - CleanSeam Design:
(back to chart)
C1 - Continuous Seam: Terra’s CleanSeam™ pass through chambers feature fully-welded chambers with smooth, continuous seam welds for a seamless interior that is easy to disinfect. The internal chamber is free of crevices or cracks where contaminants can collect.
D - Double-Wall Design:
(back to chart)
Equipping a pass through cabinet with external components - such as door sensors, lighting and filtration – can be a challenge. Cleaning procedures dictate that pass through chambers should be seamless, crevice-free and easy to wipe down. Installing external components on the chamber will make the cleaning process more difficult and restrict the space available for sample transfer.
Terra has solved this issue with CleanMount® double-walled pass through chambers. All external components are enclosed within the space between the internal and external walls, so the integrity of the internal chamber is not jeopardized and the pass through cleanliness rating is not sacrificed.
Double-wall construction has additional benefits: the unit is more rigid and more stable within the wall, the doors achieve a tighter seal and more precise alignment with the chamber, and the interlocking mechanism operates flawlessly.
CleanMount® double-walled systems provide one additional benefit: they are pre-compatible with a wide array of Smart® electronic add-on features, such as UV lighting, valuline filtration, refrigeration modules and load presence sensors. As the bulk of the additional cost for these add-on features are built into the double-wall design, Terra’s pass throughs can be fully equipped with Smart® electronic controls for a negligible price. While the cost to add these features is low, the benefits are enormous - your pass through chamber is instantly transformed into more than a sample transfer system: a germicidal system, a method for employee communication, a data logger, or a security device.
D1 - Isolated Interlock: Effectively cleaning an internal chamber with an exposed interlock is a huge challenge. Terra offers a fully isolated automatic interlock, installed between the interior and exterior wall panels of the cleanroom transfer hatch.
D2 - Flush-Mount: Terra’s CleanMount® system mounts flush against the cleanroom wall to minimize particle accumulation and simplify cleaning.
D3 - Quick Install: The whole process of installing a pass-through was very messy, until Terra developed the CleanMount® pass-through. The CleanMount® fastening system installs directly into a clean, finished opening in the wall (not a dirty, rough cut-out) without any drilling or screwing into the surrounding wall that can contaminate and delay cleanroom operations. The innovative design firmly clamps to a variety of wall thicknesses without penetrating or damaging the finished surrounding wall. After the wall is fully prepared by your contractor, Terra’s CleanMount® pass through chamber can be installed seamlessly, within 5 minutes. Terra’s video tutorial will guide your contractor through the process to ensure the pass through is correctly installed.
D4 - Contamination-Free Removal: CleanMount® pass throughs also drastically simplify maintenance to minimize downtime of critical cleanroom operations. The units can be removed and reinstalled seamlessly, within minutes, by any member of your organization. If your pass through chamber needs servicing, Terra’s CleanMount® chamber easily slides out of the wall without creating scratches or abrasions that can leave debris and particle contamination in the cleanroom.
D5 - Lipless Front/Rear Edges: The edges of a pass through chamber are prone to snag garments and collect contaminants. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® design includes lipless front and rear edges for easy sterilization.
D6 - Rounded Corners: The corners inside a pass through chamber are a common spot for contaminates to collect or microbes to colonize. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass throughs feature fully rounded (radius) corners for easy disinfection.
D7 - Lift-Off Replaceable Doors: Effectively disinfecting pass-through doors can be a challenge. Both Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass-through chambers include removable doors. BioSafe® passthroughs feature autoclave-safe doors with blue elastomeric door seals.
E - BioSafe Design:
(back to chart)
E1 - Meets Aseptic Requirements: Terra’s pass through chambers are UL-rated, CE-marked and leak-tested. Specialty models meet USP <797> and <800> requirements, cGMP standards, UL-B fire ratings, and BSL 1 and 2 criteria. If you’re installing a pass through into a regulated space, talk to your Terra product specialist to find a model to fit your application.
E2 - BioSeal Door with Knife Edge Seal: For many applications, maintaining positive or negative pressure inside of a cleanroom is critical, whether the environment is sensitive to particles, microbial growth, moisture or static build-up. Your cleanroom’s pressure rating can be compromised by any personnel entrance or exit, including your pass through chamber. Terra’s pass through chambers will support the integrity of your cleanroom, allowing it to maintain your desired cleanliness levels and specifications. Terra’s BioSeal™ doors with elastomeric gaskets are pressure-rated, autoclave-safe and compatible with critical, regulated environments.
F - Smart Pass-Through Design – Standard Features:
(back to chart)
F1 - Electronic Door Interlock: Pass through chambers must be designed to prevent both doors from opening at the same time, causing cross contamination between two sterile spaces and a loss of your cleanroom’s pressure rating. A critical component in the pass through design, the interlocking mechanism, prevents this unwanted occurrence. The interlock can be mechanical, utilizing a hook and latch system, or electrical, using an e-strike. Mechanical interlocks come in two flavors: manual or automatic. For mechanical interlocks, Terra only offers automatic systems, as manual systems must be engaged by the operator, severely reducing transfer efficiency. In certain applications, Terra pass through chambers are opened every five seconds for the entirety of a work shift. This level of access frequency would not be possible with a manual, mechanical interlock. Electrical interlocks are often installed on passthrough chambers with automatic, hands-free doors or systems equipped with access controls, occupancy sensors, building management integration or event logs. Terra’s Smart® pass-through chambers can be equipped with these capabilities and more, including refrigeration modules, intercoms, UV germicidal lighting and HEPA filtration.
F2 - Electrical Integration/Control: When first introduced to the market, the pass through chamber had one specific job: to act as the gatekeeper for sample transfer into and out of the cleanroom, thereby reducing personnel traffic. As the pass through has become more integral to the operations within a cleanroom, the potential jobs it can perform and problems it can solve have increased. Terra has changed the definition of the pass through chamber by offering a menu of standard, add-on features that expand the role of the pass through chamber within a cleanroom. Beyond sample transfer, a pass through can now disinfect products, allow employees in separate areas to communicate, log environmental conditions, track personnel or packages, and add layers of security to your facility.
F3 - Service & Open Door Alerts: In regulated environments, like FDA or cGMP facilities, event logs that track employee movement, environmental conditions, equipment status, and service alerts are a requirement. Terra’s Smart® Pass Through captures these data and communicates with your building management system or LIMS software to export the data at stated intervals.
F4 - Door Status LED Display Bar: The interlocking mechanism is the lifeblood of the pass through chamber; its integrity dictates the life of the unit. If the interlock doesn’t function effectively, your facility may experience sample cross contamination, product failures, or employee safety issues. The interlock, and by proxy, the pass through doors must be operated correctly; misuse can shorten the lifespan of your pass through and decrease its effectiveness. To reduce interlock abuse, Terra has introduced several solutions, such as buzzers and color-coded warning signals. Terra’s Smart® LED Door Status Bar displays a red light when the opposite door is open, informing the operator to wait before attempting to open the door, and a green light when the opposite door is shut, informing the operator to proceed in opening the door. Without a status bar, interlock abuse is common: an operator will attempt to open the door, not knowing that the opposite door is open; when their door doesn’t open, the operator will use excessive force to pry the door open, causing damage to the door seal and the interlock. These signals act as the traffic lights for Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers, ensuring interlock abuse is prevented. If traffic lights didn’t exist on roadways, would car accidents be blamed on automotive manufacturers? In this same vein, Terra has taken the extra step in supporting pass through care, so our customers can reap the full benefits of our system for many years.
G - Smart Pass-Through Options:
(back to chart)
G1 - Hands-Free Automatic Door: In the semiconductor industry, the highest level of contamination control is achieved by totally eliminating the presence of humans in the critical manufacturing areas through full robotic automation and closed-loop enclosures. Terra Universal has developed and offered solutions for the semiconductor industry since its inception in 1976. We understand the benefits that reducing foot traffic will have on a company’s operations, processes and products. Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers can be equipped with automatic doors and electronic controllers that support integration with fully automated systems.
G3 - Recessed LED Lighting: LED lighting illuminates the internal chamber and mounts flush into the ceiling for easy sterilization. The light automatically activates when either door opens, supporting hands-free operation of the pass through chamber.
G4 - UV-C Sanitizing Module: Germicidal UV-C light, emitted at 254 nanometers, denatures microbial DNA after short, intense exposure. UV-C lighting will ensure your pass through box is fully sterilized and does not impact the bio-burden of your cleanroom.
G5 - ULPA/HEPA-Filtered Air Shower: Recirculating filtered pass throughs use a closed loop system to continuously recirculate air in the chamber through built-in HEPA or ULPA filters. These clean air pass thrus are self-contained and do not require any ventilation or exhaust ducting. They run continuously to reduce particle concentration within the chamber. This design is commonly used because the closed-loop system does not impact adjacent room pressure balances when operating.
With heavily mandated cleanliness requirements associated with USP 797 and USP 800 cleanrooms, a pharmacy pass thru is a vital point for sterile pharmaceutical compounding. Terra’s HEPA filtered pass through and Smart® HEPA filtered pass thru use recirculating ventilation to meet and exceed USP 797 and USP 800 guidelines.
Comprehensively wiping down a cart filled with patient samples or supplies can be time consuming. Terra’s high velocity air shower pass through is designed with high-pressure nozzles that wash the cart from every side with ULPA-filtered air. After a 30-second, hands-free wash cycle; your cart will be clean, particle-free and contamination-free. As a secondary disinfection mechanism, equip your cart with a germicidal, UV-C light to prevent microbial growth.
G6 - Refrigeration Module: For temperature sensitive samples or equipment, Terra’s Smart® pass throughs may be equipped with a refrigeration module that maintains a 4°C set point within the internal chamber. Terra’s high-security, refrigerated pass through chambers are utilized for overnight storage of patient samples.
G7 - Pushbutton Intercom: Built-in intercom system allows operators to easily communicate between rooms. Without intercoms, operators are prone to opening both pass through doors, by bypassing the interlock, to communicate, thus breaking the cleanroom seal and exposing sterile areas to cross contamination.
G8 - LCD Message Panel: LCD panels are designed for regulated environments, like FDA, cGMP, GLP or USP <797> facilities. They display critical environmental information related to the interior chamber conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity.
G9 - 90° Corner Configurations: Terra has 45 years of experience in customized equipment. Smart® pass-throughs with custom door configurations can be designed per-project to install in corner walls with multiple doors: 2 doors (L-shape), 3 doors (T-shape), or 4 doors (X-shape).
G10 - Load Presence Sensor: Infrared beams detect objects placed within the internal transfer chamber and can communicate data to an audible alarm or sample tracking system. They are ideal for highly-regulated facilities maintaining cGMP compliance or systems installed onto the external wall of a building for package delivery.
G11 - Video Camera: An interior HD video camera records continuously or upon door opening. The camera can also be adjusted to monitor spaces external to the pass through chamber.
G12 - Proximity Card Reader: Card readers with system lockout and keypad for two-factor authentication are ideal designed for pharmacies dispensing controlled substances.
G13 - Keyless Door Access Panel: Keypad readers for high-security areas prevent unauthorized access to the pass through chamber.
G14 - Fingerprint Reader: Biometric fingerprint scanners include proximity card reader for two-factor authentication.
G15 - Iris Scanner: A fully automated iris scanner provides secure, hands-free access and includes data logging plus a secondary keycard reader.
G16 - Access Data Logging: This software logs environmental conditions and exports the data to a local server or building management system.
G17 - Laminar Flow HEPA Filtration: Terra’s Smart® pass through cabinets may be equipped with a HEPA-filtered blower module, installed above the unit, that washes the internal chamber with uniform, unidirectional, micro-filtered air.
G18 - Ionization Module: Ion bars emit a static neutralizing stream of cations and anions to prevent ESD discharge. They are ideal for protecting static-sensitive medical devices and microelectronics.
H - Fire-Rates Pass-Throughs:
(back to chart)
H1 - Fire-Rated Doors: If you are installing a pass through chamber in a fire-rated space, the pass through must carry the same fire-rating as the wall in which it is installed. Terra’s fire-rated pass through chambers carry the UL-B label for 90-minute fire exposure, suitable for installation in areas with 2-hour wall ratings. Available in 11 different sizes to fit your sample transfer needs, Terra offers fire-rated units that are pre-tested, crated and in-stock for immediate shipment.
I - Other Optional Accessories:
(back to chart)
I1 & I2 - BioSafe Removable Racks and Shelves: Stainless steel racks and shelves can be removed for disinfection or replaced as user requirements change.
I3 - CleanTop Sloping Top: For non-flush mount pass through systems, Terra’s CleanTop™ sloping top provides a smooth, easy to disinfect surface between the pass through door and the wall.
I4 - Ventilation Module: A cleanroom pass thru chamber with exhausted ventilation (also known as a sink airlock) provides a single pass (open loop) supply of exhausted air. This extraction system creates negative pressure to prevent particles from escaping the chamber from either door. This design can be used for applications where hazardous materials or particulates must be contained and kept from passing through either side of the chamber. Ventilation units can also be used to duct fumes that might be present in a specimen, allowing the cleanroom pass thru box to act as a drying system. Specify a flange adapter to allow connection from the pass thru chamber to an in-house ventilation system. Exhaust air speed sensors can also be configured for added safety to alarm in the event air speed falls below a specified set point.
I5 - Grounding Terminals: For static-sensitive material, Terra’s cleanroom pass through box can be equipped with grounding terminals for an ESD-safe internal chamber.
I6 - High-Velocity side & Top HEPA Air Shower: Installed on floor mounted pass throughs, the air shower directs HEPA-filtered air through high-velocity nozzles installed on the ceiling and walls of the internal chamber to wash carts free of dust and contaminants.
I7 - Large-Clearance Roll-Up Doors: Terra’s roll-up door pass throughs are designed for consistent, high-throughput transfer of large, bulky equipment into and out of the cleanroom. Roll-up pass thru designs include safety pressure sensors, automatic interlocks, touch panel interfaces, and laser door positioning sensors.
I8 - Reinforced, Ruggedized Contruction: Rugged pass through transfer hatches featuring double-wall construction and heavy-duty self-closing doors are designed for high-throughput, high-security areas such as correctional facilities.
I9 - Locking Latches: For secure areas housing controlled substances or high-value products, Terra offers a variety of locking door latches and access controls for pass thru cabinets.
Smart® BioSafe® CleanMount® Pass-Throughs Chambers
A - Mounting Configurations:
(back to chart)
A1 - Wall Mounted: Terra offers flush-mount and center-mount options. Terra’s CleanMount® system affixes flush against the cleanroom wall to simplify disinfection and prevent particle accumulation.
A2 - Floor Mounted With Ramp: Cleanroom cart pass throughs with integral ramps support transfer of heavy equipment or sample racks into critical spaces.
A3 - Glass Panel Mounted: Stainless steel pass throughs smaller than 2 cubic feet may be mounted in tempered glass panels without support frames, saving facilities on additional hardware and cleaning costs.
B - Chamber Materials:
(back to chart)
B1 - Plastic: Terra manufactures and stocks pass through chambers made of economical acrylic, ESD-safe static-dissipative PVC, and chemical-resistant polypropylene.
B2 - Powder-Coated Steel: More economical than stainless steel, durable and rigid powder-coated steel is more resistant to chemical- or moisture-based corrosion than plastic designs.
B3 - 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
B4 - 316 Stainless Steel: 316-grade stainless steel contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade stainless steel, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
B5 - Electropolished Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of the stainless steel, and supports easy sterilization to reduce micro-cavities where microbes colonize.
C - CleanSeam Design:
(back to chart)
C1 - Continuous Seam: Terra’s CleanSeam™ pass through chambers feature fully-welded chambers with smooth, continuous seam welds for a seamless interior that is easy to disinfect. The internal chamber is free of crevices or cracks where contaminants can collect.
D - Double-Wall Design:
(back to chart)
Equipping a pass through cabinet with external components - such as door sensors, lighting and filtration – can be a challenge. Cleaning procedures dictate that pass through chambers should be seamless, crevice-free and easy to wipe down. Installing external components on the chamber will make the cleaning process more difficult and restrict the space available for sample transfer.
Terra has solved this issue with CleanMount® double-walled pass through chambers. All external components are enclosed within the space between the internal and external walls, so the integrity of the internal chamber is not jeopardized and the pass through cleanliness rating is not sacrificed.
Double-wall construction has additional benefits: the unit is more rigid and more stable within the wall, the doors achieve a tighter seal and more precise alignment with the chamber, and the interlocking mechanism operates flawlessly.
CleanMount® double-walled systems provide one additional benefit: they are pre-compatible with a wide array of Smart® electronic add-on features, such as UV lighting, valuline filtration, refrigeration modules and load presence sensors. As the bulk of the additional cost for these add-on features are built into the double-wall design, Terra’s pass throughs can be fully equipped with Smart® electronic controls for a negligible price. While the cost to add these features is low, the benefits are enormous - your pass through chamber is instantly transformed into more than a sample transfer system: a germicidal system, a method for employee communication, a data logger, or a security device.
D1 - Isolated Interlock: Effectively cleaning an internal chamber with an exposed interlock is a huge challenge. Terra offers a fully isolated automatic interlock, installed between the interior and exterior wall panels of the cleanroom transfer hatch.
D2 - Flush-Mount: Terra’s CleanMount® system mounts flush against the cleanroom wall to minimize particle accumulation and simplify cleaning.
D3 - Quick Install: The whole process of installing a pass-through was very messy, until Terra developed the CleanMount® pass-through. The CleanMount® fastening system installs directly into a clean, finished opening in the wall (not a dirty, rough cut-out) without any drilling or screwing into the surrounding wall that can contaminate and delay cleanroom operations. The innovative design firmly clamps to a variety of wall thicknesses without penetrating or damaging the finished surrounding wall. After the wall is fully prepared by your contractor, Terra’s CleanMount® pass through chamber can be installed seamlessly, within 5 minutes. Terra’s video tutorial will guide your contractor through the process to ensure the pass through is correctly installed.
D4 - Contamination-Free Removal: CleanMount® pass throughs also drastically simplify maintenance to minimize downtime of critical cleanroom operations. The units can be removed and reinstalled seamlessly, within minutes, by any member of your organization. If your pass through chamber needs servicing, Terra’s CleanMount® chamber easily slides out of the wall without creating scratches or abrasions that can leave debris and particle contamination in the cleanroom.
D5 - Lipless Front/Rear Edges: The edges of a pass through chamber are prone to snag garments and collect contaminants. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® design includes lipless front and rear edges for easy sterilization.
D6 - Rounded Corners: The corners inside a pass through chamber are a common spot for contaminates to collect or microbes to colonize. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass throughs feature fully rounded (radius) corners for easy disinfection.
D7 - Lift-Off Replaceable Doors: Effectively disinfecting pass-through doors can be a challenge. Both Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass-through chambers include removable doors. BioSafe® passthroughs feature autoclave-safe doors with blue elastomeric door seals.
E - BioSafe Design:
(back to chart)
E1 - Meets Aseptic Requirements: Terra’s pass through chambers are UL-rated, CE-marked and leak-tested. Specialty models meet USP <797> and <800> requirements, cGMP standards, UL-B fire ratings, and BSL 1 and 2 criteria. If you’re installing a pass through into a regulated space, talk to your Terra product specialist to find a model to fit your application.
E2 - BioSeal Door with Knife Edge Seal: For many applications, maintaining positive or negative pressure inside of a cleanroom is critical, whether the environment is sensitive to particles, microbial growth, moisture or static build-up. Your cleanroom’s pressure rating can be compromised by any personnel entrance or exit, including your pass through chamber. Terra’s pass through chambers will support the integrity of your cleanroom, allowing it to maintain your desired cleanliness levels and specifications. Terra’s BioSeal™ doors with elastomeric gaskets are pressure-rated, autoclave-safe and compatible with critical, regulated environments.
F - Smart Pass-Through Design – Standard Features:
(back to chart)
F1 - Electronic Door Interlock: Pass through chambers must be designed to prevent both doors from opening at the same time, causing cross contamination between two sterile spaces and a loss of your cleanroom’s pressure rating. A critical component in the pass through design, the interlocking mechanism, prevents this unwanted occurrence. The interlock can be mechanical, utilizing a hook and latch system, or electrical, using an e-strike. Mechanical interlocks come in two flavors: manual or automatic. For mechanical interlocks, Terra only offers automatic systems, as manual systems must be engaged by the operator, severely reducing transfer efficiency. In certain applications, Terra pass through chambers are opened every five seconds for the entirety of a work shift. This level of access frequency would not be possible with a manual, mechanical interlock. Electrical interlocks are often installed on passthrough chambers with automatic, hands-free doors or systems equipped with access controls, occupancy sensors, building management integration or event logs. Terra’s Smart® pass-through chambers can be equipped with these capabilities and more, including refrigeration modules, intercoms, UV germicidal lighting and HEPA filtration.
F2 - Electrical Integration/Control: When first introduced to the market, the pass through chamber had one specific job: to act as the gatekeeper for sample transfer into and out of the cleanroom, thereby reducing personnel traffic. As the pass through has become more integral to the operations within a cleanroom, the potential jobs it can perform and problems it can solve have increased. Terra has changed the definition of the pass through chamber by offering a menu of standard, add-on features that expand the role of the pass through chamber within a cleanroom. Beyond sample transfer, a pass through can now disinfect products, allow employees in separate areas to communicate, log environmental conditions, track personnel or packages, and add layers of security to your facility.
F3 - Service & Open Door Alerts: In regulated environments, like FDA or cGMP facilities, event logs that track employee movement, environmental conditions, equipment status, and service alerts are a requirement. Terra’s Smart® Pass Through captures these data and communicates with your building management system or LIMS software to export the data at stated intervals.
F4 - Door Status LED Display Bar: The interlocking mechanism is the lifeblood of the pass through chamber; its integrity dictates the life of the unit. If the interlock doesn’t function effectively, your facility may experience sample cross contamination, product failures, or employee safety issues. The interlock, and by proxy, the pass through doors must be operated correctly; misuse can shorten the lifespan of your pass through and decrease its effectiveness. To reduce interlock abuse, Terra has introduced several solutions, such as buzzers and color-coded warning signals. Terra’s Smart® LED Door Status Bar displays a red light when the opposite door is open, informing the operator to wait before attempting to open the door, and a green light when the opposite door is shut, informing the operator to proceed in opening the door. Without a status bar, interlock abuse is common: an operator will attempt to open the door, not knowing that the opposite door is open; when their door doesn’t open, the operator will use excessive force to pry the door open, causing damage to the door seal and the interlock. These signals act as the traffic lights for Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers, ensuring interlock abuse is prevented. If traffic lights didn’t exist on roadways, would car accidents be blamed on automotive manufacturers? In this same vein, Terra has taken the extra step in supporting pass through care, so our customers can reap the full benefits of our system for many years.
G - Smart Pass-Through Options:
(back to chart)
G1 - Hands-Free Automatic Door: In the semiconductor industry, the highest level of contamination control is achieved by totally eliminating the presence of humans in the critical manufacturing areas through full robotic automation and closed-loop enclosures. Terra Universal has developed and offered solutions for the semiconductor industry since its inception in 1976. We understand the benefits that reducing foot traffic will have on a company’s operations, processes and products. Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers can be equipped with automatic doors and electronic controllers that support integration with fully automated systems.
G3 - Recessed LED Lighting: LED lighting illuminates the internal chamber and mounts flush into the ceiling for easy sterilization. The light automatically activates when either door opens, supporting hands-free operation of the pass through chamber.
G4 - UV-C Sanitizing Module: Germicidal UV-C light, emitted at 254 nanometers, denatures microbial DNA after short, intense exposure. UV-C lighting will ensure your pass through box is fully sterilized and does not impact the bio-burden of your cleanroom.
G5 - ULPA/HEPA-Filtered Air Shower: Recirculating filtered pass throughs use a closed loop system to continuously recirculate air in the chamber through built-in HEPA or ULPA filters. These clean air pass thrus are self-contained and do not require any ventilation or exhaust ducting. They run continuously to reduce particle concentration within the chamber. This design is commonly used because the closed-loop system does not impact adjacent room pressure balances when operating.
With heavily mandated cleanliness requirements associated with USP 797 and USP 800 cleanrooms, a pharmacy pass thru is a vital point for sterile pharmaceutical compounding. Terra’s HEPA filtered pass through and Smart® HEPA filtered pass thru use recirculating ventilation to meet and exceed USP 797 and USP 800 guidelines.
Comprehensively wiping down a cart filled with patient samples or supplies can be time consuming. Terra’s high velocity air shower pass through is designed with high-pressure nozzles that wash the cart from every side with ULPA-filtered air. After a 30-second, hands-free wash cycle; your cart will be clean, particle-free and contamination-free. As a secondary disinfection mechanism, equip your cart with a germicidal, UV-C light to prevent microbial growth.
G6 - Refrigeration Module: For temperature sensitive samples or equipment, Terra’s Smart® pass throughs may be equipped with a refrigeration module that maintains a 4°C set point within the internal chamber. Terra’s high-security, refrigerated pass through chambers are utilized for overnight storage of patient samples.
G7 - Pushbutton Intercom: Built-in intercom system allows operators to easily communicate between rooms. Without intercoms, operators are prone to opening both pass through doors, by bypassing the interlock, to communicate, thus breaking the cleanroom seal and exposing sterile areas to cross contamination.
G8 - LCD Message Panel: LCD panels are designed for regulated environments, like FDA, cGMP, GLP or USP <797> facilities. They display critical environmental information related to the interior chamber conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity.
G9 - 90° Corner Configurations: Terra has 45 years of experience in customized equipment. Smart® pass-throughs with custom door configurations can be designed per-project to install in corner walls with multiple doors: 2 doors (L-shape), 3 doors (T-shape), or 4 doors (X-shape).
G10 - Load Presence Sensor: Infrared beams detect objects placed within the internal transfer chamber and can communicate data to an audible alarm or sample tracking system. They are ideal for highly-regulated facilities maintaining cGMP compliance or systems installed onto the external wall of a building for package delivery.
G11 - Video Camera: An interior HD video camera records continuously or upon door opening. The camera can also be adjusted to monitor spaces external to the pass through chamber.
G12 - Proximity Card Reader: Card readers with system lockout and keypad for two-factor authentication are ideal designed for pharmacies dispensing controlled substances.
G13 - Keyless Door Access Panel: Keypad readers for high-security areas prevent unauthorized access to the pass through chamber.
G14 - Fingerprint Reader: Biometric fingerprint scanners include proximity card reader for two-factor authentication.
G15 - Iris Scanner: A fully automated iris scanner provides secure, hands-free access and includes data logging plus a secondary keycard reader.
G16 - Access Data Logging: This software logs environmental conditions and exports the data to a local server or building management system.
G17 - Laminar Flow HEPA Filtration: Terra’s Smart® pass through cabinets may be equipped with a HEPA-filtered blower module, installed above the unit, that washes the internal chamber with uniform, unidirectional, micro-filtered air.
G18 - Ionization Module: Ion bars emit a static neutralizing stream of cations and anions to prevent ESD discharge. They are ideal for protecting static-sensitive medical devices and microelectronics.
H - Fire-Rates Pass-Throughs:
(back to chart)
H1 - Fire-Rated Doors: If you are installing a pass through chamber in a fire-rated space, the pass through must carry the same fire-rating as the wall in which it is installed. Terra’s fire-rated pass through chambers carry the UL-B label for 90-minute fire exposure, suitable for installation in areas with 2-hour wall ratings. Available in 11 different sizes to fit your sample transfer needs, Terra offers fire-rated units that are pre-tested, crated and in-stock for immediate shipment.
I - Other Optional Accessories:
(back to chart)
I1 & I2 - BioSafe Removable Racks and Shelves: Stainless steel racks and shelves can be removed for disinfection or replaced as user requirements change.
I3 - CleanTop Sloping Top: For non-flush mount pass through systems, Terra’s CleanTop™ sloping top provides a smooth, easy to disinfect surface between the pass through door and the wall.
I4 - Ventilation Module: A cleanroom pass thru chamber with exhausted ventilation (also known as a sink airlock) provides a single pass (open loop) supply of exhausted air. This extraction system creates negative pressure to prevent particles from escaping the chamber from either door. This design can be used for applications where hazardous materials or particulates must be contained and kept from passing through either side of the chamber. Ventilation units can also be used to duct fumes that might be present in a specimen, allowing the cleanroom pass thru box to act as a drying system. Specify a flange adapter to allow connection from the pass thru chamber to an in-house ventilation system. Exhaust air speed sensors can also be configured for added safety to alarm in the event air speed falls below a specified set point.
I5 - Grounding Terminals: For static-sensitive material, Terra’s cleanroom pass through box can be equipped with grounding terminals for an ESD-safe internal chamber.
I6 - High-Velocity side & Top HEPA Air Shower: Installed on floor mounted pass throughs, the air shower directs HEPA-filtered air through high-velocity nozzles installed on the ceiling and walls of the internal chamber to wash carts free of dust and contaminants.
I7 - Large-Clearance Roll-Up Doors: Terra’s roll-up door pass throughs are designed for consistent, high-throughput transfer of large, bulky equipment into and out of the cleanroom. Roll-up pass thru designs include safety pressure sensors, automatic interlocks, touch panel interfaces, and laser door positioning sensors.
I8 - Reinforced, Ruggedized Contruction: Rugged pass through transfer hatches featuring double-wall construction and heavy-duty self-closing doors are designed for high-throughput, high-security areas such as correctional facilities.
I9 - Locking Latches: For secure areas housing controlled substances or high-value products, Terra offers a variety of locking door latches and access controls for pass thru cabinets.
HEPA Filtered Cleanroom Pass-Throughs
A - Mounting Configurations:
(back to chart)
A1 - Wall Mounted: Terra offers flush-mount and center-mount options. Terra’s CleanMount® system affixes flush against the cleanroom wall to simplify disinfection and prevent particle accumulation.
A2 - Floor Mounted With Ramp: Cleanroom cart pass throughs with integral ramps support transfer of heavy equipment or sample racks into critical spaces.
A3 - Glass Panel Mounted: Stainless steel pass throughs smaller than 2 cubic feet may be mounted in tempered glass panels without support frames, saving facilities on additional hardware and cleaning costs.
B - Chamber Materials:
(back to chart)
B1 - Plastic: Terra manufactures and stocks pass through chambers made of economical acrylic, ESD-safe static-dissipative PVC, and chemical-resistant polypropylene.
B2 - Powder-Coated Steel: More economical than stainless steel, durable and rigid powder-coated steel is more resistant to chemical- or moisture-based corrosion than plastic designs.
B3 - 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
B4 - 316 Stainless Steel: 316-grade stainless steel contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade stainless steel, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
B5 - Electropolished Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of the stainless steel, and supports easy sterilization to reduce micro-cavities where microbes colonize.
C - CleanSeam Design:
(back to chart)
C1 - Continuous Seam: Terra’s CleanSeam™ pass through chambers feature fully-welded chambers with smooth, continuous seam welds for a seamless interior that is easy to disinfect. The internal chamber is free of crevices or cracks where contaminants can collect.
D - Double-Wall Design:
(back to chart)
Equipping a pass through cabinet with external components - such as door sensors, lighting and filtration – can be a challenge. Cleaning procedures dictate that pass through chambers should be seamless, crevice-free and easy to wipe down. Installing external components on the chamber will make the cleaning process more difficult and restrict the space available for sample transfer.
Terra has solved this issue with CleanMount® double-walled pass through chambers. All external components are enclosed within the space between the internal and external walls, so the integrity of the internal chamber is not jeopardized and the pass through cleanliness rating is not sacrificed.
Double-wall construction has additional benefits: the unit is more rigid and more stable within the wall, the doors achieve a tighter seal and more precise alignment with the chamber, and the interlocking mechanism operates flawlessly.
CleanMount® double-walled systems provide one additional benefit: they are pre-compatible with a wide array of Smart® electronic add-on features, such as UV lighting, HEPA filtration, refrigeration modules and load presence sensors. As the bulk of the additional cost for these add-on features are built into the double-wall design, Terra’s pass throughs can be fully equipped with Smart® electronic controls for a negligible price. While the cost to add these features is low, the benefits are enormous - your pass through chamber is instantly transformed into more than a sample transfer system: a germicidal system, a method for employee communication, a data logger, or a security device.
D1 - Isolated Interlock: Effectively cleaning an internal chamber with an exposed interlock is a huge challenge. Terra offers a fully isolated automatic interlock, installed between the interior and exterior wall panels of the cleanroom transfer hatch.
D2 - Flush-Mount: Terra’s CleanMount® system mounts flush against the cleanroom wall to minimize particle accumulation and simplify cleaning.
D3 - Quick Install: The whole process of installing a pass-through was very messy, until Terra developed the CleanMount® pass-through. The CleanMount® fastening system installs directly into a clean, finished opening in the wall (not a dirty, rough cut-out) without any drilling or screwing into the surrounding wall that can contaminate and delay cleanroom operations. The innovative design firmly clamps to a variety of wall thicknesses without penetrating or damaging the finished surrounding wall. After the wall is fully prepared by your contractor, Terra’s CleanMount® pass through chamber can be installed seamlessly, within 5 minutes. Terra’s video tutorial will guide your contractor through the process to ensure the pass through is correctly installed.
D4 - Contamination-Free Removal: CleanMount® pass throughs also drastically simplify maintenance to minimize downtime of critical cleanroom operations. The units can be removed and reinstalled seamlessly, within minutes, by any member of your organization. If your pass through chamber needs servicing, Terra’s CleanMount® chamber easily slides out of the wall without creating scratches or abrasions that can leave debris and particle contamination in the cleanroom.
D5 - Lipless Front/Rear Edges: The edges of a pass through chamber are prone to snag garments and collect contaminants. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® design includes lipless front and rear edges for easy sterilization.
D6 - Rounded Corners: The corners inside a pass through chamber are a common spot for contaminates to collect or microbes to colonize. Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass throughs feature fully rounded (radius) corners for easy disinfection.
D7 - Lift-Off Replaceable Doors: Effectively disinfecting pass-through doors can be a challenge. Both Terra’s CleanMount® and BioSafe® pass-through chambers include removable doors. BioSafe® passthroughs feature autoclave-safe doors with blue elastomeric door seals.
E - BioSafe Design:
(back to chart)
E1 - Meets Aseptic Requirements: Terra’s pass through chambers are UL-rated, CE-marked and leak-tested. Specialty models meet USP <797> and <800> requirements, cGMP standards, UL-B fire ratings, and BSL 1 and 2 criteria. If you’re installing a pass through into a regulated space, talk to your Terra product specialist to find a model to fit your application.
E2 - BioSeal Door with Knife Edge Seal: For many applications, maintaining positive or negative pressure inside of a cleanroom is critical, whether the environment is sensitive to particles, microbial growth, moisture or static build-up. Your cleanroom’s pressure rating can be compromised by any personnel entrance or exit, including your pass through chamber. Terra’s pass through chambers will support the integrity of your cleanroom, allowing it to maintain your desired cleanliness levels and specifications. Terra’s BioSeal™ doors with elastomeric gaskets are pressure-rated, autoclave-safe and compatible with critical, regulated environments.
F - Smart Pass-Through Design – Standard Features:
(back to chart)
F1 - Electronic Door Interlock: Pass through chambers must be designed to prevent both doors from opening at the same time, causing cross contamination between two sterile spaces and a loss of your cleanroom’s pressure rating. A critical component in the pass through design, the interlocking mechanism, prevents this unwanted occurrence. The interlock can be mechanical, utilizing a hook and latch system, or electrical, using an e-strike. Mechanical interlocks come in two flavors: manual or automatic. For mechanical interlocks, Terra only offers automatic systems, as manual systems must be engaged by the operator, severely reducing transfer efficiency. In certain applications, Terra pass through chambers are opened every five seconds for the entirety of a work shift. This level of access frequency would not be possible with a manual, mechanical interlock. Electrical interlocks are often installed on passthrough chambers with automatic, hands-free doors or systems equipped with access controls, occupancy sensors, building management integration or event logs. Terra’s Smart® pass-through chambers can be equipped with these capabilities and more, including refrigeration modules, intercoms, UV germicidal lighting and HEPA filtration.
F2 - Electrical Integration/Control: When first introduced to the market, the pass through chamber had one specific job: to act as the gatekeeper for sample transfer into and out of the cleanroom, thereby reducing personnel traffic. As the pass through has become more integral to the operations within a cleanroom, the potential jobs it can perform and problems it can solve have increased. Terra has changed the definition of the pass through chamber by offering a menu of standard, add-on features that expand the role of the pass through chamber within a cleanroom. Beyond sample transfer, a pass through can now disinfect products, allow employees in separate areas to communicate, log environmental conditions, track personnel or packages, and add layers of security to your facility.
F3 - Service & Open Door Alerts: In regulated environments, like FDA or cGMP facilities, event logs that track employee movement, environmental conditions, equipment status, and service alerts are a requirement. Terra’s Smart® Pass Through captures these data and communicates with your building management system or LIMS software to export the data at stated intervals.
F4 - Door Status LED Display Bar: The interlocking mechanism is the lifeblood of the pass through chamber; its integrity dictates the life of the unit. If the interlock doesn’t function effectively, your facility may experience sample cross contamination, product failures, or employee safety issues. The interlock, and by proxy, the pass through doors must be operated correctly; misuse can shorten the lifespan of your pass through and decrease its effectiveness. To reduce interlock abuse, Terra has introduced several solutions, such as buzzers and color-coded warning signals. Terra’s Smart® LED Door Status Bar displays a red light when the opposite door is open, informing the operator to wait before attempting to open the door, and a green light when the opposite door is shut, informing the operator to proceed in opening the door. Without a status bar, interlock abuse is common: an operator will attempt to open the door, not knowing that the opposite door is open; when their door doesn’t open, the operator will use excessive force to pry the door open, causing damage to the door seal and the interlock. These signals act as the traffic lights for Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers, ensuring interlock abuse is prevented. If traffic lights didn’t exist on roadways, would car accidents be blamed on automotive manufacturers? In this same vein, Terra has taken the extra step in supporting pass through care, so our customers can reap the full benefits of our system for many years.
G - Smart Pass-Through Options:
(back to chart)
G1 - Hands-Free Automatic Door: In the semiconductor industry, the highest level of contamination control is achieved by totally eliminating the presence of humans in the critical manufacturing areas through full robotic automation and closed-loop enclosures. Terra Universal has developed and offered solutions for the semiconductor industry since its inception in 1976. We understand the benefits that reducing foot traffic will have on a company’s operations, processes and products. Terra’s Smart® pass through chambers can be equipped with automatic doors and electronic controllers that support integration with fully automated systems.
G3 - Recessed LED Lighting: LED lighting illuminates the internal chamber and mounts flush into the ceiling for easy sterilization. The light automatically activates when either door opens, supporting hands-free operation of the pass through chamber.
G4 - UV-C Sanitizing Module: Germicidal UV-C light, emitted at 254 nanometers, denatures microbial DNA after short, intense exposure. UV-C lighting will ensure your pass through box is fully sterilized and does not impact the bio-burden of your cleanroom.
G5 - ULPA/HEPA-Filtered Air Shower: Recirculating filtered pass throughs use a closed loop system to continuously recirculate air in the chamber through built-in HEPA or ULPA filters. These clean air pass thrus are self-contained and do not require any ventilation or exhaust ducting. They run continuously to reduce particle concentration within the chamber. This design is commonly used because the closed-loop system does not impact adjacent room pressure balances when operating.
With heavily mandated cleanliness requirements associated with USP 797 and USP 800 cleanrooms, a pharmacy pass thru is a vital point for sterile pharmaceutical compounding. Terra’s HEPA filtered pass through and Smart® HEPA filtered pass thru use recirculating ventilation to meet and exceed USP 797 and USP 800 guidelines.
Comprehensively wiping down a cart filled with patient samples or supplies can be time consuming. Terra’s high velocity air shower pass through is designed with high-pressure nozzles that wash the cart from every side with ULPA-filtered air. After a 30-second, hands-free wash cycle; your cart will be clean, particle-free and contamination-free. As a secondary disinfection mechanism, equip your cart with a germicidal, UV-C light to prevent microbial growth.
G6 - Refrigeration Module: For temperature sensitive samples or equipment, Terra’s Smart® pass throughs may be equipped with a refrigeration module that maintains a 4°C set point within the internal chamber. Terra’s high-security, refrigerated pass through chambers are utilized for overnight storage of patient samples.
G7 - Pushbutton Intercom: Built-in intercom system allows operators to easily communicate between rooms. Without intercoms, operators are prone to opening both pass through doors, by bypassing the interlock, to communicate, thus breaking the cleanroom seal and exposing sterile areas to cross contamination.
G8 - LCD Message Panel: LCD panels are designed for regulated environments, like FDA, cGMP, GLP or USP <797> facilities. They display critical environmental information related to the interior chamber conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity.
G9 - 90° Corner Configurations: Terra has 45 years of experience in customized equipment. Smart® pass-throughs with custom door configurations can be designed per-project to install in corner walls with multiple doors: 2 doors (L-shape), 3 doors (T-shape), or 4 doors (X-shape).
G10 - Load Presence Sensor: Infrared beams detect objects placed within the internal transfer chamber and can communicate data to an audible alarm or sample tracking system. They are ideal for highly-regulated facilities maintaining cGMP compliance or systems installed onto the external wall of a building for package delivery.
G11 - Video Camera: An interior HD video camera records continuously or upon door opening. The camera can also be adjusted to monitor spaces external to the pass through chamber.
G12 - Proximity Card Reader: Card readers with system lockout and keypad for two-factor authentication are ideal designed for pharmacies dispensing controlled substances.
G13 - Keyless Door Access Panel: Keypad readers for high-security areas prevent unauthorized access to the pass through chamber.
G14 - Fingerprint Reader: Biometric fingerprint scanners include proximity card reader for two-factor authentication.
G15 - Iris Scanner: A fully automated iris scanner provides secure, hands-free access and includes data logging plus a secondary keycard reader.
G16 - Access Data Logging: This software logs environmental conditions and exports the data to a local server or building management system.
G17 - Laminar Flow HEPA Filtration: Terra’s Smart® pass through cabinets may be equipped with a HEPA-filtered blower module, installed above the unit, that washes the internal chamber with uniform, unidirectional, micro-filtered air.
G18 - Ionization Module: Ion bars emit a static neutralizing stream of cations and anions to prevent ESD discharge. They are ideal for protecting static-sensitive medical devices and microelectronics.
H - Fire-Rates Pass-Throughs:
(back to chart)
H1 - Fire-Rated Doors: If you are installing a pass through chamber in a fire-rated space, the pass through must carry the same fire-rating as the wall in which it is installed. Terra’s fire-rated pass through chambers carry the UL-B label for 90-minute fire exposure, suitable for installation in areas with 2-hour wall ratings. Available in 11 different sizes to fit your sample transfer needs, Terra offers fire-rated units that are pre-tested, crated and in-stock for immediate shipment.
I - Other Optional Accessories:
(back to chart)
I1 & I2 - BioSafe Removable Racks and Shelves: Stainless steel racks and shelves can be removed for disinfection or replaced as user requirements change.
I3 - CleanTop Sloping Top: For non-flush mount pass through systems, Terra’s CleanTop™ sloping top provides a smooth, easy to disinfect surface between the pass through door and the wall.
I4 - Ventilation Module: A cleanroom pass thru chamber with exhausted ventilation (also known as a sink airlock) provides a single pass (open loop) supply of exhausted air. This extraction system creates negative pressure to prevent particles from escaping the chamber from either door. This design can be used for applications where hazardous materials or particulates must be contained and kept from passing through either side of the chamber. Ventilation units can also be used to duct fumes that might be present in a specimen, allowing the cleanroom pass thru box to act as a drying system. Specify a flange adapter to allow connection from the pass thru chamber to an in-house ventilation system. Exhaust air speed sensors can also be configured for added safety to alarm in the event air speed falls below a specified set point.
I5 - Grounding Terminals: For static-sensitive material, Terra’s cleanroom pass through box can be equipped with grounding terminals for an ESD-safe internal chamber.
I6 - High-Velocity side & Top HEPA Air Shower: Installed on floor mounted pass throughs, the air shower directs HEPA-filtered air through high-velocity nozzles installed on the ceiling and walls of the internal chamber to wash carts free of dust and contaminants.
I7 - Large-Clearance Roll-Up Doors: Terra’s roll-up door pass throughs are designed for consistent, high-throughput transfer of large, bulky equipment into and out of the cleanroom. Roll-up pass thru designs include safety pressure sensors, automatic interlocks, touch panel interfaces, and laser door positioning sensors.
I8 - Reinforced, Ruggedized Contruction: Rugged pass through transfer hatches featuring double-wall construction and heavy-duty self-closing doors are designed for high-throughput, high-security areas such as correctional facilities.
I9 - Locking Latches: For secure areas housing controlled substances or high-value products, Terra offers a variety of locking door latches and access controls for pass thru cabinets.
Roll-Up Door Pass Through Chambers
Desiccator Cabinets
A – Application: Which Desiccator is Best for My Application?
(back to chart)
Cost vs. Control: Terra Desiccators Simplify Your Choice
You need to protect sensitive samples, but you don’t want to overpay. Below is a list of application descriptions to help choose the best desiccator storage system for your application and budget.
A1 - Critical Control Demands:
For applications that require not only a low-RH set point, but a system that recovers it quickly when doors open/close, allows a different set point in each chamber, and/or protects against static and particulate contaminants.
Typical Applications
- Low exposure tolerance: Microelectronic or pharmaceutical samples that degrade very quickly when exposed to moisture.
- High access frequency: Doors open/close before system can recover target set point level.
- Exposure testing: Requires a separate %RH monitor/control in each desiccator chamber.
- ESD-sensitive parts: Minute static discharge results in severe degradation, cuts yields.
- Sterile and/or Particle Sensitivity: Critical contamination requirements won’t tolerate materials that shed particles or corrode.
A2 - Moderate Control Demands:
Sensitive samples may require automatic low humidity set point control, but low access frequency minimizes the need for faster RH recovery time. Protection against ESD and/or particulate contaminants may also be required.
Typical Applications
- Low-Moderate exposure tolerance: Low humidity and automatic monitoring is required. Microelectronic or pharmaceutical samples that degrade when exposed to moisture.
- Moderate-High Access Frequency: Parts are accessed on a daily basis and/or are sensitive to moisture exposure when doors are opened.
- ESD-sensitive parts: Minute static discharge results in severe degradation, cuts yields.
- Sterile and/or Particle Sensitivity: Critical contamination requirements won’t tolerate materials that shed particles or corrode.
A3 - Minimal Control Demands:
You need occasional nitrogen purging or desiccant to bring down the RH, or you may only need a dust-free enclosure without humidity control.
Typical Applications
- Moderate-High exposure tolerance: Low humidity and/or automatic monitoring is not required.
- Low Access Frequency/Extended Storage: If low humidity is required, fast recovery time is not, because doors are rarely opened: you stock the sample and come back for it days or weeks later.
- Moderate Static Protection: Availability of static-dissipative materials a plus, but ionization not required.
- Dust-Free Conditions: Samples require a clean environment, but chrome plating and adhesive seals are acceptable.
Additional Application Considerations:
For critical moisture control applications, relative humidity (RH) set-point recovery time is one of the most important considerations to achieving the required quality, safety, and shelf life of stored materials.
RH recovery is the time needed to reach an RH set point after a desiccator chamber or cabinet is accessed. A fast RH recovery time minimizes exposure of stored materials to harmful moisture levels. Thus, the ideal desiccator quickly and efficiently reaches and maintains the desired RH level.
Set-point recovery time depends on several variables listed below. Keep these factors in mind to choose the best desiccator storage system for your application and budget.
- Internal & External RH:
The desired internal RH set point depends on industry and application. Extremely low humidity requirements (under 10% RH) are more difficult to achieve and generally call for a Smart controller option to optimize recovery time and efficiency.
The greater the gap between required internal RH and ambient RH, the more time and inert gas will be needed to remove moisture from inside the desiccator. For example, a desiccator in a more humid ambient environment will have more moisture in the air to displace, and will therefore require more nitrogen gas or a more efficient humidity control system than one in a less humid environment.
- Access Frequency & Duration:
RH set-point recovery time is affected by the need to access parts inside the desiccator cabinet. Each time a door is opened, moisture-laden air, often bearing particles, enters the exposed chamber. The longer a door is left open, the more ambient air can flow inside. Once the door is closed, depending on the cabinet design, moisture can migrate from chamber to chamber, raising the internal RH throughout the cabinet.
During periods of frequent or prolonged access, a poorly configured desiccator may never attain the required RH set point, posing a serious threat to quality, safety, or shelf life of stored materials.
Choosing an appropriate automatic RH control system and cabinet design will help mitigate problems caused by frequent access.
- Desiccator Cabinet Size & Chamber Configuration:
The size or volume of your desiccator will determine how much ambient air needs to be displaced to reach your target RH set-point. Thus larger desiccators typically require more nitrogen or a more efficient RH control system, than smaller ones.
Furthermore, the chamber configuration can have a significant effect on time to reach set-point. Isolated chambers tend to be more efficient, as opening one chamber will not expose other chambers in the cabinet to ambient air. Non-isolated chambers that share the same air space will generally take longer to recover after one door is opened, as ambient air can more easily circulate through the entire cabinet.
- Nitrogen Gas Expense:
Users seek to achieve a low RH set-point as efficiently as possible to reduce wasteful gas consumption. Unfortunately, unassisted RH control systems require significantly higher consumption of nitrogen gas to reach the desired relative humidity set-point. This problem compounds with high access frequency.
High nitrogen gas consumption drives up overhead cost and can lead to other operational problems. For instance, those who rely on gas canisters will need to plan for more frequent replacements and will be suseptible to dealing with supply shortages.
A smart control system automates the process to conserve nitrogen and reduces costs by up to 78%. A nitrogen generator can also eliminate the supply shortage issues from dependence on pre-filled gas canisters.
- Cabinet Material Type:
Material type can also affect relative humidity inside a desiccator cabinet. The more porous or hygroscopic a material, the easier it is for gases and moisture to transfer through. Many plastics such as acrylic may appear impermeable to the naked eye, however are porous enough at a molecular level to absorb moisture that can then permeate into the chamber. The diffusion or passage of moisture through acrylic can occur in a few ways listed below. The higher the difference between moisture levels, and the greater the exposed surface area, the higher the rate at which moisture will enter the chamber.
- Walls inside the cabinet can absorb moisture from ambient air already inside the cabinet, and then release the moisture after the cabinet is purged with a dry inert gas.
- Moisture can permeate through the walls from the outside (higher moisture) to inside (lower moisture).
- Walls can absorb moisture from direct contact with water (either inside or outside the cabinet).
Critical moisture control applications concerned with moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) should consider a vapor impermeable cabinet material such as stainless steel to achieve the required quality, safety, and shelf life.
B – Nitrogen RH Control Systems:
(back to chart)
B1 – Nitroplex™ System: NitroPlex™, Terra’s most efficient humidity control solution, is designed for the most demanding critical moisture control applications. The system features multiple RH sensors modules to allow RH monitor & control to 0% RH in each isolated chamber. The modules use automatic binary (on/off) valves to quickly and efficiently direct N2 gas where and when it’s needed. The ability to establish separate humidity set points in each storage chamber allows for storage of parts with differing moisture sensitivities and conservation of N2 gas in chambers that are not in use.
B2 – IsoDry® System: IsoDry® upgrades the Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™ system by adding twin dilution fans for drastically improved RH recovery & uniformity. The fans rapidly mix and circulate incoming nitrogen gas to accelerate moisture removal and achieve uniform RH throughout the entire cabinet. The door sensors de-activate the dilution fans when a door is open to minimize the spread of incoming moisture and contaminants throughout the cabinet.
B3 – Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: This system is designed for larger cabinets. Like the Smart® system, it features a single RH sensor for automatic RH set point control to 0%RH. The Dual Purge™ has two gas flow settings (high/low) to rapidly reach and then maintain the user-specified set-point. Door sensors trigger high gas flow when doors open to help protect against the entry of contaminants, and expedite set-point recovery. Because this system includes only 1 RH sensor, the displayed RH reading may not accurately reflect the RH in other chambers of the cabinet.
B4 – Smart® System: Terra’s Smart® desiccator system features a built-in RH Sensor to provide automatic RH set point control to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases efficiency of N2 gas consumption. The system is recommended for smaller cabinets with 1-2 chambers. This single gas inlet system can encounter inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in larger cabinet systems.
B5 – Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller desiccators that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to damaged products and high operating costs.
C – Cabinet Design
(back to chart)
C1 – Isolated Chambers: One way to improve moisture control and recovery is to compartmentalize a cabinet into isolated chambers. The multiple air spaces are thus independent and RH in one chamber is unaffected by access to adjacent chambers.
C2 – Rear Plenum for Improved Gas Distribution: Larger desiccator cabinets with single gas inlets are more susceptible to RH control problems caused by uneven gas distribution. A rear distribution plenum helps alleviate these problems. Instead of feeding a gas line directly into 1 chamber, the gas inlet feeds into a narrow wall plenum adjacent to all chambers. The plenum pressurizes and simultaneously distributes gas through small perforations in the wall to every chamber in the cabinet. Distribution plenums also allow for isolated chambers (mentioned above).
C3 – Requires Automatic Relief/Bleed (RB) Valve(s): RB valves provide continuous pressure relief while also functioning as a one-way check valve. Installing one on each chamber improves moisture and contamination control. Any contaminants that enter through an open door can exit out the same chamber without migrating to other areas. Desiccator cabinets with isolated chambers require one RB valve per chamber to safely de-pressurize and ensure rapid RH recovery.
C4 – Reinforced Doors with One-Piece Fused Gaskets: This seemingly small detail makes a big difference, as it is one of the most common features likely to break or malfunction on a desiccator cabinet. An unidentified leak or non-functioning “out of service” desiccator cabinet in a worst case scenario can lead to an extremely costly loss of materials. Through 40 years of refinement and attention to detail, Terra’s desiccator cabinets have been designed and tested to perfect this important feature for guaranteed long-lasting, easy to maintain, and reliable operation.
Desiccator cabinets reinforced with stainless steel frames lend rigidity for an improved seal, and extend the service life of the entire cabinet. Heavy-duty lift latches easily close to produce a strong seal and prevent metal-on-metal scraping common with rotary latches. The ergonomic design also minimizes stress on your wrists and pinching of fingers. Optional locking lift latches are also available (specify one per chamber). The door frame is lined with a one-piece durable, resilient, and chemical resistant “e” shaped rubber gasket. This flexible gasket compresses to provide a tight seal and is mechanically attached to the door so it won’t slip, peel, or deform over time. The doors are also completely removable for further cleaning, maintenance or repair.
D – Cabinet Materials
(back to chart)
D1 – Clear Acrylic (Plexiglass): Low cost and lightweight acrylic offers durability (17x impact resistance of glass) and superior clarity. The transparent walls help quickly find items anywhere inside, even those hiding in the back or bottom of the cabinet. Acrylic’s two main drawbacks (hidden costs) are low chemical resistance (acrylic is damaged by alcohol and many other cleaning agents), and poor protection from electro-static discharge (ESD).
D2 – Amber Acrylic: Amber acrylic adds to the benefits of clear acrylic by filtering out UV and blue light to protect light sensitive materials from degrading, or changing composition. Similar to clear acrylic, it shares the same two drawbacks: low chemical resistance and poor protection from ESD.
D3 – Static-Dissipative PVC (SD-PVC): SD-PVC not only dissipates static charges safely but also eliminates the particle attraction that static charges create. Surfaces stay clean, inside and out, making this material perfect for use in cleanrooms. SD-PVC is transparent and highly durable, it can be used in place of acrylic in nearly any application. It features a surface resistivity of approximately 10^7 ohms per square and is completely non-contaminating—with no measurable outgassing—and it resists a wide range of chemicals such as alcohol and other common cleaning agents.
D4 – Stainless Steel: Stainless steel desiccator cabinets have many benefits. They are ideal for heavy duty storage applications of large, bulky materials. Stainless steel is also suitable for sterile applications. It resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization. Lastly, unlike plastics, stainless steel is impermeable to moisture and therefore suitable for the most critical low humidity storage applications.
Terra offers 304 and 316L stainless steel. 316L-grade contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
D5 – Electropolish Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of stainless steel for increased chemical resistance, to support easy sterilization and reduce micro-cavities where microbes can colonize.
E – Other optional Accessories
(back to chart)
E1 – Nitrogen Generator: Compact and portable nitrogen generators eliminate the need for costly nitrogen gas cylinders and minimizes the risk of unplanned supply shortages. They provide complete control over rate and purity of nitrogen gas from 95% to 99% purity.
E2 – Ionizing Modules: Ionizers can be installed into the rear gas distribution plenum of a desiccator cabinet to help neutralize electro-static surface charges throughout a desiccator cabinet.
E3 – Locking Lift Latches: Locking Lift Latches help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive or valuable materials. Different keys can be assigned to each chamber for added security. Chambers can be further reinforced with locking brackets (for padlocks) and tamper-proof hinges.
F – Number of Chambers
(back to chart)
Terra stocks standard chamber configurations for each line of desiccators. In general, larger desiccators typically require more nitrogen or a more efficient RH control system, than smaller ones.
Adjust-A-Shelf Desiccator Cabinets
A – Application: Which Desiccator is Best for My Application?
(back to chart)
Cost vs. Control: Terra Desiccators Simplify Your Choice
You need to protect sensitive samples, but you don’t want to overpay. Below is a list of application descriptions to help choose the best desiccator storage system for your application and budget.
A1 - Critical Control Demands:
For applications that require not only a low-RH set point, but a system that recovers it quickly when doors open/close, allows a different set point in each chamber, and/or protects against static and particulate contaminants.
Typical Applications
- Low exposure tolerance: Microelectronic or pharmaceutical samples that degrade very quickly when exposed to moisture.
- High access frequency: Doors open/close before system can recover target set point level.
- Exposure testing: Requires a separate %RH monitor/control in each desiccator chamber.
- ESD-sensitive parts: Minute static discharge results in severe degradation, cuts yields.
- Sterile and/or Particle Sensitivity: Critical contamination requirements won’t tolerate materials that shed particles or corrode.
A2 - Moderate Control Demands:
Sensitive samples may require automatic low humidity set point control, but low access frequency minimizes the need for faster RH recovery time. Protection against ESD and/or particulate contaminants may also be required.
Typical Applications
- Low-Moderate exposure tolerance: Low humidity and automatic monitoring is required. Microelectronic or pharmaceutical samples that degrade when exposed to moisture.
- Moderate-High Access Frequency: Parts are accessed on a daily basis and/or are sensitive to moisture exposure when doors are opened.
- ESD-sensitive parts: Minute static discharge results in severe degradation, cuts yields.
- Sterile and/or Particle Sensitivity: Critical contamination requirements won’t tolerate materials that shed particles or corrode.
A3 - Minimal Control Demands:
You need occasional nitrogen purging or desiccant to bring down the RH, or you may only need a dust-free enclosure without humidity control.
Typical Applications
- Moderate-High exposure tolerance: Low humidity and/or automatic monitoring is not required.
- Low Access Frequency/Extended Storage: If low humidity is required, fast recovery time is not, because doors are rarely opened: you stock the sample and come back for it days or weeks later.
- Moderate Static Protection: Availability of static-dissipative materials a plus, but ionization not required.
- Dust-Free Conditions: Samples require a clean environment, but chrome plating and adhesive seals are acceptable.
Additional Application Considerations:
For critical moisture control applications, relative humidity (RH) set-point recovery time is one of the most important considerations to achieving the required quality, safety, and shelf life of stored materials.
RH recovery is the time needed to reach an RH set point after a desiccator chamber or cabinet is accessed. A fast RH recovery time minimizes exposure of stored materials to harmful moisture levels. Thus, the ideal desiccator quickly and efficiently reaches and maintains the desired RH level.
Set-point recovery time depends on several variables listed below. Keep these factors in mind to choose the best desiccator storage system for your application and budget.
- Internal & External RH:
The desired internal RH set point depends on industry and application. Extremely low humidity requirements (under 10% RH) are more difficult to achieve and generally call for a Smart controller option to optimize recovery time and efficiency.
The greater the gap between required internal RH and ambient RH, the more time and inert gas will be needed to remove moisture from inside the desiccator. For example, a desiccator in a more humid ambient environment will have more moisture in the air to displace, and will therefore require more nitrogen gas or a more efficient humidity control system than one in a less humid environment.
- Access Frequency & Duration:
RH set-point recovery time is affected by the need to access parts inside the desiccator cabinet. Each time a door is opened, moisture-laden air, often bearing particles, enters the exposed chamber. The longer a door is left open, the more ambient air can flow inside. Once the door is closed, depending on the cabinet design, moisture can migrate from chamber to chamber, raising the internal RH throughout the cabinet.
During periods of frequent or prolonged access, a poorly configured desiccator may never attain the required RH set point, posing a serious threat to quality, safety, or shelf life of stored materials.
Choosing an appropriate automatic RH control system and cabinet design will help mitigate problems caused by frequent access.
- Desiccator Cabinet Size & Chamber Configuration:
The size or volume of your desiccator will determine how much ambient air needs to be displaced to reach your target RH set-point. Thus larger desiccators typically require more nitrogen or a more efficient RH control system, than smaller ones.
Furthermore, the chamber configuration can have a significant effect on time to reach set-point. Isolated chambers tend to be more efficient, as opening one chamber will not expose other chambers in the cabinet to ambient air. Non-isolated chambers that share the same air space will generally take longer to recover after one door is opened, as ambient air can more easily circulate through the entire cabinet.
- Nitrogen Gas Expense:
Users seek to achieve a low RH set-point as efficiently as possible to reduce wasteful gas consumption. Unfortunately, unassisted RH control systems require significantly higher consumption of nitrogen gas to reach the desired relative humidity set-point. This problem compounds with high access frequency.
High nitrogen gas consumption drives up overhead cost and can lead to other operational problems. For instance, those who rely on gas canisters will need to plan for more frequent replacements and will be suseptible to dealing with supply shortages.
A smart control system automates the process to conserve nitrogen and reduces costs by up to 78%. A nitrogen generator can also eliminate the supply shortage issues from dependence on pre-filled gas canisters.
- Cabinet Material Type:
Material type can also affect relative humidity inside a desiccator cabinet. The more porous or hygroscopic a material, the easier it is for gases and moisture to transfer through. Many plastics such as acrylic may appear impermeable to the naked eye, however are porous enough at a molecular level to absorb moisture that can then permeate into the chamber. The diffusion or passage of moisture through acrylic can occur in a few ways listed below. The higher the difference between moisture levels, and the greater the exposed surface area, the higher the rate at which moisture will enter the chamber.
- Walls inside the cabinet can absorb moisture from ambient air already inside the cabinet, and then release the moisture after the cabinet is purged with a dry inert gas.
- Moisture can permeate through the walls from the outside (higher moisture) to inside (lower moisture).
- Walls can absorb moisture from direct contact with water (either inside or outside the cabinet).
Critical moisture control applications concerned with moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) should consider a vapor impermeable cabinet material such as stainless steel to achieve the required quality, safety, and shelf life.
B – Nitrogen RH Control Systems:
(back to chart)
B1 – Nitroplex™ System: NitroPlex™, Terra’s most efficient humidity control solution, is designed for the most demanding critical moisture control applications. The system features multiple RH sensors modules to allow RH monitor & control to 0% RH in each isolated chamber. The modules use automatic binary (on/off) valves to quickly and efficiently direct N2 gas where and when it’s needed. The ability to establish separate humidity set points in each storage chamber allows for storage of parts with differing moisture sensitivities and conservation of N2 gas in chambers that are not in use.
B2 – IsoDry® System: IsoDry® upgrades the Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™ system by adding twin dilution fans for drastically improved RH recovery & uniformity. The fans rapidly mix and circulate incoming nitrogen gas to accelerate moisture removal and achieve uniform RH throughout the entire cabinet. The door sensors de-activate the dilution fans when a door is open to minimize the spread of incoming moisture and contaminants throughout the cabinet.
B3 – Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: This system is designed for larger cabinets. Like the Smart® system, it features a single RH sensor for automatic RH set point control to 0%RH. The Dual Purge™ has two gas flow settings (high/low) to rapidly reach and then maintain the user-specified set-point. Door sensors trigger high gas flow when doors open to help protect against the entry of contaminants, and expedite set-point recovery. Because this system includes only 1 RH sensor, the displayed RH reading may not accurately reflect the RH in other chambers of the cabinet.
B4 – Smart® System: Terra’s Smart® desiccator system features a built-in RH Sensor to provide automatic RH set point control to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases efficiency of N2 gas consumption. The system is recommended for smaller cabinets with 1-2 chambers. This single gas inlet system can encounter inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in larger cabinet systems.
B5 – Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller desiccators that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to damaged products and high operating costs.
C – Cabinet Design
(back to chart)
C1 – Isolated Chambers: One way to improve moisture control and recovery is to compartmentalize a cabinet into isolated chambers. The multiple air spaces are thus independent and RH in one chamber is unaffected by access to adjacent chambers.
C2 – Rear Plenum for Improved Gas Distribution: Larger desiccator cabinets with single gas inlets are more susceptible to RH control problems caused by uneven gas distribution. A rear distribution plenum helps alleviate these problems. Instead of feeding a gas line directly into 1 chamber, the gas inlet feeds into a narrow wall plenum adjacent to all chambers. The plenum pressurizes and simultaneously distributes gas through small perforations in the wall to every chamber in the cabinet. Distribution plenums also allow for isolated chambers (mentioned above).
C3 – Requires Automatic Relief/Bleed (RB) Valve(s): RB valves provide continuous pressure relief while also functioning as a one-way check valve. Installing one on each chamber improves moisture and contamination control. Any contaminants that enter through an open door can exit out the same chamber without migrating to other areas. Desiccator cabinets with isolated chambers require one RB valve per chamber to safely de-pressurize and ensure rapid RH recovery.
C4 – Reinforced Doors with One-Piece Fused Gaskets: This seemingly small detail makes a big difference, as it is one of the most common features likely to break or malfunction on a desiccator cabinet. An unidentified leak or non-functioning “out of service” desiccator cabinet in a worst case scenario can lead to an extremely costly loss of materials. Through 40 years of refinement and attention to detail, Terra’s desiccator cabinets have been designed and tested to perfect this important feature for guaranteed long-lasting, easy to maintain, and reliable operation.
Desiccator cabinets reinforced with stainless steel frames lend rigidity for an improved seal, and extend the service life of the entire cabinet. Heavy-duty lift latches easily close to produce a strong seal and prevent metal-on-metal scraping common with rotary latches. The ergonomic design also minimizes stress on your wrists and pinching of fingers. Optional locking lift latches are also available (specify one per chamber). The door frame is lined with a one-piece durable, resilient, and chemical resistant “e” shaped rubber gasket. This flexible gasket compresses to provide a tight seal and is mechanically attached to the door so it won’t slip, peel, or deform over time. The doors are also completely removable for further cleaning, maintenance or repair.
D – Cabinet Materials
(back to chart)
D1 – Clear Acrylic (Plexiglass): Low cost and lightweight acrylic offers durability (17x impact resistance of glass) and superior clarity. The transparent walls help quickly find items anywhere inside, even those hiding in the back or bottom of the cabinet. Acrylic’s two main drawbacks (hidden costs) are low chemical resistance (acrylic is damaged by alcohol and many other cleaning agents), and poor protection from electro-static discharge (ESD).
D2 – Amber Acrylic: Amber acrylic adds to the benefits of clear acrylic by filtering out UV and blue light to protect light sensitive materials from degrading, or changing composition. Similar to clear acrylic, it shares the same two drawbacks: low chemical resistance and poor protection from ESD.
D3 – Static-Dissipative PVC (SD-PVC): SD-PVC not only dissipates static charges safely but also eliminates the particle attraction that static charges create. Surfaces stay clean, inside and out, making this material perfect for use in cleanrooms. SD-PVC is transparent and highly durable, it can be used in place of acrylic in nearly any application. It features a surface resistivity of approximately 10^7 ohms per square and is completely non-contaminating—with no measurable outgassing—and it resists a wide range of chemicals such as alcohol and other common cleaning agents.
D4 – Stainless Steel: Stainless steel desiccator cabinets have many benefits. They are ideal for heavy duty storage applications of large, bulky materials. Stainless steel is also suitable for sterile applications. It resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization. Lastly, unlike plastics, stainless steel is impermeable to moisture and therefore suitable for the most critical low humidity storage applications.
Terra offers 304 and 316L stainless steel. 316L-grade contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
D5 – Electropolish Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of stainless steel for increased chemical resistance, to support easy sterilization and reduce micro-cavities where microbes can colonize.
E – Other optional Accessories
(back to chart)
E1 – Nitrogen Generator: Compact and portable nitrogen generators eliminate the need for costly nitrogen gas cylinders and minimizes the risk of unplanned supply shortages. They provide complete control over rate and purity of nitrogen gas from 95% to 99% purity.
E2 – Ionizing Modules: Ionizers can be installed into the rear gas distribution plenum of a desiccator cabinet to help neutralize electro-static surface charges throughout a desiccator cabinet.
E3 – Locking Lift Latches: Locking Lift Latches help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive or valuable materials. Different keys can be assigned to each chamber for added security. Chambers can be further reinforced with locking brackets (for padlocks) and tamper-proof hinges.
F – Number of Chambers
(back to chart)
Terra stocks standard chamber configurations for each line of desiccators. In general, larger desiccators typically require more nitrogen or a more efficient RH control system, than smaller ones.
IsoDry® Desiccator Cabinets
A – Application: Which Desiccator is Best for My Application?
(back to chart)
Cost vs. Control: Terra Desiccators Simplify Your Choice
You need to protect sensitive samples, but you don’t want to overpay. Below is a list of application descriptions to help choose the best desiccator storage system for your application and budget.
A1 - Critical Control Demands:
For applications that require not only a low-RH set point, but a system that recovers it quickly when doors open/close, allows a different set point in each chamber, and/or protects against static and particulate contaminants.
Typical Applications
- Low exposure tolerance: Microelectronic or pharmaceutical samples that degrade very quickly when exposed to moisture.
- High access frequency: Doors open/close before system can recover target set point level.
- Exposure testing: Requires a separate %RH monitor/control in each desiccator chamber.
- ESD-sensitive parts: Minute static discharge results in severe degradation, cuts yields.
- Sterile and/or Particle Sensitivity: Critical contamination requirements won’t tolerate materials that shed particles or corrode.
A2 - Moderate Control Demands:
Sensitive samples may require automatic low humidity set point control, but low access frequency minimizes the need for faster RH recovery time. Protection against ESD and/or particulate contaminants may also be required.
Typical Applications
- Low-Moderate exposure tolerance: Low humidity and automatic monitoring is required. Microelectronic or pharmaceutical samples that degrade when exposed to moisture.
- Moderate-High Access Frequency: Parts are accessed on a daily basis and/or are sensitive to moisture exposure when doors are opened.
- ESD-sensitive parts: Minute static discharge results in severe degradation, cuts yields.
- Sterile and/or Particle Sensitivity: Critical contamination requirements won’t tolerate materials that shed particles or corrode.
A3 - Minimal Control Demands:
You need occasional nitrogen purging or desiccant to bring down the RH, or you may only need a dust-free enclosure without humidity control.
Typical Applications
- Moderate-High exposure tolerance: Low humidity and/or automatic monitoring is not required.
- Low Access Frequency/Extended Storage: If low humidity is required, fast recovery time is not, because doors are rarely opened: you stock the sample and come back for it days or weeks later.
- Moderate Static Protection: Availability of static-dissipative materials a plus, but ionization not required.
- Dust-Free Conditions: Samples require a clean environment, but chrome plating and adhesive seals are acceptable.
Additional Application Considerations:
For critical moisture control applications, relative humidity (RH) set-point recovery time is one of the most important considerations to achieving the required quality, safety, and shelf life of stored materials.
RH recovery is the time needed to reach an RH set point after a desiccator chamber or cabinet is accessed. A fast RH recovery time minimizes exposure of stored materials to harmful moisture levels. Thus, the ideal desiccator quickly and efficiently reaches and maintains the desired RH level.
Set-point recovery time depends on several variables listed below. Keep these factors in mind to choose the best desiccator storage system for your application and budget.
- Internal & External RH:
The desired internal RH set point depends on industry and application. Extremely low humidity requirements (under 10% RH) are more difficult to achieve and generally call for a Smart controller option to optimize recovery time and efficiency.
The greater the gap between required internal RH and ambient RH, the more time and inert gas will be needed to remove moisture from inside the desiccator. For example, a desiccator in a more humid ambient environment will have more moisture in the air to displace, and will therefore require more nitrogen gas or a more efficient humidity control system than one in a less humid environment.
- Access Frequency & Duration:
RH set-point recovery time is affected by the need to access parts inside the desiccator cabinet. Each time a door is opened, moisture-laden air, often bearing particles, enters the exposed chamber. The longer a door is left open, the more ambient air can flow inside. Once the door is closed, depending on the cabinet design, moisture can migrate from chamber to chamber, raising the internal RH throughout the cabinet.
During periods of frequent or prolonged access, a poorly configured desiccator may never attain the required RH set point, posing a serious threat to quality, safety, or shelf life of stored materials.
Choosing an appropriate automatic RH control system and cabinet design will help mitigate problems caused by frequent access.
- Desiccator Cabinet Size & Chamber Configuration:
The size or volume of your desiccator will determine how much ambient air needs to be displaced to reach your target RH set-point. Thus larger desiccators typically require more nitrogen or a more efficient RH control system, than smaller ones.
Furthermore, the chamber configuration can have a significant effect on time to reach set-point. Isolated chambers tend to be more efficient, as opening one chamber will not expose other chambers in the cabinet to ambient air. Non-isolated chambers that share the same air space will generally take longer to recover after one door is opened, as ambient air can more easily circulate through the entire cabinet.
- Nitrogen Gas Expense:
Users seek to achieve a low RH set-point as efficiently as possible to reduce wasteful gas consumption. Unfortunately, unassisted RH control systems require significantly higher consumption of nitrogen gas to reach the desired relative humidity set-point. This problem compounds with high access frequency.
High nitrogen gas consumption drives up overhead cost and can lead to other operational problems. For instance, those who rely on gas canisters will need to plan for more frequent replacements and will be suseptible to dealing with supply shortages.
A smart control system automates the process to conserve nitrogen and reduces costs by up to 78%. A nitrogen generator can also eliminate the supply shortage issues from dependence on pre-filled gas canisters.
- Cabinet Material Type:
Material type can also affect relative humidity inside a desiccator cabinet. The more porous or hygroscopic a material, the easier it is for gases and moisture to transfer through. Many plastics such as acrylic may appear impermeable to the naked eye, however are porous enough at a molecular level to absorb moisture that can then permeate into the chamber. The diffusion or passage of moisture through acrylic can occur in a few ways listed below. The higher the difference between moisture levels, and the greater the exposed surface area, the higher the rate at which moisture will enter the chamber.
- Walls inside the cabinet can absorb moisture from ambient air already inside the cabinet, and then release the moisture after the cabinet is purged with a dry inert gas.
- Moisture can permeate through the walls from the outside (higher moisture) to inside (lower moisture).
- Walls can absorb moisture from direct contact with water (either inside or outside the cabinet).
Critical moisture control applications concerned with moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) should consider a vapor impermeable cabinet material such as stainless steel to achieve the required quality, safety, and shelf life.
B – Nitrogen RH Control Systems:
(back to chart)
B1 – Nitroplex™ System: NitroPlex™, Terra’s most efficient humidity control solution, is designed for the most demanding critical moisture control applications. The system features multiple RH sensors modules to allow RH monitor & control to 0% RH in each isolated chamber. The modules use automatic binary (on/off) valves to quickly and efficiently direct N2 gas where and when it’s needed. The ability to establish separate humidity set points in each storage chamber allows for storage of parts with differing moisture sensitivities and conservation of N2 gas in chambers that are not in use.
B2 – IsoDry® System: IsoDry® upgrades the Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™ system by adding twin dilution fans for drastically improved RH recovery & uniformity. The fans rapidly mix and circulate incoming nitrogen gas to accelerate moisture removal and achieve uniform RH throughout the entire cabinet. The door sensors de-activate the dilution fans when a door is open to minimize the spread of incoming moisture and contaminants throughout the cabinet.
B3 – Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: This system is designed for larger cabinets. Like the Smart® system, it features a single RH sensor for automatic RH set point control to 0%RH. The Dual Purge™ has two gas flow settings (high/low) to rapidly reach and then maintain the user-specified set-point. Door sensors trigger high gas flow when doors open to help protect against the entry of contaminants, and expedite set-point recovery. Because this system includes only 1 RH sensor, the displayed RH reading may not accurately reflect the RH in other chambers of the cabinet.
B4 – Smart® System: Terra’s Smart® desiccator system features a built-in RH Sensor to provide automatic RH set point control to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases efficiency of N2 gas consumption. The system is recommended for smaller cabinets with 1-2 chambers. This single gas inlet system can encounter inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in larger cabinet systems.
B5 – Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller desiccators that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to damaged products and high operating costs.
C – Cabinet Design
(back to chart)
C1 – Isolated Chambers: One way to improve moisture control and recovery is to compartmentalize a cabinet into isolated chambers. The multiple air spaces are thus independent and RH in one chamber is unaffected by access to adjacent chambers.
C2 – Rear Plenum for Improved Gas Distribution: Larger desiccator cabinets with single gas inlets are more susceptible to RH control problems caused by uneven gas distribution. A rear distribution plenum helps alleviate these problems. Instead of feeding a gas line directly into 1 chamber, the gas inlet feeds into a narrow wall plenum adjacent to all chambers. The plenum pressurizes and simultaneously distributes gas through small perforations in the wall to every chamber in the cabinet. Distribution plenums also allow for isolated chambers (mentioned above).
C3 – Requires Automatic Relief/Bleed (RB) Valve(s): RB valves provide continuous pressure relief while also functioning as a one-way check valve. Installing one on each chamber improves moisture and contamination control. Any contaminants that enter through an open door can exit out the same chamber without migrating to other areas. Desiccator cabinets with isolated chambers require one RB valve per chamber to safely de-pressurize and ensure rapid RH recovery.
C4 – Reinforced Doors with One-Piece Fused Gaskets: This seemingly small detail makes a big difference, as it is one of the most common features likely to break or malfunction on a desiccator cabinet. An unidentified leak or non-functioning “out of service” desiccator cabinet in a worst case scenario can lead to an extremely costly loss of materials. Through 40 years of refinement and attention to detail, Terra’s desiccator cabinets have been designed and tested to perfect this important feature for guaranteed long-lasting, easy to maintain, and reliable operation.
Desiccator cabinets reinforced with stainless steel frames lend rigidity for an improved seal, and extend the service life of the entire cabinet. Heavy-duty lift latches easily close to produce a strong seal and prevent metal-on-metal scraping common with rotary latches. The ergonomic design also minimizes stress on your wrists and pinching of fingers. Optional locking lift latches are also available (specify one per chamber). The door frame is lined with a one-piece durable, resilient, and chemical resistant “e” shaped rubber gasket. This flexible gasket compresses to provide a tight seal and is mechanically attached to the door so it won’t slip, peel, or deform over time. The doors are also completely removable for further cleaning, maintenance or repair.
D – Cabinet Materials
(back to chart)
D1 – Clear Acrylic (Plexiglass): Low cost and lightweight acrylic offers durability (17x impact resistance of glass) and superior clarity. The transparent walls help quickly find items anywhere inside, even those hiding in the back or bottom of the cabinet. Acrylic’s two main drawbacks (hidden costs) are low chemical resistance (acrylic is damaged by alcohol and many other cleaning agents), and poor protection from electro-static discharge (ESD).
D2 – Amber Acrylic: Amber acrylic adds to the benefits of clear acrylic by filtering out UV and blue light to protect light sensitive materials from degrading, or changing composition. Similar to clear acrylic, it shares the same two drawbacks: low chemical resistance and poor protection from ESD.
D3 – Static-Dissipative PVC (SD-PVC): SD-PVC not only dissipates static charges safely but also eliminates the particle attraction that static charges create. Surfaces stay clean, inside and out, making this material perfect for use in cleanrooms. SD-PVC is transparent and highly durable, it can be used in place of acrylic in nearly any application. It features a surface resistivity of approximately 10^7 ohms per square and is completely non-contaminating—with no measurable outgassing—and it resists a wide range of chemicals such as alcohol and other common cleaning agents.
D4 – Stainless Steel: Stainless steel desiccator cabinets have many benefits. They are ideal for heavy duty storage applications of large, bulky materials. Stainless steel is also suitable for sterile applications. It resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization. Lastly, unlike plastics, stainless steel is impermeable to moisture and therefore suitable for the most critical low humidity storage applications.
Terra offers 304 and 316L stainless steel. 316L-grade contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
D5 – Electropolish Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of stainless steel for increased chemical resistance, to support easy sterilization and reduce micro-cavities where microbes can colonize.
E – Other optional Accessories
(back to chart)
E1 – Nitrogen Generator: Compact and portable nitrogen generators eliminate the need for costly nitrogen gas cylinders and minimizes the risk of unplanned supply shortages. They provide complete control over rate and purity of nitrogen gas from 95% to 99% purity.
E2 – Ionizing Modules: Ionizers can be installed into the rear gas distribution plenum of a desiccator cabinet to help neutralize electro-static surface charges throughout a desiccator cabinet.
E3 – Locking Lift Latches: Locking Lift Latches help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive or valuable materials. Different keys can be assigned to each chamber for added security. Chambers can be further reinforced with locking brackets (for padlocks) and tamper-proof hinges.
F – Number of Chambers
(back to chart)
Terra stocks standard chamber configurations for each line of desiccators. In general, larger desiccators typically require more nitrogen or a more efficient RH control system, than smaller ones.
ValuLine ES Plastic Desiccator Cabinets
A – Application: Which Desiccator is Best for My Application?
(back to chart)
Cost vs. Control: Terra Desiccators Simplify Your Choice
You need to protect sensitive samples, but you don’t want to overpay. Below is a list of application descriptions to help choose the best desiccator storage system for your application and budget.
A1 - Critical Control Demands:
For applications that require not only a low-RH set point, but a system that recovers it quickly when doors open/close, allows a different set point in each chamber, and/or protects against static and particulate contaminants.
Typical Applications
- Low exposure tolerance: Microelectronic or pharmaceutical samples that degrade very quickly when exposed to moisture.
- High access frequency: Doors open/close before system can recover target set point level.
- Exposure testing: Requires a separate %RH monitor/control in each desiccator chamber.
- ESD-sensitive parts: Minute static discharge results in severe degradation, cuts yields.
- Sterile and/or Particle Sensitivity: Critical contamination requirements won’t tolerate materials that shed particles or corrode.
A2 - Moderate Control Demands:
Sensitive samples may require automatic low humidity set point control, but low access frequency minimizes the need for faster RH recovery time. Protection against ESD and/or particulate contaminants may also be required.
Typical Applications
- Low-Moderate exposure tolerance: Low humidity and automatic monitoring is required. Microelectronic or pharmaceutical samples that degrade when exposed to moisture.
- Moderate-High Access Frequency: Parts are accessed on a daily basis and/or are sensitive to moisture exposure when doors are opened.
- ESD-sensitive parts: Minute static discharge results in severe degradation, cuts yields.
- Sterile and/or Particle Sensitivity: Critical contamination requirements won’t tolerate materials that shed particles or corrode.
A3 - Minimal Control Demands:
You need occasional nitrogen purging or desiccant to bring down the RH, or you may only need a dust-free enclosure without humidity control.
Typical Applications
- Moderate-High exposure tolerance: Low humidity and/or automatic monitoring is not required.
- Low Access Frequency/Extended Storage: If low humidity is required, fast recovery time is not, because doors are rarely opened: you stock the sample and come back for it days or weeks later.
- Moderate Static Protection: Availability of static-dissipative materials a plus, but ionization not required.
- Dust-Free Conditions: Samples require a clean environment, but chrome plating and adhesive seals are acceptable.
Additional Application Considerations:
For critical moisture control applications, relative humidity (RH) set-point recovery time is one of the most important considerations to achieving the required quality, safety, and shelf life of stored materials.
RH recovery is the time needed to reach an RH set point after a desiccator chamber or cabinet is accessed. A fast RH recovery time minimizes exposure of stored materials to harmful moisture levels. Thus, the ideal desiccator quickly and efficiently reaches and maintains the desired RH level.
Set-point recovery time depends on several variables listed below. Keep these factors in mind to choose the best desiccator storage system for your application and budget.
- Internal & External RH:
The desired internal RH set point depends on industry and application. Extremely low humidity requirements (under 10% RH) are more difficult to achieve and generally call for a Smart controller option to optimize recovery time and efficiency.
The greater the gap between required internal RH and ambient RH, the more time and inert gas will be needed to remove moisture from inside the desiccator. For example, a desiccator in a more humid ambient environment will have more moisture in the air to displace, and will therefore require more nitrogen gas or a more efficient humidity control system than one in a less humid environment.
- Access Frequency & Duration:
RH set-point recovery time is affected by the need to access parts inside the desiccator cabinet. Each time a door is opened, moisture-laden air, often bearing particles, enters the exposed chamber. The longer a door is left open, the more ambient air can flow inside. Once the door is closed, depending on the cabinet design, moisture can migrate from chamber to chamber, raising the internal RH throughout the cabinet.
During periods of frequent or prolonged access, a poorly configured desiccator may never attain the required RH set point, posing a serious threat to quality, safety, or shelf life of stored materials.
Choosing an appropriate automatic RH control system and cabinet design will help mitigate problems caused by frequent access.
- Desiccator Cabinet Size & Chamber Configuration:
The size or volume of your desiccator will determine how much ambient air needs to be displaced to reach your target RH set-point. Thus larger desiccators typically require more nitrogen or a more efficient RH control system, than smaller ones.
Furthermore, the chamber configuration can have a significant effect on time to reach set-point. Isolated chambers tend to be more efficient, as opening one chamber will not expose other chambers in the cabinet to ambient air. Non-isolated chambers that share the same air space will generally take longer to recover after one door is opened, as ambient air can more easily circulate through the entire cabinet.
- Nitrogen Gas Expense:
Users seek to achieve a low RH set-point as efficiently as possible to reduce wasteful gas consumption. Unfortunately, unassisted RH control systems require significantly higher consumption of nitrogen gas to reach the desired relative humidity set-point. This problem compounds with high access frequency.
High nitrogen gas consumption drives up overhead cost and can lead to other operational problems. For instance, those who rely on gas canisters will need to plan for more frequent replacements and will be suseptible to dealing with supply shortages.
A smart control system automates the process to conserve nitrogen and reduces costs by up to 78%. A nitrogen generator can also eliminate the supply shortage issues from dependence on pre-filled gas canisters.
- Cabinet Material Type:
Material type can also affect relative humidity inside a desiccator cabinet. The more porous or hygroscopic a material, the easier it is for gases and moisture to transfer through. Many plastics such as acrylic may appear impermeable to the naked eye, however are porous enough at a molecular level to absorb moisture that can then permeate into the chamber. The diffusion or passage of moisture through acrylic can occur in a few ways listed below. The higher the difference between moisture levels, and the greater the exposed surface area, the higher the rate at which moisture will enter the chamber.
- Walls inside the cabinet can absorb moisture from ambient air already inside the cabinet, and then release the moisture after the cabinet is purged with a dry inert gas.
- Moisture can permeate through the walls from the outside (higher moisture) to inside (lower moisture).
- Walls can absorb moisture from direct contact with water (either inside or outside the cabinet).
Critical moisture control applications concerned with moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) should consider a vapor impermeable cabinet material such as stainless steel to achieve the required quality, safety, and shelf life.
B – Nitrogen RH Control Systems:
(back to chart)
B1 – Nitroplex™ System: NitroPlex™, Terra’s most efficient humidity control solution, is designed for the most demanding critical moisture control applications. The system features multiple RH sensors modules to allow RH monitor & control to 0% RH in each isolated chamber. The modules use automatic binary (on/off) valves to quickly and efficiently direct N2 gas where and when it’s needed. The ability to establish separate humidity set points in each storage chamber allows for storage of parts with differing moisture sensitivities and conservation of N2 gas in chambers that are not in use.
B2 – IsoDry® System: IsoDry® upgrades the Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™ system by adding twin dilution fans for drastically improved RH recovery & uniformity. The fans rapidly mix and circulate incoming nitrogen gas to accelerate moisture removal and achieve uniform RH throughout the entire cabinet. The door sensors de-activate the dilution fans when a door is open to minimize the spread of incoming moisture and contaminants throughout the cabinet.
B3 – Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: This system is designed for larger cabinets. Like the Smart® system, it features a single RH sensor for automatic RH set point control to 0%RH. The Dual Purge™ has two gas flow settings (high/low) to rapidly reach and then maintain the user-specified set-point. Door sensors trigger high gas flow when doors open to help protect against the entry of contaminants, and expedite set-point recovery. Because this system includes only 1 RH sensor, the displayed RH reading may not accurately reflect the RH in other chambers of the cabinet.
B4 – Smart® System: Terra’s Smart® desiccator system features a built-in RH Sensor to provide automatic RH set point control to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases efficiency of N2 gas consumption. The system is recommended for smaller cabinets with 1-2 chambers. This single gas inlet system can encounter inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in larger cabinet systems.
B5 – Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller desiccators that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to damaged products and high operating costs.
C – Cabinet Design
(back to chart)
C1 – Isolated Chambers: One way to improve moisture control and recovery is to compartmentalize a cabinet into isolated chambers. The multiple air spaces are thus independent and RH in one chamber is unaffected by access to adjacent chambers.
C2 – Rear Plenum for Improved Gas Distribution: Larger desiccator cabinets with single gas inlets are more susceptible to RH control problems caused by uneven gas distribution. A rear distribution plenum helps alleviate these problems. Instead of feeding a gas line directly into 1 chamber, the gas inlet feeds into a narrow wall plenum adjacent to all chambers. The plenum pressurizes and simultaneously distributes gas through small perforations in the wall to every chamber in the cabinet. Distribution plenums also allow for isolated chambers (mentioned above).
C3 – Requires Automatic Relief/Bleed (RB) Valve(s): RB valves provide continuous pressure relief while also functioning as a one-way check valve. Installing one on each chamber improves moisture and contamination control. Any contaminants that enter through an open door can exit out the same chamber without migrating to other areas. Desiccator cabinets with isolated chambers require one RB valve per chamber to safely de-pressurize and ensure rapid RH recovery.
C4 – Reinforced Doors with One-Piece Fused Gaskets: This seemingly small detail makes a big difference, as it is one of the most common features likely to break or malfunction on a desiccator cabinet. An unidentified leak or non-functioning “out of service” desiccator cabinet in a worst case scenario can lead to an extremely costly loss of materials. Through 40 years of refinement and attention to detail, Terra’s desiccator cabinets have been designed and tested to perfect this important feature for guaranteed long-lasting, easy to maintain, and reliable operation.
Desiccator cabinets reinforced with stainless steel frames lend rigidity for an improved seal, and extend the service life of the entire cabinet. Heavy-duty lift latches easily close to produce a strong seal and prevent metal-on-metal scraping common with rotary latches. The ergonomic design also minimizes stress on your wrists and pinching of fingers. Optional locking lift latches are also available (specify one per chamber). The door frame is lined with a one-piece durable, resilient, and chemical resistant “e” shaped rubber gasket. This flexible gasket compresses to provide a tight seal and is mechanically attached to the door so it won’t slip, peel, or deform over time. The doors are also completely removable for further cleaning, maintenance or repair.
D – Cabinet Materials
(back to chart)
D1 – Clear Acrylic (Plexiglass): Low cost and lightweight acrylic offers durability (17x impact resistance of glass) and superior clarity. The transparent walls help quickly find items anywhere inside, even those hiding in the back or bottom of the cabinet. Acrylic’s two main drawbacks (hidden costs) are low chemical resistance (acrylic is damaged by alcohol and many other cleaning agents), and poor protection from electro-static discharge (ESD).
D2 – Amber Acrylic: Amber acrylic adds to the benefits of clear acrylic by filtering out UV and blue light to protect light sensitive materials from degrading, or changing composition. Similar to clear acrylic, it shares the same two drawbacks: low chemical resistance and poor protection from ESD.
D3 – Static-Dissipative PVC (SD-PVC): SD-PVC not only dissipates static charges safely but also eliminates the particle attraction that static charges create. Surfaces stay clean, inside and out, making this material perfect for use in cleanrooms. SD-PVC is transparent and highly durable, it can be used in place of acrylic in nearly any application. It features a surface resistivity of approximately 10^7 ohms per square and is completely non-contaminating—with no measurable outgassing—and it resists a wide range of chemicals such as alcohol and other common cleaning agents.
D4 – Stainless Steel: Stainless steel desiccator cabinets have many benefits. They are ideal for heavy duty storage applications of large, bulky materials. Stainless steel is also suitable for sterile applications. It resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization. Lastly, unlike plastics, stainless steel is impermeable to moisture and therefore suitable for the most critical low humidity storage applications.
Terra offers 304 and 316L stainless steel. 316L-grade contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
D5 – Electropolish Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of stainless steel for increased chemical resistance, to support easy sterilization and reduce micro-cavities where microbes can colonize.
E – Other optional Accessories
(back to chart)
E1 – Nitrogen Generator: Compact and portable nitrogen generators eliminate the need for costly nitrogen gas cylinders and minimizes the risk of unplanned supply shortages. They provide complete control over rate and purity of nitrogen gas from 95% to 99% purity.
E2 – Ionizing Modules: Ionizers can be installed into the rear gas distribution plenum of a desiccator cabinet to help neutralize electro-static surface charges throughout a desiccator cabinet.
E3 – Locking Lift Latches: Locking Lift Latches help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive or valuable materials. Different keys can be assigned to each chamber for added security. Chambers can be further reinforced with locking brackets (for padlocks) and tamper-proof hinges.
F – Number of Chambers
(back to chart)
Terra stocks standard chamber configurations for each line of desiccators. In general, larger desiccators typically require more nitrogen or a more efficient RH control system, than smaller ones.
Smart® Desiccator Cabinets
A – Application: Which Desiccator is Best for My Application?
(back to chart)
Cost vs. Control: Terra Desiccators Simplify Your Choice
You need to protect sensitive samples, but you don’t want to overpay. Below is a list of application descriptions to help choose the best desiccator storage system for your application and budget.
A1 - Critical Control Demands:
For applications that require not only a low-RH set point, but a system that recovers it quickly when doors open/close, allows a different set point in each chamber, and/or protects against static and particulate contaminants.
Typical Applications
- Low exposure tolerance: Microelectronic or pharmaceutical samples that degrade very quickly when exposed to moisture.
- High access frequency: Doors open/close before system can recover target set point level.
- Exposure testing: Requires a separate %RH monitor/control in each desiccator chamber.
- ESD-sensitive parts: Minute static discharge results in severe degradation, cuts yields.
- Sterile and/or Particle Sensitivity: Critical contamination requirements won’t tolerate materials that shed particles or corrode.
A2 - Moderate Control Demands:
Sensitive samples may require automatic low humidity set point control, but low access frequency minimizes the need for faster RH recovery time. Protection against ESD and/or particulate contaminants may also be required.
Typical Applications
- Low-Moderate exposure tolerance: Low humidity and automatic monitoring is required. Microelectronic or pharmaceutical samples that degrade when exposed to moisture.
- Moderate-High Access Frequency: Parts are accessed on a daily basis and/or are sensitive to moisture exposure when doors are opened.
- ESD-sensitive parts: Minute static discharge results in severe degradation, cuts yields.
- Sterile and/or Particle Sensitivity: Critical contamination requirements won’t tolerate materials that shed particles or corrode.
A3 - Minimal Control Demands:
You need occasional nitrogen purging or desiccant to bring down the RH, or you may only need a dust-free enclosure without humidity control.
Typical Applications
- Moderate-High exposure tolerance: Low humidity and/or automatic monitoring is not required.
- Low Access Frequency/Extended Storage: If low humidity is required, fast recovery time is not, because doors are rarely opened: you stock the sample and come back for it days or weeks later.
- Moderate Static Protection: Availability of static-dissipative materials a plus, but ionization not required.
- Dust-Free Conditions: Samples require a clean environment, but chrome plating and adhesive seals are acceptable.
Additional Application Considerations:
For critical moisture control applications, relative humidity (RH) set-point recovery time is one of the most important considerations to achieving the required quality, safety, and shelf life of stored materials.
RH recovery is the time needed to reach an RH set point after a desiccator chamber or cabinet is accessed. A fast RH recovery time minimizes exposure of stored materials to harmful moisture levels. Thus, the ideal desiccator quickly and efficiently reaches and maintains the desired RH level.
Set-point recovery time depends on several variables listed below. Keep these factors in mind to choose the best desiccator storage system for your application and budget.
- Internal & External RH:
The desired internal RH set point depends on industry and application. Extremely low humidity requirements (under 10% RH) are more difficult to achieve and generally call for a Smart controller option to optimize recovery time and efficiency.
The greater the gap between required internal RH and ambient RH, the more time and inert gas will be needed to remove moisture from inside the desiccator. For example, a desiccator in a more humid ambient environment will have more moisture in the air to displace, and will therefore require more nitrogen gas or a more efficient humidity control system than one in a less humid environment.
- Access Frequency & Duration:
RH set-point recovery time is affected by the need to access parts inside the desiccator cabinet. Each time a door is opened, moisture-laden air, often bearing particles, enters the exposed chamber. The longer a door is left open, the more ambient air can flow inside. Once the door is closed, depending on the cabinet design, moisture can migrate from chamber to chamber, raising the internal RH throughout the cabinet.
During periods of frequent or prolonged access, a poorly configured desiccator may never attain the required RH set point, posing a serious threat to quality, safety, or shelf life of stored materials.
Choosing an appropriate automatic RH control system and cabinet design will help mitigate problems caused by frequent access.
- Desiccator Cabinet Size & Chamber Configuration:
The size or volume of your desiccator will determine how much ambient air needs to be displaced to reach your target RH set-point. Thus larger desiccators typically require more nitrogen or a more efficient RH control system, than smaller ones.
Furthermore, the chamber configuration can have a significant effect on time to reach set-point. Isolated chambers tend to be more efficient, as opening one chamber will not expose other chambers in the cabinet to ambient air. Non-isolated chambers that share the same air space will generally take longer to recover after one door is opened, as ambient air can more easily circulate through the entire cabinet.
- Nitrogen Gas Expense:
Users seek to achieve a low RH set-point as efficiently as possible to reduce wasteful gas consumption. Unfortunately, unassisted RH control systems require significantly higher consumption of nitrogen gas to reach the desired relative humidity set-point. This problem compounds with high access frequency.
High nitrogen gas consumption drives up overhead cost and can lead to other operational problems. For instance, those who rely on gas canisters will need to plan for more frequent replacements and will be suseptible to dealing with supply shortages.
A smart control system automates the process to conserve nitrogen and reduces costs by up to 78%. A nitrogen generator can also eliminate the supply shortage issues from dependence on pre-filled gas canisters.
- Cabinet Material Type:
Material type can also affect relative humidity inside a desiccator cabinet. The more porous or hygroscopic a material, the easier it is for gases and moisture to transfer through. Many plastics such as acrylic may appear impermeable to the naked eye, however are porous enough at a molecular level to absorb moisture that can then permeate into the chamber. The diffusion or passage of moisture through acrylic can occur in a few ways listed below. The higher the difference between moisture levels, and the greater the exposed surface area, the higher the rate at which moisture will enter the chamber.
- Walls inside the cabinet can absorb moisture from ambient air already inside the cabinet, and then release the moisture after the cabinet is purged with a dry inert gas.
- Moisture can permeate through the walls from the outside (higher moisture) to inside (lower moisture).
- Walls can absorb moisture from direct contact with water (either inside or outside the cabinet).
Critical moisture control applications concerned with moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) should consider a vapor impermeable cabinet material such as stainless steel to achieve the required quality, safety, and shelf life.
B – Nitrogen RH Control Systems:
(back to chart)
B1 – Nitroplex™ System: NitroPlex™, Terra’s most efficient humidity control solution, is designed for the most demanding critical moisture control applications. The system features multiple RH sensors modules to allow RH monitor & control to 0% RH in each isolated chamber. The modules use automatic binary (on/off) valves to quickly and efficiently direct N2 gas where and when it’s needed. The ability to establish separate humidity set points in each storage chamber allows for storage of parts with differing moisture sensitivities and conservation of N2 gas in chambers that are not in use.
B2 – IsoDry® System: IsoDry® upgrades the Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™ system by adding twin dilution fans for drastically improved RH recovery & uniformity. The fans rapidly mix and circulate incoming nitrogen gas to accelerate moisture removal and achieve uniform RH throughout the entire cabinet. The door sensors de-activate the dilution fans when a door is open to minimize the spread of incoming moisture and contaminants throughout the cabinet.
B3 – Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: This system is designed for larger cabinets. Like the Smart® system, it features a single RH sensor for automatic RH set point control to 0%RH. The Dual Purge™ has two gas flow settings (high/low) to rapidly reach and then maintain the user-specified set-point. Door sensors trigger high gas flow when doors open to help protect against the entry of contaminants, and expedite set-point recovery. Because this system includes only 1 RH sensor, the displayed RH reading may not accurately reflect the RH in other chambers of the cabinet.
B4 – Smart® System: Terra’s Smart® desiccator system features a built-in RH Sensor to provide automatic RH set point control to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases efficiency of N2 gas consumption. The system is recommended for smaller cabinets with 1-2 chambers. This single gas inlet system can encounter inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in larger cabinet systems.
B5 – Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller desiccators that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to damaged products and high operating costs.
C – Cabinet Design
(back to chart)
C1 – Isolated Chambers: One way to improve moisture control and recovery is to compartmentalize a cabinet into isolated chambers. The multiple air spaces are thus independent and RH in one chamber is unaffected by access to adjacent chambers.
C2 – Rear Plenum for Improved Gas Distribution: Larger desiccator cabinets with single gas inlets are more susceptible to RH control problems caused by uneven gas distribution. A rear distribution plenum helps alleviate these problems. Instead of feeding a gas line directly into 1 chamber, the gas inlet feeds into a narrow wall plenum adjacent to all chambers. The plenum pressurizes and simultaneously distributes gas through small perforations in the wall to every chamber in the cabinet. Distribution plenums also allow for isolated chambers (mentioned above).
C3 – Requires Automatic Relief/Bleed (RB) Valve(s): RB valves provide continuous pressure relief while also functioning as a one-way check valve. Installing one on each chamber improves moisture and contamination control. Any contaminants that enter through an open door can exit out the same chamber without migrating to other areas. Desiccator cabinets with isolated chambers require one RB valve per chamber to safely de-pressurize and ensure rapid RH recovery.
C4 – Reinforced Doors with One-Piece Fused Gaskets: This seemingly small detail makes a big difference, as it is one of the most common features likely to break or malfunction on a desiccator cabinet. An unidentified leak or non-functioning “out of service” desiccator cabinet in a worst case scenario can lead to an extremely costly loss of materials. Through 40 years of refinement and attention to detail, Terra’s desiccator cabinets have been designed and tested to perfect this important feature for guaranteed long-lasting, easy to maintain, and reliable operation.
Desiccator cabinets reinforced with stainless steel frames lend rigidity for an improved seal, and extend the service life of the entire cabinet. Heavy-duty lift latches easily close to produce a strong seal and prevent metal-on-metal scraping common with rotary latches. The ergonomic design also minimizes stress on your wrists and pinching of fingers. Optional locking lift latches are also available (specify one per chamber). The door frame is lined with a one-piece durable, resilient, and chemical resistant “e” shaped rubber gasket. This flexible gasket compresses to provide a tight seal and is mechanically attached to the door so it won’t slip, peel, or deform over time. The doors are also completely removable for further cleaning, maintenance or repair.
D – Cabinet Materials
(back to chart)
D1 – Clear Acrylic (Plexiglass): Low cost and lightweight acrylic offers durability (17x impact resistance of glass) and superior clarity. The transparent walls help quickly find items anywhere inside, even those hiding in the back or bottom of the cabinet. Acrylic’s two main drawbacks (hidden costs) are low chemical resistance (acrylic is damaged by alcohol and many other cleaning agents), and poor protection from electro-static discharge (ESD).
D2 – Amber Acrylic: Amber acrylic adds to the benefits of clear acrylic by filtering out UV and blue light to protect light sensitive materials from degrading, or changing composition. Similar to clear acrylic, it shares the same two drawbacks: low chemical resistance and poor protection from ESD.
D3 – Static-Dissipative PVC (SD-PVC): SD-PVC not only dissipates static charges safely but also eliminates the particle attraction that static charges create. Surfaces stay clean, inside and out, making this material perfect for use in cleanrooms. SD-PVC is transparent and highly durable, it can be used in place of acrylic in nearly any application. It features a surface resistivity of approximately 10^7 ohms per square and is completely non-contaminating—with no measurable outgassing—and it resists a wide range of chemicals such as alcohol and other common cleaning agents.
D4 – Stainless Steel: Stainless steel desiccator cabinets have many benefits. They are ideal for heavy duty storage applications of large, bulky materials. Stainless steel is also suitable for sterile applications. It resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization. Lastly, unlike plastics, stainless steel is impermeable to moisture and therefore suitable for the most critical low humidity storage applications.
Terra offers 304 and 316L stainless steel. 316L-grade contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
D5 – Electropolish Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of stainless steel for increased chemical resistance, to support easy sterilization and reduce micro-cavities where microbes can colonize.
E – Other optional Accessories
(back to chart)
E1 – Nitrogen Generator: Compact and portable nitrogen generators eliminate the need for costly nitrogen gas cylinders and minimizes the risk of unplanned supply shortages. They provide complete control over rate and purity of nitrogen gas from 95% to 99% purity.
E2 – Ionizing Modules: Ionizers can be installed into the rear gas distribution plenum of a desiccator cabinet to help neutralize electro-static surface charges throughout a desiccator cabinet.
E3 – Locking Lift Latches: Locking Lift Latches help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive or valuable materials. Different keys can be assigned to each chamber for added security. Chambers can be further reinforced with locking brackets (for padlocks) and tamper-proof hinges.
F – Number of Chambers
(back to chart)
Terra stocks standard chamber configurations for each line of desiccators. In general, larger desiccators typically require more nitrogen or a more efficient RH control system, than smaller ones.
Contamination-Free Plastic Storage Cabinets
A – Application: Which Desiccator is Best for My Application?
(back to chart)
Cost vs. Control: Terra Desiccators Simplify Your Choice
You need to protect sensitive samples, but you don’t want to overpay. Below is a list of application descriptions to help choose the best desiccator storage system for your application and budget.
A1 - Critical Control Demands:
For applications that require not only a low-RH set point, but a system that recovers it quickly when doors open/close, allows a different set point in each chamber, and/or protects against static and particulate contaminants.
Typical Applications
- Low exposure tolerance: Microelectronic or pharmaceutical samples that degrade very quickly when exposed to moisture.
- High access frequency: Doors open/close before system can recover target set point level.
- Exposure testing: Requires a separate %RH monitor/control in each desiccator chamber.
- ESD-sensitive parts: Minute static discharge results in severe degradation, cuts yields.
- Sterile and/or Particle Sensitivity: Critical contamination requirements won’t tolerate materials that shed particles or corrode.
A2 - Moderate Control Demands:
Sensitive samples may require automatic low humidity set point control, but low access frequency minimizes the need for faster RH recovery time. Protection against ESD and/or particulate contaminants may also be required.
Typical Applications
- Low-Moderate exposure tolerance: Low humidity and automatic monitoring is required. Microelectronic or pharmaceutical samples that degrade when exposed to moisture.
- Moderate-High Access Frequency: Parts are accessed on a daily basis and/or are sensitive to moisture exposure when doors are opened.
- ESD-sensitive parts: Minute static discharge results in severe degradation, cuts yields.
- Sterile and/or Particle Sensitivity: Critical contamination requirements won’t tolerate materials that shed particles or corrode.
A3 - Minimal Control Demands:
You need occasional nitrogen purging or desiccant to bring down the RH, or you may only need a dust-free enclosure without humidity control.
Typical Applications
- Moderate-High exposure tolerance: Low humidity and/or automatic monitoring is not required.
- Low Access Frequency/Extended Storage: If low humidity is required, fast recovery time is not, because doors are rarely opened: you stock the sample and come back for it days or weeks later.
- Moderate Static Protection: Availability of static-dissipative materials a plus, but ionization not required.
- Dust-Free Conditions: Samples require a clean environment, but chrome plating and adhesive seals are acceptable.
Additional Application Considerations:
For critical moisture control applications, relative humidity (RH) set-point recovery time is one of the most important considerations to achieving the required quality, safety, and shelf life of stored materials.
RH recovery is the time needed to reach an RH set point after a desiccator chamber or cabinet is accessed. A fast RH recovery time minimizes exposure of stored materials to harmful moisture levels. Thus, the ideal desiccator quickly and efficiently reaches and maintains the desired RH level.
Set-point recovery time depends on several variables listed below. Keep these factors in mind to choose the best desiccator storage system for your application and budget.
- Internal & External RH:
The desired internal RH set point depends on industry and application. Extremely low humidity requirements (under 10% RH) are more difficult to achieve and generally call for a Smart controller option to optimize recovery time and efficiency.
The greater the gap between required internal RH and ambient RH, the more time and inert gas will be needed to remove moisture from inside the desiccator. For example, a desiccator in a more humid ambient environment will have more moisture in the air to displace, and will therefore require more nitrogen gas or a more efficient humidity control system than one in a less humid environment.
- Access Frequency & Duration:
RH set-point recovery time is affected by the need to access parts inside the desiccator cabinet. Each time a door is opened, moisture-laden air, often bearing particles, enters the exposed chamber. The longer a door is left open, the more ambient air can flow inside. Once the door is closed, depending on the cabinet design, moisture can migrate from chamber to chamber, raising the internal RH throughout the cabinet.
During periods of frequent or prolonged access, a poorly configured desiccator may never attain the required RH set point, posing a serious threat to quality, safety, or shelf life of stored materials.
Choosing an appropriate automatic RH control system and cabinet design will help mitigate problems caused by frequent access.
- Desiccator Cabinet Size & Chamber Configuration:
The size or volume of your desiccator will determine how much ambient air needs to be displaced to reach your target RH set-point. Thus larger desiccators typically require more nitrogen or a more efficient RH control system, than smaller ones.
Furthermore, the chamber configuration can have a significant effect on time to reach set-point. Isolated chambers tend to be more efficient, as opening one chamber will not expose other chambers in the cabinet to ambient air. Non-isolated chambers that share the same air space will generally take longer to recover after one door is opened, as ambient air can more easily circulate through the entire cabinet.
- Nitrogen Gas Expense:
Users seek to achieve a low RH set-point as efficiently as possible to reduce wasteful gas consumption. Unfortunately, unassisted RH control systems require significantly higher consumption of nitrogen gas to reach the desired relative humidity set-point. This problem compounds with high access frequency.
High nitrogen gas consumption drives up overhead cost and can lead to other operational problems. For instance, those who rely on gas canisters will need to plan for more frequent replacements and will be suseptible to dealing with supply shortages.
A smart control system automates the process to conserve nitrogen and reduces costs by up to 78%. A nitrogen generator can also eliminate the supply shortage issues from dependence on pre-filled gas canisters.
- Cabinet Material Type:
Material type can also affect relative humidity inside a desiccator cabinet. The more porous or hygroscopic a material, the easier it is for gases and moisture to transfer through. Many plastics such as acrylic may appear impermeable to the naked eye, however are porous enough at a molecular level to absorb moisture that can then permeate into the chamber. The diffusion or passage of moisture through acrylic can occur in a few ways listed below. The higher the difference between moisture levels, and the greater the exposed surface area, the higher the rate at which moisture will enter the chamber.
- Walls inside the cabinet can absorb moisture from ambient air already inside the cabinet, and then release the moisture after the cabinet is purged with a dry inert gas.
- Moisture can permeate through the walls from the outside (higher moisture) to inside (lower moisture).
- Walls can absorb moisture from direct contact with water (either inside or outside the cabinet).
Critical moisture control applications concerned with moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) should consider a vapor impermeable cabinet material such as stainless steel to achieve the required quality, safety, and shelf life.
B – Nitrogen RH Control Systems:
(back to chart)
B1 – Nitroplex™ System: NitroPlex™, Terra’s most efficient humidity control solution, is designed for the most demanding critical moisture control applications. The system features multiple RH sensors modules to allow RH monitor & control to 0% RH in each isolated chamber. The modules use automatic binary (on/off) valves to quickly and efficiently direct N2 gas where and when it’s needed. The ability to establish separate humidity set points in each storage chamber allows for storage of parts with differing moisture sensitivities and conservation of N2 gas in chambers that are not in use.
B2 – IsoDry® System: IsoDry® upgrades the Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™ system by adding twin dilution fans for drastically improved RH recovery & uniformity. The fans rapidly mix and circulate incoming nitrogen gas to accelerate moisture removal and achieve uniform RH throughout the entire cabinet. The door sensors de-activate the dilution fans when a door is open to minimize the spread of incoming moisture and contaminants throughout the cabinet.
B3 – Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: This system is designed for larger cabinets. Like the Smart® system, it features a single RH sensor for automatic RH set point control to 0%RH. The Dual Purge™ has two gas flow settings (high/low) to rapidly reach and then maintain the user-specified set-point. Door sensors trigger high gas flow when doors open to help protect against the entry of contaminants, and expedite set-point recovery. Because this system includes only 1 RH sensor, the displayed RH reading may not accurately reflect the RH in other chambers of the cabinet.
B4 – Smart® System: Terra’s Smart® desiccator system features a built-in RH Sensor to provide automatic RH set point control to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases efficiency of N2 gas consumption. The system is recommended for smaller cabinets with 1-2 chambers. This single gas inlet system can encounter inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in larger cabinet systems.
B5 – Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller desiccators that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to damaged products and high operating costs.
C – Cabinet Design
(back to chart)
C1 – Isolated Chambers: One way to improve moisture control and recovery is to compartmentalize a cabinet into isolated chambers. The multiple air spaces are thus independent and RH in one chamber is unaffected by access to adjacent chambers.
C2 – Rear Plenum for Improved Gas Distribution: Larger desiccator cabinets with single gas inlets are more susceptible to RH control problems caused by uneven gas distribution. A rear distribution plenum helps alleviate these problems. Instead of feeding a gas line directly into 1 chamber, the gas inlet feeds into a narrow wall plenum adjacent to all chambers. The plenum pressurizes and simultaneously distributes gas through small perforations in the wall to every chamber in the cabinet. Distribution plenums also allow for isolated chambers (mentioned above).
C3 – Requires Automatic Relief/Bleed (RB) Valve(s): RB valves provide continuous pressure relief while also functioning as a one-way check valve. Installing one on each chamber improves moisture and contamination control. Any contaminants that enter through an open door can exit out the same chamber without migrating to other areas. Desiccator cabinets with isolated chambers require one RB valve per chamber to safely de-pressurize and ensure rapid RH recovery.
C4 – Reinforced Doors with One-Piece Fused Gaskets: This seemingly small detail makes a big difference, as it is one of the most common features likely to break or malfunction on a desiccator cabinet. An unidentified leak or non-functioning “out of service” desiccator cabinet in a worst case scenario can lead to an extremely costly loss of materials. Through 40 years of refinement and attention to detail, Terra’s desiccator cabinets have been designed and tested to perfect this important feature for guaranteed long-lasting, easy to maintain, and reliable operation.
Desiccator cabinets reinforced with stainless steel frames lend rigidity for an improved seal, and extend the service life of the entire cabinet. Heavy-duty lift latches easily close to produce a strong seal and prevent metal-on-metal scraping common with rotary latches. The ergonomic design also minimizes stress on your wrists and pinching of fingers. Optional locking lift latches are also available (specify one per chamber). The door frame is lined with a one-piece durable, resilient, and chemical resistant “e” shaped rubber gasket. This flexible gasket compresses to provide a tight seal and is mechanically attached to the door so it won’t slip, peel, or deform over time. The doors are also completely removable for further cleaning, maintenance or repair.
D – Cabinet Materials
(back to chart)
D1 – Clear Acrylic (Plexiglass): Low cost and lightweight acrylic offers durability (17x impact resistance of glass) and superior clarity. The transparent walls help quickly find items anywhere inside, even those hiding in the back or bottom of the cabinet. Acrylic’s two main drawbacks (hidden costs) are low chemical resistance (acrylic is damaged by alcohol and many other cleaning agents), and poor protection from electro-static discharge (ESD).
D2 – Amber Acrylic: Amber acrylic adds to the benefits of clear acrylic by filtering out UV and blue light to protect light sensitive materials from degrading, or changing composition. Similar to clear acrylic, it shares the same two drawbacks: low chemical resistance and poor protection from ESD.
D3 – Static-Dissipative PVC (SD-PVC): SD-PVC not only dissipates static charges safely but also eliminates the particle attraction that static charges create. Surfaces stay clean, inside and out, making this material perfect for use in cleanrooms. SD-PVC is transparent and highly durable, it can be used in place of acrylic in nearly any application. It features a surface resistivity of approximately 10^7 ohms per square and is completely non-contaminating—with no measurable outgassing—and it resists a wide range of chemicals such as alcohol and other common cleaning agents.
D4 – Stainless Steel: Stainless steel desiccator cabinets have many benefits. They are ideal for heavy duty storage applications of large, bulky materials. Stainless steel is also suitable for sterile applications. It resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization. Lastly, unlike plastics, stainless steel is impermeable to moisture and therefore suitable for the most critical low humidity storage applications.
Terra offers 304 and 316L stainless steel. 316L-grade contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
D5 – Electropolish Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of stainless steel for increased chemical resistance, to support easy sterilization and reduce micro-cavities where microbes can colonize.
E – Other optional Accessories
(back to chart)
E1 – Nitrogen Generator: Compact and portable nitrogen generators eliminate the need for costly nitrogen gas cylinders and minimizes the risk of unplanned supply shortages. They provide complete control over rate and purity of nitrogen gas from 95% to 99% purity.
E2 – Ionizing Modules: Ionizers can be installed into the rear gas distribution plenum of a desiccator cabinet to help neutralize electro-static surface charges throughout a desiccator cabinet.
E3 – Locking Lift Latches: Locking Lift Latches help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive or valuable materials. Different keys can be assigned to each chamber for added security. Chambers can be further reinforced with locking brackets (for padlocks) and tamper-proof hinges.
F – Number of Chambers
(back to chart)
Terra stocks standard chamber configurations for each line of desiccators. In general, larger desiccators typically require more nitrogen or a more efficient RH control system, than smaller ones.
NitroPlex Desiccator Cabinets
A – Application: Which Desiccator is Best for My Application?
(back to chart)
Cost vs. Control: Terra Desiccators Simplify Your Choice
You need to protect sensitive samples, but you don’t want to overpay. Below is a list of application descriptions to help choose the best desiccator storage system for your application and budget.
A1 - Critical Control Demands:
For applications that require not only a low-RH set point, but a system that recovers it quickly when doors open/close, allows a different set point in each chamber, and/or protects against static and particulate contaminants.
Typical Applications
- Low exposure tolerance: Microelectronic or pharmaceutical samples that degrade very quickly when exposed to moisture.
- High access frequency: Doors open/close before system can recover target set point level.
- Exposure testing: Requires a separate %RH monitor/control in each desiccator chamber.
- ESD-sensitive parts: Minute static discharge results in severe degradation, cuts yields.
- Sterile and/or Particle Sensitivity: Critical contamination requirements won’t tolerate materials that shed particles or corrode.
A2 - Moderate Control Demands:
Sensitive samples may require automatic low humidity set point control, but low access frequency minimizes the need for faster RH recovery time. Protection against ESD and/or particulate contaminants may also be required.
Typical Applications
- Low-Moderate exposure tolerance: Low humidity and automatic monitoring is required. Microelectronic or pharmaceutical samples that degrade when exposed to moisture.
- Moderate-High Access Frequency: Parts are accessed on a daily basis and/or are sensitive to moisture exposure when doors are opened.
- ESD-sensitive parts: Minute static discharge results in severe degradation, cuts yields.
- Sterile and/or Particle Sensitivity: Critical contamination requirements won’t tolerate materials that shed particles or corrode.
A3 - Minimal Control Demands:
You need occasional nitrogen purging or desiccant to bring down the RH, or you may only need a dust-free enclosure without humidity control.
Typical Applications- Moderate-High exposure tolerance: Low humidity and/or automatic monitoring is not required.
- Low Access Frequency/Extended Storage: If low humidity is required, fast recovery time is not, because doors are rarely opened: you stock the sample and come back for it days or weeks later.
- Moderate Static Protection: Availability of static-dissipative materials a plus, but ionization not required.
- Dust-Free Conditions: Samples require a clean environment, but chrome plating and adhesive seals are acceptable.
Additional Application Considerations:
For critical moisture control applications, relative humidity (RH) set-point recovery time is one of the most important considerations to achieving the required quality, safety, and shelf life of stored materials.
RH recovery is the time needed to reach an RH set point after a desiccator chamber or cabinet is accessed. A fast RH recovery time minimizes exposure of stored materials to harmful moisture levels. Thus, the ideal desiccator quickly and efficiently reaches and maintains the desired RH level.
Set-point recovery time depends on several variables listed below. Keep these factors in mind to choose the best desiccator storage system for your application and budget.
- Internal & External RH:
The desired internal RH set point depends on industry and application. Extremely low humidity requirements (under 10% RH) are more difficult to achieve and generally call for a Smart controller option to optimize recovery time and efficiency.
The greater the gap between required internal RH and ambient RH, the more time and inert gas will be needed to remove moisture from inside the desiccator. For example, a desiccator in a more humid ambient environment will have more moisture in the air to displace, and will therefore require more nitrogen gas or a more efficient humidity control system than one in a less humid environment.
- Access Frequency & Duration:
RH set-point recovery time is affected by the need to access parts inside the desiccator cabinet. Each time a door is opened, moisture-laden air, often bearing particles, enters the exposed chamber. The longer a door is left open, the more ambient air can flow inside. Once the door is closed, depending on the cabinet design, moisture can migrate from chamber to chamber, raising the internal RH throughout the cabinet.
During periods of frequent or prolonged access, a poorly configured desiccator may never attain the required RH set point, posing a serious threat to quality, safety, or shelf life of stored materials.
Choosing an appropriate automatic RH control system and cabinet design will help mitigate problems caused by frequent access.
- Desiccator Cabinet Size & Chamber Configuration:
The size or volume of your desiccator will determine how much ambient air needs to be displaced to reach your target RH set-point. Thus larger desiccators typically require more nitrogen or a more efficient RH control system, than smaller ones.
Furthermore, the chamber configuration can have a significant effect on time to reach set-point. Isolated chambers tend to be more efficient, as opening one chamber will not expose other chambers in the cabinet to ambient air. Non-isolated chambers that share the same air space will generally take longer to recover after one door is opened, as ambient air can more easily circulate through the entire cabinet.
- Nitrogen Gas Expense:
Users seek to achieve a low RH set-point as efficiently as possible to reduce wasteful gas consumption. Unfortunately, unassisted RH control systems require significantly higher consumption of nitrogen gas to reach the desired relative humidity set-point. This problem compounds with high access frequency.
High nitrogen gas consumption drives up overhead cost and can lead to other operational problems. For instance, those who rely on gas canisters will need to plan for more frequent replacements and will be suseptible to dealing with supply shortages.
A smart control system automates the process to conserve nitrogen and reduces costs by up to 78%. A nitrogen generator can also eliminate the supply shortage issues from dependence on pre-filled gas canisters.
- Cabinet Material Type:
Material type can also affect relative humidity inside a desiccator cabinet. The more porous or hygroscopic a material, the easier it is for gases and moisture to transfer through. Many plastics such as acrylic may appear impermeable to the naked eye, however are porous enough at a molecular level to absorb moisture that can then permeate into the chamber. The diffusion or passage of moisture through acrylic can occur in a few ways listed below. The higher the difference between moisture levels, and the greater the exposed surface area, the higher the rate at which moisture will enter the chamber.
- Walls inside the cabinet can absorb moisture from ambient air already inside the cabinet, and then release the moisture after the cabinet is purged with a dry inert gas.
- Moisture can permeate through the walls from the outside (higher moisture) to inside (lower moisture).
- Walls can absorb moisture from direct contact with water (either inside or outside the cabinet).
Critical moisture control applications concerned with moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) should consider a vapor impermeable cabinet material such as stainless steel to achieve the required quality, safety, and shelf life.
B – Nitrogen RH Control Systems:
(back to chart)
B1 – Nitroplex™ System: NitroPlex™, Terra’s most efficient humidity control solution, is designed for the most demanding critical moisture control applications. The system features multiple RH sensors modules to allow RH monitor & control to 0% RH in each isolated chamber. The modules use automatic binary (on/off) valves to quickly and efficiently direct N2 gas where and when it’s needed. The ability to establish separate humidity set points in each storage chamber allows for storage of parts with differing moisture sensitivities and conservation of N2 gas in chambers that are not in use.
B2 – IsoDry® System: IsoDry® upgrades the Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™ system by adding twin dilution fans for drastically improved RH recovery & uniformity. The fans rapidly mix and circulate incoming nitrogen gas to accelerate moisture removal and achieve uniform RH throughout the entire cabinet. The door sensors de-activate the dilution fans when a door is open to minimize the spread of incoming moisture and contaminants throughout the cabinet.
B3 – Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: This system is designed for larger cabinets. Like the Smart® system, it features a single RH sensor for automatic RH set point control to 0%RH. The Dual Purge™ has two gas flow settings (high/low) to rapidly reach and then maintain the user-specified set-point. Door sensors trigger high gas flow when doors open to help protect against the entry of contaminants, and expedite set-point recovery. Because this system includes only 1 RH sensor, the displayed RH reading may not accurately reflect the RH in other chambers of the cabinet.
B4 – Smart® System: Terra’s Smart® desiccator system features a built-in RH Sensor to provide automatic RH set point control to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases efficiency of N2 gas consumption. The system is recommended for smaller cabinets with 1-2 chambers. This single gas inlet system can encounter inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in larger cabinet systems.
B5 – Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller desiccators that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to damaged products and high operating costs.
C – Cabinet Design
(back to chart)
C1 – Isolated Chambers: One way to improve moisture control and recovery is to compartmentalize a cabinet into isolated chambers. The multiple air spaces are thus independent and RH in one chamber is unaffected by access to adjacent chambers.
C2 – Rear Plenum for Improved Gas Distribution: Larger desiccator cabinets with single gas inlets are more susceptible to RH control problems caused by uneven gas distribution. A rear distribution plenum helps alleviate these problems. Instead of feeding a gas line directly into 1 chamber, the gas inlet feeds into a narrow wall plenum adjacent to all chambers. The plenum pressurizes and simultaneously distributes gas through small perforations in the wall to every chamber in the cabinet. Distribution plenums also allow for isolated chambers (mentioned above).
C3 – Requires Automatic Relief/Bleed (RB) Valve(s): RB valves provide continuous pressure relief while also functioning as a one-way check valve. Installing one on each chamber improves moisture and contamination control. Any contaminants that enter through an open door can exit out the same chamber without migrating to other areas. Desiccator cabinets with isolated chambers require one RB valve per chamber to safely de-pressurize and ensure rapid RH recovery.
C4 – Reinforced Doors with One-Piece Fused Gaskets: This seemingly small detail makes a big difference, as it is one of the most common features likely to break or malfunction on a desiccator cabinet. An unidentified leak or non-functioning “out of service” desiccator cabinet in a worst case scenario can lead to an extremely costly loss of materials. Through 40 years of refinement and attention to detail, Terra’s desiccator cabinets have been designed and tested to perfect this important feature for guaranteed long-lasting, easy to maintain, and reliable operation.
Desiccator cabinets reinforced with stainless steel frames lend rigidity for an improved seal, and extend the service life of the entire cabinet. Heavy-duty lift latches easily close to produce a strong seal and prevent metal-on-metal scraping common with rotary latches. The ergonomic design also minimizes stress on your wrists and pinching of fingers. Optional locking lift latches are also available (specify one per chamber). The door frame is lined with a one-piece durable, resilient, and chemical resistant “e” shaped rubber gasket. This flexible gasket compresses to provide a tight seal and is mechanically attached to the door so it won’t slip, peel, or deform over time. The doors are also completely removable for further cleaning, maintenance or repair.
D – Cabinet Materials
(back to chart)
D1 – Clear Acrylic (Plexiglass): Low cost and lightweight acrylic offers durability (17x impact resistance of glass) and superior clarity. The transparent walls help quickly find items anywhere inside, even those hiding in the back or bottom of the cabinet. Acrylic’s two main drawbacks (hidden costs) are low chemical resistance (acrylic is damaged by alcohol and many other cleaning agents), and poor protection from electro-static discharge (ESD).
D2 – Amber Acrylic: Amber acrylic adds to the benefits of clear acrylic by filtering out UV and blue light to protect light sensitive materials from degrading, or changing composition. Similar to clear acrylic, it shares the same two drawbacks: low chemical resistance and poor protection from ESD.
D3 – Static-Dissipative PVC (SD-PVC): SD-PVC not only dissipates static charges safely but also eliminates the particle attraction that static charges create. Surfaces stay clean, inside and out, making this material perfect for use in cleanrooms. SD-PVC is transparent and highly durable, it can be used in place of acrylic in nearly any application. It features a surface resistivity of approximately 10^7 ohms per square and is completely non-contaminating—with no measurable outgassing—and it resists a wide range of chemicals such as alcohol and other common cleaning agents.
D4 – Stainless Steel: Stainless steel desiccator cabinets have many benefits. They are ideal for heavy duty storage applications of large, bulky materials. Stainless steel is also suitable for sterile applications. It resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization. Lastly, unlike plastics, stainless steel is impermeable to moisture and therefore suitable for the most critical low humidity storage applications.
Terra offers 304 and 316L stainless steel. 316L-grade contains more nickel and molybdenum than 304-grade, enhancing its resistance to corrosion in wet environments, degradation from bleach-based disinfectants, and high-temperature sanitation, like autoclaving.
D5 – Electropolish Service: Electrochemical polishing improves the surface finish of stainless steel for increased chemical resistance, to support easy sterilization and reduce micro-cavities where microbes can colonize.
E – Other optional Accessories
(back to chart)
E1 – Nitrogen Generator: Compact and portable nitrogen generators eliminate the need for costly nitrogen gas cylinders and minimizes the risk of unplanned supply shortages. They provide complete control over rate and purity of nitrogen gas from 95% to 99% purity.
E2 – Ionizing Modules: Ionizers can be installed into the rear gas distribution plenum of a desiccator cabinet to help neutralize electro-static surface charges throughout a desiccator cabinet.
E3 – Locking Lift Latches: Locking Lift Latches help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive or valuable materials. Different keys can be assigned to each chamber for added security. Chambers can be further reinforced with locking brackets (for padlocks) and tamper-proof hinges.
F – Number of Chambers
(back to chart)
Terra stocks standard chamber configurations for each line of desiccators. In general, larger desiccators typically require more nitrogen or a more efficient RH control system, than smaller ones.
Drum Storage Desiccators
Cleanroom Equipment & Furniture
Laminar Flow Hoods
A – Air Flow Direction
(back to chart)
There are compelling reasons to choose either airflow system depending on clearance requirements, process location, work surface design, and operator safety. Below is a brief comparison (read more on horizontal vs vertical laminar flow hoods).
A1 – Vertical Laminar Flow: Vertical laminar flow hoods are often selected because they resemble, on a smaller scale, the design of a laminar flow cleanroom, in which fan/filter units (FFUs) are typically positioned in the ceiling
Advantages
- Design fits within a smaller footprint, encompassing less work space.
- Isolated work surface and anti-vibration tables are available for vibration-sensitive work.
- Easier to configure for tall equipment or processes requiring more vertical space.
- The filter, installed above the work surface, is more accessible for maintenance and testing.
A2 – Horizontal Laminar Flow: A horizontal-flow hood requires additional depth to accommodate the rear-mount FFUs with some additional rear clearance to allow air to enter the system. These clearance requirements necessitate a deeper bench and more floor space than a vertical flow system.
Advantages
- Laminar airflow is parallel to work surface, reducing turbulent effects that can occur from vertical airflow striking perpendicular to work surface.
- Easier to position and stagger sterile equipment and materials on work surface closer to the filter face (upstream from other potential contaminants).
- Hands and gloves can rest downstream of samples, less likely to contaminate operations.
B – Format
(back to chart)
B1 – Free-Standing: Free-standing or floor mounted laminar flow hoods are larger in size, mimicking a mini-cleanroom setup. They are more suitable for large equipment or processes that require more open space. Free-standing laminar flow hoods are also generally more suitable for vibration sensitive applications, since they can be configured with a separate work table inside the hood.
B2 – Benchtop: Benchtop laminar flow hoods are generally smaller in size and therefore can offer greater portability to move and mount onto different work surfaces. They may, however, pose a problem for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy. Certain benchtop laminar flow hoods are available with vibration isolation stands to alleviate this problem.
C – Front Shield
(back to chart)
C1 – Motorized Sliding Shield: Motorized access shields are designed for large, free-standing vertical laminar flow hoods to help improve laminar flow. The position can be lowered to allow partial access to perform work while simultaneously maintaining a protected laminar flow environment. The automatic sliding shield is rated for millions of operations and is connected to a touch-screen PLC controller for easy operation.
C2 – Tilt-Up Shield: Manual tilt-up shields offer a low-cost access and protection solution for laminar flow hoods. The shield helps preserve laminar airflow while simultaneously providing sufficient access to work inside the hood. A hinged shield also allows for easy equipment access and maintenance. They are included with most benchtop hoods and some free-standing hood designs.
C3 – No Shield: Depending on airflow direction, a shield can sometimes inhibit laminar airflow or access to equipment. Some applications using horizontal laminar flow hoods forgo a shield to improve laminar airflow that runs parallel to the work surface.
C4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
D – Filter Alarm
(back to chart)
D1 – Automatic Alarm System: Filter replacement alarm systems provide automatic replacement alerts to avoid costly and unexpected operational interruptions. They can also improve safety by preventing electrical/fire hazards caused by overworked motors pushing against overloaded HEPA filters. Free-standing vertical laminar flow stations include a programmable filter back-pressure alarm that is integrated into a touch-screen PLC panel. Other laminar flow hoods can be configured with Terra’s add-on filter replacement alarm system. The add-on system also allows control of the differential pressure set-point to adjust frequency of filter replacement. It includes a visual differential pressure gauge, visual flashing indicator light, and an audible buzzer with silencer that sounds when set point level is exceeded.
D2 – Visual Differential Pressure Gauge: Stand-alone visual differential pressure gauges can be configured to most laminar flow hoods to help monitor and control airflow in a laminar flow hood. This simple monitoring device with a low up-front cost helps confirm the hood is operating and supplying proper airflow. However airflow control and filter replacement monitoring can be more susceptible to human error since the stand-alone pressure gauge does not include an automatic alarm system.
E – Work Surface
(back to chart)
E1 – Vibration Isolated: Laminar flow hoods compatible with vibration isolated work surfaces can be configured to fit a separate work table inside the hood. They are recommended for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy.
E2 – Integrated: Laminar flow hoods with built-in cleanroom-compliant work surfaces can enhance cleanliness and safety. Because the attached workstation transmits fan vibration, this design is not recommended for delicate operations with microscopes, scales, balances, or other precision instruments.
F – Frame Material
(back to chart)
F1 – 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
F2 – Powder Coated Steel: Powder-coated steel offers a lower cost alternative to stainless steel that is still more durable and rigid than plastic designs. Powder-coated steel has slightly lower chemical and moisture resistance compared to stainless steel.
F3 – Polypropylene Plastic: Opaque polypropylene is most suitable for wet chemistry applications. It offers excellent chemical resistance against common acids, solvents, and disinfectants. The solid polypropylene frame features continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G – Side Panels
(back to chart)
G1 – Interchangeable Plastic Side Panels: Removable side-panels increase the versatility of your hood by improving visibility and/or simplifying equipment access and maintenance. The side-panels are lined with foam gasket and slide into the hood’s frame for a simple yet effective sealed fit, free of troublesome fasteners or screws. Side panels can also be configured with application specific materials to help support required conditions inside the hood, such as:
- Visibility
- Light sensitivity
- Electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety
- Chemical resistance
- Thermal extremes
Below is a list of standard side-panel materials:
- Clear Acrylic
- Static-Dissipative PVC (SDPVC)
- Polycarbonate
- Black Acrylic
- Amber Acrylic
- FM4910 Polypropylene
- FM4910 CPVC
- White Acrylic
G2 – Solid Steel: Laminar flow hoods with solid steel walls are most suitable for critical cleanliness applications that require frequent disinfection. The design simplifies cleaning by minimizing cracks and crevices where particles or germs can collect.
G3 – Solid Polypropylene Plastic: Polypropylene hoods are most suitable for wet chemistry applications. The solid polypropylene frame and walls feature continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 – Energy-Efficient EC FFUs: Energy efficient FFUs offer lower operating costs, longer service life, and precision control of fan speed.
H2 – Room-Side Filter Replacement: Room-side replaceable (RSR) filters drastically simplify filter replacement. These filters can be easily removed and replaced without disassembling the bulky FFU from the hood. RSR filters feature a gel-seal to form a tight seal against the "knife-edge" on the blower housing.
H3 – Explosion-Proof Design: An explosion-proof laminar flow hood is designed to work in hazardous areas with risk of ignition due to flammable fumes or explosive dusts. All electrical components in explosion-proof hood designs are rated compliant for hazardous locations Class I, Division 1, Groups C & D and Class II, Division 1, Groups F ∓ G. This includes the fan filter unit (FFU), LED lights, wiring, and on/off switches.
H4 – ULPA filter: HEPA filters are rated 99.99% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.3 microns. ULPA filters are rated 99.999% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.12 microns. ULPA filters are suitable for achieving sub-class 100 particle counts. However due to the denser filter media, ULPA filters have more restricted airflow which can negatively affect flow rate and air changes per hour (ACH) within the work area.
H5 – Germicidal UV Lamp: UV lights can be built into laminar flow hoods to help decontaminate the hood after use. The UVC disinfection Module includes a timer plus "exposure switch" to protect users from exposure to harmful UV light.
H6 – Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar: Intrinsically safe low-voltage ionizing bars mount to a fan/filter unit inside a laminar flow hood to neutralize static charges that can lead to electro-static discharge and particle attraction. These units emit equal numbers of positive and negative ions and require no calibration or adjustments. The narrow profile minimizes any disruption to laminar flow inside the hood.
H7 – Rear Plenum for Internal Air Recirculation: An adjustable rear plenum on the back wall of the hood recirculates air to minimize turbulence in the work area and extend filter life.
H8 – Peripheral Air Return Ducts: Return air ducts help maintain laminar flow and keep particles out. Horizontal laminar flow stations feature return ducts along the bottom and side edges of the front opening. These ducts reduce backwash caused by placing objects near the work surface edge, a common source of turbulence inside a clean bench. On less sophisticated systems, an object placed near the front edge of a horizontal air-stream interrupts the laminar flow and provides an opportunity for unfiltered air to wash back into the work area, bringing contaminants with it.
H9 – Duplex Power Outlets: GFCI power receptacles installed on the interior of the hood provide operational convenience. Alternative mounting locations can be specified at time of order.
H10 – Utility Valves: Ball valves (petcocks) are available for utilities such as nitrogen, compressed air, vacuum, DI water, or other process gases. Valves are available in chrome-plated steel or ABS plastic.
H11 – Casters: Casters offer greater mobility for free-standing hoods. They allow hassle-free movement to different locations and facilitate cleaning under and around the work area.
Vertical Laminar Flow Hoods
A – Air Flow Direction
(back to chart)
There are compelling reasons to choose either airflow system depending on clearance requirements, process location, work surface design, and operator safety. Below is a brief comparison (read more on horizontal vs vertical laminar flow hoods).
A1 – Vertical Laminar Flow: Vertical laminar flow hoods are often selected because they resemble, on a smaller scale, the design of a laminar flow cleanroom, in which fan/filter units (FFUs) are typically positioned in the ceiling
Advantages
- Design fits within a smaller footprint, encompassing less work space.
- Isolated work surface and anti-vibration tables are available for vibration-sensitive work.
- Easier to configure for tall equipment or processes requiring more vertical space.
- The filter, installed above the work surface, is more accessible for maintenance and testing.
A2 – Horizontal Laminar Flow: A horizontal-flow hood requires additional depth to accommodate the rear-mount FFUs with some additional rear clearance to allow air to enter the system. These clearance requirements necessitate a deeper bench and more floor space than a vertical flow system.
Advantages
- Laminar airflow is parallel to work surface, reducing turbulent effects that can occur from vertical airflow striking perpendicular to work surface.
- Easier to position and stagger sterile equipment and materials on work surface closer to the filter face (upstream from other potential contaminants).
- Hands and gloves can rest downstream of samples, less likely to contaminate operations.
B – Format
(back to chart)
B1 – Free-Standing: Free-standing or floor mounted laminar flow hoods are larger in size, mimicking a mini-cleanroom setup. They are more suitable for large equipment or processes that require more open space. Free-standing laminar flow hoods are also generally more suitable for vibration sensitive applications, since they can be configured with a separate work table inside the hood.
B2 – Benchtop: Benchtop laminar flow hoods are generally smaller in size and therefore can offer greater portability to move and mount onto different work surfaces. They may, however, pose a problem for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy. Certain benchtop laminar flow hoods are available with vibration isolation stands to alleviate this problem.
C – Front Shield
(back to chart)
C1 – Motorized Sliding Shield: Motorized access shields are designed for large, free-standing vertical laminar flow hoods to help improve laminar flow. The position can be lowered to allow partial access to perform work while simultaneously maintaining a protected laminar flow environment. The automatic sliding shield is rated for millions of operations and is connected to a touch-screen PLC controller for easy operation.
C2 – Tilt-Up Shield: Manual tilt-up shields offer a low-cost access and protection solution for laminar flow hoods. The shield helps preserve laminar airflow while simultaneously providing sufficient access to work inside the hood. A hinged shield also allows for easy equipment access and maintenance. They are included with most benchtop hoods and some free-standing hood designs.
C3 – No Shield: Depending on airflow direction, a shield can sometimes inhibit laminar airflow or access to equipment. Some applications using horizontal laminar flow hoods forgo a shield to improve laminar airflow that runs parallel to the work surface.
C4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
D – Filter Alarm
(back to chart)
D1 – Automatic Alarm System: Filter replacement alarm systems provide automatic replacement alerts to avoid costly and unexpected operational interruptions. They can also improve safety by preventing electrical/fire hazards caused by overworked motors pushing against overloaded HEPA filters. Free-standing vertical laminar flow stations include a programmable filter back-pressure alarm that is integrated into a touch-screen PLC panel. Other laminar flow hoods can be configured with Terra’s add-on filter replacement alarm system. The add-on system also allows control of the differential pressure set-point to adjust frequency of filter replacement. It includes a visual differential pressure gauge, visual flashing indicator light, and an audible buzzer with silencer that sounds when set point level is exceeded.
D2 – Visual Differential Pressure Gauge: Stand-alone visual differential pressure gauges can be configured to most laminar flow hoods to help monitor and control airflow in a laminar flow hood. This simple monitoring device with a low up-front cost helps confirm the hood is operating and supplying proper airflow. However airflow control and filter replacement monitoring can be more susceptible to human error since the stand-alone pressure gauge does not include an automatic alarm system.
E – Work Surface
(back to chart)
E1 – Vibration Isolated: Laminar flow hoods compatible with vibration isolated work surfaces can be configured to fit a separate work table inside the hood. They are recommended for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy.
E2 – Integrated: Laminar flow hoods with built-in cleanroom-compliant work surfaces can enhance cleanliness and safety. Because the attached workstation transmits fan vibration, this design is not recommended for delicate operations with microscopes, scales, balances, or other precision instruments.
F – Frame Material
(back to chart)
F1 – 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
F2 – Powder Coated Steel: Powder-coated steel offers a lower cost alternative to stainless steel that is still more durable and rigid than plastic designs. Powder-coated steel has slightly lower chemical and moisture resistance compared to stainless steel.
F3 – Polypropylene Plastic: Opaque polypropylene is most suitable for wet chemistry applications. It offers excellent chemical resistance against common acids, solvents, and disinfectants. The solid polypropylene frame features continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G – Side Panels
(back to chart)
G1 – Interchangeable Plastic Side Panels: Removable side-panels increase the versatility of your hood by improving visibility and/or simplifying equipment access and maintenance. The side-panels are lined with foam gasket and slide into the hood’s frame for a simple yet effective sealed fit, free of troublesome fasteners or screws. Side panels can also be configured with application specific materials to help support required conditions inside the hood, such as:
- Visibility
- Light sensitivity
- Electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety
- Chemical resistance
- Thermal extremes
Below is a list of standard side-panel materials:
- Clear Acrylic
- Static-Dissipative PVC (SDPVC)
- Polycarbonate
- Black Acrylic
- Amber Acrylic
- FM4910 Polypropylene
- FM4910 CPVC
- White Acrylic
G2 – Solid Steel: Laminar flow hoods with solid steel walls are most suitable for critical cleanliness applications that require frequent disinfection. The design simplifies cleaning by minimizing cracks and crevices where particles or germs can collect.
G3 – Solid Polypropylene Plastic: Polypropylene hoods are most suitable for wet chemistry applications. The solid polypropylene frame and walls feature continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 – Energy-Efficient EC FFUs: Energy efficient FFUs offer lower operating costs, longer service life, and precision control of fan speed.
H2 – Room-Side Filter Replacement: Room-side replaceable (RSR) filters drastically simplify filter replacement. These filters can be easily removed and replaced without disassembling the bulky FFU from the hood. RSR filters feature a gel-seal to form a tight seal against the "knife-edge" on the blower housing.
H3 – Explosion-Proof Design: An explosion-proof laminar flow hood is designed to work in hazardous areas with risk of ignition due to flammable fumes or explosive dusts. All electrical components in explosion-proof hood designs are rated compliant for hazardous locations Class I, Division 1, Groups C & D and Class II, Division 1, Groups F ∓ G. This includes the fan filter unit (FFU), LED lights, wiring, and on/off switches.
H4 – ULPA filter: HEPA filters are rated 99.99% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.3 microns. ULPA filters are rated 99.999% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.12 microns. ULPA filters are suitable for achieving sub-class 100 particle counts. However due to the denser filter media, ULPA filters have more restricted airflow which can negatively affect flow rate and air changes per hour (ACH) within the work area.
H5 – Germicidal UV Lamp: UV lights can be built into laminar flow hoods to help decontaminate the hood after use. The UVC disinfection Module includes a timer plus "exposure switch" to protect users from exposure to harmful UV light.
H6 – Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar: Intrinsically safe low-voltage ionizing bars mount to a fan/filter unit inside a laminar flow hood to neutralize static charges that can lead to electro-static discharge and particle attraction. These units emit equal numbers of positive and negative ions and require no calibration or adjustments. The narrow profile minimizes any disruption to laminar flow inside the hood.
H7 – Rear Plenum for Internal Air Recirculation: An adjustable rear plenum on the back wall of the hood recirculates air to minimize turbulence in the work area and extend filter life.
H8 – Peripheral Air Return Ducts: Return air ducts help maintain laminar flow and keep particles out. Horizontal laminar flow stations feature return ducts along the bottom and side edges of the front opening. These ducts reduce backwash caused by placing objects near the work surface edge, a common source of turbulence inside a clean bench. On less sophisticated systems, an object placed near the front edge of a horizontal air-stream interrupts the laminar flow and provides an opportunity for unfiltered air to wash back into the work area, bringing contaminants with it.
H9 – Duplex Power Outlets: GFCI power receptacles installed on the interior of the hood provide operational convenience. Alternative mounting locations can be specified at time of order.
H10 – Utility Valves: Ball valves (petcocks) are available for utilities such as nitrogen, compressed air, vacuum, DI water, or other process gases. Valves are available in chrome-plated steel or ABS plastic.
H11 – Casters: Casters offer greater mobility for free-standing hoods. They allow hassle-free movement to different locations and facilitate cleaning under and around the work area.
Portable CleanBooth™ Laminar Flow Stations
A – Air Flow Direction
(back to chart)
There are compelling reasons to choose either airflow system depending on clearance requirements, process location, work surface design, and operator safety. Below is a brief comparison (read more on horizontal vs vertical laminar flow hoods).
A1 – Vertical Laminar Flow: Vertical laminar flow hoods are often selected because they resemble, on a smaller scale, the design of a laminar flow cleanroom, in which fan/filter units (FFUs) are typically positioned in the ceiling
Advantages
- Design fits within a smaller footprint, encompassing less work space.
- Isolated work surface and anti-vibration tables are available for vibration-sensitive work.
- Easier to configure for tall equipment or processes requiring more vertical space.
- The filter, installed above the work surface, is more accessible for maintenance and testing.
A2 – Horizontal Laminar Flow: A horizontal-flow hood requires additional depth to accommodate the rear-mount FFUs with some additional rear clearance to allow air to enter the system. These clearance requirements necessitate a deeper bench and more floor space than a vertical flow system.
Advantages
- Laminar airflow is parallel to work surface, reducing turbulent effects that can occur from vertical airflow striking perpendicular to work surface.
- Easier to position and stagger sterile equipment and materials on work surface closer to the filter face (upstream from other potential contaminants).
- Hands and gloves can rest downstream of samples, less likely to contaminate operations.
B – Format
(back to chart)
B1 – Free-Standing: Free-standing or floor mounted laminar flow hoods are larger in size, mimicking a mini-cleanroom setup. They are more suitable for large equipment or processes that require more open space. Free-standing laminar flow hoods are also generally more suitable for vibration sensitive applications, since they can be configured with a separate work table inside the hood.
B2 – Benchtop: Benchtop laminar flow hoods are generally smaller in size and therefore can offer greater portability to move and mount onto different work surfaces. They may, however, pose a problem for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy. Certain benchtop laminar flow hoods are available with vibration isolation stands to alleviate this problem.
C – Front Shield
(back to chart)
C1 – Motorized Sliding Shield: Motorized access shields are designed for large, free-standing vertical laminar flow hoods to help improve laminar flow. The position can be lowered to allow partial access to perform work while simultaneously maintaining a protected laminar flow environment. The automatic sliding shield is rated for millions of operations and is connected to a touch-screen PLC controller for easy operation.
C2 – Tilt-Up Shield: Manual tilt-up shields offer a low-cost access and protection solution for laminar flow hoods. The shield helps preserve laminar airflow while simultaneously providing sufficient access to work inside the hood. A hinged shield also allows for easy equipment access and maintenance. They are included with most benchtop hoods and some free-standing hood designs.
C3 – No Shield: Depending on airflow direction, a shield can sometimes inhibit laminar airflow or access to equipment. Some applications using horizontal laminar flow hoods forgo a shield to improve laminar airflow that runs parallel to the work surface.
C4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
D – Filter Alarm
(back to chart)
D1 – Automatic Alarm System: Filter replacement alarm systems provide automatic replacement alerts to avoid costly and unexpected operational interruptions. They can also improve safety by preventing electrical/fire hazards caused by overworked motors pushing against overloaded HEPA filters. Free-standing vertical laminar flow stations include a programmable filter back-pressure alarm that is integrated into a touch-screen PLC panel. Other laminar flow hoods can be configured with Terra’s add-on filter replacement alarm system. The add-on system also allows control of the differential pressure set-point to adjust frequency of filter replacement. It includes a visual differential pressure gauge, visual flashing indicator light, and an audible buzzer with silencer that sounds when set point level is exceeded.
D2 – Visual Differential Pressure Gauge: Stand-alone visual differential pressure gauges can be configured to most laminar flow hoods to help monitor and control airflow in a laminar flow hood. This simple monitoring device with a low up-front cost helps confirm the hood is operating and supplying proper airflow. However airflow control and filter replacement monitoring can be more susceptible to human error since the stand-alone pressure gauge does not include an automatic alarm system.
E – Work Surface
(back to chart)
E1 – Vibration Isolated: Laminar flow hoods compatible with vibration isolated work surfaces can be configured to fit a separate work table inside the hood. They are recommended for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy.
E2 – Integrated: Laminar flow hoods with built-in cleanroom-compliant work surfaces can enhance cleanliness and safety. Because the attached workstation transmits fan vibration, this design is not recommended for delicate operations with microscopes, scales, balances, or other precision instruments.
F – Frame Material
(back to chart)
F1 – 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
F2 – Powder Coated Steel: Powder-coated steel offers a lower cost alternative to stainless steel that is still more durable and rigid than plastic designs. Powder-coated steel has slightly lower chemical and moisture resistance compared to stainless steel.
F3 – Polypropylene Plastic: Opaque polypropylene is most suitable for wet chemistry applications. It offers excellent chemical resistance against common acids, solvents, and disinfectants. The solid polypropylene frame features continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G – Side Panels
(back to chart)
G1 – Interchangeable Plastic Side Panels: Removable side-panels increase the versatility of your hood by improving visibility and/or simplifying equipment access and maintenance. The side-panels are lined with foam gasket and slide into the hood’s frame for a simple yet effective sealed fit, free of troublesome fasteners or screws. Side panels can also be configured with application specific materials to help support required conditions inside the hood, such as:
- Visibility
- Light sensitivity
- Electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety
- Chemical resistance
- Thermal extremes
Below is a list of standard side-panel materials:
- Clear Acrylic
- Static-Dissipative PVC (SDPVC)
- Polycarbonate
- Black Acrylic
- Amber Acrylic
- FM4910 Polypropylene
- FM4910 CPVC
- White Acrylic
G2 – Solid Steel: Laminar flow hoods with solid steel walls are most suitable for critical cleanliness applications that require frequent disinfection. The design simplifies cleaning by minimizing cracks and crevices where particles or germs can collect.
G3 – Solid Polypropylene Plastic: Polypropylene hoods are most suitable for wet chemistry applications. The solid polypropylene frame and walls feature continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 – Energy-Efficient EC FFUs: Energy efficient FFUs offer lower operating costs, longer service life, and precision control of fan speed.
H2 – Room-Side Filter Replacement: Room-side replaceable (RSR) filters drastically simplify filter replacement. These filters can be easily removed and replaced without disassembling the bulky FFU from the hood. RSR filters feature a gel-seal to form a tight seal against the "knife-edge" on the blower housing.
H3 – Explosion-Proof Design: An explosion-proof laminar flow hood is designed to work in hazardous areas with risk of ignition due to flammable fumes or explosive dusts. All electrical components in explosion-proof hood designs are rated compliant for hazardous locations Class I, Division 1, Groups C & D and Class II, Division 1, Groups F ∓ G. This includes the fan filter unit (FFU), LED lights, wiring, and on/off switches.
H4 – ULPA filter: HEPA filters are rated 99.99% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.3 microns. ULPA filters are rated 99.999% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.12 microns. ULPA filters are suitable for achieving sub-class 100 particle counts. However due to the denser filter media, ULPA filters have more restricted airflow which can negatively affect flow rate and air changes per hour (ACH) within the work area.
H5 – Germicidal UV Lamp: UV lights can be built into laminar flow hoods to help decontaminate the hood after use. The UVC disinfection Module includes a timer plus "exposure switch" to protect users from exposure to harmful UV light.
H6 – Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar: Intrinsically safe low-voltage ionizing bars mount to a fan/filter unit inside a laminar flow hood to neutralize static charges that can lead to electro-static discharge and particle attraction. These units emit equal numbers of positive and negative ions and require no calibration or adjustments. The narrow profile minimizes any disruption to laminar flow inside the hood.
H7 – Rear Plenum for Internal Air Recirculation: An adjustable rear plenum on the back wall of the hood recirculates air to minimize turbulence in the work area and extend filter life.
H8 – Peripheral Air Return Ducts: Return air ducts help maintain laminar flow and keep particles out. Horizontal laminar flow stations feature return ducts along the bottom and side edges of the front opening. These ducts reduce backwash caused by placing objects near the work surface edge, a common source of turbulence inside a clean bench. On less sophisticated systems, an object placed near the front edge of a horizontal air-stream interrupts the laminar flow and provides an opportunity for unfiltered air to wash back into the work area, bringing contaminants with it.
H9 – Duplex Power Outlets: GFCI power receptacles installed on the interior of the hood provide operational convenience. Alternative mounting locations can be specified at time of order.
H10 – Utility Valves: Ball valves (petcocks) are available for utilities such as nitrogen, compressed air, vacuum, DI water, or other process gases. Valves are available in chrome-plated steel or ABS plastic.
H11 – Casters: Casters offer greater mobility for free-standing hoods. They allow hassle-free movement to different locations and facilitate cleaning under and around the work area.
Horizontal Laminar Flow Hoods
A – Air Flow Direction
(back to chart)
There are compelling reasons to choose either airflow system depending on clearance requirements, process location, work surface design, and operator safety. Below is a brief comparison (read more on horizontal vs vertical laminar flow hoods).
A1 – Vertical Laminar Flow: Vertical laminar flow hoods are often selected because they resemble, on a smaller scale, the design of a laminar flow cleanroom, in which fan/filter units (FFUs) are typically positioned in the ceiling
Advantages
- Design fits within a smaller footprint, encompassing less work space.
- Isolated work surface and anti-vibration tables are available for vibration-sensitive work.
- Easier to configure for tall equipment or processes requiring more vertical space.
- The filter, installed above the work surface, is more accessible for maintenance and testing.
A2 – Horizontal Laminar Flow: A horizontal-flow hood requires additional depth to accommodate the rear-mount FFUs with some additional rear clearance to allow air to enter the system. These clearance requirements necessitate a deeper bench and more floor space than a vertical flow system.
Advantages
- Laminar airflow is parallel to work surface, reducing turbulent effects that can occur from vertical airflow striking perpendicular to work surface.
- Easier to position and stagger sterile equipment and materials on work surface closer to the filter face (upstream from other potential contaminants).
- Hands and gloves can rest downstream of samples, less likely to contaminate operations.
B – Format
(back to chart)
B1 – Free-Standing: Free-standing or floor mounted laminar flow hoods are larger in size, mimicking a mini-cleanroom setup. They are more suitable for large equipment or processes that require more open space. Free-standing laminar flow hoods are also generally more suitable for vibration sensitive applications, since they can be configured with a separate work table inside the hood.
B2 – Benchtop: Benchtop laminar flow hoods are generally smaller in size and therefore can offer greater portability to move and mount onto different work surfaces. They may, however, pose a problem for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy. Certain benchtop laminar flow hoods are available with vibration isolation stands to alleviate this problem.
C – Front Shield
(back to chart)
C1 – Motorized Sliding Shield: Motorized access shields are designed for large, free-standing vertical laminar flow hoods to help improve laminar flow. The position can be lowered to allow partial access to perform work while simultaneously maintaining a protected laminar flow environment. The automatic sliding shield is rated for millions of operations and is connected to a touch-screen PLC controller for easy operation.
C2 – Tilt-Up Shield: Manual tilt-up shields offer a low-cost access and protection solution for laminar flow hoods. The shield helps preserve laminar airflow while simultaneously providing sufficient access to work inside the hood. A hinged shield also allows for easy equipment access and maintenance. They are included with most benchtop hoods and some free-standing hood designs.
C3 – No Shield: Depending on airflow direction, a shield can sometimes inhibit laminar airflow or access to equipment. Some applications using horizontal laminar flow hoods forgo a shield to improve laminar airflow that runs parallel to the work surface.
C4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
D – Filter Alarm
(back to chart)
D1 – Automatic Alarm System: Filter replacement alarm systems provide automatic replacement alerts to avoid costly and unexpected operational interruptions. They can also improve safety by preventing electrical/fire hazards caused by overworked motors pushing against overloaded HEPA filters. Free-standing vertical laminar flow stations include a programmable filter back-pressure alarm that is integrated into a touch-screen PLC panel. Other laminar flow hoods can be configured with Terra’s add-on filter replacement alarm system. The add-on system also allows control of the differential pressure set-point to adjust frequency of filter replacement. It includes a visual differential pressure gauge, visual flashing indicator light, and an audible buzzer with silencer that sounds when set point level is exceeded.
D2 – Visual Differential Pressure Gauge: Stand-alone visual differential pressure gauges can be configured to most laminar flow hoods to help monitor and control airflow in a laminar flow hood. This simple monitoring device with a low up-front cost helps confirm the hood is operating and supplying proper airflow. However airflow control and filter replacement monitoring can be more susceptible to human error since the stand-alone pressure gauge does not include an automatic alarm system.
E – Work Surface
(back to chart)
E1 – Vibration Isolated: Laminar flow hoods compatible with vibration isolated work surfaces can be configured to fit a separate work table inside the hood. They are recommended for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy.
E2 – Integrated: Laminar flow hoods with built-in cleanroom-compliant work surfaces can enhance cleanliness and safety. Because the attached workstation transmits fan vibration, this design is not recommended for delicate operations with microscopes, scales, balances, or other precision instruments.
F – Frame Material
(back to chart)
F1 – 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
F2 – Powder Coated Steel: Powder-coated steel offers a lower cost alternative to stainless steel that is still more durable and rigid than plastic designs. Powder-coated steel has slightly lower chemical and moisture resistance compared to stainless steel.
F3 – Polypropylene Plastic: Opaque polypropylene is most suitable for wet chemistry applications. It offers excellent chemical resistance against common acids, solvents, and disinfectants. The solid polypropylene frame features continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G – Side Panels
(back to chart)
G1 – Interchangeable Plastic Side Panels: Removable side-panels increase the versatility of your hood by improving visibility and/or simplifying equipment access and maintenance. The side-panels are lined with foam gasket and slide into the hood’s frame for a simple yet effective sealed fit, free of troublesome fasteners or screws. Side panels can also be configured with application specific materials to help support required conditions inside the hood, such as:
- Visibility
- Light sensitivity
- Electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety
- Chemical resistance
- Thermal extremes
Below is a list of standard side-panel materials:
- Clear Acrylic
- Static-Dissipative PVC (SDPVC)
- Polycarbonate
- Black Acrylic
- Amber Acrylic
- FM4910 Polypropylene
- FM4910 CPVC
- White Acrylic
G2 – Solid Steel: Laminar flow hoods with solid steel walls are most suitable for critical cleanliness applications that require frequent disinfection. The design simplifies cleaning by minimizing cracks and crevices where particles or germs can collect.
G3 – Solid Polypropylene Plastic: Polypropylene hoods are most suitable for wet chemistry applications. The solid polypropylene frame and walls feature continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 – Energy-Efficient EC FFUs: Energy efficient FFUs offer lower operating costs, longer service life, and precision control of fan speed.
H2 – Room-Side Filter Replacement: Room-side replaceable (RSR) filters drastically simplify filter replacement. These filters can be easily removed and replaced without disassembling the bulky FFU from the hood. RSR filters feature a gel-seal to form a tight seal against the "knife-edge" on the blower housing.
H3 – Explosion-Proof Design: An explosion-proof laminar flow hood is designed to work in hazardous areas with risk of ignition due to flammable fumes or explosive dusts. All electrical components in explosion-proof hood designs are rated compliant for hazardous locations Class I, Division 1, Groups C & D and Class II, Division 1, Groups F ∓ G. This includes the fan filter unit (FFU), LED lights, wiring, and on/off switches.
H4 – ULPA filter: HEPA filters are rated 99.99% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.3 microns. ULPA filters are rated 99.999% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.12 microns. ULPA filters are suitable for achieving sub-class 100 particle counts. However due to the denser filter media, ULPA filters have more restricted airflow which can negatively affect flow rate and air changes per hour (ACH) within the work area.
H5 – Germicidal UV Lamp: UV lights can be built into laminar flow hoods to help decontaminate the hood after use. The UVC disinfection Module includes a timer plus "exposure switch" to protect users from exposure to harmful UV light.
H6 – Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar: Intrinsically safe low-voltage ionizing bars mount to a fan/filter unit inside a laminar flow hood to neutralize static charges that can lead to electro-static discharge and particle attraction. These units emit equal numbers of positive and negative ions and require no calibration or adjustments. The narrow profile minimizes any disruption to laminar flow inside the hood.
H7 – Rear Plenum for Internal Air Recirculation: An adjustable rear plenum on the back wall of the hood recirculates air to minimize turbulence in the work area and extend filter life.
H8 – Peripheral Air Return Ducts: Return air ducts help maintain laminar flow and keep particles out. Horizontal laminar flow stations feature return ducts along the bottom and side edges of the front opening. These ducts reduce backwash caused by placing objects near the work surface edge, a common source of turbulence inside a clean bench. On less sophisticated systems, an object placed near the front edge of a horizontal air-stream interrupts the laminar flow and provides an opportunity for unfiltered air to wash back into the work area, bringing contaminants with it.
H9 – Duplex Power Outlets: GFCI power receptacles installed on the interior of the hood provide operational convenience. Alternative mounting locations can be specified at time of order.
H10 – Utility Valves: Ball valves (petcocks) are available for utilities such as nitrogen, compressed air, vacuum, DI water, or other process gases. Valves are available in chrome-plated steel or ABS plastic.
H11 – Casters: Casters offer greater mobility for free-standing hoods. They allow hassle-free movement to different locations and facilitate cleaning under and around the work area.
ValuLine™ Vertical Laminar Flow Workstations
A – Air Flow Direction
(back to chart)
There are compelling reasons to choose either airflow system depending on clearance requirements, process location, work surface design, and operator safety. Below is a brief comparison (read more on horizontal vs vertical laminar flow hoods).
A1 – Vertical Laminar Flow: Vertical laminar flow hoods are often selected because they resemble, on a smaller scale, the design of a laminar flow cleanroom, in which fan/filter units (FFUs) are typically positioned in the ceiling
Advantages
- Design fits within a smaller footprint, encompassing less work space.
- Isolated work surface and anti-vibration tables are available for vibration-sensitive work.
- Easier to configure for tall equipment or processes requiring more vertical space.
- The filter, installed above the work surface, is more accessible for maintenance and testing.
A2 – Horizontal Laminar Flow: A horizontal-flow hood requires additional depth to accommodate the rear-mount FFUs with some additional rear clearance to allow air to enter the system. These clearance requirements necessitate a deeper bench and more floor space than a vertical flow system.
Advantages
- Laminar airflow is parallel to work surface, reducing turbulent effects that can occur from vertical airflow striking perpendicular to work surface.
- Easier to position and stagger sterile equipment and materials on work surface closer to the filter face (upstream from other potential contaminants).
- Hands and gloves can rest downstream of samples, less likely to contaminate operations.
B – Format
(back to chart)
B1 – Free-Standing: Free-standing or floor mounted laminar flow hoods are larger in size, mimicking a mini-cleanroom setup. They are more suitable for large equipment or processes that require more open space. Free-standing laminar flow hoods are also generally more suitable for vibration sensitive applications, since they can be configured with a separate work table inside the hood.
B2 – Benchtop: Benchtop laminar flow hoods are generally smaller in size and therefore can offer greater portability to move and mount onto different work surfaces. They may, however, pose a problem for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy. Certain benchtop laminar flow hoods are available with vibration isolation stands to alleviate this problem.
C – Front Shield
(back to chart)
C1 – Motorized Sliding Shield: Motorized access shields are designed for large, free-standing vertical laminar flow hoods to help improve laminar flow. The position can be lowered to allow partial access to perform work while simultaneously maintaining a protected laminar flow environment. The automatic sliding shield is rated for millions of operations and is connected to a touch-screen PLC controller for easy operation.
C2 – Tilt-Up Shield: Manual tilt-up shields offer a low-cost access and protection solution for laminar flow hoods. The shield helps preserve laminar airflow while simultaneously providing sufficient access to work inside the hood. A hinged shield also allows for easy equipment access and maintenance. They are included with most benchtop hoods and some free-standing hood designs.
C3 – No Shield: Depending on airflow direction, a shield can sometimes inhibit laminar airflow or access to equipment. Some applications using horizontal laminar flow hoods forgo a shield to improve laminar airflow that runs parallel to the work surface.
C4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
D – Filter Alarm
(back to chart)
D1 – Automatic Alarm System: Filter replacement alarm systems provide automatic replacement alerts to avoid costly and unexpected operational interruptions. They can also improve safety by preventing electrical/fire hazards caused by overworked motors pushing against overloaded HEPA filters. Free-standing vertical laminar flow stations include a programmable filter back-pressure alarm that is integrated into a touch-screen PLC panel. Other laminar flow hoods can be configured with Terra’s add-on filter replacement alarm system. The add-on system also allows control of the differential pressure set-point to adjust frequency of filter replacement. It includes a visual differential pressure gauge, visual flashing indicator light, and an audible buzzer with silencer that sounds when set point level is exceeded.
D2 – Visual Differential Pressure Gauge: Stand-alone visual differential pressure gauges can be configured to most laminar flow hoods to help monitor and control airflow in a laminar flow hood. This simple monitoring device with a low up-front cost helps confirm the hood is operating and supplying proper airflow. However airflow control and filter replacement monitoring can be more susceptible to human error since the stand-alone pressure gauge does not include an automatic alarm system.
E – Work Surface
(back to chart)
E1 – Vibration Isolated: Laminar flow hoods compatible with vibration isolated work surfaces can be configured to fit a separate work table inside the hood. They are recommended for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy.
E2 – Integrated: Laminar flow hoods with built-in cleanroom-compliant work surfaces can enhance cleanliness and safety. Because the attached workstation transmits fan vibration, this design is not recommended for delicate operations with microscopes, scales, balances, or other precision instruments.
F – Frame Material
(back to chart)
F1 – 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
F2 – Powder Coated Steel: Powder-coated steel offers a lower cost alternative to stainless steel that is still more durable and rigid than plastic designs. Powder-coated steel has slightly lower chemical and moisture resistance compared to stainless steel.
F3 – Polypropylene Plastic: Opaque polypropylene is most suitable for wet chemistry applications. It offers excellent chemical resistance against common acids, solvents, and disinfectants. The solid polypropylene frame features continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G – Side Panels
(back to chart)
G1 – Interchangeable Plastic Side Panels: Removable side-panels increase the versatility of your hood by improving visibility and/or simplifying equipment access and maintenance. The side-panels are lined with foam gasket and slide into the hood’s frame for a simple yet effective sealed fit, free of troublesome fasteners or screws. Side panels can also be configured with application specific materials to help support required conditions inside the hood, such as:
- Visibility
- Light sensitivity
- Electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety
- Chemical resistance
- Thermal extremes
Below is a list of standard side-panel materials:
- Clear Acrylic
- Static-Dissipative PVC (SDPVC)
- Polycarbonate
- Black Acrylic
- Amber Acrylic
- FM4910 Polypropylene
- FM4910 CPVC
- White Acrylic
G2 – Solid Steel: Laminar flow hoods with solid steel walls are most suitable for critical cleanliness applications that require frequent disinfection. The design simplifies cleaning by minimizing cracks and crevices where particles or germs can collect.
G3 – Solid Polypropylene Plastic: Polypropylene hoods are most suitable for wet chemistry applications. The solid polypropylene frame and walls feature continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 – Energy-Efficient EC FFUs: Energy efficient FFUs offer lower operating costs, longer service life, and precision control of fan speed.
H2 – Room-Side Filter Replacement: Room-side replaceable (RSR) filters drastically simplify filter replacement. These filters can be easily removed and replaced without disassembling the bulky FFU from the hood. RSR filters feature a gel-seal to form a tight seal against the "knife-edge" on the blower housing.
H3 – Explosion-Proof Design: An explosion-proof laminar flow hood is designed to work in hazardous areas with risk of ignition due to flammable fumes or explosive dusts. All electrical components in explosion-proof hood designs are rated compliant for hazardous locations Class I, Division 1, Groups C & D and Class II, Division 1, Groups F ∓ G. This includes the fan filter unit (FFU), LED lights, wiring, and on/off switches.
H4 – ULPA filter: HEPA filters are rated 99.99% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.3 microns. ULPA filters are rated 99.999% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.12 microns. ULPA filters are suitable for achieving sub-class 100 particle counts. However due to the denser filter media, ULPA filters have more restricted airflow which can negatively affect flow rate and air changes per hour (ACH) within the work area.
H5 – Germicidal UV Lamp: UV lights can be built into laminar flow hoods to help decontaminate the hood after use. The UVC disinfection Module includes a timer plus "exposure switch" to protect users from exposure to harmful UV light.
H6 – Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar: Intrinsically safe low-voltage ionizing bars mount to a fan/filter unit inside a laminar flow hood to neutralize static charges that can lead to electro-static discharge and particle attraction. These units emit equal numbers of positive and negative ions and require no calibration or adjustments. The narrow profile minimizes any disruption to laminar flow inside the hood.
H7 – Rear Plenum for Internal Air Recirculation: An adjustable rear plenum on the back wall of the hood recirculates air to minimize turbulence in the work area and extend filter life.
H8 – Peripheral Air Return Ducts: Return air ducts help maintain laminar flow and keep particles out. Horizontal laminar flow stations feature return ducts along the bottom and side edges of the front opening. These ducts reduce backwash caused by placing objects near the work surface edge, a common source of turbulence inside a clean bench. On less sophisticated systems, an object placed near the front edge of a horizontal air-stream interrupts the laminar flow and provides an opportunity for unfiltered air to wash back into the work area, bringing contaminants with it.
H9 – Duplex Power Outlets: GFCI power receptacles installed on the interior of the hood provide operational convenience. Alternative mounting locations can be specified at time of order.
H10 – Utility Valves: Ball valves (petcocks) are available for utilities such as nitrogen, compressed air, vacuum, DI water, or other process gases. Valves are available in chrome-plated steel or ABS plastic.
H11 – Casters: Casters offer greater mobility for free-standing hoods. They allow hassle-free movement to different locations and facilitate cleaning under and around the work area.
BioSafe® Benchtop Vertical Laminar Flow Hoods
A – Air Flow Direction
(back to chart)
There are compelling reasons to choose either airflow system depending on clearance requirements, process location, work surface design, and operator safety. Below is a brief comparison (read more on horizontal vs vertical laminar flow hoods).
A1 – Vertical Laminar Flow: Vertical laminar flow hoods are often selected because they resemble, on a smaller scale, the design of a laminar flow cleanroom, in which fan/filter units (FFUs) are typically positioned in the ceiling
Advantages
- Design fits within a smaller footprint, encompassing less work space.
- Isolated work surface and anti-vibration tables are available for vibration-sensitive work.
- Easier to configure for tall equipment or processes requiring more vertical space.
- The filter, installed above the work surface, is more accessible for maintenance and testing.
A2 – Horizontal Laminar Flow: A horizontal-flow hood requires additional depth to accommodate the rear-mount FFUs with some additional rear clearance to allow air to enter the system. These clearance requirements necessitate a deeper bench and more floor space than a vertical flow system.
Advantages
- Laminar airflow is parallel to work surface, reducing turbulent effects that can occur from vertical airflow striking perpendicular to work surface.
- Easier to position and stagger sterile equipment and materials on work surface closer to the filter face (upstream from other potential contaminants).
- Hands and gloves can rest downstream of samples, less likely to contaminate operations.
B – Format
(back to chart)
B1 – Free-Standing: Free-standing or floor mounted laminar flow hoods are larger in size, mimicking a mini-cleanroom setup. They are more suitable for large equipment or processes that require more open space. Free-standing laminar flow hoods are also generally more suitable for vibration sensitive applications, since they can be configured with a separate work table inside the hood.
B2 – Benchtop: Benchtop laminar flow hoods are generally smaller in size and therefore can offer greater portability to move and mount onto different work surfaces. They may, however, pose a problem for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy. Certain benchtop laminar flow hoods are available with vibration isolation stands to alleviate this problem.
C – Front Shield
(back to chart)
C1 – Motorized Sliding Shield: Motorized access shields are designed for large, free-standing vertical laminar flow hoods to help improve laminar flow. The position can be lowered to allow partial access to perform work while simultaneously maintaining a protected laminar flow environment. The automatic sliding shield is rated for millions of operations and is connected to a touch-screen PLC controller for easy operation.
C2 – Tilt-Up Shield: Manual tilt-up shields offer a low-cost access and protection solution for laminar flow hoods. The shield helps preserve laminar airflow while simultaneously providing sufficient access to work inside the hood. A hinged shield also allows for easy equipment access and maintenance. They are included with most benchtop hoods and some free-standing hood designs.
C3 – No Shield: Depending on airflow direction, a shield can sometimes inhibit laminar airflow or access to equipment. Some applications using horizontal laminar flow hoods forgo a shield to improve laminar airflow that runs parallel to the work surface.
C4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
D – Filter Alarm
(back to chart)
D1 – Automatic Alarm System: Filter replacement alarm systems provide automatic replacement alerts to avoid costly and unexpected operational interruptions. They can also improve safety by preventing electrical/fire hazards caused by overworked motors pushing against overloaded HEPA filters. Free-standing vertical laminar flow stations include a programmable filter back-pressure alarm that is integrated into a touch-screen PLC panel. Other laminar flow hoods can be configured with Terra’s add-on filter replacement alarm system. The add-on system also allows control of the differential pressure set-point to adjust frequency of filter replacement. It includes a visual differential pressure gauge, visual flashing indicator light, and an audible buzzer with silencer that sounds when set point level is exceeded.
D2 – Visual Differential Pressure Gauge: Stand-alone visual differential pressure gauges can be configured to most laminar flow hoods to help monitor and control airflow in a laminar flow hood. This simple monitoring device with a low up-front cost helps confirm the hood is operating and supplying proper airflow. However airflow control and filter replacement monitoring can be more susceptible to human error since the stand-alone pressure gauge does not include an automatic alarm system.
E – Work Surface
(back to chart)
E1 – Vibration Isolated: Laminar flow hoods compatible with vibration isolated work surfaces can be configured to fit a separate work table inside the hood. They are recommended for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy.
E2 – Integrated: Laminar flow hoods with built-in cleanroom-compliant work surfaces can enhance cleanliness and safety. Because the attached workstation transmits fan vibration, this design is not recommended for delicate operations with microscopes, scales, balances, or other precision instruments.
F – Frame Material
(back to chart)
F1 – 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
F2 – Powder Coated Steel: Powder-coated steel offers a lower cost alternative to stainless steel that is still more durable and rigid than plastic designs. Powder-coated steel has slightly lower chemical and moisture resistance compared to stainless steel.
F3 – Polypropylene Plastic: Opaque polypropylene is most suitable for wet chemistry applications. It offers excellent chemical resistance against common acids, solvents, and disinfectants. The solid polypropylene frame features continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G –Side Panels
(back to chart)
G1 – Interchangeable Plastic Side Panels: Removable side-panels increase the versatility of your hood by improving visibility and/or simplifying equipment access and maintenance. The side-panels are lined with foam gasket and slide into the hood’s frame for a simple yet effective sealed fit, free of troublesome fasteners or screws. Side panels can also be configured with application specific materials to help support required conditions inside the hood, such as:
- Visibility
- Light sensitivity
- Electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety
- Chemical resistance
- Thermal extremes
Below is a list of standard side-panel materials:
- Clear Acrylic
- Static-Dissipative PVC (SDPVC)
- Polycarbonate
- Black Acrylic
- Amber Acrylic
- FM4910 Polypropylene
- FM4910 CPVC
- White Acrylic
G2 – Solid Steel: Laminar flow hoods with solid steel walls are most suitable for critical cleanliness applications that require frequent disinfection. The design simplifies cleaning by minimizing cracks and crevices where particles or germs can collect.
G3 – Solid Polypropylene Plastic: Polypropylene hoods are most suitable for wet chemistry applications. The solid polypropylene frame and walls feature continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 – Energy-Efficient EC FFUs: Energy efficient FFUs offer lower operating costs, longer service life, and precision control of fan speed.
H2 – Room-Side Filter Replacement: Room-side replaceable (RSR) filters drastically simplify filter replacement. These filters can be easily removed and replaced without disassembling the bulky FFU from the hood. RSR filters feature a gel-seal to form a tight seal against the "knife-edge" on the blower housing.
H3 – Explosion-Proof Design: An explosion-proof laminar flow hood is designed to work in hazardous areas with risk of ignition due to flammable fumes or explosive dusts. All electrical components in explosion-proof hood designs are rated compliant for hazardous locations Class I, Division 1, Groups C & D and Class II, Division 1, Groups F ∓ G. This includes the fan filter unit (FFU), LED lights, wiring, and on/off switches.
H4 – ULPA filter: HEPA filters are rated 99.99% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.3 microns. ULPA filters are rated 99.999% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.12 microns. ULPA filters are suitable for achieving sub-class 100 particle counts. However due to the denser filter media, ULPA filters have more restricted airflow which can negatively affect flow rate and air changes per hour (ACH) within the work area.
H5 – Germicidal UV Lamp: UV lights can be built into laminar flow hoods to help decontaminate the hood after use. The UVC disinfection Module includes a timer plus "exposure switch" to protect users from exposure to harmful UV light.
H6 – Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar: Intrinsically safe low-voltage ionizing bars mount to a fan/filter unit inside a laminar flow hood to neutralize static charges that can lead to electro-static discharge and particle attraction. These units emit equal numbers of positive and negative ions and require no calibration or adjustments. The narrow profile minimizes any disruption to laminar flow inside the hood.
H7 – Rear Plenum for Internal Air Recirculation: An adjustable rear plenum on the back wall of the hood recirculates air to minimize turbulence in the work area and extend filter life.
H8 – Peripheral Air Return Ducts: Return air ducts help maintain laminar flow and keep particles out. Horizontal laminar flow stations feature return ducts along the bottom and side edges of the front opening. These ducts reduce backwash caused by placing objects near the work surface edge, a common source of turbulence inside a clean bench. On less sophisticated systems, an object placed near the front edge of a horizontal air-stream interrupts the laminar flow and provides an opportunity for unfiltered air to wash back into the work area, bringing contaminants with it.
H9 – Duplex Power Outlets: GFCI power receptacles installed on the interior of the hood provide operational convenience. Alternative mounting locations can be specified at time of order.
H10 – Utility Valves: Ball valves (petcocks) are available for utilities such as nitrogen, compressed air, vacuum, DI water, or other process gases. Valves are available in chrome-plated steel or ABS plastic.
H11 – Casters: Casters offer greater mobility for free-standing hoods. They allow hassle-free movement to different locations and facilitate cleaning under and around the work area.
ValuLine™ Portable Laminar Flow Hoods
A – Air Flow Direction
(back to chart)
There are compelling reasons to choose either airflow system depending on clearance requirements, process location, work surface design, and operator safety. Below is a brief comparison (read more on horizontal vs vertical laminar flow hoods).
A1 – Vertical Laminar Flow: Vertical laminar flow hoods are often selected because they resemble, on a smaller scale, the design of a laminar flow cleanroom, in which fan/filter units (FFUs) are typically positioned in the ceiling
Advantages
- Design fits within a smaller footprint, encompassing less work space.
- Isolated work surface and anti-vibration tables are available for vibration-sensitive work.
- Easier to configure for tall equipment or processes requiring more vertical space.
- The filter, installed above the work surface, is more accessible for maintenance and testing.
A2 – Horizontal Laminar Flow: A horizontal-flow hood requires additional depth to accommodate the rear-mount FFUs with some additional rear clearance to allow air to enter the system. These clearance requirements necessitate a deeper bench and more floor space than a vertical flow system.
Advantages
- Laminar airflow is parallel to work surface, reducing turbulent effects that can occur from vertical airflow striking perpendicular to work surface.
- Easier to position and stagger sterile equipment and materials on work surface closer to the filter face (upstream from other potential contaminants).
- Hands and gloves can rest downstream of samples, less likely to contaminate operations.
B – Format
(back to chart)
B1 – Free-Standing: Free-standing or floor mounted laminar flow hoods are larger in size, mimicking a mini-cleanroom setup. They are more suitable for large equipment or processes that require more open space. Free-standing laminar flow hoods are also generally more suitable for vibration sensitive applications, since they can be configured with a separate work table inside the hood.
B2 – Benchtop: Benchtop laminar flow hoods are generally smaller in size and therefore can offer greater portability to move and mount onto different work surfaces. They may, however, pose a problem for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy. Certain benchtop laminar flow hoods are available with vibration isolation stands to alleviate this problem.
C – Front Shield
(back to chart)
C1 – Motorized Sliding Shield: Motorized access shields are designed for large, free-standing vertical laminar flow hoods to help improve laminar flow. The position can be lowered to allow partial access to perform work while simultaneously maintaining a protected laminar flow environment. The automatic sliding shield is rated for millions of operations and is connected to a touch-screen PLC controller for easy operation.
C2 – Tilt-Up Shield: Manual tilt-up shields offer a low-cost access and protection solution for laminar flow hoods. The shield helps preserve laminar airflow while simultaneously providing sufficient access to work inside the hood. A hinged shield also allows for easy equipment access and maintenance. They are included with most benchtop hoods and some free-standing hood designs.
C3 – No Shield: Depending on airflow direction, a shield can sometimes inhibit laminar airflow or access to equipment. Some applications using horizontal laminar flow hoods forgo a shield to improve laminar airflow that runs parallel to the work surface.
C4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
D – Filter Alarm
(back to chart)
D1 – Automatic Alarm System: Filter replacement alarm systems provide automatic replacement alerts to avoid costly and unexpected operational interruptions. They can also improve safety by preventing electrical/fire hazards caused by overworked motors pushing against overloaded HEPA filters. Free-standing vertical laminar flow stations include a programmable filter back-pressure alarm that is integrated into a touch-screen PLC panel. Other laminar flow hoods can be configured with Terra’s add-on filter replacement alarm system. The add-on system also allows control of the differential pressure set-point to adjust frequency of filter replacement. It includes a visual differential pressure gauge, visual flashing indicator light, and an audible buzzer with silencer that sounds when set point level is exceeded.
D2 – Visual Differential Pressure Gauge: Stand-alone visual differential pressure gauges can be configured to most laminar flow hoods to help monitor and control airflow in a laminar flow hood. This simple monitoring device with a low up-front cost helps confirm the hood is operating and supplying proper airflow. However airflow control and filter replacement monitoring can be more susceptible to human error since the stand-alone pressure gauge does not include an automatic alarm system.
E – Work Surface
(back to chart)
E1 – Vibration Isolated: Laminar flow hoods compatible with vibration isolated work surfaces can be configured to fit a separate work table inside the hood. They are recommended for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy.
E2 – Integrated: Laminar flow hoods with built-in cleanroom-compliant work surfaces can enhance cleanliness and safety. Because the attached workstation transmits fan vibration, this design is not recommended for delicate operations with microscopes, scales, balances, or other precision instruments.
F – Frame Material
(back to chart)
F1 – 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
F2 – Powder Coated Steel: Powder-coated steel offers a lower cost alternative to stainless steel that is still more durable and rigid than plastic designs. Powder-coated steel has slightly lower chemical and moisture resistance compared to stainless steel.
F3 – Polypropylene Plastic: Opaque polypropylene is most suitable for wet chemistry applications. It offers excellent chemical resistance against common acids, solvents, and disinfectants. The solid polypropylene frame features continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G – Side Panels
(back to chart)
G1 – Interchangeable Plastic Side Panels: Removable side-panels increase the versatility of your hood by improving visibility and/or simplifying equipment access and maintenance. The side-panels are lined with foam gasket and slide into the hood’s frame for a simple yet effective sealed fit, free of troublesome fasteners or screws. Side panels can also be configured with application specific materials to help support required conditions inside the hood, such as:
- Visibility
- Light sensitivity
- Electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety
- Chemical resistance
- Thermal extremes
Below is a list of standard side-panel materials:
- Clear Acrylic
- Static-Dissipative PVC (SDPVC)
- Polycarbonate
- Black Acrylic
- Amber Acrylic
- FM4910 Polypropylene
- FM4910 CPVC
- White Acrylic
G2 – Solid Steel: Laminar flow hoods with solid steel walls are most suitable for critical cleanliness applications that require frequent disinfection. The design simplifies cleaning by minimizing cracks and crevices where particles or germs can collect.
G3 – Solid Polypropylene Plastic: Polypropylene hoods are most suitable for wet chemistry applications. The solid polypropylene frame and walls feature continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 – Energy-Efficient EC FFUs: Energy efficient FFUs offer lower operating costs, longer service life, and precision control of fan speed.
H2 – Room-Side Filter Replacement: Room-side replaceable (RSR) filters drastically simplify filter replacement. These filters can be easily removed and replaced without disassembling the bulky FFU from the hood. RSR filters feature a gel-seal to form a tight seal against the "knife-edge" on the blower housing.
H3 – Explosion-Proof Design: An explosion-proof laminar flow hood is designed to work in hazardous areas with risk of ignition due to flammable fumes or explosive dusts. All electrical components in explosion-proof hood designs are rated compliant for hazardous locations Class I, Division 1, Groups C & D and Class II, Division 1, Groups F ∓ G. This includes the fan filter unit (FFU), LED lights, wiring, and on/off switches.
H4 – ULPA filter: HEPA filters are rated 99.99% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.3 microns. ULPA filters are rated 99.999% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.12 microns. ULPA filters are suitable for achieving sub-class 100 particle counts. However due to the denser filter media, ULPA filters have more restricted airflow which can negatively affect flow rate and air changes per hour (ACH) within the work area.
H5 – Germicidal UV Lamp: UV lights can be built into laminar flow hoods to help decontaminate the hood after use. The UVC disinfection Module includes a timer plus "exposure switch" to protect users from exposure to harmful UV light.
H6 – Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar: Intrinsically safe low-voltage ionizing bars mount to a fan/filter unit inside a laminar flow hood to neutralize static charges that can lead to electro-static discharge and particle attraction. These units emit equal numbers of positive and negative ions and require no calibration or adjustments. The narrow profile minimizes any disruption to laminar flow inside the hood.
H7 – Rear Plenum for Internal Air Recirculation: An adjustable rear plenum on the back wall of the hood recirculates air to minimize turbulence in the work area and extend filter life.
H8 – Peripheral Air Return Ducts: Return air ducts help maintain laminar flow and keep particles out. Horizontal laminar flow stations feature return ducts along the bottom and side edges of the front opening. These ducts reduce backwash caused by placing objects near the work surface edge, a common source of turbulence inside a clean bench. On less sophisticated systems, an object placed near the front edge of a horizontal air-stream interrupts the laminar flow and provides an opportunity for unfiltered air to wash back into the work area, bringing contaminants with it.
H9 – Duplex Power Outlets: GFCI power receptacles installed on the interior of the hood provide operational convenience. Alternative mounting locations can be specified at time of order.
H10 – Utility Valves: Ball valves (petcocks) are available for utilities such as nitrogen, compressed air, vacuum, DI water, or other process gases. Valves are available in chrome-plated steel or ABS plastic.
H11 – Casters: Casters offer greater mobility for free-standing hoods. They allow hassle-free movement to different locations and facilitate cleaning under and around the work area.
Explosion-Proof Hoods
Fume Hoods
A – Air Flow Direction
(back to chart)
There are compelling reasons to choose either airflow system depending on clearance requirements, process location, work surface design, and operator safety. Below is a brief comparison (read more on horizontal vs vertical laminar flow hoods).
A1 – Vertical Laminar Flow: Vertical laminar flow hoods are often selected because they resemble, on a smaller scale, the design of a laminar flow cleanroom, in which fan/filter units (FFUs) are typically positioned in the ceiling
Advantages
- Design fits within a smaller footprint, encompassing less work space.
- Isolated work surface and anti-vibration tables are available for vibration-sensitive work.
- Easier to configure for tall equipment or processes requiring more vertical space.
- The filter, installed above the work surface, is more accessible for maintenance and testing.
A2 – Horizontal Laminar Flow: A horizontal-flow hood requires additional depth to accommodate the rear-mount FFUs with some additional rear clearance to allow air to enter the system. These clearance requirements necessitate a deeper bench and more floor space than a vertical flow system.
Advantages
- Laminar airflow is parallel to work surface, reducing turbulent effects that can occur from vertical airflow striking perpendicular to work surface.
- Easier to position and stagger sterile equipment and materials on work surface closer to the filter face (upstream from other potential contaminants).
- Hands and gloves can rest downstream of samples, less likely to contaminate operations.
B – Format
(back to chart)
B1 – Free-Standing: Free-standing or floor mounted laminar flow hoods are larger in size, mimicking a mini-cleanroom setup. They are more suitable for large equipment or processes that require more open space. Free-standing laminar flow hoods are also generally more suitable for vibration sensitive applications, since they can be configured with a separate work table inside the hood.
B2 – Benchtop: Benchtop laminar flow hoods are generally smaller in size and therefore can offer greater portability to move and mount onto different work surfaces. They may, however, pose a problem for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy. Certain benchtop laminar flow hoods are available with vibration isolation stands to alleviate this problem.
C – Front Shield
(back to chart)
C1 – Motorized Sliding Shield: Motorized access shields are designed for large, free-standing vertical laminar flow hoods to help improve laminar flow. The position can be lowered to allow partial access to perform work while simultaneously maintaining a protected laminar flow environment. The automatic sliding shield is rated for millions of operations and is connected to a touch-screen PLC controller for easy operation.
C2 – Tilt-Up Shield: Manual tilt-up shields offer a low-cost access and protection solution for laminar flow hoods. The shield helps preserve laminar airflow while simultaneously providing sufficient access to work inside the hood. A hinged shield also allows for easy equipment access and maintenance. They are included with most benchtop hoods and some free-standing hood designs.
C3 – No Shield: Depending on airflow direction, a shield can sometimes inhibit laminar airflow or access to equipment. Some applications using horizontal laminar flow hoods forgo a shield to improve laminar airflow that runs parallel to the work surface.
C4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
D – Filter Alarm
(back to chart)
D1 – Automatic Alarm System: Filter replacement alarm systems provide automatic replacement alerts to avoid costly and unexpected operational interruptions. They can also improve safety by preventing electrical/fire hazards caused by overworked motors pushing against overloaded HEPA filters. Free-standing vertical laminar flow stations include a programmable filter back-pressure alarm that is integrated into a touch-screen PLC panel. Other laminar flow hoods can be configured with Terra’s add-on filter replacement alarm system. The add-on system also allows control of the differential pressure set-point to adjust frequency of filter replacement. It includes a visual differential pressure gauge, visual flashing indicator light, and an audible buzzer with silencer that sounds when set point level is exceeded.
D2 – Visual Differential Pressure Gauge: Stand-alone visual differential pressure gauges can be configured to most laminar flow hoods to help monitor and control airflow in a laminar flow hood. This simple monitoring device with a low up-front cost helps confirm the hood is operating and supplying proper airflow. However airflow control and filter replacement monitoring can be more susceptible to human error since the stand-alone pressure gauge does not include an automatic alarm system.
E – Work Surface
(back to chart)
E1 – Vibration Isolated: Laminar flow hoods compatible with vibration isolated work surfaces can be configured to fit a separate work table inside the hood. They are recommended for vibration sensitive applications such as microscopy.
E2 – Integrated: Laminar flow hoods with built-in cleanroom-compliant work surfaces can enhance cleanliness and safety. Because the attached workstation transmits fan vibration, this design is not recommended for delicate operations with microscopes, scales, balances, or other precision instruments.
F – Frame Material
(back to chart)
F1 – 304 Stainless Steel: 304-grade stainless steel resists most harsh chemicals and alcohol-based cleaning agents, and won’t produce contaminants during sterilization.
F2 – Powder Coated Steel: Powder-coated steel offers a lower cost alternative to stainless steel that is still more durable and rigid than plastic designs. Powder-coated steel has slightly lower chemical and moisture resistance compared to stainless steel.
F3 – Polypropylene Plastic: Opaque polypropylene is most suitable for wet chemistry applications. It offers excellent chemical resistance against common acids, solvents, and disinfectants. The solid polypropylene frame features continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G – Side Panels
(back to chart)
G1 – Interchangeable Plastic Side Panels: Removable side-panels increase the versatility of your hood by improving visibility and/or simplifying equipment access and maintenance. The side-panels are lined with foam gasket and slide into the hood’s frame for a simple yet effective sealed fit, free of troublesome fasteners or screws. Side panels can also be configured with application specific materials to help support required conditions inside the hood, such as:
- Visibility
- Light sensitivity
- Electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety
- Chemical resistance
- Thermal extremes
Below is a list of standard side-panel materials:
- Clear Acrylic
- Static-Dissipative PVC (SDPVC)
- Polycarbonate
- Black Acrylic
- Amber Acrylic
- FM4910 Polypropylene
- FM4910 CPVC
- White Acrylic
G2 – Solid Steel: Laminar flow hoods with solid steel walls are most suitable for critical cleanliness applications that require frequent disinfection. The design simplifies cleaning by minimizing cracks and crevices where particles or germs can collect.
G3 – Solid Polypropylene Plastic: Polypropylene hoods are most suitable for wet chemistry applications. The solid polypropylene frame and walls feature continuous-seam welds for easy cleaning and maximum protection against chemical splashes and spills.
G4 – Strip Curtains: Strip curtains are designed for large free-standing laminar flow clean booths or mini-cleanrooms. They can drape from ceiling to floor, making them suitable as barriers or entryways for personnel or large equipment. They are also easy to replace and available in several material types, such as ESD safe, non-outgassing, and opaque formulations.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 – Energy-Efficient EC FFUs: Energy efficient FFUs offer lower operating costs, longer service life, and precision control of fan speed.
H2 – Room-Side Filter Replacement: Room-side replaceable (RSR) filters drastically simplify filter replacement. These filters can be easily removed and replaced without disassembling the bulky FFU from the hood. RSR filters feature a gel-seal to form a tight seal against the "knife-edge" on the blower housing.
H3 – Explosion-Proof Design: An explosion-proof laminar flow hood is designed to work in hazardous areas with risk of ignition due to flammable fumes or explosive dusts. All electrical components in explosion-proof hood designs are rated compliant for hazardous locations Class I, Division 1, Groups C & D and Class II, Division 1, Groups F ∓ G. This includes the fan filter unit (FFU), LED lights, wiring, and on/off switches.
H4 – ULPA filter: HEPA filters are rated 99.99% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.3 microns. ULPA filters are rated 99.999% efficient at filtering particles down to 0.12 microns. ULPA filters are suitable for achieving sub-class 100 particle counts. However due to the denser filter media, ULPA filters have more restricted airflow which can negatively affect flow rate and air changes per hour (ACH) within the work area.
H5 – Germicidal UV Lamp: UV lights can be built into laminar flow hoods to help decontaminate the hood after use. The UVC disinfection Module includes a timer plus "exposure switch" to protect users from exposure to harmful UV light.
H6 – Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar: Intrinsically safe low-voltage ionizing bars mount to a fan/filter unit inside a laminar flow hood to neutralize static charges that can lead to electro-static discharge and particle attraction. These units emit equal numbers of positive and negative ions and require no calibration or adjustments. The narrow profile minimizes any disruption to laminar flow inside the hood.
H7 – Rear Plenum for Internal Air Recirculation: An adjustable rear plenum on the back wall of the hood recirculates air to minimize turbulence in the work area and extend filter life.
H8 – Peripheral Air Return Ducts: Return air ducts help maintain laminar flow and keep particles out. Horizontal laminar flow stations feature return ducts along the bottom and side edges of the front opening. These ducts reduce backwash caused by placing objects near the work surface edge, a common source of turbulence inside a clean bench. On less sophisticated systems, an object placed near the front edge of a horizontal air-stream interrupts the laminar flow and provides an opportunity for unfiltered air to wash back into the work area, bringing contaminants with it.
H9 – Duplex Power Outlets: GFCI power receptacles installed on the interior of the hood provide operational convenience. Alternative mounting locations can be specified at time of order.
H10 – Utility Valves: Ball valves (petcocks) are available for utilities such as nitrogen, compressed air, vacuum, DI water, or other process gases. Valves are available in chrome-plated steel or ABS plastic.
H11 – Casters: Casters offer greater mobility for free-standing hoods. They allow hassle-free movement to different locations and facilitate cleaning under and around the work area.
Explosion-Proof Hoods
Glove Boxes & Isolators
A - Humidity/Moisture Control
(back to chart)
A1 - High Humidity (Above Ambient to 95% RH)
Terra’s Humex™ 2 humidity controller is suitable for a wide range of above-ambient target humidity levels and is cross-compatible with many other Terra systems. When paired with Terra’s Dual Purge and NitroWatch systems, chamber RH is adjustable for higher or lower RH levels in the glovebox.
The Humex 2 uses an inline humidity sensor installed inside the enclosure to monitor the relative humidity (RH) level. As soon as the %RH falls below a user-selected threshold, a relay inside the Humex activates the heater and a solenoid valve for water vapor. The low-volume steam output helps to minimize water condensation. Once the %RH set-point is attained, the Humex turns off the heater and water flow.
A2 - Low Humidity/Oxygen (5% RH)
Applications requiring low humidity down to 5% RH can be configured with manual flow-meters or Terra’s automatic gas-purge control systems. Terra offers control systems for different applications and budgets.
Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: Terra Universal's Dual Purge™ and NitroWatch™ work together to fully automate moisture control inside a glove box or similar enclosure. This automatic Nitrogen purge control maintains use-specified sub-ambient RH set-point down to 0% ±1.5% RH. The variable-purge system uses high/low flow settings to conserve nitrogen. Programmable logic gives users complete control over warning alarms and other system functions for worry-free operation. The system can be upgraded to include built-in data logging.
Smart® glovebox system: The Smart® control system offers a simplified, lower-cost alternative to the Dual Purge and NitroWatch, ideal for enclosures less than 6 cubic feet. The system features a mini automatic control module mounted to the side of the glovebox. It includes a built-in RH Sensor and LED display to provide automatic RH setpoint control down to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. Low moisture conditions are maintained by automatically controlling the flow of dry purge gas, generally nitrogen, into the glove box. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases the efficiency of N2 gas consumption, cutting nitrogen costs up to 78% when compared to a manual flow meter gas delivery system. The system can encounter limitations and inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in chambers larger than 6 cubic feet.
Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller gloveboxes that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to high operating costs and damaged materials.
A3 - Ultra Low Moisture/Oxygen (<1% RH)
Critical applications may require moisture concentration levels below 1% RH, which can be measured in parts per million (PPM). Plastic gloveboxes are generally not suitable due to hygroscopic and permeable material properties, which allow moisture and oxygen to leak into the enclosure. Stainless steel gloveboxes offer the best moisture impermeability, making them ideal for ultra low moisture/oxygen applications such as organometallic chemistry, hydrophilic chemical handling, lithium battery production, microelectronics manufacturing, and hemoglobin research.
Gas purging for ultra low moisture/oxygen systems also requires a high volume of nitrogen (or other inert process gas). Gloveboxes and airlocks configured for negative pressure can use vacuum cycling to reduce nitrogen consumption and more rapidly remove moisture and oxygen-rich air.
Even with a plentiful supply of inert gas and a vacuum pump system, reaching ultra low levels with a manual purge control process can be extremely time consuming and require constant supervision. Terra offers a number of automatic purge systems and accessories to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ultra low moisture/oxygen gloveboxes:
The extreme sensitivity and precision of the DewWatch™ moisture control unit makes it suitable for the most demanding applications. It operates over the -80 to +20 degree C dew point range, which is equivalent to 0.5 PPMV to 23,000 PPMV in gases at 1 atmosphere. It interfaces with Terra's Dual Purge™ variable gas-flow system for completely automatic nitrogen purging.
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
B - Stainless Steel Design Configurations
(back to chart)
Stainless steel glove boxes are well suited for broad chemical compatibility, sterile-friendly cleaning, and impermeability to moisture/oxygen.
B1 - CleanSeam™ Design
Continuous Seam Welds: Glove boxes with CleanSeam™ design feature a fully welded single piece enclosure with seamless interiors to eliminate hard-to-clean cracks and crevices that can harbor contaminants. The continuous-seam welds are ground smooth to simplify cleaning and sterilization.
B2 - BioSafe® Design
Meets Aseptic Requirements: BioSafe glove boxes are ideal for life science applications and exceed cGMP, IEST, ASTM and ISO 14644-1 requirements. Continuous-seam welds eliminate hard to clean cracks and crevices that can harbor particles and microbes. Round, wide radius corners simplify complete sterilization.
BioSafe® Door with Knife-Edge Seal: BioSafe® Doors are removable for autoclaving and sterilization. A one-piece, heat-formed, non-adhesive gaskets won’t creep or outgas.
C - Vacuum Control
(back to chart)
Vacuum glove boxes are ideal for vacuum cycling and process gas backfilling. This provides a fast, economical way to achieve extremely low moisture and oxygen levels inside the chamber. During each cycle, a vacuum pump connected to the glovebox removes the chamber environment, and with it moisture and oxygen. Once air is removed, the chamber can be backfilled with an inert process gas until the chamber attains neutral pressure. This process is repeated as needed until oxygen or moisture concentration reach the desired level.
Advanced vacuum control modules automatically apply vacuum to maintain a precise set-point. They also help extend the service life of your vacuum pump by allowing continuous pump operation. Repeated starts and stops, especially under existing vacuum pressure, can lead to backstreaming of pump oil into the vacuum line, resulting in contamination and premature pump failure.
Terra also offers a complete line of vacuum pumps for laboratory and cleanroom operations that require clean, quiet performance.
C1 - Light Duty Vacuum (<20% or -5" Hg)
Terra’s stainless steel negative-pressure glove box designs offer a range of benefits for special applications that require only partial vacuum or slight negative pressure. Stainless steel outgasses less than acrylic, is easier to clean, has higher chemical resistance, and is well suited for higher temperature applications. Removable side panels and access doors also make it easy to transfer large equipment and materials. Continuous-seam welded vacuum glove box designs provide easy-to-clean interiors and reduce negative-pressure leak rates.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
C2 - Full Vacuum (99.9% or -29.9" Hg)
Acrylic Vacuum Glove Box designs are built with one-inch-thick walls to hold full vacuum down to 29.9" Hg (99.9% vacuum). These heavy-duty transparent vacuum gloveboxes include a built-in vacuum airlock to allow materials transfer with minimal disruption to the internal controlled atmosphere.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
D – Temperature Control
(back to chart)
D1 - Double-Wall Insulated Design
Double-wall, insulated glove box isolators boost thermal efficiency to create stable process temperatures and decrease the cost of heating and cooling cycles.
D2 - Constant Temperature Control System (-5°C to 49°C)
Constant temperature isolators provide cost-efficient stable heating and cooling cycles, making them suitable for accelerated-life testing of elastomers, fiber composites, and other materials.
Refrigerating and heating temperature control systems offer broad ranges, -20°F to +140°F (-29°C to 68°C). Temperature control systems can be paired with optional gas purge systems for humidity control (5% to 95% RH) and/or HEPA/ULPA filters to provide a low particle atmosphere.
D3 - Process Gas Heating (up to 176°C, 349°F)
Terra Universal’s Process Gas Heater provides a safe and accurate way to enhance a variety of sensitive operations requiring a heated process gas. Its programmable controller ensures safe, clean heating and provides over-temperature protection. Within a matter of seconds, it raises the temperature of the process gas (such as nitrogen, argon, or oxygen) up to 349°F. The thermostatic control ensures temperature stability. Its isolated heating system provides controlled heating without direct contact with the process gas for safe, non-contaminating operation.
The smart programmable temperature controller monitors and responds to gas temperature measured at either the outlet or inside a cabinet, continuously adjusting the temperature profile and guarding against temperature overshoot. A digital readout toggles between the user-defined set point and the actual gas temperature.
E – HEPA Filtered Air Flow
(back to chart)
A filtered glove box uses HEPA or ULPA filtration to enhance personnel and product protection by removing airborne particulates and powders inside the protective enclosure. These glove boxes are commonly used in labs that produce, mix, or package pharmaceutical or chemical powders. The Class 100/10 ultra-low particle environment also makes these units suitable for other material protection applications such as microelectronics, optics, cell culture, medical devices, micropropagation, genomics, proteomics, and cell biology.
Filtration glovebox systems are available in open-loop, closed-loop, and adjustable-flow configurations. They can also be configured for positive pressure to protect products inside the glove box, or negative pressure to protect personnel outside the glovebox.
E1 – Adjustable Open/Closed Loop Filtration
Adjustable-flow filtered glovebox systems offer the greatest versatility and are best for applications that require both open-loop and closed-loop circulation. Adjustable valves let you quickly switch modes and easily connect to external supply and exhaust systems.
E2 - Recirculating (Closed Loop) Filtration
Closed-loop filtration glove box systems continuously filter and recirculate air inside the glovebox, without introducing any ambient air. They are suitable for applications that require both a low-particle and controlled gas atmosphere. They can be combined with a process gas such as nitrogen to maintain a low-moisture, low-oxygen atmosphere inside the enclosure.
Some advantages of a closed-loop recirculating system include energy efficiency and protection from harmful process gases. A closed-loop design recycles preconditioned air or process gases to minimize heating, cooling, and consumption of process gas.
E3 - Single Pass (Open Loop) Filtration
Open-loop filtration glove box systems include an inlet and exit filter. The inlet filter removes microcontaminants from outside air drawn into the glove box. The exit filter captures fine particles from the exhaust, allowing the safe indoor release of exhaust air.
Single-pass configurations introduce filtered ambient air into the enclosure and are therefore not suitable for applications that require a low-moisture, low-oxygen, or similar controlled gas atmosphere.
F – Capacity
(back to chart)
F1 - Single Operator (Two Glove Ports)
Single operator configurations are both economical and compact, well-suited for smaller work areas, portable glovebox field-work, and equipment-dense areas in the lab.
F2 - Dual Operator (Four Glove Ports)
Multi-operator gloveboxes are widely customizable for optimal workflow. Samples often require passage from station to station and are introduced and removed via an air lock, which minimizes disruption of internal cleanliness and low-humidity conditions. Glove ports can be configured to the front, side, and/or rear of a glovebox with appropriate clearance.
One might consider other factors when opting for a larger, multi-operator glove box system. Selecting the ideal glove box system may also require long-term value consideration such as easy cleaning features, operator ergonomics, and upward compatibility.
G – Air Lock
(back to chart)
Airlocks mount on the right or left side of the glovebox to minimize cross-contamination when materials are transferred to and from the glovebox.
G1 - Inert Gas Air Lock
Inert gas airlocks are an economical option to minimize nitrogen loss and contamination inflow when materials are passed through the glove box. The airlock is connected to an inert gas line to purge out ambient air before the inside door is opened to allow materials to transfer into or out of the main chamber.
Inert gas airlocks are available in several configurations to streamline workflow. Airlocks can also be used to interconnect multiple gloveboxes in series.
G2 - Vacuum Antechamber
A vacuum antechamber can provide faster parts transfer than an airlock configured only with inert gas purge. After materials are loaded into the vacuum airlock, the operator uses a vacuum pump to initiate vacuum cycles that quickly remove ambient, moisture-laden air, and back-fill with an inert gas. The operator then opens the internal door from inside the glove box to bring materials into the work area.
G3 - Pass-Through Vacuum/Inert Gas Oven
High-performance vacuum ovens combine heat, inert gas, and negative pressure for the fastest removal of moisture and contaminants from materials transferring into a glovebox. They are designed to allow for easy attachment to the side of Terra’s stainless steel gloveboxes.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 - Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar
Ionizing bars provide a continuous stream of static-neutralizing ions that minimize electrostatic charges. This helps protect sensitive electronics from electrostatic discharge (ESD) and enhances cleanliness by neutralizing static cling, when charges attract and hold particles to surfaces.
Terra’s ionizing bar uses state-of-the-art technology to generate a balanced stream of positive and negative ions to neutralize surface static charges and safeguard ESD-sensitive materials. Ionizing bars for gloveboxes include one fan per pair of emitters to uniformly distribute ions through the glove box enclosure. The system requires no calibration and automatically maintains ion balance of ± 50 volts.
H2 - Nitrogen Generator
Compact, high-capacity Nitrogen generators require only a compressed air supply for continued nitrogen gas production. On-site nitrogen generation eliminates the cost and inconvenience of a 3rd-party nitrogen tank supplier while also providing as-needed control over the quantity and quality of nitrogen produced. Terra’s N2 generators require no moving parts and consume little energy beyond a stream of compressed air.
H3 - Trace Oxygen Analyzer
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
H4 - Regenerating Gas Dryer
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
H5 - Duplex Outlets & Power Strips
Duplex outlets and power strips allow convenient operation of electrical equipment inside a glovebox. GFCI outlets are suitable for areas around liquids to help prevent electric shock and damage to your electrical devices.
H6 - Glovebox Stand With Casters
Terra’s ErgoHeight™ electric height adjustable workstations provide effortless height adjustment without the need to temporarily relocate heavy and expensive process equipment. They are tested by UL to meet the strictest safety and stability standards.
Rigid glovebox stands offer a heavy-duty alternative. They are constructed of all-welded 1.5” steel square tubing for maximum stability. They are available in stainless steel or with a clean and durable powder coat finish.
Optional casters provide mobility to glovebox stands for easy transportation or to clean around the work area.
H7 - Removable Rear Wall
A removable rear wall panel allows for transfer of large equipment into the main glove box chamber, and facilitates cleaning inside the glovebox. Foam gasket around the perimeter minimizes leaks. Removable rear panels are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H8 - Removable Side Panels
Removable gasketed side panels allow easy introduction of large process equipment or retrofitting of air locks and adjacent gloveboxes. Stainless steel gloveboxes feature an innovative clamping mechanism with only two screws per side that allows for quick installation in minutes.
H9 - Side Access Door
Side access doors facilitate the transfer of larger equipment that may not fit through a smaller size airlock and simplify cleaning inside the glovebox. They are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H10 - Full View Front Window
Full-view gloveboxes combine the full visibility of transparent plastic glove boxes with the strength and processing capabilities of a 304 stainless steel chamber. The entire front side of the glovebox is replaced with a window that includes built-in gloveports. They are ideal for gloveboxes with equipment or operations that require more vertical space.
H11 - Tilt-Up Front Viewing Window
Tilt-up front windows allow convenient transfer of large materials or equipment into a glovebox. They also help simplify cleaning inside the glovebox. Hinges and lift latches make it easier to use than a removable panel that would need to be unscrewed and detached. Tilt-up windows are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H12 - Germicidal UV Lamp
A UV sanitizing module neutralizes bacteria, viruses, and mold spores inside the glovebox. UV light is particularly effective when targeting resistant bacteria, mold/fungal spores, and gram-negative bacteria.
H13 - USP <797> Compliant
Laminar Flow Glove Box Isolator (LFGI) designs meet USP 797 and ISO Class 5 for sterile compounding of pharmaceuticals. A HEPA filtration module provides clean, positive pressure air in accordance with ISO 5 requirements. A separate antechamber allows the introduction of materials without contaminating the main work area.
H14 - IV Bar
An IV bar is an integrated rod for hanging IV bags during laboratory processes, pharmaceutical compounding, or medical research applications.
Gas-Purged Stainless Steel Glove Boxes
A - Humidity/Moisture Control
(back to chart)
A1 - High Humidity (Above Ambient to 95% RH)
Terra’s Humex™ 2 humidity controller is suitable for a wide range of above-ambient target humidity levels and is cross-compatible with many other Terra systems. When paired with Terra’s Dual Purge and NitroWatch systems, chamber RH is adjustable for higher or lower RH levels in the glovebox.
The Humex 2 uses an inline humidity sensor installed inside the enclosure to monitor the relative humidity (RH) level. As soon as the %RH falls below a user-selected threshold, a relay inside the Humex activates the heater and a solenoid valve for water vapor. The low-volume steam output helps to minimize water condensation. Once the %RH set-point is attained, the Humex turns off the heater and water flow.
A2 - Low Humidity/Oxygen (5% RH)
Applications requiring low humidity down to 5% RH can be configured with manual flow-meters or Terra’s automatic gas-purge control systems. Terra offers control systems for different applications and budgets.
Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: Terra Universal's Dual Purge™ and NitroWatch™ work together to fully automate moisture control inside a glove box or similar enclosure. This automatic Nitrogen purge control maintains use-specified sub-ambient RH set-point down to 0% ±1.5% RH. The variable-purge system uses high/low flow settings to conserve nitrogen. Programmable logic gives users complete control over warning alarms and other system functions for worry-free operation. The system can be upgraded to include built-in data logging.
Smart® glovebox system: The Smart® control system offers a simplified, lower-cost alternative to the Dual Purge and NitroWatch, ideal for enclosures less than 6 cubic feet. The system features a mini automatic control module mounted to the side of the glovebox. It includes a built-in RH Sensor and LED display to provide automatic RH setpoint control down to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. Low moisture conditions are maintained by automatically controlling the flow of dry purge gas, generally nitrogen, into the glove box. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases the efficiency of N2 gas consumption, cutting nitrogen costs up to 78% when compared to a manual flow meter gas delivery system. The system can encounter limitations and inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in chambers larger than 6 cubic feet.
Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller gloveboxes that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to high operating costs and damaged materials.
A3 - Ultra Low Moisture/Oxygen (<1% RH)
Critical applications may require moisture concentration levels below 1% RH, which can be measured in parts per million (PPM). Plastic gloveboxes are generally not suitable due to hygroscopic and permeable material properties, which allow moisture and oxygen to leak into the enclosure. Stainless steel gloveboxes offer the best moisture impermeability, making them ideal for ultra low moisture/oxygen applications such as organometallic chemistry, hydrophilic chemical handling, lithium battery production, microelectronics manufacturing, and hemoglobin research.
Gas purging for ultra low moisture/oxygen systems also requires a high volume of nitrogen (or other inert process gas). Gloveboxes and airlocks configured for negative pressure can use vacuum cycling to reduce nitrogen consumption and more rapidly remove moisture and oxygen-rich air.
Even with a plentiful supply of inert gas and a vacuum pump system, reaching ultra low levels with a manual purge control process can be extremely time consuming and require constant supervision. Terra offers a number of automatic purge systems and accessories to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ultra low moisture/oxygen gloveboxes:
The extreme sensitivity and precision of the DewWatch™ moisture control unit makes it suitable for the most demanding applications. It operates over the -80 to +20 degree C dew point range, which is equivalent to 0.5 PPMV to 23,000 PPMV in gases at 1 atmosphere. It interfaces with Terra's Dual Purge™ variable gas-flow system for completely automatic nitrogen purging.
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
B - Stainless Steel Design Configurations
(back to chart)
Stainless steel glove boxes are well suited for broad chemical compatibility, sterile-friendly cleaning, and impermeability to moisture/oxygen.
B1 - CleanSeam™ Design
Continuous Seam Welds: Glove boxes with CleanSeam™ design feature a fully welded single piece enclosure with seamless interiors to eliminate hard-to-clean cracks and crevices that can harbor contaminants. The continuous-seam welds are ground smooth to simplify cleaning and sterilization.
B2 - BioSafe® Design
Meets Aseptic Requirements: BioSafe glove boxes are ideal for life science applications and exceed cGMP, IEST, ASTM and ISO 14644-1 requirements. Continuous-seam welds eliminate hard to clean cracks and crevices that can harbor particles and microbes. Round, wide radius corners simplify complete sterilization.
BioSafe® Door with Knife-Edge Seal: BioSafe® Doors are removable for autoclaving and sterilization. A one-piece, heat-formed, non-adhesive gaskets won’t creep or outgas.
C - Vacuum Control
(back to chart)
Vacuum glove boxes are ideal for vacuum cycling and process gas backfilling. This provides a fast, economical way to achieve extremely low moisture and oxygen levels inside the chamber. During each cycle, a vacuum pump connected to the glovebox removes the chamber environment, and with it moisture and oxygen. Once air is removed, the chamber can be backfilled with an inert process gas until the chamber attains neutral pressure. This process is repeated as needed until oxygen or moisture concentration reach the desired level.
Advanced vacuum control modules automatically apply vacuum to maintain a precise set-point. They also help extend the service life of your vacuum pump by allowing continuous pump operation. Repeated starts and stops, especially under existing vacuum pressure, can lead to backstreaming of pump oil into the vacuum line, resulting in contamination and premature pump failure.
Terra also offers a complete line of vacuum pumps for laboratory and cleanroom operations that require clean, quiet performance.
C1 - Light Duty Vacuum (<20% or -5" Hg)
Terra’s stainless steel negative-pressure glove box designs offer a range of benefits for special applications that require only partial vacuum or slight negative pressure. Stainless steel outgasses less than acrylic, is easier to clean, has higher chemical resistance, and is well suited for higher temperature applications. Removable side panels and access doors also make it easy to transfer large equipment and materials. Continuous-seam welded vacuum glove box designs provide easy-to-clean interiors and reduce negative-pressure leak rates.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
C2 - Full Vacuum (99.9% or -29.9" Hg)
Acrylic Vacuum Glove Box designs are built with one-inch-thick walls to hold full vacuum down to 29.9" Hg (99.9% vacuum). These heavy-duty transparent vacuum gloveboxes include a built-in vacuum airlock to allow materials transfer with minimal disruption to the internal controlled atmosphere.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
D – Temperature Control
(back to chart)
D1 - Double-Wall Insulated Design
Double-wall, insulated glove box isolators boost thermal efficiency to create stable process temperatures and decrease the cost of heating and cooling cycles.
D2 - Constant Temperature Control System (-5°C to 49°C)
Constant temperature isolators provide cost-efficient stable heating and cooling cycles, making them suitable for accelerated-life testing of elastomers, fiber composites, and other materials.
Refrigerating and heating temperature control systems offer broad ranges, -20°F to +140°F (-29°C to 68°C). Temperature control systems can be paired with optional gas purge systems for humidity control (5% to 95% RH) and/or HEPA/ULPA filters to provide a low particle atmosphere.
D3 - Process Gas Heating (up to 176°C, 349°F)
Terra Universal’s Process Gas Heater provides a safe and accurate way to enhance a variety of sensitive operations requiring a heated process gas. Its programmable controller ensures safe, clean heating and provides over-temperature protection. Within a matter of seconds, it raises the temperature of the process gas (such as nitrogen, argon, or oxygen) up to 349°F. The thermostatic control ensures temperature stability. Its isolated heating system provides controlled heating without direct contact with the process gas for safe, non-contaminating operation.
The smart programmable temperature controller monitors and responds to gas temperature measured at either the outlet or inside a cabinet, continuously adjusting the temperature profile and guarding against temperature overshoot. A digital readout toggles between the user-defined set point and the actual gas temperature.
E - HEPA Filtered Air Flow
(back to chart)
A filtered glove box uses HEPA or ULPA filtration to enhance personnel and product protection by removing airborne particulates and powders inside the protective enclosure. These glove boxes are commonly used in labs that produce, mix, or package pharmaceutical or chemical powders. The Class 100/10 ultra-low particle environment also makes these units suitable for other material protection applications such as microelectronics, optics, cell culture, medical devices, micropropagation, genomics, proteomics, and cell biology.
Filtration glovebox systems are available in open-loop, closed-loop, and adjustable-flow configurations. They can also be configured for positive pressure to protect products inside the glove box, or negative pressure to protect personnel outside the glovebox.
E1 – Adjustable Open/Closed Loop Filtration
Adjustable-flow filtered glovebox systems offer the greatest versatility and are best for applications that require both open-loop and closed-loop circulation. Adjustable valves let you quickly switch modes and easily connect to external supply and exhaust systems.
E2 - Recirculating (Closed Loop) Filtration
Closed-loop filtration glove box systems continuously filter and recirculate air inside the glovebox, without introducing any ambient air. They are suitable for applications that require both a low-particle and controlled gas atmosphere. They can be combined with a process gas such as nitrogen to maintain a low-moisture, low-oxygen atmosphere inside the enclosure.
Some advantages of a closed-loop recirculating system include energy efficiency and protection from harmful process gases. A closed-loop design recycles preconditioned air or process gases to minimize heating, cooling, and consumption of process gas.
E3 - Single Pass (Open Loop) Filtration
Open-loop filtration glove box systems include an inlet and exit filter. The inlet filter removes microcontaminants from outside air drawn into the glove box. The exit filter captures fine particles from the exhaust, allowing the safe indoor release of exhaust air.
Single-pass configurations introduce filtered ambient air into the enclosure and are therefore not suitable for applications that require a low-moisture, low-oxygen, or similar controlled gas atmosphere.
F – Capacity
(back to chart)
F1 - Single Operator (Two Glove Ports)
Single operator configurations are both economical and compact, well-suited for smaller work areas, portable glovebox field-work, and equipment-dense areas in the lab.
F2 - Dual Operator (Four Glove Ports)
Multi-operator gloveboxes are widely customizable for optimal workflow. Samples often require passage from station to station and are introduced and removed via an air lock, which minimizes disruption of internal cleanliness and low-humidity conditions. Glove ports can be configured to the front, side, and/or rear of a glovebox with appropriate clearance.
One might consider other factors when opting for a larger, multi-operator glove box system. Selecting the ideal glove box system may also require long-term value consideration such as easy cleaning features, operator ergonomics, and upward compatibility.
G – Air Lock
(back to chart)
Airlocks mount on the right or left side of the glovebox to minimize cross-contamination when materials are transferred to and from the glovebox.
G1 - Inert Gas Air Lock
Inert gas airlocks are an economical option to minimize nitrogen loss and contamination inflow when materials are passed through the glove box. The airlock is connected to an inert gas line to purge out ambient air before the inside door is opened to allow materials to transfer into or out of the main chamber.
Inert gas airlocks are available in several configurations to streamline workflow. Airlocks can also be used to interconnect multiple gloveboxes in series.
G2 - Vacuum Antechamber
A vacuum antechamber can provide faster parts transfer than an airlock configured only with inert gas purge. After materials are loaded into the vacuum airlock, the operator uses a vacuum pump to initiate vacuum cycles that quickly remove ambient, moisture-laden air, and back-fill with an inert gas. The operator then opens the internal door from inside the glove box to bring materials into the work area.
G3 - Pass-Through Vacuum/Inert Gas Oven
High-performance vacuum ovens combine heat, inert gas, and negative pressure for the fastest removal of moisture and contaminants from materials transferring into a glovebox. They are designed to allow for easy attachment to the side of Terra’s stainless steel gloveboxes.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 - Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar
Ionizing bars provide a continuous stream of static-neutralizing ions that minimize electrostatic charges. This helps protect sensitive electronics from electrostatic discharge (ESD) and enhances cleanliness by neutralizing static cling, when charges attract and hold particles to surfaces.
Terra’s ionizing bar uses state-of-the-art technology to generate a balanced stream of positive and negative ions to neutralize surface static charges and safeguard ESD-sensitive materials. Ionizing bars for gloveboxes include one fan per pair of emitters to uniformly distribute ions through the glove box enclosure. The system requires no calibration and automatically maintains ion balance of ± 50 volts.
H2 - Nitrogen Generator
Compact, high-capacity Nitrogen generators require only a compressed air supply for continued nitrogen gas production. On-site nitrogen generation eliminates the cost and inconvenience of a 3rd-party nitrogen tank supplier while also providing as-needed control over the quantity and quality of nitrogen produced. Terra’s N2 generators require no moving parts and consume little energy beyond a stream of compressed air.
H3 - Trace Oxygen Analyzer
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
H4 - Regenerating Gas Dryer
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
H5 - Duplex Outlets & Power Strips
Duplex outlets and power strips allow convenient operation of electrical equipment inside a glovebox. GFCI outlets are suitable for areas around liquids to help prevent electric shock and damage to your electrical devices.
H6 - Glovebox Stand With Casters
Terra’s ErgoHeight™ electric height adjustable workstations provide effortless height adjustment without the need to temporarily relocate heavy and expensive process equipment. They are tested by UL to meet the strictest safety and stability standards.
Rigid glovebox stands offer a heavy-duty alternative. They are constructed of all-welded 1.5” steel square tubing for maximum stability. They are available in stainless steel or with a clean and durable powder coat finish.
Optional casters provide mobility to glovebox stands for easy transportation or to clean around the work area.
H7 - Removable Rear Wall
A removable rear wall panel allows for transfer of large equipment into the main glove box chamber, and facilitates cleaning inside the glovebox. Foam gasket around the perimeter minimizes leaks. Removable rear panels are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H8 - Removable Side Panels
Removable gasketed side panels allow easy introduction of large process equipment or retrofitting of air locks and adjacent gloveboxes. Stainless steel gloveboxes feature an innovative clamping mechanism with only two screws per side that allows for quick installation in minutes.
H9 - Side Access Door
Side access doors facilitate the transfer of larger equipment that may not fit through a smaller size airlock and simplify cleaning inside the glovebox. They are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H10 - Full View Front Window
Full-view gloveboxes combine the full visibility of transparent plastic glove boxes with the strength and processing capabilities of a 304 stainless steel chamber. The entire front side of the glovebox is replaced with a window that includes built-in gloveports. They are ideal for gloveboxes with equipment or operations that require more vertical space.
H11 - Tilt-Up Front Viewing Window
Tilt-up front windows allow convenient transfer of large materials or equipment into a glovebox. They also help simplify cleaning inside the glovebox. Hinges and lift latches make it easier to use than a removable panel that would need to be unscrewed and detached. Tilt-up windows are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H12 - Germicidal UV Lamp
A UV sanitizing module neutralizes bacteria, viruses, and mold spores inside the glovebox. UV light is particularly effective when targeting resistant bacteria, mold/fungal spores, and gram-negative bacteria.
H13 - USP <797> Compliant
Laminar Flow Glove Box Isolator (LFGI) designs meet USP 797 and ISO Class 5 for sterile compounding of pharmaceuticals. A HEPA filtration module provides clean, positive pressure air in accordance with ISO 5 requirements. A separate antechamber allows the introduction of materials without contaminating the main work area.
H14 - IV Bar
An IV bar is an integrated rod for hanging IV bags during laboratory processes, pharmaceutical compounding, or medical research applications.
Smart® Controlled Atmosphere Glove Box Isolators
A - Humidity/Moisture Control
(back to chart)
A1 - High Humidity (Above Ambient to 95% RH)
Terra’s Humex™ 2 humidity controller is suitable for a wide range of above-ambient target humidity levels and is cross-compatible with many other Terra systems. When paired with Terra’s Dual Purge and NitroWatch systems, chamber RH is adjustable for higher or lower RH levels in the glovebox.
The Humex 2 uses an inline humidity sensor installed inside the enclosure to monitor the relative humidity (RH) level. As soon as the %RH falls below a user-selected threshold, a relay inside the Humex activates the heater and a solenoid valve for water vapor. The low-volume steam output helps to minimize water condensation. Once the %RH set-point is attained, the Humex turns off the heater and water flow.
A2 - Low Humidity/Oxygen (5% RH)
Applications requiring low humidity down to 5% RH can be configured with manual flow-meters or Terra’s automatic gas-purge control systems. Terra offers control systems for different applications and budgets.
Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: Terra Universal's Dual Purge™ and NitroWatch™ work together to fully automate moisture control inside a glove box or similar enclosure. This automatic Nitrogen purge control maintains use-specified sub-ambient RH set-point down to 0% ±1.5% RH. The variable-purge system uses high/low flow settings to conserve nitrogen. Programmable logic gives users complete control over warning alarms and other system functions for worry-free operation. The system can be upgraded to include built-in data logging.
Smart® glovebox system: The Smart® control system offers a simplified, lower-cost alternative to the Dual Purge and NitroWatch, ideal for enclosures less than 6 cubic feet. The system features a mini automatic control module mounted to the side of the glovebox. It includes a built-in RH Sensor and LED display to provide automatic RH setpoint control down to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. Low moisture conditions are maintained by automatically controlling the flow of dry purge gas, generally nitrogen, into the glove box. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases the efficiency of N2 gas consumption, cutting nitrogen costs up to 78% when compared to a manual flow meter gas delivery system. The system can encounter limitations and inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in chambers larger than 6 cubic feet.
Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller gloveboxes that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to high operating costs and damaged materials.
A3 - Ultra Low Moisture/Oxygen (<1% RH)
Critical applications may require moisture concentration levels below 1% RH, which can be measured in parts per million (PPM). Plastic gloveboxes are generally not suitable due to hygroscopic and permeable material properties, which allow moisture and oxygen to leak into the enclosure. Stainless steel gloveboxes offer the best moisture impermeability, making them ideal for ultra low moisture/oxygen applications such as organometallic chemistry, hydrophilic chemical handling, lithium battery production, microelectronics manufacturing, and hemoglobin research.
Gas purging for ultra low moisture/oxygen systems also requires a high volume of nitrogen (or other inert process gas). Gloveboxes and airlocks configured for negative pressure can use vacuum cycling to reduce nitrogen consumption and more rapidly remove moisture and oxygen-rich air.
Even with a plentiful supply of inert gas and a vacuum pump system, reaching ultra low levels with a manual purge control process can be extremely time consuming and require constant supervision. Terra offers a number of automatic purge systems and accessories to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ultra low moisture/oxygen gloveboxes:
The extreme sensitivity and precision of the DewWatch™ moisture control unit makes it suitable for the most demanding applications. It operates over the -80 to +20 degree C dew point range, which is equivalent to 0.5 PPMV to 23,000 PPMV in gases at 1 atmosphere. It interfaces with Terra's Dual Purge™ variable gas-flow system for completely automatic nitrogen purging.
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
B - Stainless Steel Design Configurations
(back to chart)
Stainless steel glove boxes are well suited for broad chemical compatibility, sterile-friendly cleaning, and impermeability to moisture/oxygen.
B1 - CleanSeam™ Design
Continuous Seam Welds: Glove boxes with CleanSeam™ design feature a fully welded single piece enclosure with seamless interiors to eliminate hard-to-clean cracks and crevices that can harbor contaminants. The continuous-seam welds are ground smooth to simplify cleaning and sterilization.
B2 - BioSafe® Design
Meets Aseptic Requirements: BioSafe glove boxes are ideal for life science applications and exceed cGMP, IEST, ASTM and ISO 14644-1 requirements. Continuous-seam welds eliminate hard to clean cracks and crevices that can harbor particles and microbes. Round, wide radius corners simplify complete sterilization.
BioSafe® Door with Knife-Edge Seal: BioSafe® Doors are removable for autoclaving and sterilization. A one-piece, heat-formed, non-adhesive gaskets won’t creep or outgas.
C - Vacuum Control
(back to chart)
Vacuum glove boxes are ideal for vacuum cycling and process gas backfilling. This provides a fast, economical way to achieve extremely low moisture and oxygen levels inside the chamber. During each cycle, a vacuum pump connected to the glovebox removes the chamber environment, and with it moisture and oxygen. Once air is removed, the chamber can be backfilled with an inert process gas until the chamber attains neutral pressure. This process is repeated as needed until oxygen or moisture concentration reach the desired level.
Advanced vacuum control modules automatically apply vacuum to maintain a precise set-point. They also help extend the service life of your vacuum pump by allowing continuous pump operation. Repeated starts and stops, especially under existing vacuum pressure, can lead to backstreaming of pump oil into the vacuum line, resulting in contamination and premature pump failure.
Terra also offers a complete line of vacuum pumps for laboratory and cleanroom operations that require clean, quiet performance.
C1 - Light Duty Vacuum (<20% or -5" Hg)
Terra’s stainless steel negative-pressure glove box designs offer a range of benefits for special applications that require only partial vacuum or slight negative pressure. Stainless steel outgasses less than acrylic, is easier to clean, has higher chemical resistance, and is well suited for higher temperature applications. Removable side panels and access doors also make it easy to transfer large equipment and materials. Continuous-seam welded vacuum glove box designs provide easy-to-clean interiors and reduce negative-pressure leak rates.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
C2 - Full Vacuum (99.9% or -29.9" Hg)
Acrylic Vacuum Glove Box designs are built with one-inch-thick walls to hold full vacuum down to 29.9" Hg (99.9% vacuum). These heavy-duty transparent vacuum gloveboxes include a built-in vacuum airlock to allow materials transfer with minimal disruption to the internal controlled atmosphere.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
D – Temperature Control
(back to chart)
D1 - Double-Wall Insulated Design
Double-wall, insulated glove box isolators boost thermal efficiency to create stable process temperatures and decrease the cost of heating and cooling cycles.
D2 - Constant Temperature Control System (-5°C to 49°C)
Constant temperature isolators provide cost-efficient stable heating and cooling cycles, making them suitable for accelerated-life testing of elastomers, fiber composites, and other materials.
Refrigerating and heating temperature control systems offer broad ranges, -20°F to +140°F (-29°C to 68°C). Temperature control systems can be paired with optional gas purge systems for humidity control (5% to 95% RH) and/or HEPA/ULPA filters to provide a low particle atmosphere.
D3 - Process Gas Heating (up to 176°C, 349°F)
Terra Universal’s Process Gas Heater provides a safe and accurate way to enhance a variety of sensitive operations requiring a heated process gas. Its programmable controller ensures safe, clean heating and provides over-temperature protection. Within a matter of seconds, it raises the temperature of the process gas (such as nitrogen, argon, or oxygen) up to 349°F. The thermostatic control ensures temperature stability. Its isolated heating system provides controlled heating without direct contact with the process gas for safe, non-contaminating operation.
The smart programmable temperature controller monitors and responds to gas temperature measured at either the outlet or inside a cabinet, continuously adjusting the temperature profile and guarding against temperature overshoot. A digital readout toggles between the user-defined set point and the actual gas temperature.
E – HEPA Filtered Air Flow
(back to chart)
A filtered glove box uses HEPA or ULPA filtration to enhance personnel and product protection by removing airborne particulates and powders inside the protective enclosure. These glove boxes are commonly used in labs that produce, mix, or package pharmaceutical or chemical powders. The Class 100/10 ultra-low particle environment also makes these units suitable for other material protection applications such as microelectronics, optics, cell culture, medical devices, micropropagation, genomics, proteomics, and cell biology.
Filtration glovebox systems are available in open-loop, closed-loop, and adjustable-flow configurations. They can also be configured for positive pressure to protect products inside the glove box, or negative pressure to protect personnel outside the glovebox.
E1 - Adjustable Open/Closed Loop Filtration
Adjustable-flow filtered glovebox systems offer the greatest versatility and are best for applications that require both open-loop and closed-loop circulation. Adjustable valves let you quickly switch modes and easily connect to external supply and exhaust systems.
E2 - Recirculating (Closed Loop) Filtration
Closed-loop filtration glove box systems continuously filter and recirculate air inside the glovebox, without introducing any ambient air. They are suitable for applications that require both a low-particle and controlled gas atmosphere. They can be combined with a process gas such as nitrogen to maintain a low-moisture, low-oxygen atmosphere inside the enclosure.
Some advantages of a closed-loop recirculating system include energy efficiency and protection from harmful process gases. A closed-loop design recycles preconditioned air or process gases to minimize heating, cooling, and consumption of process gas.
E3 - Single Pass (Open Loop) Filtration
Open-loop filtration glove box systems include an inlet and exit filter. The inlet filter removes microcontaminants from outside air drawn into the glove box. The exit filter captures fine particles from the exhaust, allowing the safe indoor release of exhaust air.
Single-pass configurations introduce filtered ambient air into the enclosure and are therefore not suitable for applications that require a low-moisture, low-oxygen, or similar controlled gas atmosphere.
F – Capacity
(back to chart)
F1 - Single Operator (Two Glove Ports)
Single operator configurations are both economical and compact, well-suited for smaller work areas, portable glovebox field-work, and equipment-dense areas in the lab.
F2 - Dual Operator (Four Glove Ports)
Multi-operator gloveboxes are widely customizable for optimal workflow. Samples often require passage from station to station and are introduced and removed via an air lock, which minimizes disruption of internal cleanliness and low-humidity conditions. Glove ports can be configured to the front, side, and/or rear of a glovebox with appropriate clearance.
One might consider other factors when opting for a larger, multi-operator glove box system. Selecting the ideal glove box system may also require long-term value consideration such as easy cleaning features, operator ergonomics, and upward compatibility.
G – Air Lock
(back to chart)
Airlocks mount on the right or left side of the glovebox to minimize cross-contamination when materials are transferred to and from the glovebox.
G1 - Inert Gas Air Lock
Inert gas airlocks are an economical option to minimize nitrogen loss and contamination inflow when materials are passed through the glove box. The airlock is connected to an inert gas line to purge out ambient air before the inside door is opened to allow materials to transfer into or out of the main chamber.
Inert gas airlocks are available in several configurations to streamline workflow. Airlocks can also be used to interconnect multiple gloveboxes in series.
G2 - Vacuum Antechamber
A vacuum antechamber can provide faster parts transfer than an airlock configured only with inert gas purge. After materials are loaded into the vacuum airlock, the operator uses a vacuum pump to initiate vacuum cycles that quickly remove ambient, moisture-laden air, and back-fill with an inert gas. The operator then opens the internal door from inside the glove box to bring materials into the work area.
G3 - Pass-Through Vacuum/Inert Gas Oven
High-performance vacuum ovens combine heat, inert gas, and negative pressure for the fastest removal of moisture and contaminants from materials transferring into a glovebox. They are designed to allow for easy attachment to the side of Terra’s stainless steel gloveboxes.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 - Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar
Ionizing bars provide a continuous stream of static-neutralizing ions that minimize electrostatic charges. This helps protect sensitive electronics from electrostatic discharge (ESD) and enhances cleanliness by neutralizing static cling, when charges attract and hold particles to surfaces.
Terra’s ionizing bar uses state-of-the-art technology to generate a balanced stream of positive and negative ions to neutralize surface static charges and safeguard ESD-sensitive materials. Ionizing bars for gloveboxes include one fan per pair of emitters to uniformly distribute ions through the glove box enclosure. The system requires no calibration and automatically maintains ion balance of ± 50 volts.
H2 - Nitrogen Generator
Compact, high-capacity Nitrogen generators require only a compressed air supply for continued nitrogen gas production. On-site nitrogen generation eliminates the cost and inconvenience of a 3rd-party nitrogen tank supplier while also providing as-needed control over the quantity and quality of nitrogen produced. Terra’s N2 generators require no moving parts and consume little energy beyond a stream of compressed air.
H3 - Trace Oxygen Analyzer
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
H4 - Regenerating Gas Dryer
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
H5 - Duplex Outlets & Power Strips
Duplex outlets and power strips allow convenient operation of electrical equipment inside a glovebox. GFCI outlets are suitable for areas around liquids to help prevent electric shock and damage to your electrical devices.
H6 - Glovebox Stand With Casters
Terra’s ErgoHeight™ electric height adjustable workstations provide effortless height adjustment without the need to temporarily relocate heavy and expensive process equipment. They are tested by UL to meet the strictest safety and stability standards.
Rigid glovebox stands offer a heavy-duty alternative. They are constructed of all-welded 1.5” steel square tubing for maximum stability. They are available in stainless steel or with a clean and durable powder coat finish.
Optional casters provide mobility to glovebox stands for easy transportation or to clean around the work area.
H7 - Removable Rear Wall
A removable rear wall panel allows for transfer of large equipment into the main glove box chamber, and facilitates cleaning inside the glovebox. Foam gasket around the perimeter minimizes leaks. Removable rear panels are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H8 - Removable Side Panels
Removable gasketed side panels allow easy introduction of large process equipment or retrofitting of air locks and adjacent gloveboxes. Stainless steel gloveboxes feature an innovative clamping mechanism with only two screws per side that allows for quick installation in minutes.
H9 - Side Access Door
Side access doors facilitate the transfer of larger equipment that may not fit through a smaller size airlock and simplify cleaning inside the glovebox. They are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H10 - Full View Front Window
Full-view gloveboxes combine the full visibility of transparent plastic glove boxes with the strength and processing capabilities of a 304 stainless steel chamber. The entire front side of the glovebox is replaced with a window that includes built-in gloveports. They are ideal for gloveboxes with equipment or operations that require more vertical space.
H11 - Tilt-Up Front Viewing Window
Tilt-up front windows allow convenient transfer of large materials or equipment into a glovebox. They also help simplify cleaning inside the glovebox. Hinges and lift latches make it easier to use than a removable panel that would need to be unscrewed and detached. Tilt-up windows are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H12 - Germicidal UV Lamp
A UV sanitizing module neutralizes bacteria, viruses, and mold spores inside the glovebox. UV light is particularly effective when targeting resistant bacteria, mold/fungal spores, and gram-negative bacteria.
H13 - USP <797> Compliant
Laminar Flow Glove Box Isolator (LFGI) designs meet USP 797 and ISO Class 5 for sterile compounding of pharmaceuticals. A HEPA filtration module provides clean, positive pressure air in accordance with ISO 5 requirements. A separate antechamber allows the introduction of materials without contaminating the main work area.
H14 - IV Bar
An IV bar is an integrated rod for hanging IV bags during laboratory processes, pharmaceutical compounding, or medical research applications.
BioSafe® Stainless Steel Glove Box Isolators
A - Humidity/Moisture Control
(back to chart)
A1 - High Humidity (Above Ambient to 95% RH)
Terra’s Humex™ 2 humidity controller is suitable for a wide range of above-ambient target humidity levels and is cross-compatible with many other Terra systems. When paired with Terra’s Dual Purge and NitroWatch systems, chamber RH is adjustable for higher or lower RH levels in the glovebox.
The Humex 2 uses an inline humidity sensor installed inside the enclosure to monitor the relative humidity (RH) level. As soon as the %RH falls below a user-selected threshold, a relay inside the Humex activates the heater and a solenoid valve for water vapor. The low-volume steam output helps to minimize water condensation. Once the %RH set-point is attained, the Humex turns off the heater and water flow.
A2 - Low Humidity/Oxygen (5% RH)
Applications requiring low humidity down to 5% RH can be configured with manual flow-meters or Terra’s automatic gas-purge control systems. Terra offers control systems for different applications and budgets.
Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: Terra Universal's Dual Purge™ and NitroWatch™ work together to fully automate moisture control inside a glove box or similar enclosure. This automatic Nitrogen purge control maintains use-specified sub-ambient RH set-point down to 0% ±1.5% RH. The variable-purge system uses high/low flow settings to conserve nitrogen. Programmable logic gives users complete control over warning alarms and other system functions for worry-free operation. The system can be upgraded to include built-in data logging.
Smart® glovebox system: The Smart® control system offers a simplified, lower-cost alternative to the Dual Purge and NitroWatch, ideal for enclosures less than 6 cubic feet. The system features a mini automatic control module mounted to the side of the glovebox. It includes a built-in RH Sensor and LED display to provide automatic RH setpoint control down to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. Low moisture conditions are maintained by automatically controlling the flow of dry purge gas, generally nitrogen, into the glove box. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases the efficiency of N2 gas consumption, cutting nitrogen costs up to 78% when compared to a manual flow meter gas delivery system. The system can encounter limitations and inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in chambers larger than 6 cubic feet.
Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller gloveboxes that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to high operating costs and damaged materials.
A3 - Ultra Low Moisture/Oxygen (<1% RH)
Critical applications may require moisture concentration levels below 1% RH, which can be measured in parts per million (PPM). Plastic gloveboxes are generally not suitable due to hygroscopic and permeable material properties, which allow moisture and oxygen to leak into the enclosure. Stainless steel gloveboxes offer the best moisture impermeability, making them ideal for ultra low moisture/oxygen applications such as organometallic chemistry, hydrophilic chemical handling, lithium battery production, microelectronics manufacturing, and hemoglobin research.
Gas purging for ultra low moisture/oxygen systems also requires a high volume of nitrogen (or other inert process gas). Gloveboxes and airlocks configured for negative pressure can use vacuum cycling to reduce nitrogen consumption and more rapidly remove moisture and oxygen-rich air.
Even with a plentiful supply of inert gas and a vacuum pump system, reaching ultra low levels with a manual purge control process can be extremely time consuming and require constant supervision. Terra offers a number of automatic purge systems and accessories to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ultra low moisture/oxygen gloveboxes:
The extreme sensitivity and precision of the DewWatch™ moisture control unit makes it suitable for the most demanding applications. It operates over the -80 to +20 degree C dew point range, which is equivalent to 0.5 PPMV to 23,000 PPMV in gases at 1 atmosphere. It interfaces with Terra's Dual Purge™ variable gas-flow system for completely automatic nitrogen purging.
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
B - Stainless Steel Design Configurations
(back to chart)
Stainless steel glove boxes are well suited for broad chemical compatibility, sterile-friendly cleaning, and impermeability to moisture/oxygen.
B1 - CleanSeam™ Design
Continuous Seam Welds: Glove boxes with CleanSeam™ design feature a fully welded single piece enclosure with seamless interiors to eliminate hard-to-clean cracks and crevices that can harbor contaminants. The continuous-seam welds are ground smooth to simplify cleaning and sterilization.
B2 - BioSafe® Design
Meets Aseptic Requirements: BioSafe glove boxes are ideal for life science applications and exceed cGMP, IEST, ASTM and ISO 14644-1 requirements. Continuous-seam welds eliminate hard to clean cracks and crevices that can harbor particles and microbes. Round, wide radius corners simplify complete sterilization.
BioSafe® Door with Knife-Edge Seal: BioSafe® Doors are removable for autoclaving and sterilization. A one-piece, heat-formed, non-adhesive gaskets won’t creep or outgas.
C - Vacuum Control
(back to chart)
Vacuum glove boxes are ideal for vacuum cycling and process gas backfilling. This provides a fast, economical way to achieve extremely low moisture and oxygen levels inside the chamber. During each cycle, a vacuum pump connected to the glovebox removes the chamber environment, and with it moisture and oxygen. Once air is removed, the chamber can be backfilled with an inert process gas until the chamber attains neutral pressure. This process is repeated as needed until oxygen or moisture concentration reach the desired level.
Advanced vacuum control modules automatically apply vacuum to maintain a precise set-point. They also help extend the service life of your vacuum pump by allowing continuous pump operation. Repeated starts and stops, especially under existing vacuum pressure, can lead to backstreaming of pump oil into the vacuum line, resulting in contamination and premature pump failure.
Terra also offers a complete line of vacuum pumps for laboratory and cleanroom operations that require clean, quiet performance.
C1 - Light Duty Vacuum (<20% or -5" Hg)
Terra’s stainless steel negative-pressure glove box designs offer a range of benefits for special applications that require only partial vacuum or slight negative pressure. Stainless steel outgasses less than acrylic, is easier to clean, has higher chemical resistance, and is well suited for higher temperature applications. Removable side panels and access doors also make it easy to transfer large equipment and materials. Continuous-seam welded vacuum glove box designs provide easy-to-clean interiors and reduce negative-pressure leak rates.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
C2 - Full Vacuum (99.9% or -29.9" Hg)
Acrylic Vacuum Glove Box designs are built with one-inch-thick walls to hold full vacuum down to 29.9" Hg (99.9% vacuum). These heavy-duty transparent vacuum gloveboxes include a built-in vacuum airlock to allow materials transfer with minimal disruption to the internal controlled atmosphere.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
D – Temperature Control
(back to chart)
D1 - Double-Wall Insulated Design
Double-wall, insulated glove box isolators boost thermal efficiency to create stable process temperatures and decrease the cost of heating and cooling cycles.
D2 - Constant Temperature Control System (-5°C to 49°C)
Constant temperature isolators provide cost-efficient stable heating and cooling cycles, making them suitable for accelerated-life testing of elastomers, fiber composites, and other materials.
Refrigerating and heating temperature control systems offer broad ranges, -20°F to +140°F (-29°C to 68°C). Temperature control systems can be paired with optional gas purge systems for humidity control (5% to 95% RH) and/or HEPA/ULPA filters to provide a low particle atmosphere.
D3 - Process Gas Heating (up to 176°C, 349°F)
Terra Universal’s Process Gas Heater provides a safe and accurate way to enhance a variety of sensitive operations requiring a heated process gas. Its programmable controller ensures safe, clean heating and provides over-temperature protection. Within a matter of seconds, it raises the temperature of the process gas (such as nitrogen, argon, or oxygen) up to 349°F. The thermostatic control ensures temperature stability. Its isolated heating system provides controlled heating without direct contact with the process gas for safe, non-contaminating operation.
The smart programmable temperature controller monitors and responds to gas temperature measured at either the outlet or inside a cabinet, continuously adjusting the temperature profile and guarding against temperature overshoot. A digital readout toggles between the user-defined set point and the actual gas temperature.
E – HEPA Filtered Air Flow
(back to chart)
A filtered glove box uses HEPA or ULPA filtration to enhance personnel and product protection by removing airborne particulates and powders inside the protective enclosure. These glove boxes are commonly used in labs that produce, mix, or package pharmaceutical or chemical powders. The Class 100/10 ultra-low particle environment also makes these units suitable for other material protection applications such as microelectronics, optics, cell culture, medical devices, micropropagation, genomics, proteomics, and cell biology.
Filtration glovebox systems are available in open-loop, closed-loop, and adjustable-flow configurations. They can also be configured for positive pressure to protect products inside the glove box, or negative pressure to protect personnel outside the glovebox.
E1 – Adjustable Open/Closed Loop Filtration
Adjustable-flow filtered glovebox systems offer the greatest versatility and are best for applications that require both open-loop and closed-loop circulation. Adjustable valves let you quickly switch modes and easily connect to external supply and exhaust systems.
E2 - Recirculating (Closed Loop) Filtration
Closed-loop filtration glove box systems continuously filter and recirculate air inside the glovebox, without introducing any ambient air. They are suitable for applications that require both a low-particle and controlled gas atmosphere. They can be combined with a process gas such as nitrogen to maintain a low-moisture, low-oxygen atmosphere inside the enclosure.
Some advantages of a closed-loop recirculating system include energy efficiency and protection from harmful process gases. A closed-loop design recycles preconditioned air or process gases to minimize heating, cooling, and consumption of process gas.
E3 - Single Pass (Open Loop) Filtration
Open-loop filtration glove box systems include an inlet and exit filter. The inlet filter removes microcontaminants from outside air drawn into the glove box. The exit filter captures fine particles from the exhaust, allowing the safe indoor release of exhaust air.
Single-pass configurations introduce filtered ambient air into the enclosure and are therefore not suitable for applications that require a low-moisture, low-oxygen, or similar controlled gas atmosphere.
F – Capacity
(back to chart)
F1 - Single Operator (Two Glove Ports)
Single operator configurations are both economical and compact, well-suited for smaller work areas, portable glovebox field-work, and equipment-dense areas in the lab.
F2 - Dual Operator (Four Glove Ports)
Multi-operator gloveboxes are widely customizable for optimal workflow. Samples often require passage from station to station and are introduced and removed via an air lock, which minimizes disruption of internal cleanliness and low-humidity conditions. Glove ports can be configured to the front, side, and/or rear of a glovebox with appropriate clearance.
One might consider other factors when opting for a larger, multi-operator glove box system. Selecting the ideal glove box system may also require long-term value consideration such as easy cleaning features, operator ergonomics, and upward compatibility.
G – Air Lock
(back to chart)
Airlocks mount on the right or left side of the glovebox to minimize cross-contamination when materials are transferred to and from the glovebox.
G1 - Inert Gas Air Lock
Inert gas airlocks are an economical option to minimize nitrogen loss and contamination inflow when materials are passed through the glove box. The airlock is connected to an inert gas line to purge out ambient air before the inside door is opened to allow materials to transfer into or out of the main chamber.
Inert gas airlocks are available in several configurations to streamline workflow. Airlocks can also be used to interconnect multiple gloveboxes in series.
G2 - Vacuum Antechamber
A vacuum antechamber can provide faster parts transfer than an airlock configured only with inert gas purge. After materials are loaded into the vacuum airlock, the operator uses a vacuum pump to initiate vacuum cycles that quickly remove ambient, moisture-laden air, and back-fill with an inert gas. The operator then opens the internal door from inside the glove box to bring materials into the work area.
G3 - Pass-Through Vacuum/Inert Gas Oven
High-performance vacuum ovens combine heat, inert gas, and negative pressure for the fastest removal of moisture and contaminants from materials transferring into a glovebox. They are designed to allow for easy attachment to the side of Terra’s stainless steel gloveboxes.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 - Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar
Ionizing bars provide a continuous stream of static-neutralizing ions that minimize electrostatic charges. This helps protect sensitive electronics from electrostatic discharge (ESD) and enhances cleanliness by neutralizing static cling, when charges attract and hold particles to surfaces.
Terra’s ionizing bar uses state-of-the-art technology to generate a balanced stream of positive and negative ions to neutralize surface static charges and safeguard ESD-sensitive materials. Ionizing bars for gloveboxes include one fan per pair of emitters to uniformly distribute ions through the glove box enclosure. The system requires no calibration and automatically maintains ion balance of ± 50 volts.
H2 - Nitrogen Generator
Compact, high-capacity Nitrogen generators require only a compressed air supply for continued nitrogen gas production. On-site nitrogen generation eliminates the cost and inconvenience of a 3rd-party nitrogen tank supplier while also providing as-needed control over the quantity and quality of nitrogen produced. Terra’s N2 generators require no moving parts and consume little energy beyond a stream of compressed air.
H3 - Trace Oxygen Analyzer
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
H4 - Regenerating Gas Dryer
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
H5 - Duplex Outlets & Power Strips
Duplex outlets and power strips allow convenient operation of electrical equipment inside a glovebox. GFCI outlets are suitable for areas around liquids to help prevent electric shock and damage to your electrical devices.
H6 - Glovebox Stand With Casters
Terra’s ErgoHeight™ electric height adjustable workstations provide effortless height adjustment without the need to temporarily relocate heavy and expensive process equipment. They are tested by UL to meet the strictest safety and stability standards.
Rigid glovebox stands offer a heavy-duty alternative. They are constructed of all-welded 1.5” steel square tubing for maximum stability. They are available in stainless steel or with a clean and durable powder coat finish.
Optional casters provide mobility to glovebox stands for easy transportation or to clean around the work area.
H7 - Removable Rear Wall
A removable rear wall panel allows for transfer of large equipment into the main glove box chamber, and facilitates cleaning inside the glovebox. Foam gasket around the perimeter minimizes leaks. Removable rear panels are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H8 - Removable Side Panels
Removable gasketed side panels allow easy introduction of large process equipment or retrofitting of air locks and adjacent gloveboxes. Stainless steel gloveboxes feature an innovative clamping mechanism with only two screws per side that allows for quick installation in minutes.
H9 - Side Access Door
Side access doors facilitate the transfer of larger equipment that may not fit through a smaller size airlock and simplify cleaning inside the glovebox. They are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H10 - Full View Front Window
Full-view gloveboxes combine the full visibility of transparent plastic glove boxes with the strength and processing capabilities of a 304 stainless steel chamber. The entire front side of the glovebox is replaced with a window that includes built-in gloveports. They are ideal for gloveboxes with equipment or operations that require more vertical space.
H11 - Tilt-Up Front Viewing Window
Tilt-up front windows allow convenient transfer of large materials or equipment into a glovebox. They also help simplify cleaning inside the glovebox. Hinges and lift latches make it easier to use than a removable panel that would need to be unscrewed and detached. Tilt-up windows are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H12 - Germicidal UV Lamp
A UV sanitizing module neutralizes bacteria, viruses, and mold spores inside the glovebox. UV light is particularly effective when targeting resistant bacteria, mold/fungal spores, and gram-negative bacteria.
H13 - USP <797> Compliant
Laminar Flow Glove Box Isolator (LFGI) designs meet USP 797 and ISO Class 5 for sterile compounding of pharmaceuticals. A HEPA filtration module provides clean, positive pressure air in accordance with ISO 5 requirements. A separate antechamber allows the introduction of materials without contaminating the main work area.
H14 - IV Bar
An IV bar is an integrated rod for hanging IV bags during laboratory processes, pharmaceutical compounding, or medical research applications.
Temperature Controlled Glove Boxes
A - Humidity/Moisture Control
(back to chart)
A1 - High Humidity (Above Ambient to 95% RH)
Terra’s Humex™ 2 humidity controller is suitable for a wide range of above-ambient target humidity levels and is cross-compatible with many other Terra systems. When paired with Terra’s Dual Purge and NitroWatch systems, chamber RH is adjustable for higher or lower RH levels in the glovebox.
The Humex 2 uses an inline humidity sensor installed inside the enclosure to monitor the relative humidity (RH) level. As soon as the %RH falls below a user-selected threshold, a relay inside the Humex activates the heater and a solenoid valve for water vapor. The low-volume steam output helps to minimize water condensation. Once the %RH set-point is attained, the Humex turns off the heater and water flow.
A2 - Low Humidity/Oxygen (5% RH)
Applications requiring low humidity down to 5% RH can be configured with manual flow-meters or Terra’s automatic gas-purge control systems. Terra offers control systems for different applications and budgets.
Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: Terra Universal's Dual Purge™ and NitroWatch™ work together to fully automate moisture control inside a glove box or similar enclosure. This automatic Nitrogen purge control maintains use-specified sub-ambient RH set-point down to 0% ±1.5% RH. The variable-purge system uses high/low flow settings to conserve nitrogen. Programmable logic gives users complete control over warning alarms and other system functions for worry-free operation. The system can be upgraded to include built-in data logging.
Smart® glovebox system: The Smart® control system offers a simplified, lower-cost alternative to the Dual Purge and NitroWatch, ideal for enclosures less than 6 cubic feet. The system features a mini automatic control module mounted to the side of the glovebox. It includes a built-in RH Sensor and LED display to provide automatic RH setpoint control down to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. Low moisture conditions are maintained by automatically controlling the flow of dry purge gas, generally nitrogen, into the glove box. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases the efficiency of N2 gas consumption, cutting nitrogen costs up to 78% when compared to a manual flow meter gas delivery system. The system can encounter limitations and inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in chambers larger than 6 cubic feet.
Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller gloveboxes that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to high operating costs and damaged materials.
A3 - Ultra Low Moisture/Oxygen (<1% RH)
Critical applications may require moisture concentration levels below 1% RH, which can be measured in parts per million (PPM). Plastic gloveboxes are generally not suitable due to hygroscopic and permeable material properties, which allow moisture and oxygen to leak into the enclosure. Stainless steel gloveboxes offer the best moisture impermeability, making them ideal for ultra low moisture/oxygen applications such as organometallic chemistry, hydrophilic chemical handling, lithium battery production, microelectronics manufacturing, and hemoglobin research.
Gas purging for ultra low moisture/oxygen systems also requires a high volume of nitrogen (or other inert process gas). Gloveboxes and airlocks configured for negative pressure can use vacuum cycling to reduce nitrogen consumption and more rapidly remove moisture and oxygen-rich air.
Even with a plentiful supply of inert gas and a vacuum pump system, reaching ultra low levels with a manual purge control process can be extremely time consuming and require constant supervision. Terra offers a number of automatic purge systems and accessories to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ultra low moisture/oxygen gloveboxes:
The extreme sensitivity and precision of the DewWatch™ moisture control unit makes it suitable for the most demanding applications. It operates over the -80 to +20 degree C dew point range, which is equivalent to 0.5 PPMV to 23,000 PPMV in gases at 1 atmosphere. It interfaces with Terra's Dual Purge™ variable gas-flow system for completely automatic nitrogen purging.
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
B - Stainless Steel Design Configurations
(back to chart)
Stainless steel glove boxes are well suited for broad chemical compatibility, sterile-friendly cleaning, and impermeability to moisture/oxygen.
B1 - CleanSeam™ Design
Continuous Seam Welds: Glove boxes with CleanSeam™ design feature a fully welded single piece enclosure with seamless interiors to eliminate hard-to-clean cracks and crevices that can harbor contaminants. The continuous-seam welds are ground smooth to simplify cleaning and sterilization.
B2 - BioSafe® Design
Meets Aseptic Requirements: BioSafe glove boxes are ideal for life science applications and exceed cGMP, IEST, ASTM and ISO 14644-1 requirements. Continuous-seam welds eliminate hard to clean cracks and crevices that can harbor particles and microbes. Round, wide radius corners simplify complete sterilization.
BioSafe® Door with Knife-Edge Seal: BioSafe® Doors are removable for autoclaving and sterilization. A one-piece, heat-formed, non-adhesive gaskets won’t creep or outgas.
C - Vacuum Control
(back to chart)
Vacuum glove boxes are ideal for vacuum cycling and process gas backfilling. This provides a fast, economical way to achieve extremely low moisture and oxygen levels inside the chamber. During each cycle, a vacuum pump connected to the glovebox removes the chamber environment, and with it moisture and oxygen. Once air is removed, the chamber can be backfilled with an inert process gas until the chamber attains neutral pressure. This process is repeated as needed until oxygen or moisture concentration reach the desired level.
Advanced vacuum control modules automatically apply vacuum to maintain a precise set-point. They also help extend the service life of your vacuum pump by allowing continuous pump operation. Repeated starts and stops, especially under existing vacuum pressure, can lead to backstreaming of pump oil into the vacuum line, resulting in contamination and premature pump failure.
Terra also offers a complete line of vacuum pumps for laboratory and cleanroom operations that require clean, quiet performance.
C1 - Light Duty Vacuum (<20% or -5" Hg)
Terra’s stainless steel negative-pressure glove box designs offer a range of benefits for special applications that require only partial vacuum or slight negative pressure. Stainless steel outgasses less than acrylic, is easier to clean, has higher chemical resistance, and is well suited for higher temperature applications. Removable side panels and access doors also make it easy to transfer large equipment and materials. Continuous-seam welded vacuum glove box designs provide easy-to-clean interiors and reduce negative-pressure leak rates.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
C2 - Full Vacuum (99.9% or -29.9" Hg)
Acrylic Vacuum Glove Box designs are built with one-inch-thick walls to hold full vacuum down to 29.9" Hg (99.9% vacuum). These heavy-duty transparent vacuum gloveboxes include a built-in vacuum airlock to allow materials transfer with minimal disruption to the internal controlled atmosphere.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
D – Temperature Control
(back to chart)
D1 - Double-Wall Insulated Design
Double-wall, insulated glove box isolators boost thermal efficiency to create stable process temperatures and decrease the cost of heating and cooling cycles.
D2 - Constant Temperature Control System (-5°C to 49°C)
Constant temperature isolators provide cost-efficient stable heating and cooling cycles, making them suitable for accelerated-life testing of elastomers, fiber composites, and other materials.
Refrigerating and heating temperature control systems offer broad ranges, -20°F to +140°F (-29°C to 68°C). Temperature control systems can be paired with optional gas purge systems for humidity control (5% to 95% RH) and/or HEPA/ULPA filters to provide a low particle atmosphere.
D3 - Process Gas Heating (up to 176°C, 349°F)
Terra Universal’s Process Gas Heater provides a safe and accurate way to enhance a variety of sensitive operations requiring a heated process gas. Its programmable controller ensures safe, clean heating and provides over-temperature protection. Within a matter of seconds, it raises the temperature of the process gas (such as nitrogen, argon, or oxygen) up to 349°F. The thermostatic control ensures temperature stability. Its isolated heating system provides controlled heating without direct contact with the process gas for safe, non-contaminating operation.
The smart programmable temperature controller monitors and responds to gas temperature measured at either the outlet or inside a cabinet, continuously adjusting the temperature profile and guarding against temperature overshoot. A digital readout toggles between the user-defined set point and the actual gas temperature.
E – HEPA Filtered Air Flow
(back to chart)
A filtered glove box uses HEPA or ULPA filtration to enhance personnel and product protection by removing airborne particulates and powders inside the protective enclosure. These glove boxes are commonly used in labs that produce, mix, or package pharmaceutical or chemical powders. The Class 100/10 ultra-low particle environment also makes these units suitable for other material protection applications such as microelectronics, optics, cell culture, medical devices, micropropagation, genomics, proteomics, and cell biology.
Filtration glovebox systems are available in open-loop, closed-loop, and adjustable-flow configurations. They can also be configured for positive pressure to protect products inside the glove box, or negative pressure to protect personnel outside the glovebox.
E1 – Adjustable Open/Closed Loop Filtration
Adjustable-flow filtered glovebox systems offer the greatest versatility and are best for applications that require both open-loop and closed-loop circulation. Adjustable valves let you quickly switch modes and easily connect to external supply and exhaust systems.
E2 - Recirculating (Closed Loop) Filtration
Closed-loop filtration glove box systems continuously filter and recirculate air inside the glovebox, without introducing any ambient air. They are suitable for applications that require both a low-particle and controlled gas atmosphere. They can be combined with a process gas such as nitrogen to maintain a low-moisture, low-oxygen atmosphere inside the enclosure.
Some advantages of a closed-loop recirculating system include energy efficiency and protection from harmful process gases. A closed-loop design recycles preconditioned air or process gases to minimize heating, cooling, and consumption of process gas.
E3 - Single Pass (Open Loop) Filtration
Open-loop filtration glove box systems include an inlet and exit filter. The inlet filter removes microcontaminants from outside air drawn into the glove box. The exit filter captures fine particles from the exhaust, allowing the safe indoor release of exhaust air.
Single-pass configurations introduce filtered ambient air into the enclosure and are therefore not suitable for applications that require a low-moisture, low-oxygen, or similar controlled gas atmosphere.
F – Capacity
(back to chart)
F1 - Single Operator (Two Glove Ports)
Single operator configurations are both economical and compact, well-suited for smaller work areas, portable glovebox field-work, and equipment-dense areas in the lab.
F2 - Dual Operator (Four Glove Ports)
Multi-operator gloveboxes are widely customizable for optimal workflow. Samples often require passage from station to station and are introduced and removed via an air lock, which minimizes disruption of internal cleanliness and low-humidity conditions. Glove ports can be configured to the front, side, and/or rear of a glovebox with appropriate clearance.
One might consider other factors when opting for a larger, multi-operator glove box system. Selecting the ideal glove box system may also require long-term value consideration such as easy cleaning features, operator ergonomics, and upward compatibility.
G – Air Lock
(back to chart)
Airlocks mount on the right or left side of the glovebox to minimize cross-contamination when materials are transferred to and from the glovebox.
G1 - Inert Gas Air Lock
Inert gas airlocks are an economical option to minimize nitrogen loss and contamination inflow when materials are passed through the glove box. The airlock is connected to an inert gas line to purge out ambient air before the inside door is opened to allow materials to transfer into or out of the main chamber.
Inert gas airlocks are available in several configurations to streamline workflow. Airlocks can also be used to interconnect multiple gloveboxes in series.
G2 - Vacuum Antechamber
A vacuum antechamber can provide faster parts transfer than an airlock configured only with inert gas purge. After materials are loaded into the vacuum airlock, the operator uses a vacuum pump to initiate vacuum cycles that quickly remove ambient, moisture-laden air, and back-fill with an inert gas. The operator then opens the internal door from inside the glove box to bring materials into the work area.
G3 - Pass-Through Vacuum/Inert Gas Oven
High-performance vacuum ovens combine heat, inert gas, and negative pressure for the fastest removal of moisture and contaminants from materials transferring into a glovebox. They are designed to allow for easy attachment to the side of Terra’s stainless steel gloveboxes.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 - Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar
Ionizing bars provide a continuous stream of static-neutralizing ions that minimize electrostatic charges. This helps protect sensitive electronics from electrostatic discharge (ESD) and enhances cleanliness by neutralizing static cling, when charges attract and hold particles to surfaces.
Terra’s ionizing bar uses state-of-the-art technology to generate a balanced stream of positive and negative ions to neutralize surface static charges and safeguard ESD-sensitive materials. Ionizing bars for gloveboxes include one fan per pair of emitters to uniformly distribute ions through the glove box enclosure. The system requires no calibration and automatically maintains ion balance of ± 50 volts.
H2 - Nitrogen Generator
Compact, high-capacity Nitrogen generators require only a compressed air supply for continued nitrogen gas production. On-site nitrogen generation eliminates the cost and inconvenience of a 3rd-party nitrogen tank supplier while also providing as-needed control over the quantity and quality of nitrogen produced. Terra’s N2 generators require no moving parts and consume little energy beyond a stream of compressed air.
H3 - Trace Oxygen Analyzer
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
H4 - Regenerating Gas Dryer
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
H5 - Duplex Outlets & Power Strips
Duplex outlets and power strips allow convenient operation of electrical equipment inside a glovebox. GFCI outlets are suitable for areas around liquids to help prevent electric shock and damage to your electrical devices.
H6 - Glovebox Stand With Casters
Terra’s ErgoHeight™ electric height adjustable workstations provide effortless height adjustment without the need to temporarily relocate heavy and expensive process equipment. They are tested by UL to meet the strictest safety and stability standards.
Rigid glovebox stands offer a heavy-duty alternative. They are constructed of all-welded 1.5” steel square tubing for maximum stability. They are available in stainless steel or with a clean and durable powder coat finish.
Optional casters provide mobility to glovebox stands for easy transportation or to clean around the work area.
H7 - Removable Rear Wall
A removable rear wall panel allows for transfer of large equipment into the main glove box chamber, and facilitates cleaning inside the glovebox. Foam gasket around the perimeter minimizes leaks. Removable rear panels are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H8 - Removable Side Panels
Removable gasketed side panels allow easy introduction of large process equipment or retrofitting of air locks and adjacent gloveboxes. Stainless steel gloveboxes feature an innovative clamping mechanism with only two screws per side that allows for quick installation in minutes.
H9 - Side Access Door
Side access doors facilitate the transfer of larger equipment that may not fit through a smaller size airlock and simplify cleaning inside the glovebox. They are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H10 - Full View Front Window
Full-view gloveboxes combine the full visibility of transparent plastic glove boxes with the strength and processing capabilities of a 304 stainless steel chamber. The entire front side of the glovebox is replaced with a window that includes built-in gloveports. They are ideal for gloveboxes with equipment or operations that require more vertical space.
H11 - Tilt-Up Front Viewing Window
Tilt-up front windows allow convenient transfer of large materials or equipment into a glovebox. They also help simplify cleaning inside the glovebox. Hinges and lift latches make it easier to use than a removable panel that would need to be unscrewed and detached. Tilt-up windows are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H12 - Germicidal UV Lamp
A UV sanitizing module neutralizes bacteria, viruses, and mold spores inside the glovebox. UV light is particularly effective when targeting resistant bacteria, mold/fungal spores, and gram-negative bacteria.
H13 - USP <797> Compliant
Laminar Flow Glove Box Isolator (LFGI) designs meet USP 797 and ISO Class 5 for sterile compounding of pharmaceuticals. A HEPA filtration module provides clean, positive pressure air in accordance with ISO 5 requirements. A separate antechamber allows the introduction of materials without contaminating the main work area.
H14 - IV Bar
An IV bar is an integrated rod for hanging IV bags during laboratory processes, pharmaceutical compounding, or medical research applications.
Sterile Compounding Laminar Flow Glove Box Isolators
A - Humidity/Moisture Control
(back to chart)
A1 - High Humidity (Above Ambient to 95% RH)
Terra’s Humex™ 2 humidity controller is suitable for a wide range of above-ambient target humidity levels and is cross-compatible with many other Terra systems. When paired with Terra’s Dual Purge and NitroWatch systems, chamber RH is adjustable for higher or lower RH levels in the glovebox.
The Humex 2 uses an inline humidity sensor installed inside the enclosure to monitor the relative humidity (RH) level. As soon as the %RH falls below a user-selected threshold, a relay inside the Humex activates the heater and a solenoid valve for water vapor. The low-volume steam output helps to minimize water condensation. Once the %RH set-point is attained, the Humex turns off the heater and water flow.
A2 - Low Humidity/Oxygen (5% RH)
Applications requiring low humidity down to 5% RH can be configured with manual flow-meters or Terra’s automatic gas-purge control systems. Terra offers control systems for different applications and budgets.
Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: Terra Universal's Dual Purge™ and NitroWatch™ work together to fully automate moisture control inside a glove box or similar enclosure. This automatic Nitrogen purge control maintains use-specified sub-ambient RH set-point down to 0% ±1.5% RH. The variable-purge system uses high/low flow settings to conserve nitrogen. Programmable logic gives users complete control over warning alarms and other system functions for worry-free operation. The system can be upgraded to include built-in data logging.
Smart® glovebox system: The Smart® control system offers a simplified, lower-cost alternative to the Dual Purge and NitroWatch, ideal for enclosures less than 6 cubic feet. The system features a mini automatic control module mounted to the side of the glovebox. It includes a built-in RH Sensor and LED display to provide automatic RH setpoint control down to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. Low moisture conditions are maintained by automatically controlling the flow of dry purge gas, generally nitrogen, into the glove box. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases the efficiency of N2 gas consumption, cutting nitrogen costs up to 78% when compared to a manual flow meter gas delivery system. The system can encounter limitations and inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in chambers larger than 6 cubic feet.
Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller gloveboxes that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to high operating costs and damaged materials.
A3 - Ultra Low Moisture/Oxygen (<1% RH)
Critical applications may require moisture concentration levels below 1% RH, which can be measured in parts per million (PPM). Plastic gloveboxes are generally not suitable due to hygroscopic and permeable material properties, which allow moisture and oxygen to leak into the enclosure. Stainless steel gloveboxes offer the best moisture impermeability, making them ideal for ultra low moisture/oxygen applications such as organometallic chemistry, hydrophilic chemical handling, lithium battery production, microelectronics manufacturing, and hemoglobin research.
Gas purging for ultra low moisture/oxygen systems also requires a high volume of nitrogen (or other inert process gas). Gloveboxes and airlocks configured for negative pressure can use vacuum cycling to reduce nitrogen consumption and more rapidly remove moisture and oxygen-rich air.
Even with a plentiful supply of inert gas and a vacuum pump system, reaching ultra low levels with a manual purge control process can be extremely time consuming and require constant supervision. Terra offers a number of automatic purge systems and accessories to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ultra low moisture/oxygen gloveboxes:
The extreme sensitivity and precision of the DewWatch™ moisture control unit makes it suitable for the most demanding applications. It operates over the -80 to +20 degree C dew point range, which is equivalent to 0.5 PPMV to 23,000 PPMV in gases at 1 atmosphere. It interfaces with Terra's Dual Purge™ variable gas-flow system for completely automatic nitrogen purging.
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
B - Stainless Steel Design Configurations
(back to chart)
Stainless steel glove boxes are well suited for broad chemical compatibility, sterile-friendly cleaning, and impermeability to moisture/oxygen.
B1 - CleanSeam™ Design
Continuous Seam Welds: Glove boxes with CleanSeam™ design feature a fully welded single piece enclosure with seamless interiors to eliminate hard-to-clean cracks and crevices that can harbor contaminants. The continuous-seam welds are ground smooth to simplify cleaning and sterilization.
B2 - BioSafe® Design
Meets Aseptic Requirements: BioSafe glove boxes are ideal for life science applications and exceed cGMP, IEST, ASTM and ISO 14644-1 requirements. Continuous-seam welds eliminate hard to clean cracks and crevices that can harbor particles and microbes. Round, wide radius corners simplify complete sterilization.
BioSafe® Door with Knife-Edge Seal: BioSafe® Doors are removable for autoclaving and sterilization. A one-piece, heat-formed, non-adhesive gaskets won’t creep or outgas.
C - Vacuum Control
(back to chart)
Vacuum glove boxes are ideal for vacuum cycling and process gas backfilling. This provides a fast, economical way to achieve extremely low moisture and oxygen levels inside the chamber. During each cycle, a vacuum pump connected to the glovebox removes the chamber environment, and with it moisture and oxygen. Once air is removed, the chamber can be backfilled with an inert process gas until the chamber attains neutral pressure. This process is repeated as needed until oxygen or moisture concentration reach the desired level.
Advanced vacuum control modules automatically apply vacuum to maintain a precise set-point. They also help extend the service life of your vacuum pump by allowing continuous pump operation. Repeated starts and stops, especially under existing vacuum pressure, can lead to backstreaming of pump oil into the vacuum line, resulting in contamination and premature pump failure.
Terra also offers a complete line of vacuum pumps for laboratory and cleanroom operations that require clean, quiet performance.
C1 - Light Duty Vacuum (<20% or -5" Hg)
Terra’s stainless steel negative-pressure glove box designs offer a range of benefits for special applications that require only partial vacuum or slight negative pressure. Stainless steel outgasses less than acrylic, is easier to clean, has higher chemical resistance, and is well suited for higher temperature applications. Removable side panels and access doors also make it easy to transfer large equipment and materials. Continuous-seam welded vacuum glove box designs provide easy-to-clean interiors and reduce negative-pressure leak rates.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
C2 - Full Vacuum (99.9% or -29.9" Hg)
Acrylic Vacuum Glove Box designs are built with one-inch-thick walls to hold full vacuum down to 29.9" Hg (99.9% vacuum). These heavy-duty transparent vacuum gloveboxes include a built-in vacuum airlock to allow materials transfer with minimal disruption to the internal controlled atmosphere.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
D – Temperature Control
(back to chart)
D1 - Double-Wall Insulated Design
Double-wall, insulated glove box isolators boost thermal efficiency to create stable process temperatures and decrease the cost of heating and cooling cycles.
D2 - Constant Temperature Control System (-5°C to 49°C)
Constant temperature isolators provide cost-efficient stable heating and cooling cycles, making them suitable for accelerated-life testing of elastomers, fiber composites, and other materials.
Refrigerating and heating temperature control systems offer broad ranges, -20°F to +140°F (-29°C to 68°C). Temperature control systems can be paired with optional gas purge systems for humidity control (5% to 95% RH) and/or HEPA/ULPA filters to provide a low particle atmosphere.
D3 - Process Gas Heating (up to 176°C, 349°F)
Terra Universal’s Process Gas Heater provides a safe and accurate way to enhance a variety of sensitive operations requiring a heated process gas. Its programmable controller ensures safe, clean heating and provides over-temperature protection. Within a matter of seconds, it raises the temperature of the process gas (such as nitrogen, argon, or oxygen) up to 349°F. The thermostatic control ensures temperature stability. Its isolated heating system provides controlled heating without direct contact with the process gas for safe, non-contaminating operation.
The smart programmable temperature controller monitors and responds to gas temperature measured at either the outlet or inside a cabinet, continuously adjusting the temperature profile and guarding against temperature overshoot. A digital readout toggles between the user-defined set point and the actual gas temperature.
E – HEPA Filtered Air Flow
(back to chart)
A filtered glove box uses HEPA or ULPA filtration to enhance personnel and product protection by removing airborne particulates and powders inside the protective enclosure. These glove boxes are commonly used in labs that produce, mix, or package pharmaceutical or chemical powders. The Class 100/10 ultra-low particle environment also makes these units suitable for other material protection applications such as microelectronics, optics, cell culture, medical devices, micropropagation, genomics, proteomics, and cell biology.
Filtration glovebox systems are available in open-loop, closed-loop, and adjustable-flow configurations. They can also be configured for positive pressure to protect products inside the glove box, or negative pressure to protect personnel outside the glovebox.
E1 – Adjustable Open/Closed Loop Filtration
Adjustable-flow filtered glovebox systems offer the greatest versatility and are best for applications that require both open-loop and closed-loop circulation. Adjustable valves let you quickly switch modes and easily connect to external supply and exhaust systems.
E2 - Recirculating (Closed Loop) Filtration
Closed-loop filtration glove box systems continuously filter and recirculate air inside the glovebox, without introducing any ambient air. They are suitable for applications that require both a low-particle and controlled gas atmosphere. They can be combined with a process gas such as nitrogen to maintain a low-moisture, low-oxygen atmosphere inside the enclosure.
Some advantages of a closed-loop recirculating system include energy efficiency and protection from harmful process gases. A closed-loop design recycles preconditioned air or process gases to minimize heating, cooling, and consumption of process gas.
E3 - Single Pass (Open Loop) Filtration
Open-loop filtration glove box systems include an inlet and exit filter. The inlet filter removes microcontaminants from outside air drawn into the glove box. The exit filter captures fine particles from the exhaust, allowing the safe indoor release of exhaust air.
Single-pass configurations introduce filtered ambient air into the enclosure and are therefore not suitable for applications that require a low-moisture, low-oxygen, or similar controlled gas atmosphere.
F – Capacity
(back to chart)
F1 - Single Operator (Two Glove Ports)
Single operator configurations are both economical and compact, well-suited for smaller work areas, portable glovebox field-work, and equipment-dense areas in the lab.
F2 - Dual Operator (Four Glove Ports)
Multi-operator gloveboxes are widely customizable for optimal workflow. Samples often require passage from station to station and are introduced and removed via an air lock, which minimizes disruption of internal cleanliness and low-humidity conditions. Glove ports can be configured to the front, side, and/or rear of a glovebox with appropriate clearance.
One might consider other factors when opting for a larger, multi-operator glove box system. Selecting the ideal glove box system may also require long-term value consideration such as easy cleaning features, operator ergonomics, and upward compatibility.
G – Air Lock
(back to chart)
Airlocks mount on the right or left side of the glovebox to minimize cross-contamination when materials are transferred to and from the glovebox.
G1 - Inert Gas Air Lock
Inert gas airlocks are an economical option to minimize nitrogen loss and contamination inflow when materials are passed through the glove box. The airlock is connected to an inert gas line to purge out ambient air before the inside door is opened to allow materials to transfer into or out of the main chamber.
Inert gas airlocks are available in several configurations to streamline workflow. Airlocks can also be used to interconnect multiple gloveboxes in series.
G2 - Vacuum Antechamber
A vacuum antechamber can provide faster parts transfer than an airlock configured only with inert gas purge. After materials are loaded into the vacuum airlock, the operator uses a vacuum pump to initiate vacuum cycles that quickly remove ambient, moisture-laden air, and back-fill with an inert gas. The operator then opens the internal door from inside the glove box to bring materials into the work area.
G3 - Pass-Through Vacuum/Inert Gas Oven
High-performance vacuum ovens combine heat, inert gas, and negative pressure for the fastest removal of moisture and contaminants from materials transferring into a glovebox. They are designed to allow for easy attachment to the side of Terra’s stainless steel gloveboxes.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 - Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar
Ionizing bars provide a continuous stream of static-neutralizing ions that minimize electrostatic charges. This helps protect sensitive electronics from electrostatic discharge (ESD) and enhances cleanliness by neutralizing static cling, when charges attract and hold particles to surfaces.
Terra’s ionizing bar uses state-of-the-art technology to generate a balanced stream of positive and negative ions to neutralize surface static charges and safeguard ESD-sensitive materials. Ionizing bars for gloveboxes include one fan per pair of emitters to uniformly distribute ions through the glove box enclosure. The system requires no calibration and automatically maintains ion balance of ± 50 volts.
H2 - Nitrogen Generator
Compact, high-capacity Nitrogen generators require only a compressed air supply for continued nitrogen gas production. On-site nitrogen generation eliminates the cost and inconvenience of a 3rd-party nitrogen tank supplier while also providing as-needed control over the quantity and quality of nitrogen produced. Terra’s N2 generators require no moving parts and consume little energy beyond a stream of compressed air.
H3 - Trace Oxygen Analyzer
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
H4 - Regenerating Gas Dryer
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
H5 - Duplex Outlets & Power Strips
Duplex outlets and power strips allow convenient operation of electrical equipment inside a glovebox. GFCI outlets are suitable for areas around liquids to help prevent electric shock and damage to your electrical devices.
H6 - Glovebox Stand With Casters
Terra’s ErgoHeight™ electric height adjustable workstations provide effortless height adjustment without the need to temporarily relocate heavy and expensive process equipment. They are tested by UL to meet the strictest safety and stability standards.
Rigid glovebox stands offer a heavy-duty alternative. They are constructed of all-welded 1.5” steel square tubing for maximum stability. They are available in stainless steel or with a clean and durable powder coat finish.
Optional casters provide mobility to glovebox stands for easy transportation or to clean around the work area.
H7 - Removable Rear Wall
A removable rear wall panel allows for transfer of large equipment into the main glove box chamber, and facilitates cleaning inside the glovebox. Foam gasket around the perimeter minimizes leaks. Removable rear panels are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H8 - Removable Side Panels
Removable gasketed side panels allow easy introduction of large process equipment or retrofitting of air locks and adjacent gloveboxes. Stainless steel gloveboxes feature an innovative clamping mechanism with only two screws per side that allows for quick installation in minutes.
H9 - Side Access Door
Side access doors facilitate the transfer of larger equipment that may not fit through a smaller size airlock and simplify cleaning inside the glovebox. They are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H10 - Full View Front Window
Full-view gloveboxes combine the full visibility of transparent plastic glove boxes with the strength and processing capabilities of a 304 stainless steel chamber. The entire front side of the glovebox is replaced with a window that includes built-in gloveports. They are ideal for gloveboxes with equipment or operations that require more vertical space.
H11 - Tilt-Up Front Viewing Window
Tilt-up front windows allow convenient transfer of large materials or equipment into a glovebox. They also help simplify cleaning inside the glovebox. Hinges and lift latches make it easier to use than a removable panel that would need to be unscrewed and detached. Tilt-up windows are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H12 - Germicidal UV Lamp
A UV sanitizing module neutralizes bacteria, viruses, and mold spores inside the glovebox. UV light is particularly effective when targeting resistant bacteria, mold/fungal spores, and gram-negative bacteria.
H13 - USP <797> Compliant
Laminar Flow Glove Box Isolator (LFGI) designs meet USP 797 and ISO Class 5 for sterile compounding of pharmaceuticals. A HEPA filtration module provides clean, positive pressure air in accordance with ISO 5 requirements. A separate antechamber allows the introduction of materials without contaminating the main work area.
H14 - IV Bar
An IV bar is an integrated rod for hanging IV bags during laboratory processes, pharmaceutical compounding, or medical research applications.
Gas-Purged Plastic Glove Box Isolators
A - Humidity/Moisture Control
(back to chart)
A1 - High Humidity (Above Ambient to 95% RH)
Terra’s Humex™ 2 humidity controller is suitable for a wide range of above-ambient target humidity levels and is cross-compatible with many other Terra systems. When paired with Terra’s Dual Purge and NitroWatch systems, chamber RH is adjustable for higher or lower RH levels in the glovebox.
The Humex 2 uses an inline humidity sensor installed inside the enclosure to monitor the relative humidity (RH) level. As soon as the %RH falls below a user-selected threshold, a relay inside the Humex activates the heater and a solenoid valve for water vapor. The low-volume steam output helps to minimize water condensation. Once the %RH set-point is attained, the Humex turns off the heater and water flow.
A2 - Low Humidity/Oxygen (5% RH)
Applications requiring low humidity down to 5% RH can be configured with manual flow-meters or Terra’s automatic gas-purge control systems. Terra offers control systems for different applications and budgets.
Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: Terra Universal's Dual Purge™ and NitroWatch™ work together to fully automate moisture control inside a glove box or similar enclosure. This automatic Nitrogen purge control maintains use-specified sub-ambient RH set-point down to 0% ±1.5% RH. The variable-purge system uses high/low flow settings to conserve nitrogen. Programmable logic gives users complete control over warning alarms and other system functions for worry-free operation. The system can be upgraded to include built-in data logging.
Smart® glovebox system: The Smart® control system offers a simplified, lower-cost alternative to the Dual Purge and NitroWatch, ideal for enclosures less than 6 cubic feet. The system features a mini automatic control module mounted to the side of the glovebox. It includes a built-in RH Sensor and LED display to provide automatic RH setpoint control down to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. Low moisture conditions are maintained by automatically controlling the flow of dry purge gas, generally nitrogen, into the glove box. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases the efficiency of N2 gas consumption, cutting nitrogen costs up to 78% when compared to a manual flow meter gas delivery system. The system can encounter limitations and inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in chambers larger than 6 cubic feet.
Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller gloveboxes that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to high operating costs and damaged materials.
A3 - Ultra Low Moisture/Oxygen (<1% RH)
Critical applications may require moisture concentration levels below 1% RH, which can be measured in parts per million (PPM). Plastic gloveboxes are generally not suitable due to hygroscopic and permeable material properties, which allow moisture and oxygen to leak into the enclosure. Stainless steel gloveboxes offer the best moisture impermeability, making them ideal for ultra low moisture/oxygen applications such as organometallic chemistry, hydrophilic chemical handling, lithium battery production, microelectronics manufacturing, and hemoglobin research.
Gas purging for ultra low moisture/oxygen systems also requires a high volume of nitrogen (or other inert process gas). Gloveboxes and airlocks configured for negative pressure can use vacuum cycling to reduce nitrogen consumption and more rapidly remove moisture and oxygen-rich air.
Even with a plentiful supply of inert gas and a vacuum pump system, reaching ultra low levels with a manual purge control process can be extremely time consuming and require constant supervision. Terra offers a number of automatic purge systems and accessories to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ultra low moisture/oxygen gloveboxes:
The extreme sensitivity and precision of the DewWatch™ moisture control unit makes it suitable for the most demanding applications. It operates over the -80 to +20 degree C dew point range, which is equivalent to 0.5 PPMV to 23,000 PPMV in gases at 1 atmosphere. It interfaces with Terra's Dual Purge™ variable gas-flow system for completely automatic nitrogen purging.
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
B - Stainless Steel Design Configurations
(back to chart)
Stainless steel glove boxes are well suited for broad chemical compatibility, sterile-friendly cleaning, and impermeability to moisture/oxygen.
B1 - CleanSeam™ Design
Continuous Seam Welds: Glove boxes with CleanSeam™ design feature a fully welded single piece enclosure with seamless interiors to eliminate hard-to-clean cracks and crevices that can harbor contaminants. The continuous-seam welds are ground smooth to simplify cleaning and sterilization.
B2 - BioSafe® Design
Meets Aseptic Requirements: BioSafe glove boxes are ideal for life science applications and exceed cGMP, IEST, ASTM and ISO 14644-1 requirements. Continuous-seam welds eliminate hard to clean cracks and crevices that can harbor particles and microbes. Round, wide radius corners simplify complete sterilization.
BioSafe® Door with Knife-Edge Seal: BioSafe® Doors are removable for autoclaving and sterilization. A one-piece, heat-formed, non-adhesive gaskets won’t creep or outgas.
C - Vacuum Control
(back to chart)
Vacuum glove boxes are ideal for vacuum cycling and process gas backfilling. This provides a fast, economical way to achieve extremely low moisture and oxygen levels inside the chamber. During each cycle, a vacuum pump connected to the glovebox removes the chamber environment, and with it moisture and oxygen. Once air is removed, the chamber can be backfilled with an inert process gas until the chamber attains neutral pressure. This process is repeated as needed until oxygen or moisture concentration reach the desired level.
Advanced vacuum control modules automatically apply vacuum to maintain a precise set-point. They also help extend the service life of your vacuum pump by allowing continuous pump operation. Repeated starts and stops, especially under existing vacuum pressure, can lead to backstreaming of pump oil into the vacuum line, resulting in contamination and premature pump failure.
Terra also offers a complete line of vacuum pumps for laboratory and cleanroom operations that require clean, quiet performance.
C1 - Light Duty Vacuum (<20% or -5" Hg)
Terra’s stainless steel negative-pressure glove box designs offer a range of benefits for special applications that require only partial vacuum or slight negative pressure. Stainless steel outgasses less than acrylic, is easier to clean, has higher chemical resistance, and is well suited for higher temperature applications. Removable side panels and access doors also make it easy to transfer large equipment and materials. Continuous-seam welded vacuum glove box designs provide easy-to-clean interiors and reduce negative-pressure leak rates.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
C2 - Full Vacuum (99.9% or -29.9" Hg)
Acrylic Vacuum Glove Box designs are built with one-inch-thick walls to hold full vacuum down to 29.9" Hg (99.9% vacuum). These heavy-duty transparent vacuum gloveboxes include a built-in vacuum airlock to allow materials transfer with minimal disruption to the internal controlled atmosphere.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
D – Temperature Control
(back to chart)
D1 - Double-Wall Insulated Design
Double-wall, insulated glove box isolators boost thermal efficiency to create stable process temperatures and decrease the cost of heating and cooling cycles.
D2 - Constant Temperature Control System (-5°C to 49°C)
Constant temperature isolators provide cost-efficient stable heating and cooling cycles, making them suitable for accelerated-life testing of elastomers, fiber composites, and other materials.
Refrigerating and heating temperature control systems offer broad ranges, -20°F to +140°F (-29°C to 68°C). Temperature control systems can be paired with optional gas purge systems for humidity control (5% to 95% RH) and/or HEPA/ULPA filters to provide a low particle atmosphere.
D3 - Process Gas Heating (up to 176°C, 349°F)
Terra Universal’s Process Gas Heater provides a safe and accurate way to enhance a variety of sensitive operations requiring a heated process gas. Its programmable controller ensures safe, clean heating and provides over-temperature protection. Within a matter of seconds, it raises the temperature of the process gas (such as nitrogen, argon, or oxygen) up to 349°F. The thermostatic control ensures temperature stability. Its isolated heating system provides controlled heating without direct contact with the process gas for safe, non-contaminating operation.
The smart programmable temperature controller monitors and responds to gas temperature measured at either the outlet or inside a cabinet, continuously adjusting the temperature profile and guarding against temperature overshoot. A digital readout toggles between the user-defined set point and the actual gas temperature.
E – HEPA Filtered Air Flow
(back to chart)
A filtered glove box uses HEPA or ULPA filtration to enhance personnel and product protection by removing airborne particulates and powders inside the protective enclosure. These glove boxes are commonly used in labs that produce, mix, or package pharmaceutical or chemical powders. The Class 100/10 ultra-low particle environment also makes these units suitable for other material protection applications such as microelectronics, optics, cell culture, medical devices, micropropagation, genomics, proteomics, and cell biology.
Filtration glovebox systems are available in open-loop, closed-loop, and adjustable-flow configurations. They can also be configured for positive pressure to protect products inside the glove box, or negative pressure to protect personnel outside the glovebox.
E1 – Adjustable Open/Closed Loop Filtration
Adjustable-flow filtered glovebox systems offer the greatest versatility and are best for applications that require both open-loop and closed-loop circulation. Adjustable valves let you quickly switch modes and easily connect to external supply and exhaust systems.
E2 - Recirculating (Closed Loop) Filtration
Closed-loop filtration glove box systems continuously filter and recirculate air inside the glovebox, without introducing any ambient air. They are suitable for applications that require both a low-particle and controlled gas atmosphere. They can be combined with a process gas such as nitrogen to maintain a low-moisture, low-oxygen atmosphere inside the enclosure.
Some advantages of a closed-loop recirculating system include energy efficiency and protection from harmful process gases. A closed-loop design recycles preconditioned air or process gases to minimize heating, cooling, and consumption of process gas.
E3 - Single Pass (Open Loop) Filtration
Open-loop filtration glove box systems include an inlet and exit filter. The inlet filter removes microcontaminants from outside air drawn into the glove box. The exit filter captures fine particles from the exhaust, allowing the safe indoor release of exhaust air.
Single-pass configurations introduce filtered ambient air into the enclosure and are therefore not suitable for applications that require a low-moisture, low-oxygen, or similar controlled gas atmosphere.
F – Capacity
(back to chart)
F1 - Single Operator (Two Glove Ports)
Single operator configurations are both economical and compact, well-suited for smaller work areas, portable glovebox field-work, and equipment-dense areas in the lab.
F2 - Dual Operator (Four Glove Ports)
Multi-operator gloveboxes are widely customizable for optimal workflow. Samples often require passage from station to station and are introduced and removed via an air lock, which minimizes disruption of internal cleanliness and low-humidity conditions. Glove ports can be configured to the front, side, and/or rear of a glovebox with appropriate clearance.
One might consider other factors when opting for a larger, multi-operator glove box system. Selecting the ideal glove box system may also require long-term value consideration such as easy cleaning features, operator ergonomics, and upward compatibility.
G – Air Lock
(back to chart)
Airlocks mount on the right or left side of the glovebox to minimize cross-contamination when materials are transferred to and from the glovebox.
G1 - Inert Gas Air Lock
Inert gas airlocks are an economical option to minimize nitrogen loss and contamination inflow when materials are passed through the glove box. The airlock is connected to an inert gas line to purge out ambient air before the inside door is opened to allow materials to transfer into or out of the main chamber.
Inert gas airlocks are available in several configurations to streamline workflow. Airlocks can also be used to interconnect multiple gloveboxes in series.
G2 - Vacuum Antechamber
A vacuum antechamber can provide faster parts transfer than an airlock configured only with inert gas purge. After materials are loaded into the vacuum airlock, the operator uses a vacuum pump to initiate vacuum cycles that quickly remove ambient, moisture-laden air, and back-fill with an inert gas. The operator then opens the internal door from inside the glove box to bring materials into the work area.
G3 - Pass-Through Vacuum/Inert Gas Oven
High-performance vacuum ovens combine heat, inert gas, and negative pressure for the fastest removal of moisture and contaminants from materials transferring into a glovebox. They are designed to allow for easy attachment to the side of Terra’s stainless steel gloveboxes.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 - Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar
Ionizing bars provide a continuous stream of static-neutralizing ions that minimize electrostatic charges. This helps protect sensitive electronics from electrostatic discharge (ESD) and enhances cleanliness by neutralizing static cling, when charges attract and hold particles to surfaces.
Terra’s ionizing bar uses state-of-the-art technology to generate a balanced stream of positive and negative ions to neutralize surface static charges and safeguard ESD-sensitive materials. Ionizing bars for gloveboxes include one fan per pair of emitters to uniformly distribute ions through the glove box enclosure. The system requires no calibration and automatically maintains ion balance of ± 50 volts.
H2 - Nitrogen Generator
Compact, high-capacity Nitrogen generators require only a compressed air supply for continued nitrogen gas production. On-site nitrogen generation eliminates the cost and inconvenience of a 3rd-party nitrogen tank supplier while also providing as-needed control over the quantity and quality of nitrogen produced. Terra’s N2 generators require no moving parts and consume little energy beyond a stream of compressed air.
H3 - Trace Oxygen Analyzer
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
H4 - Regenerating Gas Dryer
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
H5 - Duplex Outlets & Power Strips
Duplex outlets and power strips allow convenient operation of electrical equipment inside a glovebox. GFCI outlets are suitable for areas around liquids to help prevent electric shock and damage to your electrical devices.
H6 - Glovebox Stand With Casters
Terra’s ErgoHeight™ electric height adjustable workstations provide effortless height adjustment without the need to temporarily relocate heavy and expensive process equipment. They are tested by UL to meet the strictest safety and stability standards.
Rigid glovebox stands offer a heavy-duty alternative. They are constructed of all-welded 1.5” steel square tubing for maximum stability. They are available in stainless steel or with a clean and durable powder coat finish.
Optional casters provide mobility to glovebox stands for easy transportation or to clean around the work area.
H7 - Removable Rear Wall
A removable rear wall panel allows for transfer of large equipment into the main glove box chamber, and facilitates cleaning inside the glovebox. Foam gasket around the perimeter minimizes leaks. Removable rear panels are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H8 - Removable Side Panels
Removable gasketed side panels allow easy introduction of large process equipment or retrofitting of air locks and adjacent gloveboxes. Stainless steel gloveboxes feature an innovative clamping mechanism with only two screws per side that allows for quick installation in minutes.
H9 - Side Access Door
Side access doors facilitate the transfer of larger equipment that may not fit through a smaller size airlock and simplify cleaning inside the glovebox. They are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H10 - Full View Front Window
Full-view gloveboxes combine the full visibility of transparent plastic glove boxes with the strength and processing capabilities of a 304 stainless steel chamber. The entire front side of the glovebox is replaced with a window that includes built-in gloveports. They are ideal for gloveboxes with equipment or operations that require more vertical space.
H11 - Tilt-Up Front Viewing Window
Tilt-up front windows allow convenient transfer of large materials or equipment into a glovebox. They also help simplify cleaning inside the glovebox. Hinges and lift latches make it easier to use than a removable panel that would need to be unscrewed and detached. Tilt-up windows are generally not opened while the glovebox is maintaining a controlled atmosphere.
H12 - Germicidal UV Lamp
A UV sanitizing module neutralizes bacteria, viruses, and mold spores inside the glovebox. UV light is particularly effective when targeting resistant bacteria, mold/fungal spores, and gram-negative bacteria.
H13 - USP <797> Compliant
Laminar Flow Glove Box Isolator (LFGI) designs meet USP 797 and ISO Class 5 for sterile compounding of pharmaceuticals. A HEPA filtration module provides clean, positive pressure air in accordance with ISO 5 requirements. A separate antechamber allows the introduction of materials without contaminating the main work area.
H14 - IV Bar
An IV bar is an integrated rod for hanging IV bags during laboratory processes, pharmaceutical compounding, or medical research applications.
ValuLine™ Portable Plastic Glove Boxes
A - Humidity/Moisture Control
(back to chart)
A1 - High Humidity (Above Ambient to 95% RH)
Terra’s Humex™ 2 humidity controller is suitable for a wide range of above-ambient target humidity levels and is cross-compatible with many other Terra systems. When paired with Terra’s Dual Purge and NitroWatch systems, chamber RH is adjustable for higher or lower RH levels in the glovebox.
The Humex 2 uses an inline humidity sensor installed inside the enclosure to monitor the relative humidity (RH) level. As soon as the %RH falls below a user-selected threshold, a relay inside the Humex activates the heater and a solenoid valve for water vapor. The low-volume steam output helps to minimize water condensation. Once the %RH set-point is attained, the Humex turns off the heater and water flow.
A2 - Low Humidity/Oxygen (5% RH)
Applications requiring low humidity down to 5% RH can be configured with manual flow-meters or Terra’s automatic gas-purge control systems. Terra offers control systems for different applications and budgets.
Dual Purge™ & NitroWatch™: Terra Universal's Dual Purge™ and NitroWatch™ work together to fully automate moisture control inside a glove box or similar enclosure. This automatic Nitrogen purge control maintains use-specified sub-ambient RH set-point down to 0% ±1.5% RH. The variable-purge system uses high/low flow settings to conserve nitrogen. Programmable logic gives users complete control over warning alarms and other system functions for worry-free operation. The system can be upgraded to include built-in data logging.
Smart® glovebox system: The Smart® control system offers a simplified, lower-cost alternative to the Dual Purge and NitroWatch, ideal for enclosures less than 6 cubic feet. The system features a mini automatic control module mounted to the side of the glovebox. It includes a built-in RH Sensor and LED display to provide automatic RH setpoint control down to 0% RH with binary (on/off) gas flow. Low moisture conditions are maintained by automatically controlling the flow of dry purge gas, generally nitrogen, into the glove box. The automatic RH set point control minimizes necessary supervision and increases the efficiency of N2 gas consumption, cutting nitrogen costs up to 78% when compared to a manual flow meter gas delivery system. The system can encounter limitations and inefficiencies with gas distribution and RH uniformity in chambers larger than 6 cubic feet.
Flow Meter: A manually controlled flow meter offers the lowest up-front cost for RH control. It is most suitable for smaller gloveboxes that do not require much nitrogen gas or those that require minimal supervision. Manual control means humidity control is more prone to human error and not as efficient with the consumption of inert gas, which can lead to high operating costs and damaged materials.
A3 - Ultra Low Moisture/Oxygen (<1% RH)
Critical applications may require moisture concentration levels below 1% RH, which can be measured in parts per million (PPM). Plastic gloveboxes are generally not suitable due to hygroscopic and permeable material properties, which allow moisture and oxygen to leak into the enclosure. Stainless steel gloveboxes offer the best moisture impermeability, making them ideal for ultra low moisture/oxygen applications such as organometallic chemistry, hydrophilic chemical handling, lithium battery production, microelectronics manufacturing, and hemoglobin research.
Gas purging for ultra low moisture/oxygen systems also requires a high volume of nitrogen (or other inert process gas). Gloveboxes and airlocks configured for negative pressure can use vacuum cycling to reduce nitrogen consumption and more rapidly remove moisture and oxygen-rich air.
Even with a plentiful supply of inert gas and a vacuum pump system, reaching ultra low levels with a manual purge control process can be extremely time consuming and require constant supervision. Terra offers a number of automatic purge systems and accessories to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ultra low moisture/oxygen gloveboxes:
The extreme sensitivity and precision of the DewWatch™ moisture control unit makes it suitable for the most demanding applications. It operates over the -80 to +20 degree C dew point range, which is equivalent to 0.5 PPMV to 23,000 PPMV in gases at 1 atmosphere. It interfaces with Terra's Dual Purge™ variable gas-flow system for completely automatic nitrogen purging.
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
B - Stainless Steel Design Configurations
(back to chart)
Stainless steel glove boxes are well suited for broad chemical compatibility, sterile-friendly cleaning, and impermeability to moisture/oxygen.
B1 - CleanSeam™ Design
Continuous Seam Welds: Glove boxes with CleanSeam™ design feature a fully welded single piece enclosure with seamless interiors to eliminate hard-to-clean cracks and crevices that can harbor contaminants. The continuous-seam welds are ground smooth to simplify cleaning and sterilization.
B2 - BioSafe® Design
Meets Aseptic Requirements: BioSafe glove boxes are ideal for life science applications and exceed cGMP, IEST, ASTM and ISO 14644-1 requirements. Continuous-seam welds eliminate hard to clean cracks and crevices that can harbor particles and microbes. Round, wide radius corners simplify complete sterilization.
BioSafe® Door with Knife-Edge Seal: BioSafe® Doors are removable for autoclaving and sterilization. A one-piece, heat-formed, non-adhesive gaskets won’t creep or outgas.
C - Vacuum Control
(back to chart)
Vacuum glove boxes are ideal for vacuum cycling and process gas backfilling. This provides a fast, economical way to achieve extremely low moisture and oxygen levels inside the chamber. During each cycle, a vacuum pump connected to the glovebox removes the chamber environment, and with it moisture and oxygen. Once air is removed, the chamber can be backfilled with an inert process gas until the chamber attains neutral pressure. This process is repeated as needed until oxygen or moisture concentration reach the desired level.
Advanced vacuum control modules automatically apply vacuum to maintain a precise set-point. They also help extend the service life of your vacuum pump by allowing continuous pump operation. Repeated starts and stops, especially under existing vacuum pressure, can lead to backstreaming of pump oil into the vacuum line, resulting in contamination and premature pump failure.
Terra also offers a complete line of vacuum pumps for laboratory and cleanroom operations that require clean, quiet performance.
C1 - Light Duty Vacuum (<20% or -5" Hg)
Terra’s stainless steel negative-pressure glove box designs offer a range of benefits for special applications that require only partial vacuum or slight negative pressure. Stainless steel outgasses less than acrylic, is easier to clean, has higher chemical resistance, and is well suited for higher temperature applications. Removable side panels and access doors also make it easy to transfer large equipment and materials. Continuous-seam welded vacuum glove box designs provide easy-to-clean interiors and reduce negative-pressure leak rates.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
C2 - Full Vacuum (99.9% or -29.9" Hg)
Acrylic Vacuum Glove Box designs are built with one-inch-thick walls to hold full vacuum down to 29.9" Hg (99.9% vacuum). These heavy-duty transparent vacuum gloveboxes include a built-in vacuum airlock to allow materials transfer with minimal disruption to the internal controlled atmosphere.
Application Note: The gloves cannot be used under negative pressure since the port covers must be shut while the chamber is under vacuum. The chamber must be back-filled to atmospheric pressure before materials inside the glovebox can be handled.
D – Temperature Control
(back to chart)
D1 - Double-Wall Insulated Design
Double-wall, insulated glove box isolators boost thermal efficiency to create stable process temperatures and decrease the cost of heating and cooling cycles.
D2 - Constant Temperature Control System (-5°C to 49°C)
Constant temperature isolators provide cost-efficient stable heating and cooling cycles, making them suitable for accelerated-life testing of elastomers, fiber composites, and other materials.
Refrigerating and heating temperature control systems offer broad ranges, -20°F to +140°F (-29°C to 68°C). Temperature control systems can be paired with optional gas purge systems for humidity control (5% to 95% RH) and/or HEPA/ULPA filters to provide a low particle atmosphere.
D3 - Process Gas Heating (up to 176°C, 349°F)
Terra Universal’s Process Gas Heater provides a safe and accurate way to enhance a variety of sensitive operations requiring a heated process gas. Its programmable controller ensures safe, clean heating and provides over-temperature protection. Within a matter of seconds, it raises the temperature of the process gas (such as nitrogen, argon, or oxygen) up to 349°F. The thermostatic control ensures temperature stability. Its isolated heating system provides controlled heating without direct contact with the process gas for safe, non-contaminating operation.
The smart programmable temperature controller monitors and responds to gas temperature measured at either the outlet or inside a cabinet, continuously adjusting the temperature profile and guarding against temperature overshoot. A digital readout toggles between the user-defined set point and the actual gas temperature.
E – HEPA Filtered Air Flow
(back to chart)
A filtered glove box uses HEPA or ULPA filtration to enhance personnel and product protection by removing airborne particulates and powders inside the protective enclosure. These glove boxes are commonly used in labs that produce, mix, or package pharmaceutical or chemical powders. The Class 100/10 ultra-low particle environment also makes these units suitable for other material protection applications such as microelectronics, optics, cell culture, medical devices, micropropagation, genomics, proteomics, and cell biology.
Filtration glovebox systems are available in open-loop, closed-loop, and adjustable-flow configurations. They can also be configured for positive pressure to protect products inside the glove box, or negative pressure to protect personnel outside the glovebox.
E1 – Adjustable Open/Closed Loop Filtration
Adjustable-flow filtered glovebox systems offer the greatest versatility and are best for applications that require both open-loop and closed-loop circulation. Adjustable valves let you quickly switch modes and easily connect to external supply and exhaust systems.
E2 - Recirculating (Closed Loop) Filtration
Closed-loop filtration glove box systems continuously filter and recirculate air inside the glovebox, without introducing any ambient air. They are suitable for applications that require both a low-particle and controlled gas atmosphere. They can be combined with a process gas such as nitrogen to maintain a low-moisture, low-oxygen atmosphere inside the enclosure.
Some advantages of a closed-loop recirculating system include energy efficiency and protection from harmful process gases. A closed-loop design recycles preconditioned air or process gases to minimize heating, cooling, and consumption of process gas.
E3 - Single Pass (Open Loop) Filtration
Open-loop filtration glove box systems include an inlet and exit filter. The inlet filter removes microcontaminants from outside air drawn into the glove box. The exit filter captures fine particles from the exhaust, allowing the safe indoor release of exhaust air.
Single-pass configurations introduce filtered ambient air into the enclosure and are therefore not suitable for applications that require a low-moisture, low-oxygen, or similar controlled gas atmosphere.
F – Capacity
(back to chart)
F1 - Single Operator (Two Glove Ports)
Single operator configurations are both economical and compact, well-suited for smaller work areas, portable glovebox field-work, and equipment-dense areas in the lab.
F2 - Dual Operator (Four Glove Ports)
Multi-operator gloveboxes are widely customizable for optimal workflow. Samples often require passage from station to station and are introduced and removed via an air lock, which minimizes disruption of internal cleanliness and low-humidity conditions. Glove ports can be configured to the front, side, and/or rear of a glovebox with appropriate clearance.
One might consider other factors when opting for a larger, multi-operator glove box system. Selecting the ideal glove box system may also require long-term value consideration such as easy cleaning features, operator ergonomics, and upward compatibility.
G – Air Lock
(back to chart)
Airlocks mount on the right or left side of the glovebox to minimize cross-contamination when materials are transferred to and from the glovebox.
G1 - Inert Gas Air Lock
Inert gas airlocks are an economical option to minimize nitrogen loss and contamination inflow when materials are passed through the glove box. The airlock is connected to an inert gas line to purge out ambient air before the inside door is opened to allow materials to transfer into or out of the main chamber.
Inert gas airlocks are available in several configurations to streamline workflow. Airlocks can also be used to interconnect multiple gloveboxes in series.
G2 - Vacuum Antechamber
A vacuum antechamber can provide faster parts transfer than an airlock configured only with inert gas purge. After materials are loaded into the vacuum airlock, the operator uses a vacuum pump to initiate vacuum cycles that quickly remove ambient, moisture-laden air, and back-fill with an inert gas. The operator then opens the internal door from inside the glove box to bring materials into the work area.
G3 - Pass-Through Vacuum/Inert Gas Oven
High-performance vacuum ovens combine heat, inert gas, and negative pressure for the fastest removal of moisture and contaminants from materials transferring into a glovebox. They are designed to allow for easy attachment to the side of Terra’s stainless steel gloveboxes.
H – Upgraded Features
(back to chart)
H1 - Static-Neutralizing Ion Bar
Ionizing bars provide a continuous stream of static-neutralizing ions that minimize electrostatic charges. This helps protect sensitive electronics from electrostatic discharge (ESD) and enhances cleanliness by neutralizing static cling, when charges attract and hold particles to surfaces.
Terra’s ionizing bar uses state-of-the-art technology to generate a balanced stream of positive and negative ions to neutralize surface static charges and safeguard ESD-sensitive materials. Ionizing bars for gloveboxes include one fan per pair of emitters to uniformly distribute ions through the glove box enclosure. The system requires no calibration and automatically maintains ion balance of ± 50 volts.
H2 - Nitrogen Generator
Compact, high-capacity Nitrogen generators require only a compressed air supply for continued nitrogen gas production. On-site nitrogen generation eliminates the cost and inconvenience of a 3rd-party nitrogen tank supplier while also providing as-needed control over the quantity and quality of nitrogen produced. Terra’s N2 generators require no moving parts and consume little energy beyond a stream of compressed air.
H3 - Trace Oxygen Analyzer
Trace Oxygen Analyzers are perfect for high-precision oxygen detection inside a glovebox or similar enclosure. They are ideal for applications in which even minute concentrations of oxygen can degrade parts. Zirconium-oxide or electrochemical fuel cell sensor provides long service life, ppm-precision, and rapid response time for increased productivity.
H4 - Regenerating Gas Dryer
The AtmosPure Re-Gen Gas Purifier produces an ultrapure inert atmosphere for materials sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen by circulating an inert gas and removing oxygen and moisture inside the box. The Purifier has the capacity to remove up to five liters of oxygen (13,500 ppm) and 660 grams of moisture (18 million ppm) at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Depending on the application, glove box liner material and frequency of use, regeneration may be necessary only once every one to three months and completed in only 13 hours.
H5 - Duplex Outlets & Power Strips
Duplex outlets and power strips allow convenient operation of electrical equipment inside a glovebox. GFCI outlets are suitable for areas around liquids to help prevent electric shock and damage to your electrical devices.
H6 - Glovebox Stand With Casters
Terra’s ErgoHeight™ electric height adjustable workstations provide effortless