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Architects & Builders
Overview VideoPass-Through FAQs
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Cleanroom Pass-Through Chambers FAQs
How does a pass-through enhance cleanroom operations?
Pass-through chambers reduce cleanroom foot traffic, the single largest source of particulate contamination and a significant operational expense. Instead of garbing up and carrying an object into the cleanroom, you simply transfer it through the pass-through chamber.
Interlocked pass-throughs prevent cross-contamination of adjoining spaces during this transfer by ensuring that only one door at a time can open. Various interlock designs enhance cleanliness and reliability.
What are my Interlock choices?
- Conventional Mechanical Interlock: standard mechanical interlocks attach to the chamber interior and engage (lock) one door as soon as the other opens. This is a reliable design but creates cracks that are hard to clean or sterilize. Conventional interlocks also create an internal clearance obstruction and are subject to damage if an operator applies too much force to the interlocked door.
- Isolated Mechanical Interlock: In double-wall pass-throughs, the interlock is mounted outside the transfer chamber, leaving interior surfaces smooth and easy to clean. Double-wall construction also adds to the rigidity and durability of the pass-through chamber. Like other mechanical interlocks, though, they provide no clear indication of when the opposing door is open or ajar.
- Electronic Interlock: As long as power can be furnished to the chamber, an electronic interlock provides optimal cleanliness and operational versatility. Terra’s electronic interlock (a feature of all Smart Pass-Throughs) include LED status alerts on both sides of the chamber, letting operators know when the opposing door is open or ajar and thereby preventing effort to force, and potentially break, the interlocked door.
Electronic Smart Pass-Throughs introduce many other optional capabilities: access control and logging, HEPA air showers to remove particles from samples, sample presence sensing, refrigeration and more (see information on Smart Desiccators under Terra’s Electronic Pass-Through section).
How are Pass-Throughs installed?
Terra’s ValuLine and General Use Pass-Throughs use retaining brackets to hold the chamber to the wall. The bracket on the clean side is welded to the chamber. The one on the opposing side slides onto the chamber and fastens to the wood or metal framing that surrounds the wall cut-out.
Terra’s CleanMount® Pass-Throughs employ a unique clamping system that requires no penetrations in the cleanroom walls and mounts in just a few minutes. As long as the wall cut-out is finished and sealed, you can quickly install or remove the pass-through without a costly cleanroom shutdown and re-validation.
To perform maintenance without contaminating a classified space, you first seal off the “dirty side” with plastic sheeting to maintain the positive-pressure differential. Loosening two lag bolts lets you lift the pass-through out of the wall without contaminating the room. Once out, the pass-through can be serviced, modified, or even replaced with an upgraded version to accommodate new applications.
Finish cut-out framing to eliminate the need for shut-down during installation or servicing
Terra's CleanMount® system installs in under five minutes, regardless of wall thickness and without contamination
Are Terra Pass-Throughs flush- or center-mounted?
Terra offer designs for both requirements. The CleanMount® system mounts flush against the cleanroom wall to eliminate particle accumulation and simplify cleaning. Flush-mount chambers protrude into the “dirty” side room and can be braced, if needed; Terra provides supports for this purpose. Alternatively, chambers can be specified for center-mounting in nearly any wall thickness. Electronic pass-throughs can even be specified with access doors on adjacent corner walls.
Flush-Mount Installation
Pass-Through extending into “dirty” side, with support braces.
Smart Pass-Through for corner-wall installation
What makes a pass-through suitable for clean and sterile applications?
All CleanMount pass-throughs include an isolated interlock and smooth, coved corners for smooth internal surfaces that are easy to clean and sterilize. Doors feature a lift-off design for easy removal and cleaning, and 304 or 316L stainless steel surfaces stand up to common cleaning agents, including IPA. Terra’s ergonomic LiftLatches operate without metal-on-metal scraping inside the chamber, a common source of contaminants with rotary-style latches.
For the most demanding sanitary applications, specify a BioSafe® Pass-through, which adds an elastomeric door seal to the removable doors, making them autoclavable. All chambers can be electropolished upon request.
How can I extend the service life of my pass-through chamber?
Specify replacement doors.Terra's pass-through chambers last indefinitely, much longer than our standard product revision cycle. Pass-Through doors, however, are subject to damage, and ordering a legacy replacement can be costly and disrupt cleanroom operation. To avoid these problems, order replacements at the time you purchase the pass-through chamber; simply add "-RH" (for right-side hinge) or "-LH" (for left-side hinge) to the part number of the chamber.
How can I optimize a Pass-Through for parts access?
Terra offers several shelf and tray options for transferring and organizing small parts, including BioSafe® removable rack and tray systems and slide-out shelving.
BioSafe® Slide-Out Rack
Slide-Out Shelf with Removable Tray
For transfer of carts, bulk material containers and other large equipment, Terra Standard Sizes up to 72”W x 84”H. Customer may customize dimensions as needed.
Do Pass-Throughs meet UL requirements for fire-rated walls?
Terra offers several pass-through configurations with doors that bear the UL-10B label for 90-minute fire exposure, suitable for a 2-hour fire wall rating. Models are available with and without viewing windows, in chamber sizes up to 33”W x 36”D x 45”H.
How else can I protect delicate samples in a Terra Pass-Through?
HEPA air showers remove particles from sample surfaces before they enter the cleanroom. Ventilation units are also available to duct fumes that might be present in a sample, allowing the pass-through to act as a drying system.
For biological applications, a UV-C lamp with safety circuit kills or neutralizes microbes, including viruses and mold spores, before sample transfer into a sterile lab.
- Frameless or framed flush-mount windows; single or double-sided construction available with a variety of window pane materials
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- Browse pass-through cabinets made of plastic and stainless steel, featuring mechanical interlock systems. See how you can expand system capabilities!
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- Available in swing and sliding configurations, including fire-rated construction and automatic openers for hands-free operation
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- Make your pass-through cabinet part of your production line! Electronic options include refrigeration, HEPA-filtration, UV sterilization, biometric scanning, and much more!
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- Contaminated air can be vented to an outside exhaust system or purified by passing through carbon/HEPA filtration for indoor release (ducted vs ductless)
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- Transfer documents and small parts into a lab or medical clinic. Controls access and minimizes foot traffic in sensitive areas.
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- These self-contained air showers and tunnels provide high-velocity, HEPA-filtered air streams to dislodge and remove particles from personnel and equipment before entering the cleanroom.
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- Designed for transferring tall carts or large equipment into a cleanroom on a regular basis.
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- Trespa, epoxy and laminate counter tops with heavy-duty shelving systems and steel cabinets; customized systems with sinks, eye wash stations and reagent racks available
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- Hand Cleaners and Dryers from Terra Universal provide hand washing, sanitizing solutions and HEPA-filtered dryers that comply with cleanroom protocol.
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- Convert an existing office space into an ISO-classified cleanroom using specialized cleanroom wall paneling and ceiling grids.
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- Low-energy EC motors, room side-replaceable, explosion-proof, reverse-flow, ducted, heated, charcoal-filtered and more!
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- Cleanroom control panels available with fan filter speed controls, night service setting and other system enhancements. Power Distribution Modules speed up cleanroom installation, protect critical power circuits, and allow fast, easy cleanliness upgrades.
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- Upgrade your cleanroom ceiling with new light fixtures (LED or fluorescent) and ceiling panels in different materials.
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- Equipment validation, certification, calibration, installation, seismic analysis, order expediting, and consultation services
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Features and Benefits
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Tips for Passing ISO, cGMP, FDA and Other Certifications
Know your ISO requirement
A Terra product specialist can offer general design advice or make a consultation referral. Regulated industries such as pharmaceutical compounding maintain clear requirements for ISO cleanliness and related cleanroom characteristics. Other operations may require a certification consultant to specify these design requirements based on specific operations being performed. Either way, make sure you know the applicable performance requirements before you select a room design or cleanliness level.
FFU Ceiling Coverage and Air Change Rate
ISO specifies permissible particle counts for each cleanliness level but not how many fan/filter units are required to meet these target values. Other organizations, including the Institute for Environmental Science, provide recommended ranges for FFU ceiling coverage.| Class ISO 146144-1 (Federal Standard 209E) | Average Airflow Velocity m/s (ft/min) | Air changes/hour | Ceiling Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 8 (Class 100,000) | 0.005 – 0.041 (1 – 8) | 5 to 48 | 5 – 15% |
| ISO 7 (Class 10,000) | 0.051 – 0.076 (10 -15) | 60-90 | 15 – 20% |
| ISO 6 (Class 1,000) | 0.127 – 0.203 (25 – 40) | 150 - 240 | 25 – 40% |
| ISO 5 (Class 100) | 0.203 – 0.406 (40 – 80) | 240 - 480 | 35 – 70% |
| ISO 4 (Class 10) | 0.254 – 0.457 (50 – 90) | 300 - 540 | 50 – 90% |
| ISO 3 (Class 1) | 0.305 – 0.457 (60 – 90) | 360 - 540 | 60 – 100% |
| ISO 1 – 2 | 0.305 – 0.508 (60 – 100) | 360 - 600 | 80 – 100% |
| Note: Actual average velocity and air changes required may vary depending on the application and floor plan. Source: Institute of Environmental Science | |||
Terra recommends the high value within each range, which in most cases accommodates typical contamination loads presented by personnel and equipment. Modular Power Distribution Modules make it easy to add as requirements change – plug-and-play connections eliminate the need for hard-wiring by an electrician.
Cleanroom Design and Materials
A Terra Product Specialist will advise on the proper panel and other component materials to meet specific requirements for ISO compatibility, sterilization, chemical resistance, static safety, and other environmental concerns.Environmental Control and Documentation
Adjustable exhaust vents and manual FFU speed controls on all Terra cleanrooms allow regulation of air change rates. For centralized display and control, select low-cost automated FFU speed controls, which also allow remote Building Management System (BMS) fan control and even dynamic fan adjustment in response to programmed pressure levels. Air pressure, temperature, and humidity data are logged for a traceable operating history. Modular cleanrooms are available with stand-alone air conditioning modules or can be integrated with existing A/C systems. Humidification and De-humidification systems meet specific RH requirements.
Roomside Replaceable Fan Filter Unit
Roomside replaceable filters are replaced in minutes from inside the enclsoure, eliminating a ceiling breach or cleanroom shut-down; gel-sealed filter seats securely against knife-edge on blower housing, and baffling ensures uniform face velocity.
WhisperFlow® Cleanroom Fan Filter Units
Design features internal baffling and an aluminum diffuser to provide quiet operation along with uniform air speed for ISO-compliant laminar flow.
High-Speed Roll-Up Door Pass-Through
High-speed roll-up door pass-throughs use interlocked doors that open in under four seconds and minimize cross-contamination; a bypass function allows both doors to open for maintenance and cleaning
CleanMount™ Quick Install System
Clean-Mount™ design allows pass-through installation flush against the cleanroom wall in a few minutes, without screwing into the wall; mounting brackets clamp flush against walls of any thickness.
Smart Biosafe® Pass-Through Electronic Door Interlock
Smart Biosafe® Pass-Throughs include visible/audible door status alerts: red light and chimes indicate opposing door open (interlock engaged); green light means door available for use. Smart add-ons expand capabilties: LED/UV light, access control, air shower, more!
CleanMount® Isolated Interlock Simplifies Cleaning!
Double-wall construction allows interlock installation outside of the main transfer chamber, leaving unobstructed, smooth interior surfaces that wipe down easily - ideal for critical bio/pharmaceutical processing.
Smart Fan Filter Unit with EC Motor
Smart WhisperFlow® Fan Filter Units are quiet, energy-efficient and easily adjustable, either manually or via automatic smart console, for centralized fan speed control and cleanroom pressure balancing.
BioSafe Frameless Single Tempered-Glass Window
Frameless design is as stylish as it is clean! Shown: 47” x 36” BioSafe powder-coated cleanroom window flush-mounted in a BioSafe Cleanroom with FRP finish.
Framed BioSafe Window
Framed design encases window panes with 304 Stainless Steel frame on the exterior. Flush-mount design minimizes crevices where contaminants can collect.
Cleanroom Fire-Rated Doors
UL-listed fire-rated door with wired-glass window, shown with optional mortise locking mechanism and hinges installed. SIngle- and double-door designs available.
ARCAT BIM Info, Drawings & Specs
Search Terra Universal’s ARCAT for BIM info, CAD drawings & Specifications
Stainless Steel Left Hand Reverse Pre-Hung Door
The dual pane flush-mount design and stainless steel surface of this cleanroom door simplifies cleaning and sterilization.
Architects & Builders
Smart Pass-Through Chamber- Control Panel for Hardwall Modular Cleanrooms
- CleanMount BioSafe® Pass-Through Chambers
- CleanSeam™ Pass-Through Chambers
- Dual-Level Gowning Benches, Interconnected Unit
- Room Side Replaceable WhisperFlow® Fan Filter Units (FFUs)
- Stainless Steel WhisperFlow Fan and Filter Units, 2' x 4'
- Explosion-Proof Softwall Cleanroom
- ValuLine™ Transaction Drawer with Window
- Floor Mount Roll-Up Passthrough Chamber
- Transaction Window Shallow Tray Full View
- Convenience Swing-Door Pass-Through WIndow
Smart Pass-Throughs include audio/visual status alerts to indicate when the opposing door is open (interlock engaged). | 2635-10B-2-316 displayed Smart Pass-Through Chamber Smart Pass-Through Chambers feature 316L stainless steel construction, an electronic interlock, and audio/visual status alerts to indicate when the opposing door is open (interlock engaged).
Mirror-finished panel includes light and fan controls, internal pressure gauge Control Panel for Hardwall Modular Cleanrooms Mirror-finished panel includes light and fan controls, night service switch (to reduce power when not occupied), internal pressure gauge; environmental monitoring system also available.
BioSafe® Pass-Throughs are the ideal transfer chamber for aseptic facilities; seamless, lipless design with radius corners simply cleaning CleanMount BioSafe® Pass-Through Chambers BioSafe® Pass-Throughs are the ideal transfer chamber for aseptic facilities; seamless, lipless design with radius corners, autoclavable doors and isolated interlock simplifies sterilization.
CleanSeam stainless steel pass-through chambers include interlocked doors and continuous seam welds | 2636-06D-2 displayed CleanSeam™ Pass-Through Chambers CleanSeam™ stainless steel pass-through chambers feature continuous seam welds to ensure a noncontaminating transfer hatch; mechanical interlocks prevent cross-contamination during parts transfer.
Dual-Level Gowning Benches, Interconnected Unit | 1530-35 displayed Dual-Level Gowning Benches, Interconnected Unit Attach two Dual-Level Gowning Benches together to create a wider bench space
Room-Side Replaceable (RSR) WhisperFlow™ Fan/Filter Units allow filter replacement from inside of the cleanroom | 6601-24A-HR displayed Room Side Replaceable WhisperFlow® Fan Filter Units (FFUs) Room-Side Replaceable (RSR) WhisperFlow™ Fan/Filter Units allow HEPA or ULPA filter replacement from inside of the cleanroom; WhisperFlow® baffle system and anodized aluminum diffuser promote uniform air velocity across filter face.
Stainless Steel WhisperFlow® Fan/Filter Units feature a corrosion-resistant, ultra-smooth housing for aseptic facilities | 6601-24-USS displayed Stainless Steel WhisperFlow Fan and Filter Units, 2' x 4' Stainless Steel Fan/Filter Units feature a corrosion-resistant, ultra-smooth housing, filter frame and diffuser with ULPA filter for aseptic facilities requiring frequent sterilization; WhisperFlow® blffling system promote uniform air velocity across filter face.
This Class I, Division 1 softwall cleanroom features explosion-proof fan/filter units connected with sealed conduit to explosion-proof junction boxes Explosion-Proof Softwall Cleanroom This Class I, Division 1 softwall cleanroom features explosion-proof fan/filter units connected with sealed conduit to explosion-proof junction boxes.
Transaction drawer with window allows transfer of documents, small packages (shown with optional Talk-Through) ValuLine™ Transaction Drawer with Window ValuLine™ black acrylic transaction drawer with window allows service personnel to transfer documents and small packages with a sliding lever to customers on the receiving side (shown with optional Talk-Through).
Roll-up door pass through chambers includes a safety circuit that stops door motion if the pressure-sensor detects anything in the door's path Floor Mount Roll-Up Passthrough Chamber Roll-Up Door Pass-Through Chambers accommodate large pieces of equipment, such as the step ladder shown here, as well as tall carts.
Shallow-Tray Transaction Window has limited clearance space under the glass for transfer of envelopes, receipts and pens Transaction Window Shallow Tray Full View Tempered glass or acrylic window separate the two sides. Clean, corrosion-resistant 304 stainless steel frame, shelves and shallow tray resist corrosion.
Ideal for pharmacies, office or labs, this convenience window includes a 0.5-thick tempered glass window with adjustable swing: either or both directions | 1702-72 displayed Convenience Swing-Door Pass-Through WIndow Ideal for pharmacies, office or labs, this convenience window includes a 0.5-thick tempered glass window that swings in either or both directions; includes stainless steel shelf on one side.
Technical Resources
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BioSafe® Pass-Throughs
Showing the optimal cleanroom pass-through chamber for aseptic operations, this video provides an overview of the features and benefits of BioSafe pass-throughs.
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Cleanroom Pass-Through Operational Benefits
Learn about the twelve ways Terra cleanroom pass-through chambers can help overcome your operational challenges such as maintaining cleanliness, reducing cost, and transferring over-sized items into the controlled environment.