How to Enhance the Performance of Softwall Cleanrooms

1.Differences Between Softwall and Hardwall Cleanrooms
  Softwall cleanrooms mainly use flexible, lightweight materials (such as PVC) as modular cleanroom wall structures, while hardwall cleanrooms use rigid wall panels (such as sandwich panels, tempered glass, or acrylic panels) combined with a framework to enclose the clean area. Due to the differences in wall materials, softwall and hardwall cleanrooms vary in terms of applicable industries/scenarios, cleanliness, temperature and humidity control, airtightness, construction and maintenance costs, and lifespan:

2.How to Choose a  Portable Softwall Cleanroom? Which Industries or Scenarios Are Suitable for Softwall Cleanrooms Instead of Hardwall Cleanrooms?
The selection of a softwall cleanroom should consider the following aspects:
  Cleanliness and Temperature/Humidity/Pressure Requirements: Due to the use of PVC soft curtains, softwall cleanrooms have relatively poor airtightness, making them suitable for environments where cleanliness, temperature, humidity requirements are not extremely strict (e.g., ISO 6–8 cleanrooms).
  Construction Cost and Cycle: Softwall cleanrooms have lower initial costs, fast installation, and high flexibility, making them suitable for projects with limited budgets or tight schedules.
  In addition, Softwall cleanrooms have lower strength but are easy to modify, making them ideal for short-term projects or environments where production lines or layouts frequently change.
  Based on these characteristics, softwall cleanrooms are suitable for the following industries and processes:
  Electronics Manufacturing and Assembly: Assembly processes for electronic products with moderate cleanliness and temperature/humidity requirements.
  Food and Cosmetics: Packaging processes for food and cosmetics (where production lines change frequently).
  Medical Device Production: Assembly and packaging areas for non-sterile medical devices.
  Laboratories: Clean areas for R&D and testing labs (e.g., environments with weak acid/alkali conditions).

3.What Materials Are Available for Softwall Cleanrooms?
  Portable softwall cleanrooms mainly consist of a framework and flexible wall materials. The framework materials include stainless steel and high-strength industrial aluminum profiles (with anti-corrosion electrophoretic treatment). Stainless steel frameworks are commonly used in industries like pharmaceuticals and biomedicine (where sterilization is required), while aluminum profiles are widely used in electronics manufacturing, semiconductors, new energy, precision instruments, and laboratories.
The walls of softwall cleanrooms are made of flexible materials, including:
Standard/anti-static PVC soft curtains: Cost-effective and convenient, often used in electronics production workshops.
Anti-static polyurethane: More expensive but offers better anti-static and wear-resistant properties, suitable for semiconductors, aerospace, and other high-demand fields.
Antibacterial-coated curtains: Provide microbial inhibition and moisture resistance, commonly used in food and medical industries.

4.How to Equip Softwall Cleanrooms with Anti-Static Functionality? What Measures Can Be Taken?
To ensure softwall cleanrooms have effective anti-static functionality, the following measures can be implemented:
1、Wall Materials: Use anti-static materials (e.g., anti-static PVC or polyurethane) to reduce static generation and accumulation.
2、Grounding of Metal Framework and Floor: Use anti-static flooring (e.g., anti-static PVC) and ensure the floor and metal framework are properly grounded, with grounding resistance meeting standards to prevent static buildup.
3、Static Detection and Discharge Devices: Install static detection and discharge devices at entrances to eliminate static before personnel enter.
4、Personnel Protection: Workers should wear anti-static clothing, shoes, and conductive wristbands. Ionizing fans can be installed at workstations to neutralize static.
5、Humidity Control: Maintain humidity at 40%–60% (depending on process requirements) to minimize static generation.
By addressing structural materials, workshop environment, and personnel management, the anti-static functionality of softwall cleanrooms can be significantly improved to meet production needs.

5.How to Equip Softwall Cleanrooms with Fire Resistance?
To enhance the fire resistance of softwall cleanrooms, consider the following aspects:
Decorative Materials: Use Class A non-combustible or Class B1 flame-retardant materials (e.g., flame-retardant PVC or polyurethane) for walls. Electrical wiring should be flame-retardant and installed in metal conduits or cable trays. Electrical equipment should include short-circuit and overheating protection.
Fire Protection Design: Install comprehensive fire protection systems (e.g., fire hydrants, automatic sprinklers, smoke detectors, and exhaust systems) to quickly respond to fires.
Emergency Evacuation and Management: Include emergency lighting, evacuation signs, and broadcast systems. Design clear evacuation routes and exits. Conduct regular fire drills to ensure personnel familiarity with procedures.

6.How to Equip Softwall Cleanrooms with Explosion-Proof Functionality?
To achieve explosion-proof functionality, consider the following:
Wall Materials: Use high-toughness, impact-resistant materials (e.g., polyurethane with metal mesh layers) capable of withstanding explosion shockwaves ≥21 kPa.
Electrical Equipment: Use explosion-proof lighting, sockets, and distribution boxes. Wiring should be in metal conduits with proper grounding.
Ventilation and Gas Detection: Install explosion-proof ventilation and combustible gas detection systems to monitor gas concentrations. Switch to emergency ventilation (≥12 air changes/hour) if gas levels exceed limits.
Pressure Relief and Explosion Resistance: Install pressure relief panels on ceilings or walls to mitigate structural damage. Maintain positive pressure (+15–30 Pa) in core areas to prevent external gas ingress and negative pressure (-10–20 Pa) in hazardous zones to contain internal gases.
Evacuation Routes: Design explosion-proof emergency exits with lighting and alarms for safe evacuation.

7.How to Ensure the Airtightness of Softwall Cleanrooms?
To ensure airtightness, implement the following measures:
Structural Installation: Use elastic sealing strips or grooves at joints between walls, framework, and floors. Install airtight doors with sealing strips and automatic bottom seals.
Personnel and Material Control: Use air showers, pass-through chambers, or buffer rooms for entry/exit. Doors should be interlocked to prevent simultaneous opening.
Pressure Design: Maintain positive pressure (or negative pressure for hazardous processes) to minimize external contamination.
These measures significantly improve airtightness, maintaining a high-cleanliness environment.

8.How to Design Efficient Entry/Exit and Buffer Zones for Frequently Accessed Softwall Cleanrooms?
For frequently accessed softwall cleanrooms, optimize entry/exit and buffer zones as follows:
1、Separate personnel and material pathways to avoid cross-contamination.
2、Use air showers for personnel entry and buffer rooms for exit (with interlocked doors). Multiple air showers or tunnels can improve efficiency.
3、Use pass-through chambers or air showers for material entry, with unpacking/buffer rooms for temporary storage. Separate exits for finished products.
4、Establish pressure gradients (e.g., cleanroom > buffer room > changing room) to prevent external air contamination.
This design balances efficiency and contamination control.

9.How to perform sound insulation treatment for soft-wall cleanrooms?
  If a soft-wall cleanroom has high sound insulation requirements, soundproofing materials must be incorporated into the structural design. The inner layer of the wall should be filled with high-density sound-absorbing cotton as an insulation layer, while the outer layer should be covered with soundproof fabric/perforated panels to effectively reduce noise.

  Additionally, the main sources of noise in a cleanroom are the airflow noise from ventilation ducts and the fan noise from FFU (Fan Filter Unit) systems. Airflow noise in ducts can be reduced by controlling duct velocity (6–8 m/s for main ducts, 4–6 m/s for branch ducts), installing guide vanes at bends, and incorporating impedance composite silencers in the ducts.

  For fan and FFU noise control, low-noise fans (such as DC fans) should be selected, with variable frequency adjustment. A muffler plenum box can be installed at the fan outlet, or the fan housing can be lined with sound-absorbing cotton for noise reduction. High-noise equipment inside the cleanroom can be isolated in dedicated enclosures with sound-absorbing cotton lining.
By implementing these measures, noise impact on production activities and personnel within the soft-wall cleanroom can be effectively minimized, ensuring a comfortable working environment.