CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN NANOELECTRONICS (CEN)

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore – 560 012

Cleanroom Protocols

All users must use good cleanroom practices or the value of the cleanroom is
compromised. For prospective users who have never worked in a cleanroom
environment, these practices may seem unnecessary; however, the cleanroom procedures
practiced generally are very similar to those used and validated in cleanrooms
everywhere. Remember: just because you can't see a particle or a contaminant does not
mean that it will not have an effect on your (or other users’) devices.

Cleanroom Do’s
1) Only authorized personnel will be allowed inside the cleanroom.
2) Only take what is necessary into the cleanroom.
3) Only dedicated tools are allowed in the cleanroom.
4) Gown in the prescribed manner over your non-frayed/non-ripped, low-linting clothes.
5) Always make sure that all the head/facial hair is covered inside the cleanroom.
6) When using an air shower, turn a minimum of three times around (slowly) during the
ON cycle time.
7) Keep doors from clean room to gowning area closed.
8) Keep the cleanroom garments closed at all times while in the cleanroom.
9) Use pass-through properly.
10) Maintain good air flow management. “Product gets air first.”
11) Be discrete in coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose. If you can, go into the service

area or gowning room. At the very least, turn away from the processing area and

change your vinyl gloves before commencing processing again.

 Cleanroom Don’t’s
1) People who have not been trained properly to meet the cleanroom usage requirements
will not be allowed inside the cleanroom. The Cleanroom supervisor has the last word.
2) No cosmetics, tobacco products, handkerchiefs, tissues, food products, drinks,
wooden/mechanical pen/pencils, perfumes, colognes, watches, jewellery, cassette
players, phones, beepers, combs, cardboard or non-cleanroom approved papers are
allowed.
3) No blueprints, operation manuals or instruction sheets are allowed.
4) Do not bring any tools/ equipment into the cleanroom from the maintenance shop to
work in the cleanroom.
5) No bare clothes are allowed inside the cleanroom.
6) Do not expose any facial/head hair.
7) Do not open the door to the cleanroom until the ON cycle of the air shower is over.
8) Do not open the door to the cleanroom for communication or passing of products back
and forth – use the pass-through instead.
9) Do not use pass-through for storage.
10) Do not block the air flow from the filter to the product.
11) Do not congregate. No running and try to maintain silence.