Efforts are underway across the country to minimise epidemiological risks. Both government entities and private companies are making infrastructural changes to help minimise person-to-person contact and worker exposure to items, which are potential carriers of dangerous microorganisms.
These measures can be, and are, largely carried out by subcontractors from the construction industry as well as by those involved themselves — but often require the use of specialised elements — such as appropriate airlocks, filter fans or pass boxes.
However, these projects in Poland are currently faced with the problem of unavailability, long waiting times and low quality of these necessary elements. RENEX Group, through its brand — CLEANROOM — CLEANSYS specialises in the construction of clean rooms, and addresses these demands. Thanks to a constantly growing stock in Poland, it is able to supply the most needed ready-made construction elements — on the spot — with delivery — within 7 days.
Below we present selected specialised construction modules currently attracting the greatest interest among subcontractors implementing anti-epidemiological construction projects.
AIRSHOWERS
Airshower type airlocks. These are ready-to-install, active devices allowing to separate two zones of different air quality from each other. The most popular model — CR-GAS-004 — has approximate overall dimensions of 1000x1400x2200 mm and allows one person to pass through in one cycle. This type of machine consists of two doors arranged in a line and an air supply chamber placed between them. A person passing from one zone to another enters the airlock.
When the door is closed, supply of filtered air directed at the person starts automatically. The air passes through pre-filters and HEPA filters and is blown at high pressure — at a speed of 23-25 m/s — from 12 nozzles (6 on each side) towards the person being treated in the airlock. It is then partly used in further cycles.
The cycle lasts, depending on the settings selected, from a few to several tens of seconds and is controlled by buttons on a control panel located inside the airlock. At the end of the cycle both doors are unlocked. However, it is possible to open only one of the doors (interlock). In case of emergency, the airlock is equipped with 3 safety switches located outside — at each door — and inside the unit — at the control panel.
PASS THROUGH BOX
Pass through boxes are ready-to-install devices allowing the transfer of materials between areas with different levels of cleanliness. Three types of this device are available:
- passive,
- active — creating high or low pressure,
- and active with a built-in internal air purification system filtered by an absolute HEPA filter.
The device in its basic — passive — version consists of two doors arranged in a line and a chamber between them. By interlock only one of the doors can be opened at a time.
The active version — the so-called pressure version — allows the device to be connected to the ventilation system operating in the building. Using constant volume flow throttles, an increased or decreased pressure is achieved inside the unit with respect to the adjacent rooms. The correct setting of the pressure level in the separated rooms and inside the supply window allows the required level of cleanliness to be maintained. Depending on the needs, such sequences can be set up as a cascade, where the pressure in the first room is lower than inside the airlock, and in the second room, behind the airlock, higher pressure, or as a buffer — where the pressure in the airlock is higher or lower than in the adjacent rooms. The third type of these devices — thanks to a built-in pre-filtration system and HEPA — allows a constant, forced, uniform air flow from top to bottom. The air is collected by means of perforations located at the bottom of the box, where it is sucked in again, causing it to circulate in a closed loop. No overpressure is created in the working chamber (the same amount of air is extracted as is blown out).
FILTRATION FANS
Filter-fans are ready-to-install devices combining a fan with a pre-filter and a HEPA filter in one module. The main purpose of the device is installation in clean rooms, especially above workplaces as a laminar air supply — meaning one that does not cause air turbulence. This type of device allows to achieve the appropriate air purity in a specific zone — e.g. in the sampling area. The module is conventionally installed in a properly prepared ceiling frame and weighs about 35 kg. A similar solution — for smaller applications — are laminar flow cabinets. These allow the right air quality to be achieved in the work space. They consist of a work table and a filter-fan module placed above it.
The space of the worktop is closed on three sides — allowing the user free access and work under the blow of filtered air. Devices of this type are particularly suitable for working on sensitive objects.
CLEANBOXES
Cleanboxes are versatile and mobile cleanrooms. They make it possible to easily create a separate area of increased cleanliness inside a building, e.g. a hall. They are an alternative to the construction of entire clean areas allowing to achieve very similar and often identical results. The most popular models have approximate internal dimensions of 2000 x 2500mm or 2500 x 2500mm with a height of 2200mm. These modules are equipped with an integrated air filtration system and represent the most versatile and fastest solution to the problem of building high cleanliness zones.
The devices and products mentioned above constitute only a small part of RENEX Group — CLEANROOM offer. The Group also supplies customised products and provides a comprehensive range of services related to the construction of clean zones and security measures minimising the risk of epidemics in companies.
These and other products from RENEX Group offer can be tested in operation at the RENEX TECHNOLOGY AND TRAINING CENTRE in Włocławek.
If you are interested, please contact RENEX Technical and Sales Advisors — dth@renex.pl.
