Air tightness of cleanrooms: Classification and measurement according to VDI 2083/19

(Source: VDI 2083/19)

Cleanrooms or cleanroom technology are needed in many areas. Cleanrooms are indispensable, for example, in optics and laser technology, aerospace engineering, biosciences, nanotechnology, and medicine, as well as in research and sterile production of food and pharmaceuticals.

The requirements for hygiene and permissible air quality limits are high here. All these rooms are equipped with special ventilation technology and are usually separated from other facilities by personnel airlocks. They are operated with under- or overpressure relative to adjacent building parts, depending on the requirement. These rooms may only be entered with special work clothing to minimize contamination by unwanted substances (pathogens, dust particles, etc.).

To protect cleanrooms from unacceptable high levels of airborne contamination due to increased particle load over the room envelope, they are examined for leaks to adjacent building parts using a leak-tightness measurement. The basis of the measurement is the VDI guideline VDI 2083 Sheet 19 from 2018. This guideline applies to all rooms that require a positive or negative pressure relative to the environment during operation to fulfill a protective goal (product protection, environmental protection, environmental safety). The specific airtightness requirements depend on the hazards and potential dangers posed by leaks. The scope of testing, execution, and leak detection are again dependent on the airtightness requirements.

The VDI 2083/19 is particularly applicable to containments, e.g.,

– Cleanrooms in general
– Cleanrooms with decontamination systems, e.g., H₂O₂ fumigation
– Laboratories with special requirements
– Isolators

Seminar Description

Based on VDI 2083/19, participants will learn about selecting room tightness classes, the measurement process, and the measurement protocol. Furthermore, the practical part will include performing a tightness test and the associated leak detection.

Contents

– Basic concepts of cleanrooms
– Tightness classes according to VDI 2083/19
– Definition of the area to be tested within the containment
– Norm-compliant procedure for differential pressure measurement according to VDI 2083/19
(Measuring devices, boundary conditions, preparation, measurement, methods of leak detection)
– Evaluation of measurements and measurement protocol
– Examples of test results and leaks

Practical part:

– Measurement of a simulated isolator (volume flow < 1 m³/h at 50 Pa)
– Measurement of a simulated cleanroom (volume flow 300 m³/h at 50 Pa)

The seminar is aimed at planners, builders, and users of cleanrooms as well as quality inspectors.

Date and Registration

August 26, 2025, from 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
BlowerDoor GmbH, Zum Energie- und Umweltzentrum 1, 31832 Springe
Speakers: Dipl.-Ing. Paul Simons and Alexander Kiß.
Cost: €489 plus VAT. Conference drinks and vegetarian lunch included.
Registration at info@blowerdoor.de