Capable of performance under maximum loads

The research with the tiniest particles requires the utmost care: In the cleanrooms of the Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN), nanostructures are produced in an almost dust-free environment. To ensure the uncontaminated creation of the smallest elements, the materials used in the new building must meet the highest standards. This also applies to the flooring in the cleanrooms and laboratories. It must not only be highly durable, media-resistant, and electrostatically dissipative but also guarantee absolutely vibration- and thus shake-free working conditions. Therefore, flooring systems made of rubber from nora systems were used. With their extremely dense surface, the rubber floors are not only particularly resistant to chemicals and disinfectants but also absorb vibrations due to their permanent elasticity.

Interdisciplinary and globally unique research project

The CHyN was realized on behalf of the Hamburg Authority for Science, Research, and Equality (BWFG) by Sprinkenhof GmbH, with planning by the Berlin-based burckhardtpartner REINERBECKER office. The laboratory and office spaces are used by eight research groups from the Institute for Nanostructure and Solid State Physics (INF) at the University of Hamburg. Together with chemists, biologists, and medical professionals, they explore nanostructures through an interdisciplinary approach. The results of these investigations offer immense potential for applications in medicine and biology. For example, DNA strands are to be read physically. Furthermore, scientists are attempting to physically replicate body-specific sensors like the human ear. With this scientific focus and laboratory equipment, the CHyN is a uniquely global center located on the Bahrenfeld research campus, in immediate proximity to the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), the Center for Free Electron Laser Science (CFEL), the Center for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI), and the Center for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB).

Resistant to chemicals and disinfectants

Scientists at CHyN work with various solvents such as acetone and isopropanol. These are used, for example, to clean samples. "In daily laboratory operations, it is not always possible to avoid these liquids coming into contact with the floor," explains physicist Thomas Finger, Technical Director of CHyN. "It was clear to us that the flooring must be exceptionally resistant to media." Before choosing nora flooring systems, the products from Weinheim were extensively tested: CHyN conducted internal experiments with different chemicals applied to the floors—with positive results. The nora plan sentica ed installed in the cleanrooms and semiconductor laboratories, covering nearly 3,500 square meters, also withstands contamination, chemicals, and disinfectants. nora rubber floors have been tested by the Fraunhofer Institute IPA and certified for GMP A and according to ISO 14644-1 up to Class 2, with noraplan sentica ed up to Class 3.

Rubber reduces vibrations

A hard substrate was initially taboo in CHyN: "The samples scientists work with here are only about ten by ten millimeters in size, and the structures on them are in the nanometer range. It was therefore clear to us that the floor covering must have extremely good impact sound insulation to avoid any vibrations and ensure shake-free work," explains Finger. "Thus, a hard polyurethane coating was ruled out." The architects recommended rubber. Due to their permanent elasticity, nora floors reduce impact noise and also unwanted vibrations. For example, some laboratories in CHyN contain 600-kilogram optical tables on which microscopes or spectrometers are mounted. In these areas, the floor must reliably absorb vibrations to prevent distortion of measurement results. An additional advantage: nora floors also reduce noise when walking, creating a quiet working atmosphere and an ergonomic work environment.

10-year warranty on ESD properties

"Both for the user and for Sprinkenhof GmbH as the client, the 10-year warranty that nora provides on the ESD properties of its floors was an important argument," says Carolin Hübner, one of the project managers at the architecture firm burckhardt-partner REINERBECKER. nora floors are homogeneous and volumetrically conductive, without veins, fibers, or waxes. Grounding is achieved via dissipative adhesives and copper strips for potential equalization. "We have leased the building from Sprinkenhof for at least 20 years, and because we will have changing uses in the laboratories over this long period, we wanted to equip all laboratories with an electrostatically dissipative floor from the outset, even where it might not be immediately necessary," explains Finger. "It is important for us that everything functions smoothly—and that over the long term."

Cross-functional design solutions

In the cleanrooms, the floors are light gray, while the laboratories received noraplan sentica ed in a medium gray. In contrast, the corridors were designed in a dark red, echoing the color tone of the university logo. The color concept is not only for aesthetic reasons. "We wanted a floor that appears uniform across the area but is still dirt-repellent due to the granulate," explains Hübner. "Here, noraplan sentica was ideal." Another major advantage, according to the architect, is that nora floors with different functional properties, such as electrostatic dissipativity, are available in the same design, enabling cross-functional design solutions: cleanrooms, laboratories, corridors, and the entrance area of CHyN all appear in a unified look.

A flooring system—many application reasons: nora rubber floors are also used in other research centers on the Bahrenfeld campus, including DESY and CSSB, covering more than 3,300 square meters.

Data and facts

Object: Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN), Hamburg
Client: Sprinkenhof GmbH, Hamburg, www.sprinkenhof.de
Architect: burckhardtpartner REINERBECKER GmbH, Berlin, www.bp-rb.de
Installer: Manfred Eichhorn GmbH, Hamburg, www.eichhorn-hamburg.de
Products: noraplan sentica ed, colors 6521 and 6504, installed area: 3,425 m², noraplan sentica, colors 6515 and 6521, installed area: 1,989 m², noraplan stone, color 6610, installed area: 70 m²
Installation: 09/2016 – 07/2017
Application area: cleanrooms, laboratories, corridors, entrance area
Photo copyright: Dirk Wilhelmy