Leakage test of individual components

Testing of a power outlet in the STZ EURO test stand.

Leak detection by STZ EURO using fog at the construction site on a faulty installed smoke detector.

Measurement of individual components by STZ EURO on a construction site, using the zero method.

Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Michael Kuhn, Head of the Steinbeis Transfer Center for Energy, Environmental, and Cleanroom Technology, Lecturer in Cleanroom Technology, and Chairman of VDI 2083-19.

The airtightness of cleanrooms has been clearly regulated since VDI 2083-19. To achieve the respective limits, built-in components such as sockets or smoke detectors play a particularly important role. STZ EURO developed its own test stand for measuring the air permeability of individual components. This allows for a clear definition of which components are suitable for which airtightness classes.

Reliable information on the air permeability of components installed in ceilings, walls, or floors of cleanrooms is essential to comply with the specified values of the cleanroom airtightness class. Because often, individual components like sockets, smoke detectors, lighting, or doors are weak points that make it difficult to meet the acceptance criteria during final testing.

“An air leak volume flow of 0.9 m³/h from a socket may not seem high. However, if multiple such components are installed, the permissible values are quickly exceeded,” explains Michael Kuhn, head of STZ EURO in Offenburg, and adds, “Only a few component manufacturers or wall and ceiling suppliers provide reliable measurement data on the air permeability of their individual parts. Therefore, developing an appropriate test stand was a logical step.”

The STZ EURO test stand offers the possibility to determine individual components at differential pressures from -500Pa to +500Pa and up to airtightness class 7. The measurement provides a test report including a measurement protocol. To exclude not only structural but also installation errors, the experts at STZ EURO also review the detailed drawings from which the correct installation and sealing execution can be derived.

Independent testing on the test stand provides the cleanroom operator or builder with reliable data. These can already be used during the planning phase, helping to avoid weaknesses from the outset.

This can significantly reduce effort for leak detection and subsequent sealing. But the test stand of STZ EURO also offers manufacturers of cleanroom components a reliable and independent measurement of their parts.