Optimize tenders for leak testing of cleanrooms and laboratories

The STZ EURO has recently introduced a sample specification text for leak tests of cleanrooms and laboratories according to VDI 2083-19.

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

Cleanroom technology is and remains a specialized field that requires particular expertise. This is especially evident in the context of tenders. Specification documents are not always complete or effective. Therefore, STZ EURO has recently made an example available on its own website: a sample specification text for leak testing of cleanrooms and laboratories.

Cleanrooms and laboratories must be as airtight as possible and sensible. Only in this way can it be prevented that foreign substances enter or, possibly, that substances, bacteria, viruses unintentionally escape to the outside. Since the airtightness of the containment is an extremely important point for operational safety, they must be qualified during initial commissioning and, if necessary, requalified during ongoing operation.

To find a suitable partner for qualification, tenders are issued. These are so-called specification documents. They provide potential suppliers with guidelines for describing the services to be provided, enabling them to submit an appropriate cost estimate. To offer both the tenderer and the provider a good common basis, STZ EURO has now created a sample specification text. This includes all relevant points from the initial inspection, including testing conditions or measuring devices, documentation, and optional points such as leak detection with test fog.

"With the sample template for specification documents, we want to greatly simplify communication between market participants. It happens time and again that points are left out, leading to numerous uncertainties and unrealistic cost estimates. This, in turn, increases the effort for qualification and often results in disputes between project participants regarding additional costs. With the sample template, we aim to ensure technically clear requirements and cost transparency right from the tendering stage," explains Michael Kuhn, head of STZ EURO.

The sample template for specification documents is available online at https://stz-euro.de/reinraumtechnik/dichtheit-vdi-2083/.

STZ EURO also creates individual texts for specification documents upon request for projects with special requirements.