The ideal floor system for cleanrooms

© Oliver Heinemann

© Oliver Heinemann

© Oliver Heinemann

© Oliver Heinemann

© Oliver Heinemann

Here, traditional pharmacy craftsmanship and state-of-the-art pharmaceutical production come together in an outstanding way: The Ries Pharmacy in Nördlingen, Bavaria, founded in 1975, is a family business with three pharmacies operated by Junior Manager Ralf Metzger along with his father Werner in the second generation. At the same time, the growing company invested in a new manufacturing building in the Nördlingen industrial area.

"We produce cytostatics for cancer therapies, solutions for parenteral nutrition, as well as antibiotics and pain infusions – all tailored individually to the respective patient," reports Metzger. Customers are oncological or pain therapy specialist practices. Many patients also receive their medications directly at home. With the increasing demand for their products, but also due to the rising legal requirements for drug manufacturing in the new pharmacy operational regulation, the Metzgers decided to expand their production and align it with the highest quality standards.

New building combines function and aesthetics

They commissioned the Munich architecture firm Bias & Philipp, which specializes in pharmaceutical buildings, for the new construction. In late 2010, the architects began planning; in November 2011, the groundbreaking took place, and by August 2013, the 15 laboratory staff and 15 additional employees moved into their new workplaces. The modern production facility impresses with its clear forms and well-thought-out room concept: Through the clever use of numerous windows, the laboratory staff always have a view outside. "This aspect, the combination of function and aesthetics, was very important to us during planning," reports Norbert Bias. "A friendly, light-filled environment significantly contributes to a work-friendly climate."

Production under the highest quality standards

The medication solutions of Ries Pharmacy are produced in cleanrooms, as is standard in the pharmaceutical industry. These are characterized by maintaining the concentration of airborne particles as low as possible with effective filtration systems. The goal is to minimize contamination, production failures, and quality fluctuations caused by particulate emissions.

This is crucial because, in the pharmaceutical, medical technology, as well as the food and feed industries, quality assurance is of great importance, as deviations in quality can have direct impacts on consumer health. To ensure product quality and meet the requirements set by health authorities for marketing, a quality management system was introduced: the GMP guideline (GMP = Good Manufacturing Practice).

Depending on the number and size of particles present in the air, cleanrooms are classified according to the air cleanliness classes 1 to 9 as specified in DIN EN ISO 14644-1, with class 1 being the cleanest.

High requirements for flooring in cleanrooms

The medication solutions of Ries Pharmacy are also produced in cleanrooms according to the GMP guideline, which specifies requirements for flooring: high abrasion resistance, smooth, dense surfaces without cracks and joints, and excellent cleaning and disinfection properties. "All these requirements are met by the rubber flooring from nora systems; we deliberately chose them for this demanding project," says Bias.

Especially their technical properties and their extreme resistance spoke in favor of the flooring from Weinheim. In the production cleanrooms, the electrostatically dissipative noraplan signa ed is used. The rubber flooring, available in 48 colors, provides optimal ESD protection for the sensitive electronic devices in the laboratories. The office and event areas, as well as the corridors, were equipped with the antistatic norament 926 grano. The flooring, one of nora's classics with a hammer finish and grain design, withstands the highest loads. The flooring in tasteful dark gray creates an attractive contrast to the white walls and large glass surfaces. "We wanted a timeless color for the floor that remains current even after years," emphasizes builder Metzger, who chose the design himself.

Hygienic cleaning with coating-free surfaces

The builder and architect are also very satisfied with the cleaning of the flooring. The uncoated nora floors with their durable, abrasion-resistant surface provide a consistently high hygiene standard and are extremely durable – an economic advantage for any operation.

Comfortable environment for employees

The ergonomic properties of the flooring should not be overlooked, as employees in cleanrooms often stand for hours. A permanently elastic rubber flooring contributes to increased walking and standing comfort: It relieves the body and thus results in less fatigue and pain compared to harder floors. This, in turn, positively affects the concentration and performance of employees. "The new building with its work-friendly design concept," agree architect and builder, "is an investment in the company, the future, and the well-being of our employees."