World Cleanroom Standard Evolves.

Rapid progress toward a world standard of cleanroom technology is imminent. On March 18-19, the IES`s Technical Committee ISO/TC 209, “Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments,” representing 18 nations from all over the world, held its fourth meeting in Milan, Italy. During the meeting, the committee decided that Committee Draft ISO/CD 14644-1, “Classification of airborne particulate cleanliness for cleanrooms and clean zones,” should move into the enquiry and voting procedure as Draft International Standard DIS 14644-1. As such, it will be submitted to a two-step approval procedure, during which all ISO member bodies–a total of 85 national standards institutions–will be entitled to participate. If all proceeds as planned, the standard will become official within approximately 12 months, with other sections of the forthcoming ISO family of cleanroom technology standards expected to follow in its wake.–SE