Mark A. DeSorbo

MOUNT PROSPECT, IL—MIL-STD 1246 is now in the hands of the Working Group 901 of the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST), which at press time was continuing to revise the guidelines for product cleanliness and contamination control requirements.

According to Corrie Roesslein, the IEST's associate director of programs and administrative services, once the working group has updated the document, it will be passed on to the Executive Board for final approval.

Working Group 901's proposal for IEST-STD-1246 provides a basis and a uniform method for specifying product cleanliness levels and contamination control requirements, with an emphasis on contaminants that can impact product performance.

The requirements, according to the proposal scope, are not required for all products, but are intended for use in procuring and designing contracts for items where contamination control is necessary to ensure reliability. The proposed standard does not imply safety problems, as it is the responsibility of end-users to establish safety and health protocols.

Several other working groups are also in the process of revising recommended practices for testing, cleaning, operating and outgassing performance for cleanroom materials.