Issue



IEST releases latest recommended practices


04/01/2003







By Mark A. DeSorbo

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill.—The Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) has released the latest versions of its contamination control standards as well as several updates to its Handbook on Cleanroom Practices.

The latest additions include, IEST RP-CC016.2: The Rate of Deposition of Nonvolatile Residue and IEST-RP-CC018: Cleanroom Housekeeping-Operating and Monitoring Procedures.

According to the IEST, RP-CC016.2 "provides a uniform method and basis for defining the rates of deposition of nonvolatile residue (NVR) and other forms of molecular contamination on surfaces in cleanrooms."

Working Group CC016, chaired by Gene Borson of Swales Aerospace (Beltsville, Md.), drafted the revision of the previous recommended practice (RP), which was first published in 1992.

"In addition, this RP is intended to complement standards on allowable NVR and molecular contaminants on products, such as IEST STD-CC1246D: Product Cleanliness Levels and Contamination Control Program," according to the IEST.

The second addition, RP-CC018.3, provides guidance for maintaining a cleanroom at the designed level. The IEST revision describes, "how to clean cleanrooms and other controlled environments; how to select cleaning agents and equipment appropriate to cleaning specific ISO classified cleanroom environments; and how to train the operators to clean the cleanrooms and other controlled environments." It also provides a method to validate and audit the cleaning to ensure efficacy over time.

Along with RP-CC018.3, the IEST's Handbook on Cleanroom Practices also features the latest versions of five other recommended practices, including:

  • IEST RP-CC003, "Garment System Considerations for Cleanrooms and Other Controlled Environments;"
  • IEST RP-CC004, "Wiping Materials Used in Cleanrooms and Other Controlled Environments;"
  • IEST RP-CC005, "Gloves and Finger Cots for Cleanrooms and Other Controlled Environments;"
  • IEST RP-CC026, "Cleanroom Operations;"
  • and IEST-RP-CC027, "Personnel and Practices and Procedures for Cleanrooms and Other Controlled Environments.

For more information, contact the IEST by phone at (847) 255-1561, or fax: (847) 255-1699. Visit the IEST on online at www.iest.org, or e-mail, [email protected].