Selecting an Airborne Particle Counter

Do you know the right particle counter you need when it comes to monitoring environments, communications, monitoring purposes, desired flow rate, and particle sizes?

This application note will help you:

• Understand how to monitor your clean environments in accordance with ISO standards
• Solve your contamination control issues
• Learn how to improve your processes to reduce sources of particulate contamination

For example, monitoring a cleanroom in accordance with ISO cleanroom classifications requires the particle counter’s maximum concentration specification to exceed ISO limits. Solutions to aid in attaining cleanroom certification are listed in Table 2.

Abstract

There are features available in airborne particle counters to best address the various applications and needs of the customers. The right particle counter will depend on the monitoring environment, communications, monitoring purposes, desired flow rate, and particle size you choose to monitor. This article will identify the various features available and help identify which are relevant to your application. Pharmaceutical manufacturing has special monitoring requirements that are not completely addressed here.

Terminology

All airborne particle counters sample air at a specified volumetric flowrate, which is the speed of the air being pulled through the particle counter. Flowrate units are usually in cubic-feet-per-minute (CFM) or liters-per-minute (LPM). Particle counters are calibrated to sample at their specified flowrates, and sizing accuracy is dependent on that flowrate.

To meet classification standards, particle counters sample defined volumes of air which provide qualifiable, statistical significance to particle count data.

Interested in learning more? Complete the form on this page to receive a free copy of the Selecting an Airborne Particle Counter Application Note.

This paper covers:

• Standards and Certification

• Frequent or Continuous Cleanroom Monitoring

• Monitoring Locations

• Minienvironments

• Filter and Valve Testing

• Lab Testing

• Harsh Environments

• Counting Particles in Gases