FAQ
The most frequently asked questions about our cleanroom solutions.
General questions about cleanrooms
What is a cleanroom?
A cleanroom is a controlled environment where the concentration of airborne particles is minimized to specific standards. Cleanrooms are vital for industries like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and microelectronics where product quality and safety are essential.
What is the advantage of a pre-engineered cleanroom design?
Pre-engineered cleanroom designs allow us to deliver high-quality, compliant environments faster and more cost-effectively. By using proven, standardised modules, we reduce design time, minimise construction risks, and ensure consistent performance, while still offering flexibility for future upgrades or modifications.
What is ISO 14644?
ISO 14644 is the international standard for cleanroom classification. It defines the allowed number of airborne particles in different classes (like ISO5, ISO6, etc.). The lower the number, the cleaner the room. For example, ISO5 is cleaner than ISO7.
What is GMP?
GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practice. It’s a set of guidelines that ensure products (especially pharmaceuticals) are produced consistently and meet quality standards. Cleanrooms used for drug production must meet GMP requirements for air quality, materials, and process control.
What is the role of the ADAPTUS product platform?
The ADAPTUS product platform serves as the foundation for all our cleanroom designs, providing a modular, standardised framework that ensures speed, quality, and scalability. It allows us to configure solutions efficiently, integrate proven components, and adapt to future changes without compromising compliance or performance.
What is the VIX concept?
VIX is our patented, decentralized air handling system for cleanrooms. It improves energy efficiency, uptime (99.9%), and adaptability by removing the need for large central HVAC systems.
Configure-to-Order Plus (CTO+)
What is Configure-to-Order Plus (CTO+)?
Configure-to-Order Plus (CTO+) is ABN Cleanroom Technology’s system-based approach to cleanroom delivery. It allows cleanrooms to be configured around project priorities while guaranteeing minimum performance levels for speed, reliability, sustainability, and budget control by design.
How is CTO+ different from Engineer-to-Order (ETO)?
Engineer-to-Order designs cleanrooms from scratch for each project, leading to longer lead times and unpredictable outcomes. CTO+ uses pre-engineered and pre-validated building blocks, making performance predictable before construction starts.
What is the difference between Configure-to-Order (CTO) and Configure-to-Order Plus (CTO+)?
Configure-to-Order (CTO) enables cleanrooms to be configured from pre-engineered building blocks. Configure-to-Order Plus (CTO+) goes further by embedding non-negotiable minimum performance levels for speed, reliability, sustainability, and budget control directly into the system.
Do I need to choose between speed, reliability, sustainability, and budget control?
No. In CTO+, all four values are embedded above the Olympic Minimum. Clients only define which value should be dominant based on their specific project needs.
What is the Olympic Minimum?
The Olympic Minimum is a non-negotiable baseline that defines minimum performance levels for speed, reliability, sustainability, and budget control. Every ABN cleanroom meets this baseline regardless of configuration choices.
What is the ADAPTUS platform?
ADAPTUS is ABN’s cleanroom product platform made of pre-engineered and validated building blocks. It embeds performance, validation, and value protection directly into the system architecture.
About ABN cleanroom solutions
What industries do you serve?
We work with life sciences, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, microelectronics, food production, high-tech manufacturing, and other sectors requiring controlled environments.
Do you offer rental cleanrooms?
Yes! Our Cleanroom-as-a-Service model offers scalable, validated cleanroom rental solutions. Whether for short-term production or long-term R&D, our cleanroom rentals are a cost-effective alternative to full ownership.
Which cleanroom classifications can you provide?
We design and build cleanrooms across the full ISO 14644 range (ISO 5 to ISO 8) and GMP grades (A to D), depending on your industry and process needs.
Can I customize my rented cleanroom?
Absolutely. Even with our rental model, you can customize layouts, environmental controls, and compliance levels to match your project requirements.
What’s the difference between a custom cleanroom and an off-the-shelf cleanroom?
A custom cleanroom is fully tailored to your specific process, space, and compliance requirements, offering maximum flexibility in design and features. An off-the-shelf cleanroom is a pre-engineered, standardised solution that can be delivered and installed much faster, at a lower cost, but with limited customisation options.
Is cleanroom-as-a-Service available for all industries?
Yes. We tailor rental solutions for all the major industries we serve, from pharma to electronics, ensuring flexibility, compliance, and reliability.
Cleanroom installation & compliance
How long does it take to design and build a custom cleanroom?
Timelines depend on complexity, but most custom cleanrooms can be designed, built, and validated within 12–20 weeks from project kick-off.
Can the cleanroom be expanded or modified later?
Yes. Our modular design approach allows for future upgrades, expansions, or reconfigurations with minimal downtime.
Staring your cleanroom project
How do I start a cleanroom project with you?
Getting started is easy. You can contact us or visit our ‘Start Your Cleanroom Project’ page. We’ll guide you from initial planning to final delivery with a streamlined process.