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Cleanroom validation and data integrity in productized cleanroom solutions: Why it’s crucial

At the core of industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and microelectronics lies a critical requirement: contamination control. Cleanrooms provide the controlled environments necessary to meet the most stringent cleanliness standards. But ensuring that these environments consistently meet the required specifications is only possible through rigorous cleanroom validation and data monitoring.

Cleanroom, equipment & software validation: A pillar of compliance and control

Cleanroom, equipment & software validation is the structured process of confirming that a cleanroom and its assets perform consistently within the specified parameters necessary to maintain controlled conditions. For ABN Cleanroom Technology’s trained validation team, this involves testing environmental factors such as air quality, filtration efficiency, airflow patterns etc. Validation ensures compliance with international standards such as ISO 14644 and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines, making it essential for industries where even the slightest contamination can result in compromised product quality or safety.

Our validation process typically includes several stages:

  • Design Qualification (DQ): Ensures the cleanroom design meets the operational needs.
  • Installation Qualification (IQ): Verifies the correct installation of cleanroom equipment.
  • Operational Qualification (OQ): Tests whether the cleanroom operates as intended.
  • Performance Qualification (PQ): Confirms the cleanroom maintains environmental control under real operational conditions.

To ensure that cleanroom performance meets customer requirements, our validation process focuses on several critical parameters, such as:

  • Airflow patterns: Airflow validation, including smoke studies, ensures proper air distribution to prevent contamination.
  • Filter integrity testing: HEPA filters are rigorously tested to verify they capture the required level of particulates, ensuring consistent air purity.
  • Temperature & humidity control and uniformity mapping: These must remain within specified ranges to ensure a stable environment for sensitive processes.
  • Particle counting & recovery testing: Real-time monitoring of airborne particles ensures the cleanroom complies with ISO cleanliness classifications.
  • Air velocity and air exchange measurements
  • Air tightness testing
  • Containment leak tests
  • Microbial air and surface contamination analysis
  • ….

The role of data integrity in cleanroom operations

While cleanroom validation verifies that operational standards are met, data integrity ensures that the information collected during validation and regular operations remains accurate, complete and consistent. In cleanroom environments, where precision is non-negotiable, maintaining data integrity is critical for compliance, traceability and decision-making.

GMP Connect, our platform for data integrity, focuses on ensuring that all records—whether they are measurements of air quality, particle counts, or temperature and humidity levels—are recorded accurately and cannot be tampered with or altered without authorization. This is crucial in highly regulated industries like pharmaceuticals, where compromised data could lead to significant operational setbacks, regulatory penalties and even patient harm.

At ABN Cleanroom Technology, data integrity and cleanroom validation go hand in hand. The validation process generates extensive data, from airflow readings to particle counts, all of which need to be documented and stored securely for auditing and compliance purposes. With GMP Connect, we offer a validated software environment for GMP-critical manufacturing areas.

Key aspects of data integrity with GMP Connect in cleanroom validation include:

  • Accurate data capture: All data from monitoring systems must be captured correctly and in real-time, reducing the risk of human error.
  • Traceability: Each data point must be traceable to its source, allowing for audits and inspections to verify the authenticity and accuracy of the information.
  • Secure storage: Data must be stored in secure systems that prevent unauthorized access, alterations or deletion.

Staying ahead with productized cleanroom solutions

The demands on cleanroom environments continue to evolve, particularly with the implementation of regulatory frameworks like GMP Annex 1. As such, continuous validation and data monitoring is essential for keeping cleanroom facilities up to date with evolving standards and technologies.

At ABN Cleanroom Technology, our in-house validation team plays a crucial role in ensuring your cleanroom, equipment & software meets all necessary regulatory and operational standards. With a deep understanding of the complex validation process, our experts manage every aspect of cleanroom qualification—from initial design qualification to ongoing performance checks. This includes documenting each stage with the thoroughness required to provide full traceability and compliance proof for national and international regulations such as ISO 14644 and GMP guidelines.

By maintaining an in-house validation team, we guarantee:

  • Complete process control: Our team oversees every stage of validation and data management.
  • Faster response times: Being in-house allows for quicker resolution of issues, more flexible scheduling and the ability to adapt to changing customer needs.
  • Seamless integration with engineering: Our validation team works closely with the design and project management teams to ensure the validation process is integrated into the overall cleanroom solution.
1. Off-site production, on-site assembling

Legolisation means standardisation. Standardisation causes a shift in production. Work is carried out in conditioned spaces such as factory halls. our cleanrooms are manufactured partly or entirely off-site, which means huge savings on transport costs and reduction of inconvenience on-site