Contamination events in cleanrooms are often traced not to what enters the room, but to what is released inside it. When a HEPA vacuum with the wrong filter specification is used in an ISO Class 6 area, every vacuuming cycle redistributes fine particles through the exhaust. The room gets cleaner on the surface and dirtier in the air.
Matching Filter Grade to ISO Class
| ISO Class | Minimum Filter Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 8–9 | H13 HEPA (99.95% at 0.3µm) | Sufficient for general cleanroom areas |
| ISO 6–7 | H14 HEPA (99.995% at 0.3µm) | Recommended for electronics packaging areas |
| ISO 5 | H14 or ULPA (99.999%+ at 0.12µm) | Required for wafer-level or critical assembly |
| ISO 4 and below | ULPA (U15 or above) | Conductive hose system also required |
The most common mistake: specifying H13 for an ISO 6 environment because “it is HEPA.” H13 and H14 are both HEPA class, but H14’s ten times greater efficiency makes a material difference in critical areas. At ISO 5, an H13 vacuum is not appropriate regardless of brand.
Why ESD Compatibility Matters Even in Non-ESD Cleanrooms
This is the insight most vacuum selection guides miss. A standard vacuum hose — even one attached to a properly filtered vacuum — generates triboelectric charge as particles travel through it. In a cleanroom where ESD is not the primary concern, this charge can accumulate on equipment, fixtures, and surfaces, attracting re-deposition of fine particles that had just been removed.
ESD-safe vacuums use conductive hose assemblies that dissipate this charge continuously during operation. In electronics environments where both contamination control and ESD protection are required, an ESD-safe vacuum addresses both risks simultaneously. This is why ESD-safe models are specified even in pharmaceutical cleanrooms that handle no ESD-sensitive components.
The Atrix Range Explained
Atrix International manufactures HEPA and ESD-safe vacuums specifically for controlled environments. Phil Industries stocks the full Atrix range in Singapore:
- Atrix Express Series: Lightweight H13 HEPA vacuum for ISO 7–8 areas and general electronics cleaning
- Atrix Omega Series: H13 HEPA with ESD-safe hose, rated for ISO 8 cleanrooms and EPA environments
- Atrix High Capacity Series: Higher filtration for ISO 5–7 with larger collection requirements
- Atrix Critical Area Series: ULPA filtration, full ESD-safe construction, for ISO 5 and semiconductor applications
Toner Vacuum vs Cleanroom Vacuum: A Critical Distinction
Atrix also manufactures toner vacuums for printer maintenance. These use a different filter specification designed to capture toner particles — not fine cleanroom particulates. Never substitute a toner vacuum for a cleanroom vacuum in a classified area. The filter ratings are incompatible with ISO 14644 requirements and the confusion has caused real contamination events.
Browse the Atrix vacuum range stocked in Singapore, or contact Phil Industries for help matching a vacuum to your ISO class and ESD requirements.
