Cleanroom Manufacturing Standards for Screwdriving

Cleanroom Manufacturing Standards for Screwdriving

One of the most important types of screwdriving tools in the business isn’t built on speed or strength, but cleanliness. Today on the ASG Express Blog we’re all about cleanrooms.

Most of the options you’ll find here on ASG Express combine all the highly sought-after features needed to complete a cleanroom fastening process. We have many options which combine all the features of a cleanroom screwdriver with soft stop shock-absorbing clutches & ESD safe screwdriver features.

Those familiar with cleanrooms likely have extensive training in contamination control theory under their belt. This helps meet the standards of scientific research, precision assembly, AND safety from the operator perspective.

The tools used in this process also must meet these stringent guidelines. Electric screwdrivers with soft stop clutches are designed to minimize the vibrations to the assembly part to maintain the full integrity of the build. Manual torque wrenches cleared for cleanroom use will often have built-in cam-over mechanics for the same purpose. Meanwhile, ESD safe tools limit static electricity and are perfect for components with shock sensitivities such as computer hard drives.

This Hios SS-4000 4mm Electric Screwdriver available on ASG Express with free priority shipping, 100% in stock guarantee, and the lowest price or 10% off - is a perfect example:

Cleanroom screwdrivers are used extensively in industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical device, and life sciences, as well as aerospace, optics, military, and Department of Energy applications.

The History of Cleanroom Standards

Global standards for cleanrooms were adopted from a set of specifications put in place by the U.S. General Service Administration. They are now ranked by ISO standards, but the maximum particle standards which were in place prior to 2001 are still pretty much enforced – just on a global scale.

To quickly breakdown the standards, ISO Class 9, the most relaxed of the ratings, can be equated to the air quality of a walk in a major city. ISO Class 1, on the other hand, has a tolerance of .1 micron per cubic meter of space.

For those of you interested in the particle particulars, the sheet below highlights the tolerances of each ISO level:

Class maximum particles/m3 FED STD 209E
>=0.1 µm >=0.2 µm >=0.3 µm >=0.5 µm >=1 µm >=5 µm equivalent
ISO 1 10 2
ISO 2 100 24 10 4
ISO 3 1,000 237 102 35 8 Class 1
ISO 4 10,000 2,370 1,020 352 83 Class 10
ISO 5 100,000 23,700 10,200 3,520 832 29 Class 100
ISO 6 1,000,000 237,000 102,000 35,200 8,320 293 Class 1,000
ISO 7 352,000 83,200 2,930 Class 10,000
ISO 8 3,520,000 832,000 29,300 Class 100,000
ISO 9 35,200,000 8,320,000 293,000 Room Air  


See our full line of manual and electric ESD-safe screwdriver options.

If you have any additional questions, have an application with screw sizes outside the ranges we offer, or need help selecting the correct cleanroom screwdriver, please contact ASG Customer Service at 888-486-6163 or asginfo@asg-jergens.com.

Sep 8th 2021 ASG, Division of Jergens, Inc.

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