Cleanroom Conditions

Clean Mode

When the lab is in clean mode, the room has been cleaned using the techniques described below. It is very important to give the room several days for any excess particulates to settle. Anyplace that has been missed will show up on the particle counter. Ideal conditions would have 1000 particles (or fewer) of less than 0.5 microns in size per cubic foot of air.

Once the room is in clean mode, no one is to enter without cleanroom overalls, booties, and hoods. They are located to the right as you face the cleanroom.

Respirators are close by if needed.

Semi-Clean Mode
Not all cleanroom activities require clean mode.

Semi-clean mode describes the state of general experimental and research mode, rather than working on coating a particular optic. Semi-clean mode is often used in working with Zerodur disks and quartz microscope slides, rather than an actual lens or mirror.

In any event, the cleanroom air is still being filtered 24 hours/day. In the week or two before doing an actual optic, the cleanroom might go into full "clean" mode, even working with disks and slides, so the room has a chance to stabilize in a clean condition.

How to Clean.

1. Wash and wipe down all surfaces using hot water and detergent.
2. Sweep and wash the floors with hot water/detergent. 
3. Replace the plastic sheet curtain that goes around the air shower for a fresh one. 
4. Wipe down the door flaps. 
5. Put down the sticky mats in front of entrance flap.

From this point on, ALWAYS wear a cleanroom suit, boots, and hood when entering cleanroom  

6. Let the room "soak" for a few days to allow the particulates to settle.
7. Test with a hand-held particle counter to check level of cleanliness.
8. Do a spin coating test run to assess cleanliness for coating.