Air Showers
Air Showers offer an effective way to reduce contaminants carried by individuals entering or leaving a controlled area. Air Showers are often the most effective solution to decontamination problems.
Reliable Decontamination
Air showers are specialized booths designed to remove particulates and other contaminants from personnel or materials moving between uncontrolled and controlled areas within a facility. They use high-velocity air nozzles mounted on walls and ceilings to blow off contaminants, which are then captured by prefilters and HEPA filters in a recirculating airflow system. With nozzle velocities typically around 7000 fpm (35.5 m/s), these systems ensure thorough decontamination through strong, downward air currents.
Air Showers range from 3’x3’ for a single person or for a low through-put requirement, up to 6’x6’ (or larger) with 2-door or 3-door configurations. Regardless of the size or arrangement, doors are almost always interlocked on these showers to ensure that personnel remain in the shower throughout the scrubbing cycle in order to optimize decontamination. Showers are equipped with e-stops for emergency use only.
Air Shower Specifications
For larger labs or cleanrooms an Air Shower Tunnel should be considered. Air Shower Tunnels enable scrubbing of the personnel as they pass through the tunnel, eliminating the need for door interlocks. Personnel walk in a single file and close to both walls and the ceiling, in proximity to the air nozzles in order to maximize scrubbing action.
Air Showers can operate in one or both directions, or be combined with a misting cycle to trap contaminants on Tyvek or similar cleanroom garments, depending on area classification and cleanliness. These combination showers are referred to as Misting Air Showers, and are often found in pharmaceutical packaging suites where airborne powders and contaminants may be present.
For materials, Material Handling Air Showers or Material Air Lock Showers serve a similar purpose by decontaminating totes, bulk goods, and skidded cartons before they enter cleanrooms. Equipped with high-speed, cleanroom-grade rollup doors and powerful air nozzles, these systems minimize manual wipe-down labor and optimize cleaning efficiency.
