Designing a Modular ISO Class 7 Cleanroom for a Biotechnology Research Facility

The Challenge:

A biotechnology research organisation needed an ISO Class 7 controlled environment operational within 12 weeks — a timeline that made traditional cleanroom construction impossible. The facility also needed to be expandable as their research programme grew, without requiring a complete rebuild.

The Approach:

A modular cleanroom solution was specified — enabling factory-fabricated panel systems to be delivered to site and assembled rapidly without extensive civil works. The design incorporated a dedicated HVAC system sized for the initial footprint but pre-engineered for future expansion, with provisions for additional modular bays to be added without disrupting ongoing operations.

The Solution:

A 58m² ISO Class 7 modular cleanroom was installed, commissioned, and validated within the 12-week programme. The facility achieved the required particle count performance at rest and in operation, with pressure differential, temperature, and humidity all within specification. The modular design incorporated two future expansion connection points — enabling the client to double their controlled environment footprint with minimal disruption when their programme required it.

Key Learning:

Modular cleanrooms are not a compromise solution — when correctly designed and validated, they deliver equivalent ISO classification performance to traditionally built facilities, in a fraction of the time and with significant future flexibility.