Humidity Control for Cleanrooms and Laboratories

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Benefits

Precise and accurate humidity control in cleanroom and laboratory environments has many benefits.

Preserve material integrity

At the ideal humidity, products at kept in equilibrium, without drying or wetting.

Maximise production yields

Correct humidity improves production quality and reduces manufacturing waste.

Ensures regulatory compliance

Poor humidity control can delay stability testing, impacting process compliance.

Humidity control in cleanrooms and laboratories

Top of page Use cases References FAQs

Humidification in cleanrooms and laboratories

Maintaining the appropriate humidity level in a cleanroom manufacturing environment is essential for optimising production yields and reducing waste. Even minor fluctuations in humidity can lead to accelerated drying of coatings, static charges that interfere with packaging, or complications in sensitive printing processes.

Standard humidification solutions used in offices or general human health settings typically lack the precision necessary for these stringent requirements, making specialised humidification systems indispensable.

Given that environmental parameters often require round-the-clock regulation, it is crucial to implement a robust humidification strategy that addresses both maintenance needs and ongoing operational costs and energy consumption.

Dehumidifiers for controlled environments

Many cleanroom manufacturing processes require very low humidity to prevent sensitive materials reacting with moisture. Materials such as lithium used in batteries can require environments as low as 1% RH during manufacturing to avoid degradation. Unpacked medicines, capsules, powders and syrups are also highly sensitive to moisture.

For this reason, desiccant dehumidifiers are frequently used in cleanrooms and laboratories to provide very low and highly accurate humidity control. A desiccant dehumidifier removes moisture from the air by adsorbing it in a slowly turning desiccant wheel. Desiccant dehumidifiers can be placed in series, enabling them to provide humidity levels as low as 1% RH.

Use cases

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Projects and references

Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin (Germany)

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) is a federal institute within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Health. In 2016, the RKI moved into a new four-storey laboratory and office building with an area of around 60,000 m2. There, for example, influenza experts from the RKI prepare weekly situation reports, examine which flu viruses are circulating and check the effectiveness of flu vaccinations.

Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Switzerland

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich is probably the best-known university in Switzerland and secures one of the top positions in the global ranking of universities on a regular basis. Founded in 1855 as the Swiss Federal Polytechnic, ETH is primarily dedicated to the technical, mathematical and scientific fields. Condair steam humidifiers ensure healthy and comfortable air humidity in the labs and classrooms.

ETH Zürich, Switzerland

Cern, Meyrin (Geneva), Switzerland

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is a leading institution in modern physics and nuclear research. It attracts international scientists and engineers to explore the fundamental properties of the universe, notably through its Large Hadron Collider, where atoms are accelerated to nearly the speed of light and collide.

Visitors to CERN can gain engaging insights into particle physics at the Globe of Science and Innovation. This interactive exhibit offers a deeper understanding of CERN's fascinating research projects, while our Condair RS steam humidifiers ensure optimal air moisture levels for a comfortable experience.

Cern Nuclear Research

Pfizer Ltd, UK

Pfizer has been based in Sandwich, UK, since 1954. The site at Discovery Park employs around 700 scientists, technicians, regulatory professionals and business experts all working towards creating life-saving medicines for patients. Condair RS resistive steam humidifiers are maintaining the desired humidity levels in the cleanrooms for the research taking place.

GW Pharmaceuticals

GW Pharmaceuticals is a leader in therapies based on its proprietary cannabinoid product platform to treat a number of diseases. The company was the first to receive FDA approval for a CBD-based treatment for severe forms of childhood epilepsy in its Epidiolex lead product.The company has established extensive experience in researching, developing and delivering novel, breakthrough medicines, undertaking pioneering work to unlock the medical benefit of cannabis through rigorous scientific investigation, extensive clinical trials and regulatory approvals. Much of what is known about the medical uses of cannabis was discovered by GW Pharmaceuticals.Condair RS resistive steam humidifiers are maintaining the ideal humidity level in GW's research laboratories and are being supported with Condair's planned preventative maintenance services.

World Mosquito Program at Monash University

The World Mosquito Program is a not-for-profit initiative that's protecting communities around the world from mosquito-borne diseases. The project is pioneered by Australian researchers at Monash University. Thanks to a tiny bacterium called Wolbachia, research has created a way to block the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases including dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever. By breeding mosquitoes that carry safe and natural 'Wolbachia' bacteria, these diseases can be effectively prevented from spreading. Condair is proud to have provided a humidification solution to help maintain consistent and accurate humidity levels needed for this important insect-breeding project.

Parkland Memorial Hospital

This hospital project includes Nortec's DL Series Hybrid Humidifier, RS Series Resistive Humidifier, and SAM-e Steam Distributor. Parkland is best known as the hospital where three individuals associated with the assassination of John F. Kennedy either died or were pronounced dead: John F. Kennedy himself, his assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, and Jack Ruby, who killed Oswald.

L'Oréal - Centre de Recherche & Développement

L'Orital's Research Development Centre in Vitry-sur-Seine is one of the group's main global sites dedicated to innovation in cosmetics. The centre employs over 4,000 researchers of various nationalities, specialising in more than 50 scientific and technical fields. The centre is also involved in green chemistry and eco-design initiatives, contributing to L'Orital's objective of creating beauty that respects the planet Condair is proud to have supplied, installed and commissioned Condair EL and EC electrode steam humidifiers to help maintain the consistent and accurate humidity levels needed for the sensitive testing processes.

Frequently asked questions

What humidifier is best for a cleanroom?

Cleanrooms require precise humidity control, making resistive steam humidifiers using reverse osmosis (RO) water ideal. These systems boil mineral-free water with a heating element, preventing mineral build-up and eliminating routine flush cycles needed with regular water. Since flush cycles cool the boiling chamber and reduce humidity accuracy, using RO water ensures stable operation and consistent humidity levels.

What dehumidifier is best for a cleanroom or laboratory?

There are two main types of dehumidifiers: condensing and desiccant. Condensing dehumidifiers use a cold surface to collect moisture as condensation, while desiccant models absorb moisture through a wheel containing a drying agent that is periodically regenerated by hot air. Choice depends on air temperature and required humidity control. Condensing types work best in warm conditions, while desiccant units perform better in colder environments and can achieve lower and tighter humidity control (±2% RH versus ±10% RH for standard condensers).

How can I control static in a cleanroom?

A successful way to control static build-up in a cleanroom environment is to maintain air humidity above 45% RH. At higher levels of air humidity, electric charge will naturally dissipate through the air, rather than remain static in a material. Static can be controlled using specialist flooring, worksurfaces, wrist straps and packaging. these can be very effective, locally applied solutions, but humidity control presents a holistic solution across a room or building.

Humidity control offers an additional level of protection to reduce risk to sensitive processes used in combination with local solutions in a cleanroom environment.

What level of humidity control is possible?

Get free expert advice

If you want to explore your options for humidity control, Condair's expert sales engineers will visit your site, review your project and talk you through their recommendations.

Alternatively, if you would prefer a call or online meeting, our team are always happy to discuss possible solutions and offer free technical advice.

Condair RS

Innovative scale management removes the separated minerals from the steam cylinder during operation and automatically conveys them into the designated scale collecting tank. Scale deposits are thus continuously removed from the steam cylinder.

Condair DL

The Condair DL is the next generation of the Condair Dual2—the successful system for adiabatic air humidification. Its hygienic credentials have proven successful in practice and were verified and certified by independent organisations with public responsibility.

Condair DA

Condair DA desiccant dryers are designed for applications requiring extremely low humidity, such as in sensitive industrial manufacturing processes, and for environments with very low temperatures or where precise moisture control is essential.