Airborne particle concentrations in the cleanroom, ranging from 0.1 microns to 5 microns, are strictly regulated. Equipment and tools that are built, constructed, and used must be done so in a way that limits the introduction, production, and retention of particles. Operators are the primary source of both dry and microbe-carrying particle contamination inside the cleanroom. It could result from the operator's body or clothing. The cleanroom can become contaminated by the garment element, which can include the fabric itself, or from fabric processing, and washing practices, as well as the handling and packaging of the garment.
Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend and evaluate every step of the value chain involved in the production and handling of garments, as well as their performance throughout time. The danger of contamination directly correlates with the type of garments used within the cleanroom. For instance, wearing garments made of cotton, especially durable press cotton, inside of a coverall with a high humidity level might result in high released particle concentrations, and these particles can leak out of the garment's openings as the wearer moves. While certain garment systems are good at retaining particles, others are not. The filtering effectiveness of a garment is influenced by the fabric used to make it, as well as the design of the garment (such as the type of seams, sewing thread, zipper, and facial closure), and the manufacturing quality.