The cleanroom fire protection measures are defined by the customer. The customer's fire protection expert defines the requirements and translates his specifications into technical implementation. These may include the following technical measures

1. Escape routes
2. Smoke detection
3. Connection to the fire alarm system (FAS)
4. Sprinklers (for the room and/or ceiling plenum)
5. Smoke extraction
6. Flammability

Individual requirements can be highly customised. Examples of implementation or possible solutions are given below. It is advisable to involve the fire safety expert and the authority that may approve the cleanroom at an early stage. By clarifying the above points, an early check and agreement can be made so that the installed cleanroom can be used without delay. 

1. Escape routes

Escape routes from the cleanroom must be reviewed and agreed with the fire safety officer. Airlock doors in room-in-room solutions can be a barrier in the event of a fire, so separate escape doors from the cleanroom may be required.

The following points must be considered

• Is it possible and permissible to escape via the personnel airlock if a sitover is installed as a barrier?
• How many people use the escape route, how wide must the escape door be?
• Is it necessary to escape through the roller shutter doors? What door hardware is required for approval as an escape route?
• Is an escape route through sliding doors required? How will the sliding doors open in the event of a power failure?

The fire safety concept also includes consideration of escape route signage and lighting. Depending on the size of the room, the brightness of the escape route marking with escape route luminaires may be sufficient. If the luminance of the signs is not sufficient, additional emergency luminaires need to be installed.

2. Smoke Detection

There are two main types of smoke detector:

• Smoke detectors
• Active smoke aspiration systems

When planning fire protection, it is necessary to decide which areas need to be monitored for smoke and which systems can be used to do this.

Both systems need to be checked and maintained on a regular basis. The design should therefore ensure that the systems are well located and accessible for inspection.

If smoke is detected and an alarm is triggered, all fans in the cleanroom will be switched off so that the smoke is not dispersed or, in the worst case, pushed downwards and impedes escape. The system is immediately shut down.

3. Connection to Fire Alarm System (FAS)

The cleanroom control unit can be connected to the building's fire alarm system. In the event of an alarm, all fans in the cleanroom will be switched off.

4. Sprinklers

Depending on the size of the hall and the structure of the building, the fire safety expert may stipulate that both the cleanroom and the ceiling plenum must be equipped with sprinklers. In this case, the pipe penetrations of the sprinklers and the sprinkler heads must be well sealed to the cleanroom with rosettes and the statics must be taken into account.

5. Smoke extraction

Depending on local conditions, smoke extraction must be provided after fire fighting. Smoke extraction should normally be through defined open areas. These can be, for example, door and gate openings or toughened safety glass panes, which can then be broken with an emergency hammer. In extreme cases, additional smoke control doors or vents in the wall or ceiling may be required.

6. Flammability

Depending on the surrounding building fabric, it may be necessary to restrict flammability to ensure sufficient escape time in the event of a fire. In exceptional cases, for example, the construction of an airtight cleanroom envelope to Fire Resistance Class B2 may not be sufficient and a requirement for Fire Resistance Class A2 may be necessary. In this case it is advisable to consult the local fire authority.