TCFP Plans Examiner Practice Test

In a clean room, the particle level must be maintained at less than how many particles per cubic foot of air?

1. 10,000

2. 50,000

3. 100,000

4. 1,000,000

The correct answer is: 100,000

In clean room environments, strict control over particle levels is essential to minimize contamination of sensitive processes or products. The standard for clean room classifications, particularly in the context of ISO 14644-1, establishes that a clean room's environment must maintain specific maximum particle counts based on the intended class of cleanliness. For a clean room classified as ISO Class 7, the maximum allowable particles greater than 0.5 micrometers in diameter is set at 100,000 particles per cubic foot of air. This standard reflects the critical need for low airborne particle concentrations in areas such as semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace, where even minimal contamination can compromise the integrity of products or processes. Thus, maintaining a particle level of less than 100,000 particles per cubic foot is necessary to adhere to the cleanliness standards required for many high-stakes applications, making this the correct answer.