Air Showers – Controlled Personnel and Material Decontamination Systems

What is an Air Shower? 

An air shower is a controlled entry system that uses high-velocity HEPA-filtered air to remove dust, particles, and microorganisms from personnel and materials before entering cleanrooms.

What does an Air Shower do?

It removes surface contamination using high-speed filtered air jets, helping maintain cleanroom air quality and contamination control.

How does an Air Shower work? 

1. Personnel or materials enter the chamber

2. Doors close with interlock control

3. High-velocity HEPA-filtered air is released

4. Air jets dislodge particles from surfaces

5. Contaminants are captured by filtration system

6. Cleaned air recirculates before exit

What is a HEPA filter?

A HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter removes fine particles from air, typically capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns.

What are Air Showers used for?

Air showers are used to:

• Remove particulate contamination before cleanroom entry

• Reduce microbial transfer from personnel

• Maintain cleanroom classification levels

• Support aseptic processing environments

• Improve contamination control in laboratories and production areas

Types of Air Showers

Single-Door Air Shower

Used for individual entry points in compact cleanrooms

Double-Door Air Shower

Creates an airlock system for controlled entry and exit

Walk-Through Air Shower

Supports movement of personnel and equipment

Material Air Shower

Designed for carts, tools, and materials entering controlled areas

Where are Air Showers used?

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing

• Biotechnology laboratories

• Healthcare cleanrooms

• Food production facilities

• Environmental monitoring labs

Key Functional Capabilities

• High-velocity HEPA-filtered airflow

• Adjustable air cycle duration (15–60 seconds)

• Uniform air distribution

• Door interlock mechanism

• Controlled airflow direction

• Cleanable internal surfaces

• Low noise operation

Key Design Parameters

Air showers are evaluated based on:

• Air velocity and pressure

• Filtration efficiency

• Cycle duration

• Airflow distribution pattern

• Door interlock performance

• Structural material and hygiene design

How to choose the right Air Shower?

Select based on:

• Personnel vs material use

• Cleanroom classification level

• Number of users per hour

• Installation space

• Integration with HVAC systems

Facilities with higher contamination sensitivity typically prioritize strong airflow control and efficient filtration.

Air Shower vs Other Equipment

Air showers remove contamination from people and materials using airflow, while alternatives like sticky mats or growing stations only reduce surface contamination without airflow-based cleaning.

Alternative Equipment

• Sticky mats for footwear contamination

• Gowning stations for personnel preparation

• Laminar airflow units for localized air control

• Portable air filtration units

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q1. What is the purpose of an air shower?

      It removes particles and microorganisms from personnel and materials before entering cleanrooms.

Q2. How long does an air shower cycle take?

     Most air showers operate between 15 and 60 seconds.

Q3. Can air showers remove bacteria?

      They remove particles carrying microorganisms, reducing microbial contamination risk.

Q4. Where are air showers installed?

      They are installed at cleanroom entry points.

Q5. Are air showers required in cleanrooms?

       They are commonly used in facilities where contamination control is critical.

Typical Applications

• Cleanroom entry contamination control

• Pharmaceutical production areas

• Hospital sterile zones

• Laboratory environments

• Food processing facilities

Comparison Table – Air Shower Types

 Executive Summary