[labnetwork] High footfall in the cleanroom

[Deng, Jiangdong]

Hi, Savitha,

I have the same question as Iulian,  “where did the maximum capacity of 50 come from?”  How big is your cleanroom and the actual working area for users?

It is a good topic, though, since we in CNS-Harvard are facing the similar situation. Our cleanroom (CNS -Harvard) size is ~ 10.5 k sq ft,  but it includes the chases, gowning room, and tool holdings. So, the real open work area is tight (<2-3k sq ft) based on our user size.   We usually see 25-35 users working in the CR at a time.  If the user number goes over 40, the traffic becomes heavy and worrisome. During the pandemic, we had some approaches to limit the CR occupancy, for example, putting the limit on the door entry and tool scheduling. However, with more users coming back and the research getting busier, we can’t just simply keep the restriction on without a solid legislation base. We (with the school EHS) are studying and working on this topic, but so far haven’t found any clear code from OSHA or other resources for the CR occupancy limit. It would be greatly appreciated if anyone happens to know and can share the related regulations.

Best regards and Happy holidays to everyone!

-JD

-- Jiangdong Deng (JD), Ph. D
Associate Director,
Center for Nanoscale Systems
Head of Nanofabrication Facility,
Harvard University,
11 Oxford St., LISE-G54,
Cambridge, MA 02138
Tel: 617-495-3396




From: labnetwork <labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu> on behalf of Iulian Codreanu <codreanu at udel.edu>
Date: Friday, December 22, 2023 at 11:46 AM
To: Savitha P <savithap at iisc.ac.in>, labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu <labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu>
Subject: Re: [labnetwork] High footfall in the cleanroom
Hi Savitha,

I would start by recalling where the maximum capacity of 50 came from. If it was determined based on a code (fire, building) you have to stick to it and look into strategies to spread out the work in the cleanroom. If it was not based on a code, I think you have flexibility in allowing 70 users in at a given time if they do not "bump into each other".

Cheers,

Iulian



iulian Codreanu, Ph.D.

Director, Nanofabrication Facility

University of Delaware

Harker ISE Lab, Room 163

221 Academy Street

Newark, DE 19716

302-831-2784

https://udnf.udel.edu
On 12/22/2023 3:57 AM, Savitha P wrote:

Hi!

We are experiencing a high number of people in our cleanroom, with 50-70 users at a time against a maximum capacity of 50. I would appreciate it if you could share strategies used in your facilities to reduce the number of people in the cleanroom. Do you have any restrictions on students during the day or any incentives for working after office hours, for both startups and industry?

Thanks,
Savitha

Dr. Savitha P
Chief Operating Officer
National Nanofabrication Centre
Centre for Nanoscience and Engineering
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore - 560012
India.
Ph. +91 80 2293 3319
www.cense.iisc.ac.in<http://www.cense.iisc.ac.in>



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