A semiconductor transistor is a part with specific electronic properties that allow it to serve as a component in microchips and modern electronics like phones, laptops, and more. As these components are small and require precise manufacturing methods, there are facilities dedicated to their manufacture.
These facilities consist of several levels including air handlers and scrubbers for exhaust, HEPA room, fab cleanroom, and subfab areas. The control of differential pressure within the facility is essential for the safety of both equipment and personnel.
The HEPA/ULPA rooms are found in the space above a semiconductor cleanroom. This area has filtration equipment that removes particulates from the outside environment. A HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter and/or an ULPA (ultra low particulate air) filter is used to trap small contaminants and prevent them from entering the fab cleanroom area. The fab cleanroom has to be free of particulates, as it is where semiconductor devices such as microscopic transistors are manufactured. Something as small as a molecule from a fragrance can destroy one of these transistors, making proper filtration an essential part of the semiconductor fabrication process. Continue reading “Monitoring Solutions for Semiconductor HEPA/ULPA Rooms”
We talk a lot on this blog about the importance of indoor air quality in schools to boost students’ well-being. Also important to the school building is ensuring that the building is energy efficient – the dollars saved by reducing energy consumption can be used to further improve school facilities and enhance students’ learning environments.
Imagine you sit down at a restaurant on the outdoor patio, and as you’re waiting to order your food, you glance at the large HVAC system on top of the building across the street. Several questions cross your mind: Why do they need such a big system? And what goes into it? Today I want to introduce one of the vital aspects of a building’s HVAC system, the air handler. 
