Cleanroom door handles

[MedicineEng]

Dear All:
I believe that who is as I am in the Enginnering Department of a pharma industry that the door handles are a constant headache due to the permanent repair/replace work.
I had an idea to see if we could reduce the problems with the door handles that was to replace the normal door handle by a ball shaped handle, to avoid that the staff makes to much strenght in the handle and to make them open and close the doors with more care.
I discussed this option with our Production manager and then he told me that the ball shaped handles are not recommended for cleanroom environment.
I never heard anything like this before, I investigated and didn't find any recommendation or standard that clearly disaproves the usage of a ball shape handle.
Does any of you ever heard or seen anything regarding this problem?
Thanks for your oppinion.

PR

 

[rickyb1001]

I do lots of work in cleanrooms (of all classifications) for the semiconductor industry. Most facilities I have seen use Schlage handles of the "Rhodes" style. They have a lever to turn rather than a knob and are made of bushed stainless steel. The lever makes them easy to operate and the hands don't slip like they would on a ball-shaped knob. The Schlage units are very robust and can take quite a bit of abuse. I have heard no complaints from the owners or the facility maintenance people that these are problematic when it comes to repair.

Just my thoughts.........

Rick
Corbin Consulting Engineers

 

[MedicineEng]

rickyb:
Thanks for your answer. This might be a solution. Nevertheless, adn just for my knowledge I would like to know if there is any standard that disapproves the usage of ball locks in cleanrooms or if it is just an habit of the industry to use the lever type ones.

PR

 

[HEC]

I might suggest that the reluctance to use ball type door handlesis that the ball creates a cavity behind it that cannot be cleaned or de contaminated. When compared to a lever style, ther is no similar cavity, only a easily cleaned sliding surface.
Cheers
Mark Hutton