Humidity Control for Cleanrooms and Laboratories

Q: What level of humidity control is possible?

Humidity control systems can be highly accurate if they are capable of modulating their performance. For instance, a resistive steam humidifier can offer 0-100% modulation and therefore could potentially deliver +/-1% RH control. However, consistent room humidity also requires very reliable temperature management and highly accurate sensors.

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Benefits

Precise and accurate humidity control in cleanroom and laboratory environments has many benefits.

Preserve material integrity

At the ideal humidity, products at kept in equilibrium, without drying or wetting.

Maximise production yields

Correct humidity improves production quality and reduces manufacturing waste.

Ensures regulatory compliance

Poor humidity control can delay stability testing, impacting process compliance.

Humidity control in cleanrooms and laboratories

Top of page Benefits Use cases References FAQs

Humidification in cleanrooms and laboratories

Maintaining the appropriate humidity level in a cleanroom manufacturing environment is essential for optimising production yields and reducing waste. Even minor fluctuations in humidity can lead to accelerated drying of coatings, static charges that interfere with packaging, or complications in sensitive printing processes.

Standard humidification solutions used in offices or general human health settings typically lack the precision necessary for these stringent requirements, making specialised humidification systems indispensable.

Given that environmental parameters often require round-the-clock regulation, it is crucial to implement a robust humidification strategy that addresses both maintenance needs and ongoing operational costs and energy consumption.

Dehumidifiers for controlled environments

Many cleanroom manufacturing processes require very low humidity to prevent sensitive materials reacting with moisture. Materials such as lithium used in batteries can require environments as low as 1% RH during manufacturing to avoid degradation. Unpacked medicines, capsules, powders and syrups are also highly sensitive to moisture.

For this reason, desiccant dehumidifiers are frequently used in cleanrooms and laboratories to provide very low and highly accurate humidity control. A desiccant dehumidifier removes moisture from the air by adsorbing it in a slowly turning desiccant wheel. Desiccant dehumidifiers can be placed in series, enabling them to provide humidity levels as low as 1% RH.

Use cases

Anti-Static and ESD Prevention

Low humidity increases static build-up because dry air is an insulator, making electrostatic discharge (ESD) more likely. Maintaining 40–60% relative humidity helps dissipate charges and significantly reduces ESD risk.

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Projects and references

Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin (Germany)

With the retrofitting of in-room humidification systems, the Robert Koch-Institute protects laboratory staff from health risks and increases their well-being.

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Switzerland

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich is probably the best-known university in Switzerland and secures one of the top positions in the global ranking of universities on a regular basis. Founded in 1855 as the Swiss Federal Polytechnic, ETH is primarily dedicated to the technical, mathematical and scientific fields. Condair steam humidifiers ensure healthy and comfortable air humidity in the labs and classrooms.

Cern, Meyrin (Geneva), Switzerland

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is a leading institution in modern physics and nuclear research. It attracts international scientists and engineers to explore the fundamental properties of the universe, notably through its Large Hadron Collider, where atoms are accelerated to nearly the speed of light and collide.

Visitors to CERN can gain engaging insights into particle physics at the Globe of Science and Innovation. This interactive exhibit offers a deeper understanding of CERN's fascinating research projects, while our Condair RS steam humidifiers ensure optimal air moisture levels for a comfortable experience.

Eppendorf

Eppendorf is a leading life science company that develops and sells instruments, consumables, and services for liquid-, sample-, and cell handling in laboratories worldwide. Its product range includes pipettes and automated pipetting systems, dispensers, centrifuges, mixers, spectrometers, and DNA amplification equipment as well as ultra-low temperature freezers, fermentors, bioreactors, CO2 incubators, shakers, and cell manipulation systems.

Pfizer Ltd, UK

Pfizer has been based in Sandwich, UK, since 1954. The site at Discovery Park employs around 700 scientists, technicians, regulatory professionals and business experts all working towards creating life-saving medicines for patients. Condair RS resistive steam humidifiers are maintaining the desired humidity levels in the cleanrooms for the research taking place.

GW Pharmaceuticals

GW Pharmaceuticals is a leader in therapies based on its proprietary cannabinoid product platform to treat a number of diseases. The company was the first to receive FDA approval for a CBD-based treatment for severe forms of childhood epilepsy in its Epidiolex lead product. Condair RS resistive steam humidifiers are maintaining the ideal humidity level in GW's research laboratories and are being supported with Condair's planned preventative maintenance services.

LabCorp | Birmingham

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings was founded in 1969 and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol LH. Labcorp headquarters are located in Burlington, North Carolina.Lab Corp is a global life sciences and healthcare company harnessing science for human good. Every day, their mission is to improve health and improve lives.

Mawson Research Station

Mawson Station is one of three permanent Australian bases in the Australian Antarctic Territory of East Antarctica. Named after Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, the base is managed by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). Established in 1954, Mawson is Australia's oldest Antarctic station and the oldest continuously inhabited Antarctic station south of the Antarctic Circle.

Abbott Labratories

Abbott Laboratories is an American worldwide health care company. It has 74,000 employees and operates in more than 150 countries. The company headquarters are in Lake Bluff, Illinois. The company was founded by Chicago physician Wallace Calvin Abbott in 1888 to formulate known drugs it eventually grew to also sell research-based drugs, medical devices, diagnostics, and nutritional products. It split off the research-based pharmaceuticals into Abbvie in 2013. In 2015, revenues were $20.4 billion.

Parkland Memorial Hospital

This hospital project includes Nortec's DL Series Hybrid Humidifier, RS Series Resistive Humidifier, and SAM-e Steam Distributor. Parkland is best known as the hospital where three individuals associated with the assassination of John F. Kennedy either died or were pronounced dead: John F. Kennedy himself, his assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, and Jack Ruby, who killed Oswald.

United States Department of Agriculture

RTI Surgical

From a small tissue bank at the University of Florida to a global surgical implant company with four world-class manufacturing facilities, RTI Surgical (RTI) has a history of innovation.

Frequently asked questions

What humidifier is best for a cleanroom?

Cleanrooms require precise humidity control, making resistive steam humidifiers using reverse osmosis (RO) water ideal. These systems boil mineral-free water with a heating element, preventing mineral build-up and eliminating routine flush cycles needed with regular water. Since flush cycles cool the boiling chamber and reduce humidity accuracy, using RO water ensures stable operation and consistent humidity levels.

What dehumidifier is best for a cleanroom or laboratory?

There are two main types of dehumidifiers: condensing and desiccant. Condensing dehumidifiers use a cold surface to collect moisture as condensation, while desiccant models absorb moisture through a wheel containing a drying agent that is periodically regenerated by hot air. Choice depends on air temperature and required humidity control. Condensing types work best in warm conditions, while desiccant units perform better in colder environments and can achieve lower and tighter humidity control (±2% RH versus ±10% RH for standard condensers).

How can I control static in a cleanroom?

A successful way to control static build-up in a cleanroom environment is to maintain air humidity above 45% RH. At higher levels of air humidity, electric charge will naturally dissipate through the air, rather than remain static in a material. Static can be controlled using specialist flooring, worksurfaces, wrist straps and packaging. these can be very effective, locally applied solutions, but humidity control presents a holistic solution across a room or building.

Humidity control offers an additional level of protection to reduce risk to sensitive processes used in combination with local solutions in a cleanroom environment.

What level of humidity control is possible?