cryptonenologist
Member
- Location
- San Juan Bautista, CA
- Occupation
- Engineer
I'm working on a cleanroom manufacturing suite. In my experience, a common issue in these spaces is that infrastructure changes are difficult and costly, as the cleanroom needs to be shut down or otherwise extensively prepped for any work that may generate particles.
I am trying to provide provisions for future equipment, while keeping the number of receptacles and penetrations minimal. The cleanrooms are built from modular panels, so there is no internal wall space to run conduit, and to maintain cleanliness, conduit cannot be exposed in the interior of spaces. This means that for rooms that do not have an external wall to run conduit on and punch in from, I can only run ceiling receptacles.
I initially planned to provide two washdown duplex L5-15 receptacles in each room and a washdown L21-30. The idea behind the L21-30 being that it could be used to run a piece of small industrial automation(three-phase for a motor, plus 120v for controls), or in a pinch could be used with a breakout to provide three 120v circuits for small equipment such as conveyors or lab equipment.
A few questions:
Any ideas to mitigate this? Should I just have receptacles housings and boxes installed where I'm not sure the 208v will be needed, and we can pull wire and install a breaker later if needed? Or just bite the bullet and order the gfci breakers and have the future capability with no new work. My fear on that end is that if they never get used or not for several years the gfci will die and need to be replaced anyway.
I am trying to provide provisions for future equipment, while keeping the number of receptacles and penetrations minimal. The cleanrooms are built from modular panels, so there is no internal wall space to run conduit, and to maintain cleanliness, conduit cannot be exposed in the interior of spaces. This means that for rooms that do not have an external wall to run conduit on and punch in from, I can only run ceiling receptacles.
I initially planned to provide two washdown duplex L5-15 receptacles in each room and a washdown L21-30. The idea behind the L21-30 being that it could be used to run a piece of small industrial automation(three-phase for a motor, plus 120v for controls), or in a pinch could be used with a breakout to provide three 120v circuits for small equipment such as conveyors or lab equipment.
A few questions:
- Is running three circuits from an L21 acceptable? I have a feeling that it isn't because it is a three-pole breaker and they should be balanced.
- Am I correct in considering a cleanroom a damp location? I've read some other posts and this seems reasonable. This type of cleanroom has no standing water and has no water sources in most rooms. However, the room, including walls and ceiling are mopped with sanitizing solution daily.
Any ideas to mitigate this? Should I just have receptacles housings and boxes installed where I'm not sure the 208v will be needed, and we can pull wire and install a breaker later if needed? Or just bite the bullet and order the gfci breakers and have the future capability with no new work. My fear on that end is that if they never get used or not for several years the gfci will die and need to be replaced anyway.