Pass boxes: which type suits your cleanroom?

A pass box allows materials to be safely transferred between spaces with different levels of purity without entering the cleanroom. Passive pass boxes have no ventilation or filtering, suitable for less critical applications. Active pass boxes contain HEPA filtering and air management for maximum hygiene and control. Choose the type of pass box based on contamination risk, application, and frequency of use.

In every cleanroom or laboratory, hygiene is crucial. Materials need to move quickly and safely from one space to another without the risk of contamination. Pass boxes provide the ideal solution for this. Depending on your environment and requirements, choose between a passive or active version.

A pass box, also known as a transfer hatch or pass through hatch, forms a controlled transition between spaces with different levels of purity. You move materials without the need for personnel to enter the cleanroom, thereby maintaining pressure differentials and protecting the process. Staff movements are limited, reducing the risk of contamination.

An active pass box, or dynamic pass box, has integrated ventilation and filtering. The pulse air is filtered through a HEPA filter (H13 or H14), which is built flat in the pass box and easy to replace. Extraction is also possible, for example, to create a negative pressure, or to neutralize positive pressure through an adjustable door grill. The supply and extraction channels are completely integrated invisibly, and their positioning is determined during the design phase. This type of pass box is ideal for applications with high hygiene requirements, such as laboratories or hospitals.

Passive pass boxes are perfect for applications where hygiene is important, but where the risk of contamination remains relatively low, for example in transfers of non-sensitive materials.

The type of pass box depends on the application and the risk of contamination. Are you working in a strict cleanroom, laboratory, or medical space where every particle counts? Then an active pass box is the right choice. For less critical applications, a passive pass box may suffice. Also consider the frequency of use, the size of the materials being passed through, and the positioning in the space. By mapping this out, we can optimally tailor the pass box to your process.

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