Cargo Air Shower

What is the Cargo Air Shower?

A cargo air shower is a large interlocked chamber or pass-through that blows HEPA-filtered air over carts, pallets and packaged goods before they enter a cleanroom. It is the material-entry counterpart to the personnel shower.

Overview

A cargo shower is sized for trolleys, typically 1200–2000 mm wide and 1500–2500 mm long internally, with nozzles on walls and ceiling delivering 20–25 m/s. Floors are flat steel or fitted with conveyor rollers to allow sliding loads up to 300–500 kg. Doors can be hinged, sliding or roller shutter, interlocked so only one opens at once. A prefilter and H13 HEPA unit with return grilles recirculate air. The chamber is constructed from 304 stainless steel or powder-coated steel with sealed joints. Timers are adjustable up to about 99 seconds. Some versions include UV lamps or wipe-down surfaces for additional surface decontamination. The system does not replace the wipe-down of packaged goods, which is still required by most cleanroom procedures.

How does it work?

An air shower draws room air through a prefilter and a HEPA or ULPA filter, then accelerates it through adjustable nozzles at 20–25 m/s so the jets strip loose particles and fibres from garments and skin. The contaminated air is captured by return grilles at floor or side level, passes the prefilter and recirculates, so the chamber itself stays clean. A centrifugal blower, a cycle timer typically set to 15–99 seconds, and interlocked doors complete the system: one door cannot open until the other is closed and the cycle finishes. Stainless steel or powder-coated steel panels provide smooth, cleanable surfaces. Sensors detect entry and start the shower automatically, and fluorescent lighting and an emergency release provide safe operation. Material showers use the same principle in a conveyor or pass-through format.

What are the key features?

• Sized for trolleys and pallets
• Nozzles on walls and ceiling at 20–25 m/s
• Roller or flat steel floor for loads to 300–500 kg
• Hinged, sliding or roller shutter interlocked doors
• 304 stainless steel chamber with sealed joints
• Optional UV lamp and conveyor rollers

What are the technical specifications?

A typical cargo air shower configuration offers internal size of 1200–2000 × 1500–2500 mm, nozzle outlet velocity of 20–25 m/s, filter grade of H13 HEPA, airflow of 3000–6000 m3/h, floor load capacity of 300–500 kg and cycle time of 15–99 s adjustable. Values are indicative of the product class; the exact figures for each configuration are confirmed on the quotation and the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.

Which applications is it used for?

The Cargo Air Shower is used in pharmaceutical material transfer, electronics component entry, food packaging cleanrooms and medical-device supply. Across the wider Air Showers class, laboratories also deploy it for electronics manufacturing, pharmaceutical production and medical-device assembly.

Which standards and certifications apply?

Relevant standards and methods include ISO 14644-1 (cleanroom classification), ISO 14644-4 (cleanroom design and construction), GB 50073 (cleanroom design code), JG/T 382 (air shower), EN 1822 (HEPA and ULPA filters) and IEC 61010-1. Certification candidates for this model are CE and ISO 9001 manufacturing; each is to be confirmed for the specific configuration before shipment, and certificates are supplied only where they have been issued.

Place the air shower between the gowning room and the classified area, with flat, level floors and an electrical supply of 220–380 V. Interlocks and emergency releases must be tested at commissioning, and a fire-rated door strategy confirmed with the building designer. Replace prefilters every 3–6 months and test the HEPA filter by DOP or PAO scan annually, measuring nozzle velocity with an anemometer. Clean stainless surfaces with compatible disinfectants and keep nozzles free of debris. Air showers do not replace gowning procedures, so define entry SOPs, and avoid using them in rooms where an air-lock with pressure cascade is already required by regulation.

How do I select the right Cargo Air Shower?

Specify a cargo shower when trolleys or pallets, not only small items, enter the cleanroom. For small parts, a pass box is cheaper and smaller. RFQ details: trolley dimensions, load weight, door type, floor construction, room class and supply voltage.

How does it compare with other Air Showers variants?

Choose by who or what passes through, the room classification and the available space. Personnel showers are specified by the number of people per cycle, with single-person units the most common and two- or multi-person tunnels for higher flow. Cargo showers need a chamber sized for trolleys and loads, often with conveyor rollers. Check nozzle velocity, which should reach at least 20 m/s at the outlet, and the filter grade, HEPA H13 or H14 for ISO 5–8 areas. Consider panel material, stainless steel for pharma and powder-coated steel for electronics, plus interlock logic, cycle time and door type. Confirm fan noise, electrical supply and footprint. A bypass or manual override route must be planned for emergencies and equipment movement.