Static Pass Box

What is the Static Pass Box?

A static pass box is an interlocked two-door chamber without a fan or filter. It is the economical choice for transferring items between cleanroom areas of the same or adjacent class, such as from a corridor into an ISO 8 room.

Overview

The chamber is made of 304 stainless steel or powder-coated steel, with a smooth interior and coved corners. Standard internal sizes run 400 × 400 × 400 mm and 500 × 500 × 500 mm up to 800 × 800 × 800 mm. Doors are interlocked mechanically or with electromagnets, have tempered-glass viewing windows and close against silicone gaskets. Some units add UV lamps or a stainless steel shelf. There is no fan, so the chamber does not flush itself with clean air; the contamination control is the isolation between the two rooms. Mounting flanges are sized for panel thickness of 50–100 mm. Static boxes need no power if fully mechanical, simplifying installation. Cleaning by wipe-down between transfers is standard practice.

How does it work?

A pass box is a stainless steel or powder-coated steel chamber with two doors, one facing each side of the wall. Mechanical, electromagnetic or electronic interlocks ensure that only one door can open at a time, so the two areas are never directly connected. Static versions rely on this interlock alone, with smooth surfaces and coved corners that can be wiped down. Dynamic versions add a fan, prefilter and HEPA filter that flush the chamber with clean air, typically at 0.3–0.5 m/s. Some versions include UV-C lamps at 254 nm to reduce surface microbes, or VHP-compatible seals for decontamination. Viewing windows of tempered glass, indicator lamps and door-status controls help operators. Wall-mounting frames must be sealed to the partition to maintain room pressure cascades.

What are the key features?

• 304 stainless steel or powder-coated steel chamber
• Mechanical or electromagnetic door interlock
• Tempered-glass viewing windows
• Coved corners for wipe-down cleaning
• Optional UV lamp and shelf
• No power required for mechanical interlock versions

What are the technical specifications?

A typical static pass box configuration offers internal size of 400 × 400 × 400 to 800 × 800 × 800 mm, interlock of Mechanical or electromagnetic, chamber material of 304 stainless steel, door material of Steel with tempered glass window, wall thickness fit of 50–100 mm and UV lamp of Optional, 254 nm, 8–30 W. 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 Static Pass Box is used in pharmaceutical packaging areas, hospital pharmacies, electronics assembly and laboratory clean areas. Across the wider Pass Boxes class, laboratories also deploy it for pharmaceutical material transfer, sterile manufacturing and hospital pharmacies.

Which standards and certifications apply?

Relevant standards and methods include ISO 14644-1 (cleanroom classification), ISO 14644-4 (design and construction), EU GMP Annex 1 (sterile manufacturing), GB 50073 (cleanroom design code), JG/T 382 and EN 1822 (HEPA and ULPA filters). 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.

Install the pass box during wall construction or in a prepared opening, sealing the flange with silicone or gaskets so pressure differentials are maintained. Interlock function and emergency release should be tested at commissioning. Clean chambers before and after each use with compatible disinfectants, avoiding chlorides on stainless steel. UV lamps lose output after about 8000 hours and should be replaced and measured with a UV meter. Dynamic boxes require prefilter replacement every 3–6 months and HEPA integrity testing annually. Define SOPs for which items may be transferred and how long doors may remain open, and document cleaning for GMP audits.

How do I select the right Static Pass Box?

Select a static pass box for transfers between rooms of the same or adjacent class where wipe-down is sufficient. Where a step of one ISO class or more exists, use a dynamic box. RFQ: chamber size, wall thickness, interlock type, UV option and material.

How does it compare with other Pass Boxes variants?

Decide first whether a static, dynamic or decontamination-capable box is needed. Static boxes suit transfers between rooms of similar class, while dynamic boxes suit a step of at least one ISO class, for example ISO 8 to ISO 7. Check chamber size against the largest item, with common clear sizes from 400 × 400 × 400 mm to 800 × 800 × 800 mm, and the wall thickness, which is 50–100 mm for panels. Select the interlock type, mechanical for cost, electromagnetic or electronic for control and alarms. Consider UV, VHP or bio-decontamination requirements, housing material, and whether the chamber needs a floor-standing roller conveyor. Confirm the electrical and control interface.