ASTM F51/F51M-20

Standard Test Method for Sizing and Counting Particulate Contaminant In and On Clean Room Garments

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The test method for particulate sizing and numbers on garments is nondestructive and may be used to evaluate the contamination levels of fibers and particles on and in clean room garments. The test may be used for evaluating the cleanliness levels of new or newly cleaned garments. It also may be used to evaluate the extent of fiber and particulate contamination on garments that have been worn, if necessary. For this application, it is necessary to sample representative areas of the garment fabric.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of detachable particulate contaminant 5 μm or larger, in and on the fabric of clean room garments.  
1.2 This test method does not apply to nonporous fabrics such as Tyvek (trademarked) or Gortex (trademarked). It only applies to fabrics that are porous such as cotton or polyester.  
1.3 This test method provides not only the traditional optical microscopic analysis but also a size distribution and surface obscuration analysis for particles on a fine-textured membrane filter or in a tape lift sample. It utilizes transmitted illumination to render all particles darker than the background for gray level detection. Particles collected on opaque plates must be transferred to a suitable membrane filter.  
1.4 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.  
1.5 This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2020
• ICS: 61.020 - Clothes
• Technical Committee: E21 - Space Simulation and Applications of Space Technology
• Drafting Committee: E21.05 - Contamination

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F51/F51M − 20
Standard Test Method for
Sizing and Counting Particulate Contaminant In and On
1
Clean Room Garments
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F51/F51M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This test method covers the determination of detachable
E1216Practice for Sampling for Particulate Contamination
particulate contaminant 5µm or larger, in and on the fabric of
by Tape Lift
clean room garments.
F25/F25MTest Method for Sizing and Counting Airborne
1.2 This test method does not apply to nonporous fabrics
ParticulateContaminationinCleanroomsandOtherDust-
such as Tyvek (trademarked) or Gortex (trademarked). It only
Controlled Areas
applies to fabrics that are porous such as cotton or polyester.
3
2.2 IEST Document:
1.3 Thistestmethodprovidesnotonlythetraditionaloptical
IEST-RP-CC003.2, Garment System Considerations for
microscopic analysis but also a size distribution and surface
Cleanrooms and Other Controlled Environments
obscuration analysis for particles on a fine-textured membrane
filterorinatapeliftsample.Itutilizestransmittedillumination
3. Terminology
torenderallparticlesdarkerthanthebackgroundforgraylevel
3.1 Definitions:
detection. Particles collected on opaque plates must be trans-
3.1.1 fiber, n—particle longer than 100 µm and with a
ferred to a suitable membrane filter.
length-to-width ratio exceeding 10:1.
-6
1.4 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-
3.1.2 micrometre (µm), n—SIunitoflengthwhichis10 of
pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The
a metre or approximately 0.00004 in.
values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equiva-
3.1.3 particle size (L) (µm), n—major projected dimension
lents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each
of a particle.
system shall be used independently of the other, and values
from the two systems shall not be combined.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.5 This standard may involve hazardous materials, 2
4.1 Filtered air is drawn through five designated 0.01m
operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to
2 2
[1.5in. or approximately 0.01ft ] areas of a single thickness
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its
of the garment fabric at a rate of 14 L/min [0.5 cfm] for a
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to
period of 1 min for each area.
establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental prac-
4.2 The air drawn through the garment subsequently passes
tices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations
through a membrane filter disk, impinging the entrained
prior to use.
particles upon the filter surface.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 4.3 The filter disk is then examined microscopically for
particles removed from the garment.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
4.4 For particles larger than 5 µm, use optical analysis. For
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
particles smaller than 5 µm, use automated image analysis.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E21 on Space contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Simulation andApplications of SpaceTechnology and is the direct responsibility of Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Subcommittee E21.05 on Contamination. the ASTM website.
3
Current edition approved April 1, 2020. Published May 2020. Originally Available from Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST),
approved in 1965. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as F51/ Arlington Place One, 2340 S.Arlington Heights Rd., Suite 100,Arlington Heights,
ε1
F51M –00(2014) . DOI: 10.1520/F0051_F0051M-20. IL 60005-4516, http://www.iest.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F51/F51M − 20
FIG. 1 Filter Assembly
FIG. 2 Adapter
4
4.5 Cleaning and counting techniques are in accordance 6.4.4 Plastic Petri Slides with Covers , plastic petri dishes,
w
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
´1
Designation: F51/F51M − 00 (Reapproved 2014) F51/F51M − 20
Standard Test Method for
Sizing and Counting Particulate Contaminant In and On
1
Clean Room Garments
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F51/F51M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
ε NOTE—Editorial changes were made throughout in March 2013.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of detachable particulate contaminant 5 μm 5 μm or larger, in and on the fabric
of clean room garments.
1.2 This test method does not apply to nonporous fabrics such as Tyvek (trademarked) or Gortex (trademarked). It only applies
to fabrics that are porous such as cotton or polyester.
1.3 This test method provides not only the traditional optical microscopic analysis but also a size distribution and surface
obscuration analysis for particles on a fine-textured membrane filter or in a tape lift sample. It utilizes transmitted illumination to
render all particles darker than the background for gray level detection. Particles collected on opaque plates must be transferred
to a suitable membrane filter.
1.4 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated
in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used
independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.
1.5 This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all
of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate
safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E1216 Practice for Sampling for Particulate Contamination by Tape Lift
F25/F25M Test Method for Sizing and Counting Airborne Particulate Contamination in Cleanrooms and Other Dust-Controlled
Areas
3
2.2 Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) IEST Document:
IEST-RP-CC003.2, Garment System Considerations for Cleanrooms and Other Controlled Environments
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 fiber, n—particle longer than 100 μm and with a length-to-width ratio exceeding 10:1.
-6
3.1.2 micrometre (μm), n—SI unit of length which is 10 of a metre or approximately 0.00004 in.
3.1.3 particle size (L) (μm)—), n—major projected dimension of a particle.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E21 on Space Simulation and Applications of Space Technology and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee E21.05 on Contamination.
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2014April 1, 2020. Published February 2014May 2020. Originally approved in 1965. Last previous edition approved in 20072014 as
ε1
F51 - 00F51/F51M(2007) – 00(2014) . DOI: 10.1520/F0051_F0051M-00R14E01.10.1520/F0051_F0051M-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST), Arlington Place One, 2340 S. Arlington Heights Rd., Suite 100, Arlington Heights, IL
60005-4516, http://www.iest.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F51/F51M − 20
FIG. 1 Filter Assembly
4. Summary of Test Method
2 2 2
4.1 Filtered air is drawn through five designated 0.01-m0.01 m [1.5-in.[1.5 in. or approximately 0.01-ft0.01 ft ] areas of a
single thickness of the garment fabric at a rate of 14 L/min [0.5 cfm] for a period of 1 min for each area.
4.2 The air drawn through the garment subsequently passes throug
...