Field notes for facility leaders
Practical insight on cleanroom and GMP cleaning, biotech facility operations, compliance, and the business of keeping demanding environments running.
Articles
ISO 14644 cleanroom classifications
Understand how a room classification fits into cleaning, monitoring, and site procedures. Confirm the requirements for the space and its use.
May 27, 2026Read
Common cleanroom contamination sources
Review people, materials, airflow, and cleaning methods as possible contamination sources. Use site observations to decide what needs attention.
May 19, 2026Read
Gowning and aseptic behavior in cleanrooms
Gowning needs suitable garments and a defined method. Review entry steps, staff behavior, training, and the site rules for controlled areas.
May 12, 2026Read
Cleanroom wiping methods and controls
Review approved wipes, stroke patterns, folding, and tool handling. Follow the cleaning procedure for the surface and controlled area.
May 5, 2026Read
Timing cleanroom cleaning around monitoring
Coordinate cleaning with the site monitoring plan. Agree on access, room status, and work records with the quality team before service starts.
Apr 28, 2026Read
Cleanroom products: sporicides, IPA, and residues
Select cleaning products through the site approval process. Review contact time, compatibility, application, and residue removal for each area.
Apr 21, 2026Read
Reviewing cleaning records for FDA inspections
Review cleaning procedures, training records, and completed logs together. Keep missing entries and corrective actions visible to the quality team.
Apr 14, 2026Read
cGMP cleaning: procedures, validation, and records
Define the cleaning method, approval process, and required records. Have the quality team confirm how the work fits the site validation program.
Apr 7, 2026Read
USP 797 and 800: facility cleaning considerations
Review sterile and hazardous drug compounding areas with the responsible pharmacy and quality teams. Confirm the cleaning scope and approved methods.
Mar 31, 2026Read
Cleaning deviations, CAPA, and follow-up
Document missed or incomplete cleaning through the site quality process. Assign investigation, corrective action, and follow-up responsibilities.
Mar 24, 2026Read
Keeping cleaning records ready for review
Make record review part of routine service. Check completed logs, current instructions, training, and unresolved issues before the next inspection.
Mar 17, 2026Read
Planning the facility transition from R&D to GMP
Review access, training, product approvals, and documentation before research space takes on manufacturing work. Assign owners for the changes.
Mar 10, 2026Read
Assessing the facility costs of contamination
Include investigation, rework, downtime, and support labor when reviewing a contamination event. Use site records rather than assumed costs.
Mar 3, 2026Read
When biotech cleaning needs a specialist scope
New lab or regulated work may change cleaning requirements. Review the provider scope, training, access controls, and documentation against site needs.
Feb 24, 2026Read
Facility planning for a Series A biotech
Plan the cleaning scope alongside the lab buildout. Define room use, responsibilities, service windows, and the records needed as operations develop.
Feb 17, 2026Read
Cleaning around continuous biotech operations
Set cleaning windows around active work and access restrictions. Define how schedule changes, backup coverage, and urgent requests are handled.
Feb 10, 2026Read
Cleaning boundaries around active research
Agree on which benches, equipment, and materials cleaning staff may touch. Record the boundaries and the contact who can authorize changes.
Feb 3, 2026Read
BSL-1 and BSL-2: a facility cleaning primer
Review biosafety requirements with the site safety team. Confirm authorized areas, training, PPE, waste boundaries, and spill escalation.
Jan 27, 2026Read
Cleaning near sensitive lab instruments
Check manufacturer restrictions before cleaning near analytical equipment. Agree on products, tools, access boundaries, and timing with lab staff.
Jan 20, 2026Read
Regulated waste: facility team responsibilities
Use the site waste plan to define containers, staging, and authorized handling. Refer mixed, damaged, or unidentified material to EHS.
Jan 13, 2026Read
Vivarium cleaning support and work boundaries
Define cleaning support with the vivarium manager. Follow the approved entry, PPE, scheduling, and animal care boundaries for each area.
Jan 6, 2026Read
Comparing the total cost of janitorial bids
Compare supervision, staffing, supplies, training, and rework alongside price. Use documented site needs and disclosed assumptions in the assessment.
Dec 16, 2025Read
Writing a facility services RFP
Give bidders the same scope, access information, work windows, and completion standards. Require clear exclusions and a shared clarification record.
Dec 9, 2025Read
KPIs for reviewing facility service
Agree on inspection, response, coverage, and recordkeeping measures. Set site-specific baselines and define how missed targets are reviewed.
Dec 2, 2025Read
Planning a change of facility provider
Plan access, staffing, supplies, task instructions, and initial supervision. Put handoff responsibilities and the review process in writing.
Nov 18, 2025Read
In-house or outsourced facility services
Compare control, cost, coverage, training, and supervision. Assess internal, outsourced, and hybrid models against the same documented service needs.
Nov 11, 2025Read
Reviewing low-VOC cleaning products for labs
Review environmental goals alongside product labels and equipment restrictions. Confirm that each cleaner or disinfectant fits the intended task.
Nov 4, 2025Read
Facility service records for ESG reporting
Define reporting boundaries before collecting chemical, packaging, water, energy, and labor data. Keep measurements and estimates identifiable.
Oct 21, 2025Read
Measuring cleaning waste and product use
Track tools, packaging, prepared solution, and water use. Compare changes using actual purchase, laundering, handling, and replacement records.
Oct 14, 2025Read
Planning day porter coverage
Use occupancy, events, requests, and inspections to set daytime coverage. Define scheduled rounds, urgent priorities, and the reporting route.
Oct 7, 2025Read
Planning consistent restroom service
Set responsibilities for supplies, cleaning, faults, and shift handoffs. Review the service using inspections, employee feedback, and work records.
Sep 23, 2025Read
Preparing a campus for events and visits
Plan preparation, occupied-hour checks, and the reset after an event. Confirm the guest route, supplies, access, and next use with the organizer.
Sep 16, 2025Read
Facility planning for South San Francisco biotech
Map research, manufacturing, controlled rooms, and offices before setting the cleaning scope. Confirm access, approved methods, and site contacts.
Sep 9, 2025Read
Controlled-environment cleaning in Silicon Valley
Hardware, biological manufacturing, and precision production have different needs. Use the room and process requirements to plan cleaning and training.
Aug 26, 2025Read
Planning facility service across the Bay Area
Review each location, operating schedule, access rules, and travel arrangements. Set a site scope and a shared process for reporting and backup coverage.
Aug 19, 2025Read
Facility cleaning during respiratory illness season
Coordinate surface cleaning with the broader site illness plan. Follow product labels and agree with EHS on coverage, escalation, and documentation.
Aug 12, 2025ReadHave a facility question?
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