Insights · Gloves

How to select cleanroom gloves: class, cleanliness data and ESD

ISO 14644-1 classifies the air in a cleanroom, not the gloves. Here is what manufacturers' data should tell you instead.

Engineer in blue gown, face shield and nitrile gloves at a cleanroom wet bench

Cleanroom gloves are often marketed by the ISO class of the room they are intended for. It helps to know what that class means – and what it does not.

What ISO 14644-1 classifies

ISO 14644-1 classifies the air cleanliness of cleanrooms and clean zones by particle concentration. For particles ≥0.5 µm, for example, the limits are 3,520 per m³ for ISO Class 5 and 352,000 per m³ for ISO Class 7.[1] The standard does not certify gloves or other consumables; a glove's suitability for a given class is a statement by its manufacturer based on the manufacturer's own tests.

Data worth asking for

  • Particle release – counts per unit area, with the test method named. The IEST recommended practice IEST-RP-CC005 covers the evaluation of gloves and finger cots used in cleanrooms.[2]
  • Ionic extractables and non-volatile residue (NVR) – relevant where ions or organic residues can contaminate wafers, heads or optics.
  • Electrostatic properties – surface resistance or charge-decay data if the gloves are used with ESD-sensitive parts.
  • Packaging – whether gloves are double-bagged and packed in a controlled environment.
  • Lot traceability – a certificate of conformance per lot with the actual test values.

Nitrile or latex?

Both are used in controlled environments. Nitrile avoids natural rubber latex proteins, which can cause allergic reactions in sensitised people;[3] latex is often chosen for fit and dexterity. The decision usually rests on the site's allergy policy, chemical contact and the cleanliness data above.

Sources

  1. ISO 14644-1:2015 – Classification of air cleanliness by particle concentration (ISO catalogue)
  2. IEST – Recommended Practices (IEST-RP-CC005: Gloves and Finger Cots Used in Cleanrooms and Other Controlled Environments)
  3. NIOSH – Preventing Allergic Reactions to Natural Rubber Latex in the Workplace (97-135); archived PDF

Sources accessed 10 October 2026. Standards are summarised, not reproduced; consult the official edition.

Disclaimer: General information for reference only – not technical, engineering, legal or medical advice. Always follow the current official edition of the standards cited, your own risk assessment and the manufacturer's data.

More insights