Mist Air Shower

A Mist Air Shower is a cleanroom entry/exit chamber that combines high-velocity HEPA-filtered air with a fine water or disinfectant mist. It is used to wet and agglomerate hazardous or clingy powders on garments and equipment so they cannot re-enter the air, then blows them off before a person or material enters a controlled area.

How it works

1. Personnel or trolleys enter the interlocked chamber.

2. A high-pressure pump and specialized nozzles release a fine mist—often under 10 microns—that coats and binds dust, API residues, or toxic particles on clothing.

3. HEPA-filtered high-velocity air jets then remove the wetted particles and excess moisture.

4. Filtered air is recirculated, while contaminated liquid collects in a containment pan.

5. Typical systems use PLC control, door interlocks, infrared presence detection, and adjustable mist/air cycles; one supplier specifies 10–50 micron droplets and air speeds of at least 20 m/s.

6. Mist vs. Standard Air Shower

   Feature	Standard Air Shower	Mist Air Shower
   Cleaning medium	HEPA/ULPA-filtered high-velocity air	Fine water/disinfectant mist plus filtered air
   Main purpose	Removes loose dry particles	Wets, binds, and prevents re-aerosolization of sticky/toxic dust
   Best for	Electronics, precision manufacturing, general cleanrooms	Pharma, potent APIs, hazardous powders, biosafety labs
   Key benefit	Simple dry decontamination	Better control of hazardous powder carryover

   Where it is used

   Mist air showers are particularly relevant for pharmaceutical cleanrooms, compounding suites, aseptic filling areas, chemical production, and laboratories handling high-potency or hygroscopic powders. They are commonly placed at the exit of high-containment or powder-handling areas to reduce transfer of harmful dust to lower-risk zones.