Put a number on clean .
ISO 14644-1 classification with our own certified particle counters, booked on request. You learn which class your data hall meets, and hold it to a measurable standard.
Cleanliness you can put a number on
In a data hall, “clean” is not a feeling but a class. ISO 14644-1 measures air cleanliness by counting airborne particles per cubic metre and sums it up in a single number: the ISO class the room meets. A particle measurement shows where you actually stand, expressed as a figure you can hold a room to.
When to measure
A measurement can stand on its own or prove a clean. These are the moments it earns its keep.
At commissioning
Before a hall goes live, confirm it actually meets the class it was built for.
After a deep clean
Turn “it looks clean” into a number, and show the clean did its job.
To show it meets standard
When a client, auditor or tender asks where the room stands, measure and know for sure.
When chasing a problem
Rising complaints or drift? A measurement shows where particle levels climb.
How a measurement works
To the ISO 14644-1 method, with our own calibrated counters, run by our own team.
- 01
Plan the sample points
We set representative sampling points across the room. How many and where follows the ISO 14644-1 method, based on the floor area.
- 02
Measure with certified counters
Our own calibrated particle counters draw air samples at each point and count particles by size.
- 03
Classify against ISO 14644-1
We compare the concentrations to the class limits and determine the class the room meets.
- 04
Walk you through the result
We talk you through the numbers on the spot: the class you are at, and where the problem sits if you fall short.
The scale we measure against
ISO 14644-1 sorts air cleanliness into classes by how many particles hang in a cubic metre. Lower class, cleaner air. Most data halls sit at Class 8.
ISO Class 7
≤ 352,000 particles ≥ 0.5 µm per m³. Cleaner than typical, for more sensitive rooms.
ISO Class 8
≤ 3,520,000 particles ≥ 0.5 µm per m³. The class most data halls are held to, and what our cleaning is built around.
ISO Class 9
≤ 35,200,000 particles ≥ 0.5 µm per m³. The outer bound of a controlled space.
Limits per ISO 14644-1:2015 for particles ≥ 0.5 µm. We measure against whichever class your space is held to.
What you get
On the spot, you get the result: the particle counts at each point and the ISO class the room meets. We explain what it means, and where the level climbs if the room falls short.
A formal written report or certificate is not a fixed part of the service yet. Need documentation for an audit or tender? Tell us and we will see what we can arrange.
Why measure with RIFCO
The people who keep your halls at standard are the ones who prove it, with their own instruments.
-
Our own certified counters
We measure with our own calibrated particle counters. No instrument we cannot vouch for.
-
Measured by our own crew
The same specialists who clean your halls take the readings. No subcontractor in the loop.
-
Held to the real standard
We classify against ISO 14644-1 itself: the actual limits, not a friendly approximation.
-
Straight about the result
You get the number as it is. If a room does not meet its class, we say so, and show you where.
Booked on request, measured with our own instruments, by the crew that already knows your site.
View references →Frequently asked questions
What standard do you measure against?
ISO 14644-1, the international standard for air cleanliness by particle concentration. Most data halls are held to Class 8; we measure against whichever class applies to your space.
Do we get a report or certificate?
You get the result on the spot: the counts and the class the room meets. A formal written report is not a fixed part of the service yet. If you need documentation for an audit or tender, tell us and we will see what we can arrange.
How often should we measure?
On request. There is no obligation to measure on a schedule. Common moments are at commissioning, after a deep clean, or when you need to show a room meets its class.
Does the measurement disrupt the room?
No. It is non-invasive: a counter draws small air samples at set points. We work around your operations.
Can you measure right after cleaning?
Yes, that is one of the most useful moments. It turns “it looks clean” into a number and shows the clean did its job.
What do you actually count?
Airborne particles by size (from 0.5 µm up), per cubic metre, at representative points across the room. This is the basis ISO 14644-1 uses to assign a class.
Other services
Datacenter cleaning
Periodic cleaning that keeps your datacenter at ISO 14644-1 Class 8.
More →Initial deep clean
A one-off intensive clean that brings a room up to standard.
More →Technical room cleaning
For generator rooms, electrical switch rooms and other technical spaces where ESD safety and NEN 3140 are critical.
More →Related reading
Background from our knowledge base.
- StandardsISO 14644-1 explainedWhat Class 8 means and why it is the benchmark for data centres.Read more →
- StandardsWhy data centres target ISO Class 8The balance between clean enough and affordable, and why OEMs now require it.Read more →
- StandardsASHRAE TC 9.9: particles and gasesThe guidance behind contamination control, including the often-forgotten gaseous side.Read more →
Ready for a spotless critical space?
A site survey is free and without obligation. We map your space and its risks and propose a tailored plan.
Request a free survey