Essential Contactless Card Readers for Cleanrooms

30 May 2024

Highly sensitive areas within buildings, such as cleanrooms, pharmaceutical laboratories, and healthcare facilities, demand stringent hygiene protocols to prevent contamination. Effective access control is crucial in these environments, and with the right access control system such as EntroWatch from Remsdaq and contactless card readers like EntroPad play a vital role in managing authorised access while maintaining high hygiene standards.

Uncompromising Security  

Smart, contactless card readers and request to exit (RTE) such as those within the EntroPad range help to prevent contamination when entering or exiting a controlled cleanroom environment.

EntroPad incorporates anti-microbial technology into its plastic case design, which is also waterproof to prevent ingress from water, moisture and cleaning fluids. EntroPads use contactless smart card technology to eliminate the need for physical contact between the access control card held by authorised personnel. There is no need to physically touch a reader unless two-factor authentication is required, in the form of entering an additional PIN code. This reduces the risk of germs and contaminants spreading from person to person through physical touch.

A Secure Design for Clean Rooms 

Developed for secure and cleanroom applications, EntroPad contactless card reader has an IP65 rating. The units sleek design — with an optimised smooth surface and bevelled housing is easy to install and should it be required, clean.

Highlighting the Importance

In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has been active in monitoring and enforcing compliance within pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. For example, the MHRA frequently inspects facilities and issues enforcement actions when necessary to ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and other regulatory standards​ (GOV.UK)​.

Ideally Suited for Industries with Strict Contamination Control 

The EntroPad contactless smart card reader is a valuable addition to any Wiegand protocol compatible access control system for organisations looking to prioritise both security and cleanliness in their operations. It is well-suited for all sensitive or cleanroom environments, including:

• Medical Device and Semiconductor Manufacturing: Rigorous hygiene is vital to prevent contamination of medical devices and chips during manufacturing. Contactless operation and easy disinfection contribute to incredibly sterile environments.
• Pharmaceutical: Like medical device manufacturing, pharmaceutical production requires a contaminant-free zone to safeguard product purity by minimising the risk of contamination during access control
• Food Manufacturing: Food safety is essential in food processing facilities. The touchless design prevents the spread of contaminants often present in food-handling environments.
• Biotechnology and Aerospace: Both sectors rely on maintaining sterile conditions to avoid compromising sensitive experiments and/or equipment with secure and hygienic operation.
• University Research: Research labs often manage hazardous materials or delicate experiments. Contactless authentication contributes to a safe and secure research backdrop.

Beyond Hygiene — Additional Advantages of Smart Access 

While hygiene is a primary focus for certain use cases, EntroPad contactless smart card readers offer many other benefits including:

• Quick & Secure Authentication: they authenticate and verify a user identity with speed, and accuracy to help streamline workflows and drive efficiencies.
• Broad Technology Support: It seamlessly integrates with existing infrastructure by supporting a wide variety of cards and devices, including MIFARE DESFire and EntroPass.
• Future-Proof Design: The firmware can be upgraded to adapt to evolving security requirements and technological advancements.

By integrating contactless smart card readers like the EntroPad, organisations can significantly reduce the risk of contamination, ensuring both the security and cleanliness of their sensitive environments.

By prioritising hygiene through secure, contactless operation and a cleanable design, this easy-to-use, sophisticated desktop reader contributes to a safer and more secure work environment. The dustproof and waterproof EntroPad contactless smart card reader represents a significant evolution in access control solutions for highly sensitive industries.