Our laboratory: Class 100 (ISO 5) clean environment
Our laboratory is in Istanbul. For jobs that require opening the disk, we work in a Class 100 (ISO 5) clean environment. A clean environment is a work area where dust particles in the air are kept within limits, and it is needed to open mechanical disks safely. Below you can find what a clean environment means and which jobs require one.
What does Class 100 (ISO 5) mean?
Class 100 is the name of a cleanliness class in the old US standard: one cubic metre of air contains no more than about 3,500 particles of 0.5 microns or larger. In the current international standard, ISO 14644-1, this class is called ISO 5. Both names describe the same level of cleanliness. In an ordinary room, this number runs into the millions.
Why do disks need it?
Inside a mechanical disk there are platters and read heads. The heads move over the platter on a very thin layer of air. A speck of dust getting into a disk opened in an ordinary room can damage the platter and the heads. That is why a clean environment is used when the inside of the disk has to be accessed, for operations such as a head replacement.
Which jobs require a clean environment?
Situations that require getting inside the disk, such as head failure, platter problems and motor failure. On devices with no mechanical parts, such as SSDs, it is mostly not needed. For problems, you can see the clicking noise guide.
Equipment
We use professional hardware- and software-based data recovery tools suited to the type of storage unit and the fault.
Images from the lab
The photos below show the internal parts of opened disks; they contain no customer data.
Clean environment
We carry out delicate operations such as opening drives in a Class 100 (ISO 5) clean environment.
How to reach us
Mecidiyeköy Mah. Büyükdere Cad. No:67/71 Kat:9 Şişli, İstanbul 34387. You can reach our laboratory by private car or by public transport. For appointment details, see our contact page.
Service is by appointment only.
Frequently asked questions
Are Class 100 and ISO 5 the same thing?
Yes. Class 100 is the name in the old US standard, and ISO 5 is its equivalent in ISO 14644-1. Both describe the same level of cleanliness.
Do you open every disk in a clean environment?
No. Only for faults that require getting inside the disk. With logical problems, the disk is not opened.
Let's assess your situation together: call 0212 909 56 19 or write to us on WhatsApp. See our contact page for the address and opening hours.
If you are not sure what to do, call us first
Tell us about your situation and we will tell you what to do as a first step.