In addition to other pharmaceutical fields that are now utilizing growrooms, the medicinal and gourmet mushroom industries are now beginning to use growrooms of their own. These growrooms aren’t completely similar to those other industries’ growrooms, however – mushrooms aren’t classified as plants due to the differences in the way they grow and process nutrients, among other things. What this means for you, is that your mushroom growroom will need a different set of tools for optimal production.
One of the most effective ways to build a growroom in 2022 is through the use of a cleanroom – a room designed for sterile conditions and to give you the ability to fine-tune the atmosphere inside. This is perfect for growing all types of plants, but mushrooms in particular, as mushroom growing conditions can be very precise for optimal growth. If you’re looking to kick off an enterprise in the medicinal or gourmet mushroom industry, a cleanroom is your best shot at high-quantity, high-quality product.
In this brief guide, we’ll walk you through what you’ll need for optimal mushroom production in your cleanroom growroom, and how you can maximize your mushroom yields.
Setting Up Proper Growing Conditions
Mushrooms, as said previously, have more specific growing conditions than other medicinal plants and herbs. One of the key things you’ll want to get right is the humidity – mushrooms prefer an environment of between 80% and 95% humidity for optimal growing. Ensure your cleanroom has the moisture in the air required for healthy growing at all times.
Additionally, mushrooms, despite not being plants and not photosynthesizing, they need regular light in order to grow properly. In a cleanroom, this light will be from artificial grow lights set up throughout your growroom. Your mushrooms will receive 10-12 hours of light per day, and require this light in order to grow in the right direction, and for proper mycelium development.
Keeping Your Growroom Clean
As is the case with all cleanroom plant cultivation, the air in your cleanroom will need to be kept as clean as possible. Clean air promotes healthier, faster growth due to a lack of the natural debris that would normally hinder growth. Without dust and particles in the air, your mushrooms will be able to breathe and process their nutrients much more efficiently.
In a mushroom cultivation cleanroom, the primary and best way of filtering and sterilizing the air will be through the use of HEPA filters. HEPA filters are the standard across many industries for professional-grade, extremely-fine air filtration, and will provide the best possible growth environment for your crop. HEPA air filtration can be set up and integrated into your cleanroom with ease, allowing for easy maintenance and more efficient performance.
Your Needed Equipment
Beyond what we’ve already mentioned, including grow lights and HEPA filters, your cleanroom for mushroom production will need several other things before you can get started.
- First, you’ll need shelves for spawning the mushrooms on, and growing containers to spawn them in. Think carefully about your room layout, and make the most of your real estate through careful shelf placement.
- You will need humidity regulation equipment. This includes humidity measuring equipment, and the humidity regulators themselves.
- Mushrooms require darkness in order to first spawn. Your cleanroom will be pitch dark for this period, that is, without a dark light to light up the room whilst not disturbing your crop.
- Lastly, you’ll need a means of regulating the temperature inside your cleanroom.
FAQs
Clean room design encompasses much more than traditional temperature and humidity control. Design must consider aspects such as control of particulate, microbial, electrostatic discharge, gaseous contaminants, airflow pattern control, and pressurization and industrial engineering aspects.
How do you determine clean room requirements? ›
A cleanroom must have less than 3,520 particles >0.5 micron per cubic meter and 250-300 HEPA filtered air changes per hour. The equivalent FED standard is class 100 or 100 particles per cubic foot.
What are the conditions for a mushroom grow room? ›
Controlling Temperature and Humidity
Maintaining the right temperature and humidity levels is vital for the growth of mushrooms. Most mushroom species thrive in a temperature range of 60-75°F (15-24°C). Invest in a thermometer and a humidifier to monitor and regulate the growth room conditions.
What are the four basic components of a cleanroom? ›
Cleanroom and barrier isolator systems have four basic parts: the physical structure, the internal environment, the interaction technology, and the monitoring system. To create an aseptic environment, pharmacists must understand each of these components and be able to provide vendors with clear specifications.
What is the formula for clean room? ›
The formula for calculating cleanroom ACH:
The rate of cubic feet per minute is recalculated into cubic feet per hour, which is then divided by the volume of the room (height X width X length).
What are the rules for cleanrooms? ›
Here are 7 USP 797 clean room guidelines that you and your staff must understand and follow.
- Follow personnel cleaning and garbing procedures. ...
- Wear proper garb. ...
- Wipe down products before bringing into the clean room. ...
- Perform cleaning at appropriate frequency. ...
- Adopt USP 797 facility/engineering clean room guidelines.
Never bring in unclean or rusty tools. No Food, No Drink, No Chewing Gum – ever. No excessive or dangling jewelry. DON'T raise your sleeve to observe your watch – checkout the wall clock within the cleanroom.
How do you control CO2 in a mushroom grow room? ›
Controlling CO2 levels in your mushroom grow room can be achieved through ventilation and air exchange. Ventilation involves the use of fans and ducts to circulate air in and out of the grow room. Air exchange involves the use of fresh air from outside the grow room to replace the stale air inside.
What should the humidity be in a mushroom grow room? ›
The ideal humidity level for growing mushrooms is between 80-90%. If the humidity level drops below this range, it can cause the mushrooms to dry out and stall their growth. However, if the humidity level is too high, it can lead to the growth of mold and other harmful microorganisms.
How to sanitize a mushroom grow room? ›
Given the character of grow room soil, an alkaline detergent such as one based on sodium hydroxide is most appropriate. Alkaline detergents are generally non-reactive with their environment. However, some formulations may include boosters such as chlorine compounds to enhance cleaning ability.
While our lab is positively pressurized, we use negative pressure in the grow room. Instead of pushing air in, we pull air out and send it outside. This prevents spore filled air from being pushed out of the grow room and into the lab or the house.
How to cool a mushroom grow room? ›
Another way to lower the temperature is to increase the ventilation in the growing area. This can be achieved by installing fans or opening windows in your growing area to circulate the air. This will help to dissipate the heat and keep the temperature at a comfortable level for the mushrooms.
What are the requirements for mushroom incubation room? ›
The room is ventilated and humidified about 80%, sometimes heated or cooled. It must provide sufficient natural or artificial light for the mushroom species. The walls and floor must withstand moisture, and be easy to clean.
What are the principles of cleanroom design? ›
The key design principles of cleanrooms include air filtration, air pressure control, and temperature and humidity control. These principles help maintain a controlled environment that minimizes the risk of contamination.
What standard specify basic requirements for cleanroom operations? ›
Cleanroom industry requirements are classified according to ISO 14644-1 cleanroom standards, which specify basic requirements for cleanroom operations.
What are the requirements for ISO 7 Cleanroom design? ›
In the case of an ISO Class 7 cleanroom, the permissible particle count is limited to 352,000 particles per cubic meter. Air Quality: ISO Class 7 cleanrooms require high-efficiency air filtration systems, often utilizing HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) or ULPA (Ultra-Low Penetration Air) filters.
What are the OSHA guidelines for cleanroom? ›
You are required to wear protective head, foot, and body coverings in a cleanroom to reduce particulate contamination. In addition, you must wear the required PPE to protect you from the materials and processes that you use.
In addition to other pharmaceutical fields that are now utilizing growrooms, the medicinal and gourmet mushroom industries are now beginning to use growrooms of their own. These growrooms aren’t completely similar to those other industries’ growrooms, however – mushrooms aren’t classified as plants due to the differences in the way they grow and process nutrients, among other things. What this means for you, is that your mushroom growroom will need a different set of tools for optimal production.