Dynamic vs. Static Pass Box : Uses & Differences

This article describe about Static Pass box and Dynamic Pass box which is used in the pharmaceutical industry for material transfer.

Static Pass box and Dynamic Pass box

What is mean by Pass box which are used in the pharmaceutical industry ?

A pass box is a small, enclosed chamber used for transfer of materials between two separate environments with different levels of cleanliness or containment. It typically has two interlocked doors, one on each side.

The doors of the pass box are interlocked, which means that only one door can be opened at a time. This ensures that there is no direct communication between the two environments, and that the transfer of materials occurs in a controlled and safe manner.

Pass boxes are commonly used in pharmaceutical manufacturing for the transfer of Raw materials, Intermediate products, finished products, or waste between different areas of the facility. They are also used in laboratories for the transfer of samples or specimens between different workstations or cleanrooms.

Why Pass boxes are using in pharmaceutical industry ?

Pass boxes are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for a variety of purposes. Some of the most common uses of Pass boxes in pharmaceutical manufacturing include:

1. Material transfer: Pass boxes are used to transfer materials between different areas of the facility while maintaining a controlled environment. This is particularly important for materials that require a cleanroom environment to prevent contamination.
2. Waste transfer: Pass boxes are used to transfer waste from the manufacturing process or laboratory to a separate waste disposal area. This helps to prevent the release of hazardous materials into the environment and reduces the risk of contamination.
3. Equipment/Instrument transfer: Pass boxes are used to transfer equipment/Instrument between different areas of the facility, such as between a storage area and a manufacturing area. This helps to prevent contamination and maintain a controlled environment.
4. Sample transfer: Pass boxes are used to transfer samples between different workstations or cleanrooms in the laboratory. This is important for maintaining the integrity of the sample and preventing contamination.
5. Sample Movement : Samples of a product can be passed through a pass box to a separate laboratory for analysis, Inprocess testing without compromising the controlled environment of the manufacturing area.

What are different types of Pass boxes used in pharmaceutical industry ?

Majorly two main types of Pass boxes used in pharmaceutical industry

• Static Pass box
• Dynamic Pass box

What is difference between Static Pass box and Dynamic Pass box?

Some of the same features are there in both the Pass box like UV light with Fluorescent lamp availability with the reading monitoring system, Stainless steel MOC and Door interlocking. In addition to that some of the differences are there, that are as below.

Static Pass box : 

1. Static pass box is mainly installed in between the same clean environment and used to transfer the products or materials in between same Clean environment
2. It has an electromagnetic interlock system with an LED indicator on both sides to indicate the door opening and closing indications.
3. The Static Pass box does not have any air filtration system with the Differential Monitoring.
4. static pass box is also known as a passive pass box and is equipped with UV Light with Fluorescent Lamp

Dynamic Pass Box : 

1. Dynamic Pass box is mainly installed between non controlled environment to a controlled environment in short we can say it is used to transfer the material from Controlled area to uncontrolled area.
2. It is fitted with a suction filter of around 0.3 micron which is HEFA Filter and to monitor Differential Pressure (DP) manometer is installed with this pass box having the Range 0 to 25 mm of WC
3. It has an interlocking system on both side to protect from Contamination and cross contamination moreover in dynamic pass box door can open on one side and another side door will be closed till one side door is open condition.
4. It also called Active Pass Box and is equipped with UV light with Fluorescent Lamp.
5. If a Dynamic Pass box is fitted with a Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide Generator ( VHP) as a decontamination system it may also be called a Bio De-Contamination Pass Box.
6. Dynamic pass boxes may be cascade, sink or bubble type similar to airlocks which is used in pharmaceutical industry.

As we seen  Differences for static pass box and dynamic pass box, Here will see the similarities for these two pass boxes.

1. Material Of construction can be SS304/SS316 (SS- Stainless steel)
2. Interlocked doors ( ensuring only door opens at a time)
3. UV lights & Fluorescent / Visible  lamps.
4. UV light Hour meter ( When door is in open condition UV light switches off)  These lamps are advised to be replaced after 1000 Burning Hours)
5. Completely Airtight.
6. They can be Floor Mounted or  Wall Mounted.
7. Door Release Switch on either side.
8. Internal Covings for easy cleaning.
9. Both should be  cleaned with Disinfectants (70% IPA ) from time to time.