The Design (SD) Subcommittee of the ASME BPE focuses on the design of bioprocessing equipment as it relates to cleanability and sterility.

There are three levels that SD addresses: Device, System, and Facility. During the first two decades leading up to this year, the subcommittee built SD Part on the design of devices such as vessels, agitators, transfer panels, hygienic unions, and instruments as well as facility level design elements that contributed to their cleanability and sterility. The next decade will see the development of the system elements such as CIP Systems, Clean Steam Systems, Compendial Water Systems, Bioreactors, Autoclaves, and Glasswashers.

New members and visitors have challenged the BPE to investigate what contributes to a system’s drainability and ability to minimize microbial growth between cleaning and steaming cycles. The SD subcommittee is now supporting investigation taskgroups looking closer at what makes devices and systems even more cleanable for aseptic or sterile processes. Another investigation taskgroup has been formed to determine the minimum turbulence or Reynolds number required to clean during CIP or minimize biofilm in recirculated systems.

SD is the largest subcommittee with over a dozen active taskgroups working on the changes and updates for the next couple of BPE editions. The groups are organized to address the latest design challenges that face our fast-paced industry.

Learn and Get Involved. Join us at the next BPE meeting to be held on October 9-12, 2006, in San Diego. All meetings are open to the public as space will allow.

For more information on SD activities, contact:
Jay Ankers
Director, Process Mechanical
LifeTek Solutions
jankers@lifeteksolutions.com