Buyer guide
Paper Honeycomb Cleanroom Panels for Walls and Ceilings
A paper honeycomb cleanroom panel has a layer of hexagonal paper cells bonded between two steel faces. It is light, which helps on walls and ceilings, but paper is sensitive to humidity and fire, so it suits dry rooms where the fire rules allow it and the finished panel has a fire report. For ceilings, the panel needs a support design; a honeycomb core does not make a ceiling walkable.
By ZY Cleanroom · Updated · Sources at the end of the page
What a paper honeycomb panel is
The core is a sheet of hexagonal paper cells, bonded between two facings. In our range it comes in two forms:
| Configuration | Thickness | Width | Length | Faces | Joint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handmade panel family, paper honeycomb core | 50 mm standard | 1,180 mm standard | 100–6,000 mm cut length | Colour-coated, galvanized or stainless steel | Centre aluminium connection or male-female |
| Separate paper honeycomb panel configuration | 50 mm standard | 1,150 mm standard | 1,000–3,600 mm standard length | As quoted | As quoted |
There are also versions with an MgO board layer between the steel face and the paper honeycomb core, confirmed on the assembly drawing. Our cleanroom door leaves can use a paper honeycomb core too.
The two configurations have different widths. Counting one with the other's width gives the wrong panel quantity.
Humidity: the first check
Paper loses strength when it is damp. A review in *Materials* (2020, 13(9):2058) reports that the compressive strength of paper cell cores in humid conditions can fall to 25% of the dry value. That study tested cores, not finished wall panels, so it shows how sensitive paper is, not a rating for any panel.
What this means for room choice:
- Dry rooms (electronics assembly, dry packaging, many laboratories): paper honeycomb is worth comparing.
- Wash-down or humid rooms (food processing, rooms cleaned with liquid on the walls): compare a mineral core such as rock wool first. If paper honeycomb is still chosen, ask for the core's humidity rating and how every cut edge and opening is sealed.
EU GMP Annex 1 (para 4.7) asks for room materials that withstand repeated cleaning, disinfectant and sporicidal agents. On a paper honeycomb panel, that means no cleaning liquid may reach the core through a cut edge, a cable hole or a damaged joint.
Fire: the second check
A 2010 paper in the *Journal of the Korean Institute of Fire Science and Engineering* describes honeycomb paper, widely used inside fire doors and as packing material, as vulnerable to fire unless it is fire-proofed. Of four treatments compared by cone calorimeter, impregnation with flame retardant performed best; a flame-resistant surface film delayed ignition but made heat and smoke release worse. These were laboratory samples.
The fire class of a panel belongs to the finished panel as tested, not to the core. Under the EU system (Regulation 2016/364), classes run from A1 to F, with smoke and droplet ratings added to classes A2 to D. Ask for the fire classification report on the finished paper honeycomb panel at your thickness, and check that your local fire rules and insurer accept that class. Where a non-combustible core is required, use rock wool or hollow MgO panels instead.
Walls
On walls, the light core makes tall panels easier to stand and fix. Check:
- the wall height against the panel's stiffness, with the supplier's section drawing;
- that openings for doors, windows and pass boxes are planned in the panel layout, so edges are closed at the factory; our door frames and observation windows are listed for 50, 75 and 100 mm walls;
- that every service penetration is sealed so the core stays dry.
Ceilings
A honeycomb core or a 50 mm thickness does not set a ceiling load or a walk-on rating. For a paper honeycomb ceiling, send:
- the reflected ceiling plan, spans and support positions;
- openings for FFUs, filter housings and lights, with their weights;
- maintenance access: from above or from below.
Ask for load and deflection data for the exact assembly, and decide before ordering whether anyone will walk on the ceiling. See cleanroom ceiling systems.
Paper honeycomb against the other cores
| Core | Weight | Humidity | Fire note | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper honeycomb | Light | Sensitive; ask for the rating | Depends on treatment; report on the finished panel | Dry-room partitions and ceilings with a support design |
| Aluminium honeycomb | Light | Ask the supplier for the rating | Report on the finished panel | Partitions and ceilings |
| Rock wool | Heaviest of the mineral cores | Ask the supplier for the rating | Non-combustible core | Fire-separating walls and ceilings |
| Hollow MgO | Medium | Keep out of standing water | Non-combustible core | Walls and ceilings in dry areas |
See the panel selection guide for all cores.
What to ask before you order
| Ask | Why |
|---|---|
| What paper is the core, and is it impregnated? | Impregnation improved paper core stiffness in the 2020 tests and gave the best fire result in 2010 |
| What humidity range is the core rated for? | Paper cores can lose most of their strength when damp |
| How is the core fire-treated? | A surface film alone performed worse than impregnation |
| Which fire report covers the finished panel, at which thickness? | The class belongs to the tested panel |
| How are cut edges, openings and penetrations sealed? | Cleaning liquid must not reach the core |
| Load and deflection data for the ceiling assembly | Thickness alone does not set a ceiling load |
| Which configuration: 1,180 mm or 1,150 mm wide? | Different widths, different quantities |
Then send your wall and ceiling schedules, room humidity, cleaning agents and destination for a quotation. See honeycomb panels.
Questions
Common questions
Is a paper honeycomb panel good for a cleanroom wall?
In dry rooms where the fire rules allow it, yes, and it is light to handle. Check the core's humidity rating, the fire report for the finished panel and the sealing of cut edges. For wash-down or humid rooms, compare a mineral core first.
Can paper honeycomb panels be used for cleanroom ceilings?
Yes, with a support design. A honeycomb core does not make a ceiling walkable. Send spans, support positions, FFU and light openings and their weights, and ask for load and deflection data for the exact assembly.
What size are paper honeycomb cleanroom panels?
Our handmade family is 50 mm thick and 1,180 mm wide, cut from 100 to 6,000 mm. A separate paper honeycomb configuration is 50 mm thick, 1,150 mm wide and 1,000 to 3,600 mm long.
Is paper honeycomb fire-resistant?
Not by itself. Paper needs fire-proofing, and impregnation with flame retardant performed best in a 2010 study. The fire class belongs to the finished panel as tested, so ask for that report.
What is the difference between paper and aluminium honeycomb panels?
They are separate cores with different specifications. Paper is sensitive to humidity and needs fire treatment. Compare both on the assembly drawing, the panel mass per m² and the fire report for the exact build.
Related guides
- How to audit a cleanroom panel factory, on site or by video
- Hinged Cleanroom Doors in Brick, Block and Panel Partition Walls
- How to Choose a Cleanroom Panel Manufacturer in China
- Cleanroom panel selection: core materials compared
- Turnkey cleanroom contractor
- Room list builder
Sources
Project enquiry
Send what you have
A room list, a floor plan or only the floor area is enough to start. After you submit, send drawings by email or WhatsApp.
We reply by email within one working day. We can sign an NDA before you send drawings.
WhatsApp +44 7962 561184 is our UK number for export enquiries. The factory is in Tianjin, China.
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +44 7962 561184