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In sterile environments, including pharmaceutical manufacturing, food & beverage production and biotechnology, pressure gauges must undergo rigorous cleaning and sterilization to ensure hygienic compliance while maintaining process integrity and operational safety. Ashcroft is a globally recognized leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation. As experts in this field, it is our job to fully understand the requirements our products must meet for use in these highly regulated industries and answer customer questions to help them make informed decisions. The question that prompted this article was from a customer who wanted to know the different ways to keep their pressure instruments compliant with hygienic requirements. Read this article to learn what hygienic compliance means for sterile processes, who sets and enforces these standards and how three widely used cleaning methods—Clean-in-Place (CIP), Sterilize-in-Place (SIP) and autoclaving can help your systems prevent contamination. When you are done, you will have a better understanding of these processes, applications, benefits, and limitations as they relate to sanitary operations. You will also be directed to additional resources that can help you determine which instruments are best suited to keep your system running safely and efficiently in sterile environments.

This article was originally published on June 17, 2024, and updated on April 30, 2025. If you work in any industry that involves food, beverages, pharmaceuticals or biotechnology, your primary challenge is to implement and maintain strict sanitary control over your entire operation. This is your primary defense against product contamination and safeguarding public health. That means every aspect of your manufacturing process, including the equipment and instruments you use to keep your systems running smoothly, must also meet certain sanitary and hygienic standards. Ashcroft is a globally recognized leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation, so we understand the unique requirements our products must meet for use in these highly regulated industries. In fact, as a Product Leader for the company's sanitary product line, I am often asked for guidance during our customers' gauge selection process. In this article, you will learn more about the unique safety challenges of these highly regulated industries, the safety standards that are designed for public protection and some factors to consider when selecting the best sanitary gauge for your needs. When you are done reading, you will also be directed to additional resources to help deepen your knowledge of pressure gauges in general.

Applications in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry require strict control over facility conditions to prevent product contamination and ensure product integrity. The performance of these processes relies on accurate and reliable instrumentation that meets the regulatory standards needed for safety and cleanliness. So, what makes the best pressure instrument for pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications?

Industries such as food/beverage, paint applications, pharmaceutical and biotech have strict sanitary requirements to ensure that their products are manufactured in a clean and safe environment. Therefore, the pressure measuring instruments used in these applications must meet the same sanitary requirements.