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This article was originally published on February 14, 2022, and updated on March 17, 2025. Accurate low-pressure monitoring is crucial for safety in air flow measurement, leak detection systems cleanrooms, isolation rooms and other critical applications in healthcare, semiconductor manufacturing and more. However, measuring very low pressures in small volumes with accuracy and repeatability requires a specialized sensor. It is the sensor’s design, manufacturing process and installation method that will determine whether or not it can deliver the long-term stability, accuracy and resolution necessary to provide meaningful measurements. That's where microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) can help. Ashcroft, a recognized leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation, and its parent company Nagano Keiki Co. LTD have a proven track record of manufacturing excellence in low-pressure pressure sensors with MEMS technology. Read this article to learn more about MEMS, how it works in low-pressure applications and the pressure sensors available to keep low-pressure environments working with precision and reliability.

This article was originally published on July 5, 2022, and updated on November 4, 2024. Critical environments like cleanrooms, data centers, laboratories, hospital operating rooms, isolation rooms and other controlled spaces must adhere to strict environmental guidelines requiring close pressure monitoring. To ensure these areas are not compromised, your pressure-measuring instruments must be highly accurate, reliable and compliant with these very specific requirements. Choosing the wrong instrument can result in equipment damage, worker injury or incorrect measurements. As the product manager who oversees the low-pressure sensor product line at Ashcroft, I understand the complexities of these environments and am often asked for guidance on selecting sensors for critical applications such as these. In this article, you will learn some factors to consider when choosing a low-pressure transducer for critical environments, so you’ll know you’re getting the proper equipment for your process. You will also be directed to additional resources that can help answer other common questions about this topic.

Measuring very low-pressure in controlled environments like data centers, isolation rooms, labs, and operating rooms, for example, is challenging because they must maintain a very specific and very controlled atmosphere. If these environments are compromised in any way, it puts the people and the equipment you are protecting at risk. That's why you must ensure your pressure measurement instrumentation meets the specified guidelines for accuracy and reliability. As a product manager at Ashcroft, I have 26 years of industry experience, including the past eight years working exclusively on low-pressure sensing technology. In this article, you will see how we define 'very low' pressure, see examples of controlled environments where low-pressure measurements are required, and learn how pressure is measured in these applications. You will also gain a better understanding of the impact temperature has on pressure measurement and what to look for in a pressure measurement instrument to ensure your controlled environment stays secure. When you are done reading, you will also be directed to additional articles and resources that may be of interest for other questions you may have.

When you’re working in pharmaceutical or biotech applications, whether it’s an HVAC system or an isolation or clean room, it’s vital to maintain clean, contaminant-free environments. If you don’t, you risk the safety of others and the possible contamination of your processes. You need a pressure transmitter that can reliably monitor ultra-low pressure, but the number of products available on the market can be overwhelming.