We currently have a small room in the service building which has been set-up as a clean room. This room is intended for work on sensitive parts of the instruments, specifically the detector systems, and it is primarily used for working on NOTCam where the whole instrument is contained with the detector in one vessel. The main problem with the current arrangement is that NOTCam needs to be transported from and to the telescope every time any work needs to be done on it, and this both takes extra time and is dependent on the weather.
To make this easier and more efficient a system was designed that consists of a tent-like structure with a ventilation system with filter which can be dismantled easily. With space becoming available this tent can be set-up on the observing floor next to the telescope. Generating an overpressure in the tent with the filtered air provides a similar environment as the current clean room. In principle the system would be only used during the day time and should not interfere with normal observations. The design also includes a work table which can be sealed off with a cover to protect anything that would remain exposes when the ventilation system is switched-off and/or the tent dismantled.
Thomas Augusteijn 2008-11-14