If you are in the electronics industry, at one time you have, will, or should wrestle with the issue of the cleanliness of the unpopulated printed circuit boards (bare boards). Residues on circuit boards are directly related to the reliability of the produced hardware and can result in serious failures if not known or monitored.¹

This document is the product of the IPC Bare Board Cleanliness Assessment Task Group and was drafted to provide individuals who deal with these issues some guidance into how the issues should be approached and specified in purchase documents.

1. D. Pauls, ‘‘The Consequences of Ignoring Residues,'' Proceedings, IPC Printed Circuits Expo® 2000.