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A cleanroom wall panel system is provided for defining the perimeter or interior divisions of a cleanroom. The system includes a plurality of elongate retainer elements, which are mounted to wall studs, and a plurality of wall panels with hook portions configured to engage the elongate retainer elem

A cleanroom wall panel system is provided for defining the perimeter or interior divisions of a cleanroom. The system includes a plurality of elongate retainer elements, which are mounted to wall studs, and a plurality of wall panels with hook portions configured to engage the elongate retainer elements. The retainer elements and/or wall panels may be oriented at either of two different orientations, and further are designed to accommodate some variations in the positioning of the components relative to one another, which facilitates assembly of the wall panel assembly. Each wall panel's weight is supported, either directly or indirectly, by a floor surface located below the wall panel, so that the hook portions are used primarily to secure the wall panels against the retainer elements.

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1. A cleanroom wall panel system comprising: at least two elongate retainer elements each having a rearward mounting portion and an upper flange portion having a free end, wherein said rearward mounting portion is configured to be coupled to at least two elongate studs that are in spaced arrangement

1. A cleanroom wall panel system comprising: at least two elongate retainer elements each having a rearward mounting portion and an upper flange portion having a free end, wherein said rearward mounting portion is configured to be coupled to at least two elongate studs that are in spaced arrangement, and wherein said upper flange portion is spaced forwardly of said rearward mounting portion;at least one wall panel having a perimeter edge portion disposed around a central portion, said perimeter edge portion comprising at least two rearwardly-directed flange portions at opposite sides of said central portion, said flange portions being angled relative to said central portion;a plurality of hook portions defined at said rearwardly-directed flange portions, each of said hook portions at least partially defining a recess that is configured to receive said upper flange portion of a respective one of said elongate retainer elements; andwherein said at least one wall panel contacts and is supported by a floor surface or footer located below said wall panel, and wherein said wall panel is supported at the floor surface or footer so that said wall panel is substantially retained at the elongate studs upon engagement of said upper flange portions in said recesses with gaps defined above said free ends of said upper flange portions and below respective upper ends of said recesses. 2. The wall panel system of claim 1, wherein said elongate retainer elements comprise respective lower flange portions opposite said upper flange portions and spaced forwardly of said rearward mounting portions. 3. The wall panel system of claim 2, wherein said upper and lower flange portions are substantially symmetrical with one another, whereby said elongate retainer elements are positionable along the elongate studs in either of two orientations in which one of said upper and lower flange portions is directed upwardly. 4. The wall panel system of claim 3, wherein said elongate retainer elements further comprise upper and lower web portions disposed between said rearward mounting portion and respective ones of said upper and lower flange portions. 5. The wall panel system of claim 4, wherein said upper and lower flange portions are substantially coplanar with one another, and substantially parallel to said rearward mounting portion, and wherein said upper and lower web portions are substantially perpendicular to said rearward mounting portions and said upper and lower web portions. 6. The wall panel system of claim 4, wherein said rearward mounting portions are unitarily formed with respective ones of said upper and lower flange portions, and said upper and lower web portions. 7. The wall panel system of claim 1, wherein each of said hook portions is generally T-shaped and defines two of said recesses at opposite ends thereof, whereby said wall panel is positionable in either of two different orientations in which one of said two recesses of each of said hook portions is directed downwardly. 8. The wall panel system of claim 7, wherein said hook portions, said rearwardly-directed flange portions, and said central portion of said wall panel are unitarily formed. 9. The wall panel system of claim 1, wherein each of said hook portions is generally L-shaped and defines said recess at a lower end thereof. 10. The wall panel system of claim 1, further comprising a sound-absorbent material disposed along a rear surface of said central portion of said at least one wall panel. 11. The wall panel system of claim 10, wherein said sound-absorbent material comprises at least one chosen from: (i) polypropylene honeycomb panels, (ii) gypsum board, (iii) expanded polystyrene rigid foam insulation sheets, (iv) extruded polystyrene, and (v) spray-applied foam. 12. The wall panel system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said wall panels in side-by-side arrangement. 13. The wall panel system of claim 12, further comprising a sealant applied to a joint region between adjacent ones of said wall panels. 14. The wall panel system of claim 1, wherein the at least two wall studs are oriented substantially vertically and said elongate retainer elements are oriented substantially horizontally. 15. The wall panel system of claim 1, further comprising an elongate footer configured to be supported at the floor surface, and wherein said at least one wall panel is supported on said elongate footer. 16. The wall panel system of claim 1, wherein said central portion of said at least one wall panel is substantially planar. 17. The wall panel system of claim 1, wherein said perimeter edge portion of said at least one wall panel further comprises upper and lower rearwardly-directed flange portions at opposite ends of said central portion. 18. The wall panel system of claim 1, wherein said at least one wall panel is directly supported by the floor surface located below said wall panel. 19. A cleanroom wall panel system comprising: an elongate footer configured to be supported at a floor surface;a plurality of wall studs oriented substantially vertically and in horizontally-spaced arrangement;a plurality of elongate retainer elements, each having a rearward mounting portion and at least one flange portion having a free end, wherein said rearward mounting portion is coupled to said elongate studs, and wherein said flange portion is spaced forwardly of said rearward mounting portion;a plurality of wall panels in side-by-side arrangement, each of said wall panels having a respective perimeter edge portion disposed around a central portion, wherein said perimeter edge portion comprises at least two rearwardly-directed flange portions at opposite sides of said central portion, said rearwardly-directed flange portions being angled relative to said central portion; anda plurality of hook portions defined at said rearwardly-directed flange portions, each of said hook portions defining at least one recess that is configured to receive said flange portion of one of said elongate retainer elements;wherein said elongate retainer elements are attached to said wall studs with said flange portions directed upwardly;wherein said wall panels are positionable with one of said recesses directed downwardly for partially receiving said flange portions in said recesses; andwherein said wall panels contact said elongate footer so that the weight of said wall panels is supported by said elongate footer, and said wall panels are substantially retained along the elongate studs upon engagement of said flange portions in said recesses of said hook portions with gaps defined above said free ends of said flange portions and below respective upper ends of said recesses. 20. A method of installing a cleanroom wall panel system, said method comprising: attaching an elongate retainer element to a plurality of wall studs that are in spaced arrangement, wherein the elongate retainer element includes a rearward mounting portion configured for coupling to the wall studs and at least an upper flange portion spaced forwardly of the rearward mounting portion;positioning a wall panel along the elongate retainer element, the wall panel having a perimeter edge portion disposed around a central portion, wherein the perimeter edge portion comprises at least two rearwardly-directed flange portions at opposite sides of the central portion, the rearwardly-directed flange portions being angled relative to the central portion and having a plurality of hook portions defined thereat, with each of the hook portions at least partially defining a recess with a lower opening;securing the wall panel to the elongate retainer element by lowering the wall panel so that at least the lower opening of one of the hook portions of each of said rearwardly-directed flange portions partially receives the upper flange portion of the elongate retainer element; andfurther lowering the wall panel until the wall panel contacts and is substantially supported by either a floor surface, or by an elongate footer positioned along a floor surface, with the lower openings of the hook portions receiving the upper flange portion of the elongate retainer element with a gap defined above a free end of the upper flange portion and below respective upper ends of the recesses.