It's not necessary but it certainly helps. It's definitely worth taking the time to set up, I mean better safe than sorry. The ICs are often open on one side because the inside is cleaned and they spray the room with lysol to get most of the bacteria out of the air. It's more of a precaution than anything. You can make a glove box for like 5 dollars if you'd like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-wEPM1wpZQ&feature=related 1:15