Walk in Chambers

Walk-In Chambers

Walk-in chambers are used for environmental testing purposes in much the same way as smaller benchtop chambers; replicating precise environmental conditions, simply on a larger scale. Common tests undertaken in walk-in chambers are extremes and sudden variations of temperature in temperature chambers and cryogenic chambers, the effects of humidity and moisture in humidity chambers and the degrading effects of salt water on objects for manufacturer analysis in salt spray chambers. Causal environmental conditions such as airborne and structural vibrations, shock, dust and sand, electromagnetic and UV radiation are further tests carried out in test chambers to evaluate a product's reaction to the elements. Industries that use walk-in chambers include automotive, military, aerospace, construction and packaging.

The validity of environmental testing results is based on the consistent undertaking of the testing procedure and the accuracy of the recording method, therefore the design and construction of the walk-in chamber is something to be carefully considered. Chambers can be single-purpose, but often are designed to create combinations of environmental conditions to most closely replicate actual conditions found in a natural environment, such as a chamber that tests both temperature and humidity. Due to the larger size of the chamber, achieving extremes of temperature and pressure, and maintaining a uniform level of conditions will require large amounts of energy. The use of heating coils, fans, electronic record measurement etc. will help add to the accuracy of conditions inside the sealed chamber. Air flow, interior lighting, viewing points and size specifications will all affect the final output of results and so have to be discussed according to the actual product undergoing testing and its intended use. Walk-in chambers can vary in design in terms of layout and can be single or multi compartmentalized. Environmental testing in walk-in chambers can take many hours and can be a costly procedure, and yet it is a wise manufacturing choice to undergo environmental testing, especially in terms of long-term expenditure and future benefit.

Walk-In Test Chambers Image Provided by Russells Technical Products