The optimal climate test chamber for your laboratory - criteria and quality features

A climate test chamber allows the controlled simulation of environmental conditions. Research institutions and industry use the facilities to test the reaction of certain substances or products to climate changes. The test chambers thus contribute to the development, improvement and quality assurance in many fields of activity. But how do you find the perfect climate test chamber for your own purpose? State-of-the-art technology is required to meet the high requirements of the test procedures. Clitec offers individual solutions for laboratories and supports you in your search for the right climate test chamber.

What is a climate test chamber?

Climate test chambers are mostly found as walk-in rooms as in numerous variants. Depending on the requirements of the laboratory, they can be individually configured. Whether in the standard version or in a special design: The climate test chamber serves the environmental simulation. It enables experiments and test procedures to be carried out under reproducible conditions. Users can program relevant parameters precisely, save proven test programs and access the archived data at any time.

Which companies benefit from climate test chambers?

Research institutions use climate test chambers to study the response of substances, products, plants, or cells to a change in environmental conditions. Such experiments can place high demands on the test device. Depending on the result, the question for the follow-up experiments changes. Diverse functions and programming options are therefore an advantage.

In industrial companies, climate test chambers are used for product development and application tests. The intended use of the components or the end products is checked in order to identify weak points of these before they are introduced into series production. For this type of use, users program precisely defined test procedures. The test chamber must meet the requirements specified in the guidelines and standards for these tests.

What settings can be made in a climatE test chamber?

In general, the climate test chamber is a device with which the temperature and humidity can be regulated. Temperatures between -40 and +180 degrees Celsius are usually possible. However, special systems can also be used to cover temperature ranges from -70 to +200 degrees Celsius. It is often also crucial how quickly the temperature in the interior can be changed. The gradient (degrees Celsius per minute) of the system provides information about the heating- and cooling capacity.

In the test chambers for climate tests, the humidity can be regulated within a certain temperature range. Anyone who selects a climate test chamber will find this specification along with the minimum and maximum values for humidity. Depending on the temperature, users can thus set humidity values between 10 and 95 percent.

Common functions of a climatic test chamber at a glance:

• Heating and cooling
• Increasing and decreasing the humidity of the air
• Adjusting light intensity and irradiation intervals

In addition to these standard functions, the salt content as well as the carbon dioxide- or oxygen content can be varied with special test chambers. Not all functions are necessary for every laboratory. Here it is crucial to know which tests are to be carried out and which test objects are involved.

Selecting the right climatE test chamber for your own laboratory

Anyone who wants a climate test chamber for the own laboratory must first of all ask themselves what the chamber is used for. Experimental conditions change frequently in research institutions. Climate test chambers with a wide range of settings allow different experiments and are usually a better choice than test chambers that are only designed for one application. For industrial purposes or test centers performing standardized product tests, the chambers must also meet precisely defined requirements.

For the selection should be known, what kind of test will be carried out and what is checked. The most diverse materials, raw materials and components are tested with climate tests to test durability and resistance to environmental influences. Such tests can be used to define the intended use or processing possibilities. Thus, this also determines the appropriate packaging, because the transport to the destination and the resistance to the climate in different regions of the world should be able to be guaranteed. Quality assurance tests at regular intervals are used to check for changes over time.

Selection of a test chamber according to the test method and intended use:

• Behavior during temperature fluctuations
• Corrosion resistance
• Durability in sunlight and UV-exposure
• Response to vibration or magnetic fields

The test objects as well as the number of objects usually determine volume and internal dimensions of the climate test chamber. When deciding on the right test chamber, it is also important to consider whether different test procedures should take place in parallel. Small test chambers for climate testing are available as compact cabinets in standard dimensions that can fit in any laboratory. For a larger test volume, Walk-in climate test chambers, for example in large laboratories or production halls, are suitable. If you are building a testing laboratory from scratch, you have the option of having individual climate test chambers designed.

Operation of the test chamber and control of the relevant parameters

It should be possible to set the temperature curve and humidity precisely for each climate test chamber. With standardized test procedures, only minor deviations are permissible. In order to avoid errors and cost-intensive repetition tests, all parameters can be controlled, retrieved and changed at any time via a clear display. Acoustic and visual warning signals indicate deviations in temperature- and humidity levels at an early stage. Nowadays, many climate test chambers allow access via external devices and allow remote adjustment and control. Access rights can be defined depending on the area of responsibility of the employees. A digital logbook stores all data and makes the data retrievable. In this way, a check or evaluation can take place continuously.

Climate test chambers for environmental simulation tests: selection and quality criteria at a glance

The perfect climate test chamber for your own laboratory should meet all the requirements that test procedures and test objects place on environmental simulation. However, for successful climate tests also the quality of the products counts. State-of-the-art technology offers high energy efficiency and is characterized by ease of use and maximum precision. Below is the list of selection and quality criteria for climate test chambers :

• Optimal functionality and precision for the desired test procedure
• Satisfy the requirements of national or international standards
• Volume and internal dimensions adapted to test objects and sample volume as well as to the spatial conditions in the laboratory
• Easy usability for all users
• Highest energy efficiency

Climate test chambers from Clitec – high-quality technology for state-of-the-art applications

Clitec offers modern climate technology for the highest demands. Whether for standardized test procedures or for research purposes: The climate test cabinets and chambers for environmental simulation can be used in many different ways and correspond to international standards. In addition to detailed consultations, Clitec offers individual support for each customer. By working with various partner companies, the optimal solution can be found for each customer and their needs. Assistance with commissioning and reliable technical support are part of our service.