All together the environmental testing process leads to an all around better product, so it is important that the results of these tests be accurate. If the results of an environmental test are skewed, this could lead to manufacturers taking inadequate or incorrect steps toward modifying their product. For this reason, the design and construction of the test chamber should be carefully considered. When it comes to creating a test chamber, there are many different configurations and features available. Chambers range in size from small benchtop chambers to large walk-in chambers, and they can be equipped with viewing ports, a plethora of monitoring devices and sensors, and automated equipment. Before choosing these features it is incredibly important to determine the requirements of the intended tests. It may be necessary to interact with objects within the chamber during testing, so you may want to include reach-in ports to allow technicians to maneuver items within the chamber. However, external influences could lead to significant changes in test results. It may be better to utilize a less intrusive method of maneuvering items within the chamber. Regardless of the features you use or incorporate in your environmental test chamber, it is important to minimize the affects of external conditions. This will ultimately lead to far more accurate, meaningful, and useful results.

Environmental Chamber - Weiss Technik North America, Inc.

It is also important to consider the type of environmental conditions you plan on evaluating. Test chambers are capable of reproducing a diverse range of conditions, but most chambers cannot replicate every kind of climate. This is why test chambers are split into many different groups. There are temperature chambers and cryogenic test chambers, which can evaluate the effects of extreme temperatures and temperature variations. There are altitude and vacuum chambers, which replicate a broad range of air pressure conditions. Humidity chambers allow companies to test the effects of humidity and moisture levels. Other test chambers include thermal shock chambers, AGREE chambers, salt spray chambers, and many others. Some products will never encounter all these types of conditions, so manufacturers can focus on the conditions which more directly apply to their specific situation. With a host of test chamber options, manufacturers can test the effects of a broad range of climates and conditions and create better products for industrial and consumer use.