How a Climatic Chamber Works: A Complete Technical Guide

Introduction to the Climate Chamber

A Climate Chamber is an enclosed space in which various environmental conditions such as heat and humidity can be controlled.

FDM designs and builds laboratory climate chambers based on each customer's testing protocol.

For battery and storage testing, discover the FDM battery test chamber, designed for testing under controlled conditions.

Some chambers can also simulate corrosion by introducing salt spray into the chamber.

The size of these chambers can vary greatly depending on the product being tested.

Sizes range from 20 up to 400,000 liters, which is big enough to test an entire truck!

What is a Climate Chamber used for?

The main function of environmental test chambers is to test the behavior of the products we generally use every day under extreme climatic conditions.

For example, a car that works very well in dry climates may stop working in humid environments.

Environmental chambers allow manufacturers to stress their products in a single environment.

It is possible to simulate the product in a continental climate, therefore with cold winters and hot summers, rather than a concentrated Mediterranean climate with higher temperatures.

Properly calibrated environmental chambers can generate reliable results that reflect real-world product performance.

Perform Climatic Stress Tests

Discover the new series of Climatic Chambers for controlled climate testing.
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The disadvantages are that it is an energy-intensive process which can also affect the temperature inside the test chamber.

Ultrasonic humidifiers do not rely on heat to turn water into steam.

Water vapor is created by passing water over a diaphragm that vibrates at ultrasonic frequencies.

The droplets formed by this method are extremely fine and can evaporate rapidly into the air in the test chamber.

The humidified air is then transferred to the test chamber. The system used in FDM climate test chambers is, in our opinion, the most efficient.

The main advantages of using ultrasound technology are:

performance in producing humidity
Greater energy efficiency
Silent system during operation
Cold running, so it does not produce any additional heat
Immediate production of humidity

Compact Climate Chamber

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To ensure accurate product testing, manufacturers need to know how to calibrate a climate chamber.

If you are interested in knowing why it is so important to calibrate it, read this article.

Proper for calibration of test chambers is essential reliable and consistent results.

Different test chambers will have different calibration processes, depending on how the environmental chambers work and what industry the chamber is used for, so it is essential to contact the chamber manufacturer to find out what the correct procedure is before starting the calibration process.

How does a climate chamber work?

The operating principle of the environmental chamber is that all conditions can be manually controlled through a variety of mechanical processes.

The temperature is controlled by electric resistance to heat or refrigeration unit to cool the chamber.

To simulate the corrosive effect of the sea, for example, a saline solution is sprayed through a nozzle inside the chamber, creating a fine mist that coats the entire product.

Humidity in the test chamber can be simulated in two different ways: by evaporating water with a heat source or by using ultrasonic technology.

Water vapor is typically introduced into a test chamber via a steam generator, which heats the water and creates steam. This steam rises to the top of the environmental chamber, where it is cooled again, increasing the total humidity in the test chamber. This method is useful because it can generate high humidity in large chambers very quickly.

Run Extreme Tests

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What can be tested in a climate chamber?

Potentially, a climatic chamber can test any type of product, that is, anything that can be marketed and that must first be subjected to climatic tests, to confirm the manufacturer's characteristics or simply comply with the official regulations of the regulatory bodies.

The most common fields of application are:

Clothing/textiles/footwear: How will a garment react to specific temperature and humidity conditions ? How can we estimate its potential life cycle? Read our article on how to perform a climate test on fabrics.

Aeronautics, Defense and Telecommunications: sectors that involve, in most cases, "extreme" tests with temperatures well above or below zero, shocks, impacts and particular vibrations, given the use that will be made of the finished product.

Food: To determine the shelf life of food, that is, to determine the expiration date and the length of time the product will last in the optimal conditions in which it left the factory. It also extends to packaging and the relationship between packaging and product contact.

Automotive: the automotive sector, including all related components and the various products and accessories that revolve around car production, such as engines, bodywork, fuel, interiors, and tires. These types of chambers can be very large if they need to contain the finished product, i.e., the car, and are called walk-in.

Chemical/Cosmetic/Pharmaceutical: another sector whose controls are particularly strict, given the direct involvement of human health: see our in-depth analysis on the pharmaceutical sector and the ICH tests for the so-called stability test

Electronics Industry: All components in the electronic devices (e.g., semiconductors) we use must comply with very specific regulations, to ensure their proper functioning but also to prevent their potential danger in the event of a failure, as they are powered by electricity. Many of these components, moreover, are made of plastic and rubber, two of the most frequently tested materials.

Building materials: The buildings we live in are subjected to constant and varied stresses, such as atmospheric agents. Building materials can be severely affected by these constant stresses. See our insight into concrete carbonation and the climatic chamber for testing materials.

The FDM Climate Chamber

FDM Environment Makers has been designing climate chambers for over 70 years.

Using the best technologies, including the controller stillFACE programmer revoFACE for dynamic tests, our climatic chambers can perform all climatic tests in accordance with international standards, with precision and reliability.

Furthermore, our technicians are always available to meet the specific needs of each customer and design customized climate chambers that meet your needs.

For any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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Insights into Climatic Chambers

Explore our specialized guides by sector, type, and use:

By Sector

By Type

Practical Guides

Trading Options

Reference Standards for Climatic Chambers

Climatic chambers are regulated by a broad set of international standards that vary according to application sector:

IEC 60068 — Complete environmental test series for electronic components (parts 2-1 cold, 2-2 dry heat, 2-30 cyclic damp heat, 2-78 steady-state damp heat).
ICH Q1A(R2) and Q1B — Stability and photostability tests for pharmaceutical products.
ISO 16750 — Environmental testing of automotive electrical/electronic components.
MIL-STD-810 — Military Equipment Environmental Testing (Methods 501-520).
RTCA DO-160 — Avionics Environmental Testing.
EN 60721 — Classification of environmental conditions.
ASTM E104 — Moisture Saturation by Saturated Salt Solutions.
ISO/IEC 17025 — Requirements for accredited testing and calibration laboratories.

Authoritative Sources

IEC 60068 series — Official webstore with all parts of the standard.
ICH Quality Guidelines — Official Documents Q1A, Q1B and Related Documents.
ACCREDIA — Italian accreditation body for testing and calibration laboratories.

Among the possible configurations there is also the CO₂ test chamber, designed for protocols that require a controlled atmosphere.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Climatic Chamber

What is the difference between a climatic chamber and a thermostatic chamber?

A thermostatic chamber controls only the temperature (typically -40°C to +180°C). A climatic chamber adds relative humidity control (typically 10-95% RH at 10-95°C). Many manufacturers use the terms interchangeably, but technically a climatic chamber is more comprehensive and costs 30-50% more than an equivalent thermostatic chamber.

How much does a climate chamber cost?

Prices vary by volume and performance. Approximate prices: €12,000-20,000 for benchtop models; €10,000-25,000 for standard cabinets; €18,000-45,000 for extended-range environmental simulation chambers. Walk-in chambers and special configurations are priced based on specifications. The actual price depends on the configuration and the test to be performed: describe your test on the laboratory environmental chamber and receive an estimate from our technical office.

What is the difference between a climatic chamber, an environmental chamber, and a stability chamber?

The three terms are often used synonymously. Strictly speaking, a climatic chamber emphasizes temperature and humidity control; an environmental chamber is a generic term that also includes additional controls (light, pressure, CO₂); a stability chamber is the pharmaceutical term for chambers that operate at fixed ICH conditions (25/60, 30/65, 40/75) for long-term stability studies. The underlying technology is the same.

How often should a climate chamber be calibrated and qualified?

Instrument calibration (temperature and humidity probes) must be performed annually with ACCREDIA /ILAC certificates. The IQ/OQ/PQ qualification must be renewed periodically (typically biennial OQ, annual PQ in GMP contexts) as well as after relocations, significant maintenance, or changes to the control system. For details, see the IQ/OQ/PQ guide .

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