Walk-in Integral Chambers

We manufacture a complete line of both welded, factory pre-assembled, integral chambers and prefabricated chambers made from sectional panels.

Integral chambers are shipped in one to six pieces for permanent assembly at your facility. Individual piece size is limited by USA over-road shipping constraints although, very large systems can be fabricated on site.

We offer integral chambers to meet all of the specifications presented in our technical bulletins on our standard F, FNR, FHC (Temperature), FW (Temperature-Humidity), and A, AF, AFW (Temperature-Humidity-Altitude) series of environmental chambers. Custom and unusual combinations of environments are also available including salt fog, rain, solar, wind, sound, high vacuum, thermal vacuum and many others.

Prefabricated rooms, made from sectional panels, can be constructed in any size ranging from the very small to the extremely large. They are often a first choice when there is limited access to the final assembly location or when lower first cost is an important consideration. Information on our Modular Chamber offering can be viewed here. In some cases, integral construction offers important advantages over prefabricated construction. Some of these advantages are covered in the next section of this page "Construction."

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Construction

Bemco integral chambers include a heliarc welded, 300 Series stainless steel inner liner, fiberglass insulation, and a structural steel supported, carbon steel outer case finished in Bemco blue. Stainless steel and other exterior materials are also available. No asbestos is used in chamber construction.

Altitude chambers add pressure reinforcement to either the inner or outer enclosure in accordance with Section VIII (Unfired Pressure Vessels) of the ASME Code. No ASME Stamp is applied, since pressure is less than 15 psid. Hyperbaric chambers (altitude above local atmospheric pressure) include special latches and hinges on all doors and pressure interlocks to prevent opening under positive pressure.

Interior chamber baffles are made from 300 Series stainless steel attached to welded supports and interior structures. Access ports are continuously welded to the inner liner and vapor sealed. When temperatures below -70 C or above +90 C are required, integral construction is needed to withstand the high stresses imposed by interior expansion and contraction.

An integral chamber is always stronger and more rigid than a prefabricated chamber. When rapid temperature cycling is needed, we recommend an integrally welded system.

Integral chambers are available with all of the optional equipment offered on our standard F, FNR, FHC (Temperature), FW (Temperature/Humidity), and A, AF, AFW (Temperature/Humidity/Altitude) series of environmental chambers. In addition, secondary man access doors, air lock compartments, interior lighting systems, sprinkler provisions, ramps, and sliding doors are available. Please see the available accessories below.

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Conditioning

As a system increases in workspace size, the internal air flow pattern selected becomes progressively more important.

How effectively a product tracks internal chamber conditions is a function of air temperature uniformity, air flow volume, air velocity uniformity, and test item configuration. The heat transfer rate on the surface of a test object varies with the temperature difference between the air and the object, the ambient air or nitrogen pressure, and the average flow rate over the surface of the object. A detailed discussion of the available choices is offered by clicking on the "FL-Air" graphic.

Similarly, there are also a large number of possible cooling systems offered. A detailed discussion of the standard systems available can be reviewed by clicking on the "FL-Cool" graphic.

Heating systems are usually fast response, low watt density open type heaters located behind a radiation baffle. The heaters are protected by a factory preset high temperature safety thermostat interlocked with a separate power interrupting contactor. If a chiller is selected, the heating system is sometimes incorporated directly in the circulating fluid loop.

When humidity control is specified, there are many conditioning choices that can be made. A detailed discussion of the more usual available systems can be reviewed by clicking of the "FL-RH" graphic at left.

Altitude system options are discussed in detail in our AF Bulletin available by clicking here. This bulletin covers our Altitude, Temperature/Altitude, and Temperature/Humidity/Altitude Chambers. The document is 8 pages and a 643 KB download. This information is also discussed on our Altitude Chamber Page, our Temperature/Altitude Chamber Page, and our Temperature/Altitude/Humidity Chamber Page on this web site.

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Safety Systems and Electrical Wiring

All systems have numerous safety and reliability protection systems for dependable operation. All electrical wiring meets the United States National Electric Code. UL and CSA approved components are used where possible.

A Bemco walk-in integral Temperature/Humidity/Altitude chamber under test, with a man access door and a full opening front door in the process of installation is shown.

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Optional Accessories

All of the optional systems normally available on Bemco F, FNR, FHC (Temperature), FW (Temperature/Humidity), and A, AF, AFW (Temperature/Humidity/Altitude) series environmental chambers can be installed on Bemco Integral Chambers.

A partial list of additional options that are available on integral chambers include:

• Internal lights with both interior and exterior vapor proof switches. Fluorescent lights are available for operation between -20 C and +70 C.
• A secondary man access door or an entry airlock.
• Very large windows for viewing chamber contents. Maximum size available varies with environmental conditions.
• Ramps for loading the chamber with carts.
• Solar simulation light banks and ceiling mounted arrays.
• Cantilever adjustable stainless steel or aluminum shelving.
• Door interior or exterior kick plates and wall protection rails to limit damage from carts.
• Floor grates of galvanized, aluminum, or stainless steel diamond plate to resist high point loads.
• Outside air injection systems for man rated chamber systems including dehumidification processing where applicable.
• Inside electrical outlets and electrical, pneumatic, vacuum line, or fluid fixturing.
• Sprinkler system provisions for sprinkler equipment installation by others.
• Gas, oxygen, and contaminate instrument sensing and alarm systems for operator or process safety.
• Filtration, including pre-filters and HEPA filters in the circulating air.
• Backup refrigeration systems with automatic switch-over.
• Very high volume air circulation systems and nozzles for wind speed simulation.
• Chamber personnel, airflow, humidity, pressure, temperature, outside air, and process alarms.
• Stainless steel exterior construction.
• Programmable logic control of test processes. Bemco recommends Allen Bradley (ABB) PLC’s and software.
• Touch screen HMI’s (human machine interfaces).
• For systems with temperature ranges between -20 and 94 C, glass doors on one or more walls with shelf standards or card cage rails directly behind the doors. See Bemco’s KD brochure for additional details.

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Available Literature Includes:

Bemco FL Series Walkin Integral and Modular Rooms. Temperature, humidity and altitude, integrally constructed and prefabricated walk-in environmental test equipment, drive-in room, and environmental test facilities from 6 feet by 6 feet by 7 feet to large building sized systems. Document is 8 pages, 674 KB download.

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High vacuum, thermal vacuum, and space simulation walk-ins are also available. Please see our AH page on this Web Site. The systems described above are our Standard Models. We make custom equipment to your specifications.  If you have any questions, need assistance in preparing a specification, or have a technical problem you want help with, we are ready.  Our quotations and advice are free.