Walk-in Modular Chambers

Prefabricated chambers, rooms, and drive-in facilities, 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 restricted access to the final assembly location or when initial cost is an important consideration.

We manufacture a complete line of both prefabricated modular chambers, assembled from sectional panels on site, and welded integral chambers discussed on a separate web page on this site. Integral chambers are factory preassembled and made in one to six pieces for permanent installation at your facility. Individual piece size is limited by USA over-road shipping constraints. Very large systems can be fabricated. Information on our Integral Chambers can be viewed here.

Limited by the ability of urethane foam to withstand the desired environment, our FL-M Series of Modular Prefabricated Chambers are able to meet all of the specifications presented in our technical bulletins on our standard F, FNR, FHC (Temperature) and FW (Temperature-Humidity) series of environmental chambers. Custom and unusual combinations of environments are also available including, rain, solar, wind, sound, and many others. Modular chambers are not available for altitude or vacuum testing due to the requirement for wall reinforcement. They can be used as the outer thermal shield to prevent surface condensation on thermal shrouds cooled by Bemco PCL-V, Fluid Chillers or Bemco HPG, High Pressure Gas Conditioners and they can serve as a thermal enclosure for Bemco PTS-III Portable Temperature Servo Conditioners.

Modular construction is often used for drive-in rooms intended for testing automobiles. These facilities can include dynamometers, wind simulation, air nozzles, bypass air systems, product monitoring systems, sprinklers, high volume desiccant dried outside air supplies, and advanced instrumentation systems. Modular systems are also sometimes selected for multi-chamber calorimeter testing of air conditioning systems and air circulation devices.

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Construction

Bemco modular prefabricated chambers are assembled from sectional panels using metal inner and outer skins bonded to a core of rigid polyurethane insulation. At least three heavy duty cam-action locks are provided on each side panel.

Chamber size is unlimited, however, exact room dimensions must conform with the sectional panel sizes offered. These panels come in 11-1/2”, 23”, and 46” standard widths in various heights. Rooms can be constructed as large as needed and can include partitions and antechambers.

Standard chamber access doors include a heated frame, a window, and an in-fitting or flush main door to positively seal the workspace. Large equipment loading doors are constructed by Bemco using integral welded chamber construction techniques to maintain alignment and structural rigidity.

Chamber wall interior and exterior surfaces can be made in any combination (one per side) of bright galvanized steel, stucco embossed aluminum, 300 Series stainless steel, or white baked enamel on steel. Chamber floors are reinforced to withstand a minimum of 500 pounds per square foot. Higher ratings are available. Floors, made from heavier gauge materials, can be made from galvanized steel, smooth aluminum or 300 Series stainless steel. Insulation is offered in 3”, 4”, 5” and 6” thicknesses of foamed in place urethane foam. We normally select the most suitable thickness unless you specify a preference.

Chamber floors can be furnished for installation in a depression so that they are flush to your building floor. FL-M chambers can also be fabricated without floors for installation on your smooth, sealed concrete, surface when specified internal conditions allow. In addition, floors can be installed over pits (for use with a dynamometer for instance) and can be fabricated using Bemco FL-I Integral Chamber construction techniques or built-up from high density foam materials to support very large point or average loads.

Conditioning systems, including the air circulation, local refrigeration equipment, heat exchangers, heaters, electrical apparatus, baffles and process controls are commonly factory pre-assembled to one or more of the chamber’s wall panels and shipped as a convenient, ready to install on site assembly. An example is shown above.

These chambers can be erected by a local industrial air conditioning contractor you select, or by Bemco’s skilled field installation and service technicians.

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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 of 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 available systems can be reviewed by clicking of the "FL-RH" graphic at left.

Altitude systems are only available with Integral Walk-in Rooms. Click here to move to the page that discusses these systems.

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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 prefabricated modular chamber under test, with the stainless steel exterior paper wrapped to protect the surface for shipping is shown.

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Optional Accessories

Most of the optional systems available on Bemco F, FNR, FHC (Temperature), and FW (Temperature/Humidity) series environmental chambers can be installed on the Bemco FL-M Prefabricated Walk-in Chambers.

A partial list of additional options that are available on both integral and prefabricated 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.
• Reinforced floors for vehicles.
• 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.
• Two and four wheel dynamometers for measuring vehicle performance.
• Pits for installation of test machinery beneath the chamber floor.
• Data acquisition equipment for monitoring product or process conditions.
• Calorimeter configurations and accessories for measuring heat exchanger or compressor performance.
• 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 KDR 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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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.