Klimakammere

Klimakammere, the plural form of klimakammer in Norwegian, are controlled-environment chambers used to simulate a wide range of climate conditions for testing products, materials, and components. They enable researchers and manufacturers to expose samples to specified combinations of temperature, humidity, and sometimes other factors such as light or pressure, in order to assess performance, durability, and reliability.

Design and operation

Klimakammere consist of insulated enclosures equipped with heating and cooling systems, humidity control, and airflow management to ensure uniform conditions inside the chamber. They employ sensors and a programmable controller to monitor and adjust temperature, humidity, and sometimes other variables. Data logging and remote monitoring capabilities are common, allowing test parameters and results to be recorded for quality assurance and documentation. Depending on the model, climate chambers can be compact benchtop units or large walk-in rooms, and they may offer features such as rapid temperature change (thermal shock) or high/low humidity environments.

Types and applications

Common variants include humidity chambers, thermal chambers, and thermal-shock chambers. Klimakammere are used across industries, including electronics and semiconductor testing, automotive and aerospace component validation, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, food packaging, and materials research. They support product development, quality control, accelerated aging studies, and regulatory compliance by reproducing adverse or extreme environmental conditions.

Maintenance and standards

Regular calibration and validation ensure traceable accuracy of measurements. Maintenance typically covers door seals, insulation integrity, humidity sensors, and filtration for humidification systems. Klimakammere operate in accordance with applicable international standards for environmental testing and laboratory conformity, with specific guidelines depending on the sector and region.

See also: climate chamber, environmental testing.