6 important points customers should consider when buying a climate chamber (Accelerated stability test chamber) – Point 5
Continuous and smooth operation of climate chambers (accelerated aging chambers) is a prerequisite for conducting long-term product stability testing in accordance with ICH guidelines, or real-time sample testing over months or years.
Which technical solutions today can ensure the reliability of climate chambers during continuous operation?
Which factors should you pay special attention to, and what are the advantages and disadvantages?
This guide provides answers for users through the following 6 topics:
- Climatic zone
- Airflow
- Water for humidifier
- Light
- Continuous operation
- Programming and documentation
Point 5: Continuous operation
Climate chambers must be made from reliable components with high durability. Quality materials and advanced technology are decisive for precise and stable climatic parameters.
The light source and lighting in the climate chamber are precisely calculated per unit of time according to the photostability test method of the ICH Q1B standard. Visible light (VIS according to ISO 10977 (1993)) must achieve an exposure time of at least 1.2 million lux hours, and near-ultraviolet (320nm to 400nm) must achieve at least 200 Wh/m2
4 factors affecting the durability of a climate chamber (accelerated stability test chamber):
- For long-term climate testing, components inside the chamber must be made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel as much as possible, for example, material no. 1.4201 or 1.4501. This applies not only to the test chamber and shelves, but also to the heat exchanger. It is even better if the connection points to the refrigeration circuit are also made of stainless steel to eliminate electrochemical corrosion.
- The door gasket will help minimize unwanted influences on the climate inside the chamber to a minimum and ensure the successful completion of long-term tests with maximum reliability.
- BINDER humidification systems have a proven long service life, with an extremely low failure rate of less than 1% during the first 5 years of operation.
- The maximum load of the climate chamber (KBF 1020) with 4 shelves can reach up to 280kg, equivalent to 70kg per tray (much higher than the published loading capacity).
