What Is Temperature & Humidity Test Chamber Used For?

If you are new to environmental reliability testing, your first question might be: What exactly is a temperature and humidity test chamber used for?

Simply put, it is a device that simultaneously controls temperature and humidity according to a programmed profile, replicating various climatic conditions – from the hot, humid tropics to the cold, dry polar regions – all inside a laboratory.

Based on TEMAK’s more than ten years of industry experience, this article breaks down the core applications of temperature and humidity test chambers.

1. Core Capabilities: More Than Just Heating & Humidifying

Many assume a test chamber simply “heats and wets” whatever is inside. In reality, its capabilities are far more sophisticated:

Simultaneous temperature & humidity control – e.g., 40°C / 95% RH for high-temperature, high-humidity storage; or 25°C / 50% RH for normal ambient conditions.

Temperature/humidity cycling – Alternating between high temperature, low temperature, and high humidity according to specified standards, such as 85°C / 85% RH for 168 hours followed by a transition to -40°C.

Rapid temperature change – Ramping up or down at rates of 3°C/min, 5°C/min, or even 15°C/min to simulate thermal shock during transport or operation.

Constant damp heat – Maintaining a stable temperature and humidity point for extended periods, used for accelerated aging or moisture absorption tests.

TEMAK chambers cover a temperature range from -70°C to +180°C and a humidity range of 5%–98% RH, meeting the requirements of most international standards.

2. Key Industries & Applications

2.1 Electronics & Electrical Components

This is the most common application. From mobile phones and laptops to home appliances, every product must prove its reliability under humid, high-temperature, and low-temperature conditions.

Typical tests: PCB insulation resistance changes in damp heat, connector corrosion resistance, LCD response times at extreme temperatures.

Common standards: IEC 60068-2-38 (combined temperature/humidity cycling), GB/T 2423.3 (constant damp heat), GB/T 2423.4 (cyclic damp heat).

TEMAK reach-in chambers are a standard fixture in electronics R&D labs. Many leading brands use TEMAK equipment for reliability validation of smartphones and communication devices.

2.2 Automotive & Components

Vehicles are driven everywhere – from 50°C desert heat to -40°C Siberian cold, and along humid coastal roads.

Typical tests: headlamp condensation, interior material aging, sensor signal drift under high humidity, battery pack damp-heat cycling.

Common standards: ISO 16750-4 (environmental testing for electrical/electronic equipment on road vehicles), VW 80000, GMW 3172.

TEMAK supplies both walk-in and reach-in chambers to major OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, with particular strength in battery pack testing integrated with charge/discharge equipment.

2.3 New Energy & Batteries

Power batteries and energy storage systems are extremely sensitive to environmental conditions. Temperature and humidity chambers verify their safety during storage, transport, and operation.

Typical tests: high-temperature storage (e.g., 60°C for 7 days), low-temperature discharge (capacity at -20°C), damp-heat cycling (e.g., monitoring voltage and temperature at 85°C / 85% RH).

Common standards: UN38.3 (transport safety), GB 38031 (safety of traction batteries for EVs), IEC 62660.

TEMAK explosion-proof humidity chambers are widely used in lithium-ion battery R&D centers, supporting external cyclers and temperature data acquisition systems.

2.4 Pharmaceutical & Medical

The stability of drugs, medical devices, and biological products directly affects patient safety. Temperature and humidity chambers are used for accelerated aging and long-term stability studies.

Typical tests: ICH Q1A long-term (25°C / 60% RH) and accelerated (40°C / 75% RH) tests, plus low-temperature storage validation for lyophilized products.

Common standards: ICH Q1A, WHO TRS 961, Chinese Pharmacopoeia Guideline 9001.

TEMAK pharmaceutical-series chambers comply with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for electronic records and signatures, ensuring full data traceability.

2.5 Aerospace & Defense

Avionics and military equipment must endure extreme temperature and humidity swings, such as icing risks at high altitude with low pressure.

Typical tests: moisture ingress, temperature-altitude combined tests, insulation performance under high humidity.

Common standards: MIL-STD-810 (environmental engineering test methods), RTCA DO-160 (airborne equipment).

TEMAK offers large walk-in chambers that can be customized to meet military standards, supporting ramp-rate control and multi-point sensor layouts.

3. What Defects Can You Uncover with a Test Chamber?

Systematic temperature and humidity testing helps manufacturers identify potential issues before they reach the customer:

Material defects: plastic embrittlement, rubber hardening, coating blistering or peeling.

Electrical issues: reduced insulation resistance, short circuits, signal noise, contact failures.

Mechanical problems: binding or seal leakage caused by differential thermal expansion of materials.

Chemical failures: metal corrosion, electrolyte leakage, current leakage due to moisture absorption by flux residues.

Testing in a TEMAK chamber effectively accelerates years of environmental stress into just a few weeks.

4. How to Choose the Right Chamber

When selecting a test chamber, first clarify the following:

1. Maximum sample size – Determines whether you need a reach-in or a walk-in chamber.

2. Required temperature & humidity range – For general electronics, -40°C to +150°C is sufficient; some military applications require -70°C.

3. Humidity demands – Do you need low-humidity (<10% RH) or sustained high-humidity (>95% RH) operation?

4. Temperature change rate – 1–3°C/min is adequate for most storage tests; fast-change tests may need 5°C/min or more.

5. Live load – If the test sample generates significant heat, the chamber must have extra refrigeration capacity to maintain uniformity.

TEMAK offers temperature and humidity test chambers in a wide range of sizes and supports full equipment customization. Our free pre-sales consulting service helps you find the most economical and reliable solution – just provide your sample dimensions, test standards, and load conditions.

A temperature and humidity test chamber essentially brings outdoor weather into the laboratory, allowing products to undergo rigorous environmental stress long before they reach the market.

From a tiny capacitor inside a smartphone to an entire electric vehicle battery pack, all rely on test chambers to prove their reliability and safety. A good chamber requires not only precise control but also long-term operational stability and excellent after-sales support – exactly what TEMAK strives to deliver.

If you are considering introducing a temperature and humidity test chamber, or have questions about your existing equipment, please contact the TEMAK technical team. We will guide you from “what tests do I need?” all the way to “how do I run them efficiently?” 

You can learn more about other environmental test chambers from our past articles.Such as：What is a Salt Spray Test Chamber Used For? What's Environmental Stress Screening ? What is Rapid-rate Temperature Change Test Chambers for?