IECEE OD 5015

Edition 1.0 2024-06-26

IECEE
OPERATIONAL DOCUMENT

IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment

and Components (IECEE System)

Committee of Testing Laboratories (CTL)

Test Chamber Calibration and Verification

IECEE OD 5015:2024-06(en)
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CONTENTS
CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................ - 2 -
FOREWORD ...................................................................................................................... - 3 -
1 Purpose ...................................................................................................................... - 4 -
2 Scope ......................................................................................................................... - 4 -
3 Normative References ................................................................................................ - 4 -
4 Definitions ................................................................................................................... - 4 -
5 Responsibility of the laboratory ................................................................................... - 5 -
6 Requirements ............................................................................................................. - 5 -
7 Test Chamber Verification ........................................................................................... - 5 -
8 Calibration of Measurement and Indicating Equipment ................................................ - 6 -
9 Measurement Uncertainty ........................................................................................... - 6 -
10 Verification and Calibration Intervals ........................................................................... - 6 -
11 Interim Verification ...................................................................................................... - 7 -

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FOREWORD

Document Owner: CTL WG1 “Metrology and Accuracy/Uncertainty”

Effective date: 2025-01-01

History of changes

Date Brief summary of changes

2025-01-01 This first edition replaces the GD 5015 ed.1.0

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1 Purpose
The purpose of this document is to provide clarification for the calibration and verification of performance
specifications for temperature / humidity (test) chambers.

2 Scope
This Operational Document provides clarification when the test standard does not provide criteria for
verification of test chamber performance specifications and provides clarification on the verification and
calibration intervals.

3 Normative References
The following publication contains provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute modification
or additions of this Operational Document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

ISO/IEC 17025:2017 General requirements for the competence of testing and

calibration laboratories

IEC 60068-1 Environmental testing – Part 1: General and guidance

[without normative references]

IEC 60068-3-5 Environmental testing – Part 2-2: Tests – Test B: Dry heat
[without normative references]

IEC 60068-3-6 Supporting documentation and guidance - Confirmation of

the performance of temperature/humidity chambers [without
normative references]

IEC 60068-3-7 Supporting documentation and guidance – Measurements

in temperature chambers for tests A and B (with load)
[without normative references]

IEC 60068-3-11 Environmental testing – Part 3-11: Supporting

documentation and guidance – Calculation of uncertainty of
conditions in climatic test chambers [without normative references]

EURAMET Guide n°20 Guidelines on the calibration of Temperature and/or

Humidity controlled Enclosures

4 Definitions
For the purpose of this publication, the definitions of IECEE Definitions apply with the following additions:

4.1 Test Chamber – enclosure or space in some part of which the specified conditions can be
achieved.
[SOURCE: IEC 60068-1:2013, 3.12 ]

4.2 Working space - part of the chamber in which the specified conditions can be maintained within
the specified tolerances
[SOURCE: IEC 60068-1:2013, 3.13 ]

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4.3 Calibration (C) - metrological traceability of measuring equipment by means of an unbroken chain
of calibrations or comparisons linking them to relevant primary standards of the SI units of
measurement.

4.4 Verification (Z) – characterization of the working space of a test chamber using 9 or 15 sensors
and related calibrated measuring equipment as specified by IEC 60068-3-5 or IEC 60068-3-6.

4.5 Interim Verification (v) – confirmation of the chamber working space conditions through
measurement of temperature and humidity at a designated location in the working space of the test
chamber utilizing calibrated equipment.

5 Responsibility of the laboratory

The Laboratory is to assure proper selection of test equipment in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017
subclause 6.4.1:
“The laboratory shall have access to equipment (including but not limited to, measuring instruments,
software, measurement standards, reference materials, reference data, reagents, consumables or
auxiliary apparatus) that is required for the correct performance of laboratory activities and that can
influence the results.”

and subclause 6.4.4:

“The laboratory shall verify that equipment conforms to specified requirements before being placed or
returned to service.”

From these inferences, test chamber working space conditions are verified. Related measurement and
indicating equipment are calibrated.

6 Requirements
The default requirements given in this document are applied when the test standard does not provide
criteria for the verification and the intervals.

7 Test Chamber Verification

7.1 ISO/IEC 17025:2017 distinguishes between measurement equipment and other laboratory
equipment. Subclause 6.4.5 states “the equipment used for measurement shall be capable of
achieving the measurement accuracy and/or measurement uncertainty required to provide a valid
result”.

From this interference, generated conditions in a test chamber working space are not considered as
“equipment used for measurement”.

7.1.1 The environmental conditions within a test chamber working space are verified to confirm capability
to meet the environmental specifications in the test standard.

7.2 Where a verification procedure for a test chamber is not provided in the test standard, one or more
of the following documents are applied according to the intended use of the chamber:

7.2.1 Cold test chamber verification (unloaded): Apply IEC 60068-3-5. Utilize nine (9) temperature
sensors for chambers 2000 liters or less, utilize fifteen (15) sensors over 2000 liters

7.2.2 Dry heat test chamber verification (unloaded): Apply IEC 60068-3-5. Utilize nine (9) temperature
sensors for chambers 2000 liters or less, utilize fifteen (15) sensors over 2000 liters. The protocol

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for dry heat test chambers is IEC 60068-2-2 (The absolute humidity shall not exceed 20 g of water
vapour per cubic metre of air.)

7.2.3 Humidity / Temperature test chamber: Apply IEC 60068-3-6 (unloaded). Utilize nine (9) temperature
sensors for chambers 2000 liters or less, utilize fifteen (15) sensors over 2000 liters. A single
humidity and temperature sensor are positioned at the center of the working space. The relative
humidity is then calculated at each point in the working space, where a temperature sensor is
located, by using the temperature difference as indicated in 60068-3-6. If the chamber is also used
for dry heat tests, the requirements of IEC 60068-3-5 are applied.

7.2.4 For cold or dry heat tests, where verification of a test chamber with load is required: Apply IEC
60068-3-7 “Supporting documentation and guidance – Measurements in temperature chambers for
tests A and B (with load)”. The load utilized may be the intended test specimen or the artificial loads
described in IEC 60068-3-7. In accordance with paragraph 5.3.2

7.2.5 In accordance with IEC 60068-1: “Environmental testing – Part 1: General and guidance”,
consideration is given for specimens that are heat dissipating and non-heat dissipating.
Additionally, Clause 8 states that the test specification shall determine whether the specimen is to
be energized: “Application of tests - General guidance on environmental testing is given in Annex B.
The relevant specification shall prescribe whether tests are to be carried out on specimens in the
“energized” or “non-energized” condition”.

8 Calibration of Measurement and Indicating Equipment

8.1 Calibration is performed on test chamber measurement and indicating equipment which monitors
conditions within the chamber working space. Equipment which is used for the verification of the
working space has also be calibrated. Refer to OD 5011 regarding traceable calibrations and
calibration intervals for equipment.
Note: the accuracy of a humidity sensor used for verification of a climate chamber working space
should be equal to, or better than, the tolerance of the test chamber set point according to the
relevant part of IEC 60068 series.

8.2 Calibration of measurement and indicating equipment may also be achieved using the
characterization method with the 9 temperature sensors and the single humidity sensor in the center
of the chamber, by determination of the deviation between the indication of the display values of the
chamber and the corresponding values measured in the chamber, as defined by EURAMET
Calibration Guide N°20.

9 Measurement Uncertainty
IEC 60068-3-6 specifies the determination of measurement uncertainty for the system used to verify the
working space of climate chambers.
NOTE: IEC 60068-3-11 provides guidance for analyzing uncertainties of temperature and humidity in
climatic test chambers. For purposes of this document, the indication in IEC 60068-3-11 to ‘calibrate’ the
working space of a chamber is considered the verification of the working space environmental conditions.

10 Verification and Calibration Intervals

10.1 Verification of the chamber working space conditions and the calibration of the chamber
measurement and indicating equipment is performed at intervals to assure the required performance
of the chamber. Interval extensions are permitted where objective evidence supports that the
chamber will continue to perform to the requirements throughout the extended interval.

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10.2 Initially, calibration (C) of the measurement equipment is performed. Following this calibration
activity, a full verification (Z) using a 9 (or 15) point verification to determine characteristics of the
chamber environment is performed. After a 12-month period, the calibration (C) and verification (Z)
are repeated for comparison to the initial data. The interval for chamber measurement equipment
calibration (C) may be extended if supporting data indicates longer intervals are appropriate.

10.3 Following any modifications or repairs, a verification (Z) according to IEC 60068-3-5 or IEC 60068-
3-6, is performed before recommissioning the chamber. This includes but is not limited to cooling /
heating system repairs, ventilation system repairs or alterations, door seal replacement or similar
repairs to the chamber enclosure.

10.4 Intervals for calibration (C) and full verification (Z) are independent events that are applied following
the initial calibration and verification of the chamber. The intervals for measurement equipment
calibration are given in OD5011.

10.5 The verification interval is to be appropriate to assure that the performance requirements for the
working space remain within the manufacturer’s specifications.

10.6 Examples of verification and calibration intervals are shown in Table 1.

11 Interim Verification
11.1 Climate chamber interim verification (v) may be performed with a single RH probe and single
temperature sensor at a designated location in the working space. Interim verification using a single
point is only valid if requirements of Section 10 have been met and no modifications or repairs have
been made to the chamber working space or the chamber measurement equipment / control
equipment. If not permanently mounted, the location of the single sensors is identified to permit
correct placement when performing future interim verifications (v).

11.2 In order for the chamber measurement equipment and sensors to be utilized for a single point interim
verification (v), a full verification (Z) is first- performed to determine correlation between readings at
the location of the single point sensors and readings at other sensor locations within the chamber
working space.

11.3 The measurement equipment provided with the test chamber may be utilized for the single point
interim verification providing the equipment and related sensor calibrations are traceable to SI units
in accordance with ISO / IEC 17025.

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Table 1 – Examples of verification and calibration intervals

C = Calibration Z = Full 9 or 15 point verification v = 1 point interim verification = 3 month period

C = annual calibration (C) of measuring
CZ CZ CZ CZ CZ equipment, (Z) = chamber working space full
CZ…….etc. verification using 9 or 15 temperature
sensors. Refer to 10.2 -10.4
CZ C v CZ C Extension of calibration (C) to 18-months,
v single point interim verification (v) every 24
month. Refer to 10.2 – 10.4 and 11.0
CZ v Cv CZ v Extension of calibration (C) to 24-months,
Cv CZ single point interim verification (v) every 12
month. Refer to 10.2 – 10.4 and 11.0
Extension of calibration (C) to 36-months,
CZ CZ
extension of full verification (Z) to 36-
CZ
months. Refer to 10.2 – 10.4.

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ELECTROTECHNICAL SCHEMES FOR ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION EQUIPMENT AND COMPONENTS (IECEE SYSTEM)

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