Hyperbaric Chamber Operations and Safety
Pressure vessels and fire safety
Hyperbaric chambers are pressure vessels and should follow recognized PVHO standards, with verified relief valves, gauges, communications, and door seals. The chamber atmosphere must stay below 23.5% oxygen by volume; 100% oxygen is delivered by mask, head tent, or ventilator, not used to pressurize the room. Fire safety is central: eliminate ignition sources, control static electricity, ground equipment, avoid oil and grease, and use approved materials. Cotton is preferred; synthetics that generate static or melt are avoided.
Operations and emergencies
Compression and decompression rates must be controlled, with ventilation and CO2 scrubbing adequate to prevent CO2 buildup. An inside attendant and outside tender should maintain communication. Emergency procedures include rapid depressurization for fire, medical-lock transfer, and contingency plans for equipment failure. Traps include treating a chamber as a low-risk room, allowing personal electronics, or assuming oxygen is flammable rather than an oxidizer that intensifies combustion.
Worked example and rule of thumb
If a 10 m3 chamber is ventilated at 2 m3/min, one volume exchange takes 5 minutes; several exchanges are needed to reduce contaminants, and oxygen monitoring must be continuous. Rule: no chamber atmosphere above 23.5% oxygen, and no ignition source in an oxygen-enriched environment.