BS-04 – single-sided UV irradiation of large samples
The UV test chamber BS-04 is a large, robust chamber for the time- or dose-controlled irradiation of samples with UV light. The chamber can be fully equipped for one of the spectral regions UV-C, UV-B, or UV-A to achieve the highest irradiance – 12 mW/cm² in UVC, 5 mW/cm² in UVB, 8 mW/cm² in UVA and 10 mW/cm² in UVA+. Alternately, the use of two separately controlled lamp groups for different spectral regions allows for especially flexible operation of the chamber.
The interior irradiation chamber has a base area of 86 × 65 cm² and a height of 32 cm. The sliding sample carrier facilitates loading and unloading. The carrier supports loads of up to 20 kg. The sample chamber operating temperature is about 25 °C so that thermal damage to the specimen is avoided. Due to the high uniformity of the irradiation, the samples may be positioned in any order.
The BS-04 can be equipped with two irradiation controls: the UV-MAT and the UV-MAT Touch. Both controllers regulate two spectral ranges independently of each other and ensure a constant dose despite lamp ageing, contamination or temperature changes. Calibrated sensors measure the dose precisely as they contain an accurate analog-to-digital converter and an integrated temperature sensor.
The UV-MAT Touch is operated via a high-resolution capacitive touchscreen. A powerful Cortex ARM processor ensures longevity and enables on-site updates. The device and the PC software are compatible with Windows 10/11. The display of numerical and graphical single and multi-channel irradiations, oscillograms and settings is clearly laid out. Parameterization is intuitive and password-protected directly on the UV-MAT Touch.
The optional PC control of the UV-MAT Touch enables multi-stage irradiation and comprehensive irradiation documentation.
Calculate irradiance and dose of the BS-04
Set up the BS-04 virtually in advance:
Calculate irradiance, uniformity and exposure time for UVA, UVB and UVC.
Calculate the UV dose of the BS-04 before material testing
For material testing with several samples per batch, the UV irradiation chamber simulator shows how uniformly the BS-04 illuminates its 78 × 60 cm sample tray. Irradiance and dose can be compared for UVA, UVA+, UVB and UVC and documented as a simulation report.
The chambers of the BS series are fitted with the same fluorescent lamp types. The spectra shown therefore apply unchanged to the other models – the chambers differ in interior size and number of lamps, and hence in irradiance, not in spectral distribution. The BS-04 irradiates an interior of 86 × 65 × 32 cm from one side with 20 lamps; the irradiance it reaches is given in the technical data below.
Equipment in detail
The BS-04 is modular as well and thus suited to different applications. The following functions are always included:
  | Dose control The irradiance is measured continuously; the UV-MAT ends the irradiation once the set target dose is reached. The UV-MAT Touch offers the same functions but simplifies operation and documentation. |
 | Sensors Suitable materials give the sensors excellent long-term stability. They are traceably calibrated, can be recalibrated and are supplied with a factory or ISO 17025 calibration certificate. Sensors in IP65 as well as further measuring and spectral ranges are available on request. |
 Similar to illustration | Sensor holder The sensor holder fixes two radiometer sensors at the side of the chamber. For measurements on the sample the sensors can be removed, so that the irradiance can be determined at the required position. The UV-MAT can be adjusted to this by a factor. |
 | Control and dimming Two lamp groups can be controlled and dimmed separately - for example four UVA and four UVB lamps. Dimming reduces the irradiance to about 30 %. |
 | Lamps The fluorescent lamps can be changed without tools. We supply the matching lamps for different applications: UVA-352 for UV ageing in indoor applications, UVB lamps for accelerated outdoor applications, UVC for UV disinfection. |
 | Timer As an alternative to dose control the UV-MAT offers an adjustable timer for time-controlled irradiations between 1 s and 999 days. |
 | Irradiation records Irradiations can be recorded with a PC. The UV-MAT Touch also records them to a USB stick without a PC. |
Options
The irradiation chambers can be equipped with different options. In laboratory applications - cell and virus irradiation, for instance - the UV-MAT Touch dose control and attenuators are often combined to achieve a very uniform and reproducible irradiation. For medical applications it is above all the irradiation documentation, kept automatically by the remote control, that matters.
 | Attenuation Attenuators reduce the irradiance to about 30 %. We offer surface attenuators and lamp attenuators - used for example when irradiating cell cultures. |
 | Inert gas box The removable inert gas boxes allow work under inert conditions. Separate gas inlets and outlets make it possible to measure the O₂ concentration at the gas outlet. Available with a top window of high-quality glass for UVA and VIS irradiation or of UV quartz glass for UVB and UVC irradiation. |
 | PC software for the UV-MAT Touch Complex, multi-stage irradiations - for example a pre-irradiation with UVA at low irradiance followed by a high-intensity UVC irradiation - can be parameterised with the remote control option. Up to 30 dose- or time-controlled steps and pauses are possible. At the same time the irradiation is logged and stored on the PC. |
Applications of UV test chamber BS-04
- Irradiation of bacteria and cell cultures
- Photo stability testing
- UV and daylight materials testing
- UV curing, sealing, and bonding
- Irradiation with UVA-352 / UVB-313
Specifications UV test chamber BS-04
| Interior chamber | 86 × 65 × 32 cm |
| Sliding sample carrier | 78 × 60 cm |
| Dimensions | 95 × 73 × 70 cm |
| Weight | ~ 80 kg |
| Power consumption | 400 W |
| Mains | 110–230 V, 50/60 Hz |
| Number of lamps | 20 |
| Sample temperature | 25 °C ± 5 °C |
| Spectra ranges | 2 |
| Irradiance UVA | 8 mW/cm² |
| Irradiance UVA+ | 10 mW/cm² |
| Irradiance UVB | 5 mW/cm² |
| Irradiance UVC | 12 mW/cm² |
| Lamp lifetime UVA | up to 4.000 h |
| Lamp lifetime UVB | up to 4.000 h |
| Lamp lifetime UVC | up to 9.000 h |
| Operating temperature | 10 to 40 °C |
| Humidity | < 80%, non-condensing |
Material testing in the UV test chamber: flat samples and components
The BS-04 is the chamber for cases where the sample does not fit in the hand: sheets, films, panels, assembled components. The sample tray measures 78 × 60 cm and irradiation is from one side – which is exactly the right geometry for material testing, because a component in service also receives radiation from above only.
What is tested is what UV radiation does to the material: yellowing, chalking, embrittlement, loss of impact strength, colour deviation. The run ends at a dose reached, not after a number of days – the UV-MAT control runs it dose-controlled, which makes two tests months apart comparable.
Where both sides must be irradiated, or liquid samples are involved, the BS-05 is the matching chamber; for several smaller samples per batch, the BS-03. What physically happens during UV ageing of plastics is set out under UV ageing and colour fastness.
The two irradiation controls compared
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | capacitive touch display | monochrome, 128 x 64 px |
| Memory | USB stick | – |
| Number of channels | 2 | 2 |
| Irradiance, dose and temperature measurement | yes | yes |
| Time- and dose-controlled irradiations | yes | yes |
| Recording of measurements | yes | – |
| Oscilloscope view | yes | – |
| Screenshots can be saved to a USB stick | yes | – |
| Pausing and restarting irradiations | yes | – |
| Adding notes and comments to an irradiation | yes | – |
| Remote control from a PC | yes | – |
| Irradiation records | on a USB stick | on the PC |
| User management and admin mode | yes | – |
| Simple firmware upgrades | yes | yes |
Both controls use the same sensors, so one sensor can be used with either device.
Order numbers, scope of delivery, accessories and versions
| Version | Order number |
|---|---|
| BS-04 | 860904 |
The chamber is supplied with lamps, sensor holder and control unit. Please state the required spectral ranges when ordering.
| Version | Order number |
|---|---|
| UV-MAT Touch | 820930 |
| UV-MAT | 820920 |
The chamber is operated by the UV-MAT - either as the UV-MAT with a graphic display or as the UV-MAT Touch with a 5-inch touch display and oscilloscope view. Both measure the irradiance and switch off under dose control.
| Designation | Order number |
|---|---|
| PC software for the UV-MAT Touch | 860901 |
| Designation | Order number |
|---|---|
| Lamp attenuator | 870000 |
| Surface attenuator | 870001 |
| Inert gas box UVA | 86802-iA |
| Inert gas box UVC | 86802-iC |
The attenuators reduce the irradiance - either in front of individual lamps or across the whole area. The inert gas box allows irradiation under a protective atmosphere.
| Designation | Number range |
|---|---|
| Lamps and replacement lamps | 8608XX |
| Radiometer sensors | 8144XX |
Lamps and sensors carry their own number for each spectral range, so the data sheet gives the number range only. You will find the sensors under radiometer sensors. Please talk to us about the right configuration.
| Service | Order number |
|---|---|
| Factory calibration | 710000 |
| ISO 17025 calibration | 17025 |
Accredited calibration to ISO/IEC 17025 in our own calibration laboratory. Calibrations are available as factory and as ISO 17025 calibration and are traceable to PTB standards.
