Hard-shell or soft-shell hyperbaric chamber: how they differ and which one your venue needs
It is the first question any venue asks when it starts considering hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and it is almost always answered backwards: pick the type of chamber first, then check whether it fits the room and the service. This guide goes the other way round.
The underlying difference is working pressure
Hyperbaric chambers are described by their working pressure, measured in ATA (atmospheres absolute). One ATA is the pressure at sea level, so 1.5 ATA is one and a half times that.
In our catalogue the soft-shell chambers run at 1.5 ATA, except the wheelchair-access model, which runs at 1.3 ATA. The aluminium-alloy hard-shell chamber runs at 2.0 ATA.
That difference is not about finish or tier: a flexible envelope cannot contain the same pressure as an aluminium structure. The material sets the pressure ceiling, and almost every other difference follows from that ceiling.
Side by side
| Soft-shell | Hard-shell | |
|---|---|---|
| Working pressure | 1.3 – 1.5 ATA | Up to 2.0 ATA |
| Structure | Flexible envelope | Aluminium alloy |
| Siting | Demountable by construction | Installed once |
| Capacity | 1 person, and 2 in the OLV-RD02 pod | 1 person (OLV-YTD04) or 2 (OLV-YZM02) |
| Positions | Lying, sitting, mixed, pod and wheelchair access | Lying, or two seated places |
| Unit weight | Ask per model | 120 kg on the OLV-YTD04 |
| Models in catalogue | 6 | 2 |
What changes in your premises
The measurement we have confirmed from the manufacturer is for the soft-shell OLV-RZT02: 200 × 60 × 115 cm. It works as an order of magnitude to judge whether a room is big enough, but it does not replace the data sheet for the specific model.
On the hard-shell, the figure that matters is weight: the OLV-YTD04 is 120 kg of equipment, not counting the person using it or any ancillary kit. If it is going anywhere other than the ground floor, that gets checked before purchase.
We send you the measurements for the other models in writing before any order. We do not publish them from memory: on equipment that people get inside, an approximate figure is not a detail.
Which one suits which kind of venue
In a hotel or a spa the unit usually shares a room with other services. There, being demountable counts: today's location does not have to be the one two seasons from now.
In a clinic or a sports performance centre the unit usually has its own room and continuous use. There, the fixed structure and the higher working pressure count for more than the ability to move it.
And one warning we would rather give before selling anything: the pressure your service needs is not decided by the budget. As soon as the use stops being general wellness and moves into clinical territory, the indication, the pressure and the protocol are set by a healthcare professional, and the installation falls under whatever regulation applies to it. If your project is heading that way, that is the first thing to settle — ahead of the model.
The models in the catalogue
Eight models, with their working pressure and use position. The codes are the manufacturer's, so you can use them to compare against any other quote you are looking at.
- OLV-RT01 — soft-shell, 1.5 ATA, 1 person, lying
- OLV-RZ01 — soft-shell, 1.5 ATA, 1 person, sitting
- OLV-RZT01 — soft-shell, 1.5 ATA, 1 person, lying and sitting
- OLV-RZT02 — soft-shell, 1.5 ATA, 1 person, sitting and lying, 200 × 60 × 115 cm
- OLV-RD02 — soft-shell, 1.5 ATA, 2-person pod
- OLV-RW01 — soft-shell, 1.3 ATA, 1 person, wheelchair access
- OLV-YTD04 — aluminium hard-shell, 2.0 ATA, 1 person, lying, 120 kg
- OLV-YZM02 — hard-shell, 2 seated places (working pressure still to be confirmed with the manufacturer)
Frequently asked questions
How many ATA do I need?
It depends on the intended use, and as soon as there is a clinical indication it is a decision for a healthcare professional, not for the supplier. What we can tell you is the working pressure of each model: between 1.3 and 1.5 ATA on the soft-shells and up to 2.0 ATA on the aluminium hard-shell.
Is a soft-shell chamber lower quality than a hard-shell?
No: it is a different piece of equipment. The flexible envelope limits the working pressure and, in exchange, gives you a demountable structure. Which is better depends on what you intend to use it for and where you intend to put it.
How many people fit inside?
It depends on the model. Six of the eight models in the catalogue are single-person; the soft-shell OLV-RD02 pod and the seated hard-shell OLV-YZM02 take two.
Is there a model with wheelchair access?
Yes, the OLV-RW01, which runs at 1.3 ATA and is designed specifically for that access.
Shall we look at your actual space?
Tell us the floor area, the storey and the intended use, and we will tell you what fits and what does not. No commitment, and a reply from a person rather than a form.
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