Understanding the Factors That Affect Hyperbaric Chamber Cost

If you’re interested in wellness, chances are you’ve heard of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Elite athletes—from UFC champions to NFL quarterbacks—use it to enhance performance and hasten recovery.

But you might be wondering: How much would it cost to install a hyperbaric chamber in my home gym or wellness facility?

Hyperbaric oxygen chambers cost a lot. A basic, soft-shelled chamber, for example, can start at about $5,000, while hard-shelled chambers can cost upwards of $50,000 or more. Multi-place chambers, which are often installed in large healthcare facilities, cost nearly $1 million.

Ultimately, the cost of a hyperbaric chamber is dependent on two factors: The type of chamber (mono-place vs multi-place) and its construction. However, installation costs, operating expenses, and regulations may also affect costs in the long term.

Most consumers and wellness clinics opt for mono-place chambers. And they choose between a soft-shelled (cheaper) or hard-shelled hyperbaric chamber. These are the most common type available, and their costs can range from $5,000 to $150,000.

In other words, hyperbaric oxygen chamber costs can range wildly. This guide provides a closer look at these costs and offers guidance for anyone considering buying an HBOT chamber.

Types of Hyperbaric Chambers

The biggest factor affecting the cost of a hyperbaric chamber is the type. There are two main types: mono-place and multi-place hyperbaric chambers.

Both chambers serve the same purpose, but they differ in features and functionality. Here’s a closer look:

Mono-place hyperbaric chamber

• Only one person can use at a time
• Chamber walls are made from glass/metal (hard-shelled) or sturdy vinyl (soft-shelled)
• Intercom between patient and operator
• patient needs to lay down or stand
• treatment time varies between 30 and 120 minutes

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How much does mono-place HBOT chamber cost?

There are two main types of containers: Hard- and soft-shelled HBOT chambers. Soft-shelled chambers, for example, are easy to transport and are ideal for home use or in-the-field use (e.g., for treating decompression sickness at sea). Soft HBOT chambers cost $5,000–$25,000. A key disadvantage is that they offer lower pressure levels.

A hard-shelled chamber is typically constructed from durable materials. These chambers are designed for semi-permanent installations. They can cost from $35,000 to $150,000, depending on features.

Multi-place hyperbaric chamber 

• Up to 6 patients can receive treatment at a time, making it much bigger than a single place
• Usually made of steel
• Within the chamber patient may sit, stand or lay on gurneys
• Enabled with temperature control system
• Intercom between patient and operator
• Patients must wear a hood or a mask to breathe in the oxygen
• Treatment time varies as per the need

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How much does a multi-place HBOT chamber cost?

This type of chamber is very expensive, and it’s typically purchased for specialized hyperbaric clinics and hospitals. Multi-place chambers typically cost from $800,000 to $1 million.

Key Components and Features That Can Affect Costs

A basic hyperbaric chamber typically doesn’t include a lot of additional features. For example, an economical soft-shelled chamber doesn’t include air exchange cooling and may have limited safety features.

Here are some specific features that affect the cost of a hyperbaric chamber:

#1. Air Cooling

During the compression phase, the chamber’s interior temperature rises. An air-cooling system helps to maintain comfortable conditions inside the chamber during the treatment. A climatic-based system can add to the overall hyperbaric oxygen chamber cost.

#2. Control System

Any HBOT chamber uses two types of management systems: manual control or automatic control.

The former allows the operator to manage all functions through valves on the manual control panel (MCP). The latter lets the operator control therapy functions through the HMI on the automatic control panel (ACP). The more control settings there are, the higher the cost of the chamber.

#3. Monitoring systems

Hyperbaric chamber costs also increase with advanced clinical monitoring systems. This may include information on the patient’s health and recording different types of data. Infrared technology is used for transferring data. Oxygen and carbon dioxide levels are monitored in real-time.

A PLC-based SCADA system may increase the efficiency of the auto/manual option, centralized control, and report generation.

#4. Safety features

HBOT chamber price may increase based on safety aspects. Safety management and policy should follow NFPA standards to protect patients and staff from mishaps and accidents. This includes incidents, hazards, flameproof materials, and firefighting systems. These measures are essential for ensuring the safety of everyone in the facility.

Construction and Installation costs

A lot of planning goes into building or renovating a hyperbaric therapy facility. The cost of purchasing or renovating a building can range from $50,000 to $200,000 USD. The final amount will depend on factors such as the size of the building, the number of rooms, and other considerations.

First, make sure your renovation complies with building codes for hyperbaric facilities (specifically NFPA-99 2012 Edition, chapter 14 code).

Additionally, the space should be adequate to carry hyperbaric oxygen therapy without interrupting any associated functions. A medical facility should have a waiting room, changing rooms, cleaning area, storage, treatment rooms, and other important features.

The cost of a hyperbaric chamber goes up if it requires oxygen concentrators and ventilation systems for installation. These can add up to an average of $10,000 to $20,000 USD annually.

Maintenance and Operational Costs

Regular maintenance of the HBOT chamber is important to keep it working well, ensure safety, and preserve its condition.

The chamber needs annual maintenance (typically set aside 1-5% of the purchase cost for maintenance). This includes maintenance for the door, communication system, filters, timing, pressure, gurney, rail system, seal, and other important parts.

Additionally, operational costs can be significant. These costs include labor (someone to run the chamber and provide patient care), training, utilities, cleaning, and supplies.

Regulatory Compliance and Certification

HBOT clinics must undergo strict certification and regulation standards for patient safety and treatment efficiency.

Certifications for such a facility may include:

• Accreditation from Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS)
• Staff training in hyperbaric medicine
• Equipment safety, operational, and maintenance inspections

Regulations governing HBOT clinics may vary as per local and state authorities; however, they usually require medical licensing, following safe operating guidelines, and meeting fire safety protocols.

Other regulations which may or may not be required depending upon your operation location are:

• EN 14931 (Pressure vessels for human occupancy {PVHO})
• EN 16081 (Fire extinguishing systems)
• IEC EN 62304 (Medical device)
• EN ISO 14971 (Medical device: Application of risk management)
• EN ISO 13485 (Medical device: Quality management systems)
• 93/42/EEC (MDD) (Medical Device Directive)
• 97/23/EC (PED) (Pressure Equipment Directive)

Meeting these regulations may influence hyperbaric chamber cost and on the overall hyperbaric treatment facility.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

In a nutshell, hyperbaric chamber costs are significant for any clinic or HBOT therapy center. However, with careful planning and business strategy, you can make this a viable business opportunity.

A few pointers:

• Choose a reliable device manufacturer
• Although you may pay more with an established HBOT provider, they typically offer better quality standards and customer support
• Measure the demand in your area, as well as the market rate you can charge

Running an HBOT facility is more about helping people’s health and quality of life than making money. It’s a place for medical solutions and improving well-being.

Wrapping Up

Hyperbaric clinics are crucial for patients experiencing issues like decompression sickness or carbon monoxide poisoning. However, their applications have grown exponentially. Now, those interested in anti-aging and athletic performance are also seeking out these treatments.

In other words, now more than ever, clinics and fitness centers can make a more compelling ROI case for a hyperbaric chamber.

However, an HBOT chamber is a significant investment. The design, maintenance, operation, compliance, and regulatory standards are the determining factors in evaluating the cost of hyperbaric chambers.

If you weigh the costs and choose the right device type for your facility, however, you can typically recoup the cost in as little as one year if hyperbaric oxygen therapy is in high demand.