Apex Hypobaric Altitude Training Chamber
A single-seat hypobaric chamber that lowers internal pressure to simulate altitudes up to 8000 metres. Apex works the opposite way to the rest of the range: instead of pressurising above sea level for oxygen therapy, it reduces pressure below it for hypoxia exposure and pre-acclimatisation.
- Negative pressure to 0.356 ATM, equivalent to 8000 metres
- 1 seat with an adjustable reclining chair
- Turbo Venturi vacuum system, 600 LPM at 46 dB
- Continuous vital-sign monitoring with tablet control inside and out
About Apex
Apex is a hypobaric chamber, not a hyperbaric one. A Turbo Venturi unit converts compressor output into vacuum and draws air out of the capsule, lowering internal pressure to as little as 0.356 ATM. That is the barometric pressure found at roughly 8000 metres. The oxygen fraction of the air does not change; what falls is the partial pressure of oxygen, which is the same mechanism that makes real altitude hard.
The chamber seats one person in an adjustable reclining chair. Session settings are controlled from a tablet, available both inside and outside the capsule, and a patient monitor tracks heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation and temperature throughout so an outside assistant can see how the occupant is responding.
Simulated altitude to 8000 metres
Negative pressure down to 0.356 ATM. Sessions are usually run as a graded ascent, holding at intermediate altitudes rather than going straight to the ceiling.
Turbo Venturi vacuum system
A 4 HP unit that converts positive compressor pressure into negative pressure, moving 600 LPM at a measured 46 decibels. It weighs 67 kg and occupies 495 × 1004 × 804 mm.
Aluminium capsule
Aluminium 5000 series construction, 2136 × 1166 × 1587 mm overall, 600 kg, with 0.9 m³ of internal volume. Minimum installation floor size is 5500 × 2800 mm.
Monitored sessions
Vital signs are tracked continuously and visible to an outside assistant. Hypoxia at simulated altitude impairs judgement before the person notices it, so an independent observer is part of the safety case rather than an accessory.
What hypoxic exposure does, and what the evidence supports
The physiology is well established. Lower oxygen partial pressure reduces arterial oxygen saturation, which stabilises hypoxia-inducible factor and increases erythropoietin production. Sustained exposure raises red cell mass. This part is not in dispute.
Performance benefit depends on the protocol and the dose. Network meta-analyses of hypoxic training rank live-high train-low and its variants highest for raising maximal aerobic capacity, because those protocols involve long daily hours of hypoxia. A 2025 umbrella review in Sports Medicine Open found intermittent hypoxia to be an effective and adaptable strategy overall, while noting that the size of the effect varies with protocol type, training status and hypoxic dose, and that the evidence for passive exposure at rest specifically is limited by study quality. Short seated sessions are the least well-evidenced end of that spectrum, so treat performance claims for them as tentative and plan the protocol with someone who knows the literature.
Pre-acclimatisation and hypoxia recognition are better supported. Staged exposure before a high-altitude expedition can reduce acute mountain sickness risk, and hypobaric chambers are long-established in aviation physiology for teaching people to recognise their own hypoxia symptoms.
Screening matters. Hypoxic exposure is not appropriate for everyone. Cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, pregnancy and some medications are relevant contraindications, and sessions should be preceded by medical screening.
Specifications
| Type | Hypobaric (negative pressure) altitude chamber |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1 person (1 seat) |
| Negative pressure | 0.356 ATM, equivalent to 8000 metres |
| Material | Aluminium 5000 series |
| Overall length | 2136 mm |
| Overall width | 1166 mm |
| Height | 1587 mm |
| Internal length | 1620 mm |
| Internal volume | 0.9 m³ |
| Weight | 600 kg |
| Minimum installation floor size | 5500 × 2800 mm |
| Turbo Venturi system | 1 unit |
|---|---|
| Venturi power | 4 HP |
| Venturi capacity | 600 LPM |
| Venturi noise level | 46 decibel |
| Venturi weight | 67 kg |
| Venturi dimensions | 495 × 1004 × 804 mm (W × L × H) |
| Patient monitoring | 1 unit, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, SpO₂, temperature |
| Control | Tablet, operable from inside and outside the chamber |
| Seating | Reclining chair with automatic position adjustment, leather finish |
Who Apex is for
Endurance and mountain athletes preparing for altitude, climbers building tolerance before an expedition, aviation and military training programmes that need hypoxia recognition, and performance centres offering supervised hypoxic training. It is a training system, not a treatment system, and it does not substitute for a hyperbaric chamber in any clinical indication.
Certifications
HPO.TECH states that its systems comply with international safety and quality standards. Apex is a hypobaric training system rather than a hyperbaric medical device, so the certification set differs from the hyperbaric chambers in the range. Nordic Welltech will confirm the exact certificates that apply to your configuration and market before order.
Request a quote for Apex
Contact us and we will come back with configuration, accessories and pricing within 24 hours.
Phone: +46 737 77 33 89 · Email: hello@nordicwelltech.com · Address: Vårbruksvägen 5, 245 43 Staffanstorp