1.3 vs 1.5 vs 2.0 ATA: Chamber Pressure Explained

What ATA is

ATA is atmospheres absolute: total pressure including the atmosphere already pressing on you at sea level. 1.0 ATA is ordinary room pressure, about 101 kPa. A chamber at 1.3 ATA adds 0.3 atmospheres; at 2.0 ATA it adds a full atmosphere on top of normal. Divers use the same scale — every 10 m of seawater is roughly one extra atmosphere.

Chamber setting	Gauge pressure added	Equivalent depth	Oxivity models
1.3 ATA	~30 kPa (4.4 psi)	~3 m of seawater	Adjustable on CUBOID (from 1.3) and ARC Seat (from 1.1)
1.5 ATA	~51 kPa (7.3 psi)	~5 m of seawater	FLOW Recline 70, FLOW Seated 80, LUME Pet 60, CUBOID 1.5 build
1.9 ATA	~91 kPa (13 psi)	~9 m of seawater	FLOW Capsule 85
2.0 ATA	~101 kPa (14.7 psi)	~10 m of seawater	CORE, LUME 75/90, ARC, CUBOID 2.0 build, NAUTIC, AURA

What changes with the number

→The vessel. Holding 1.5 ATA is possible with a fabric bag and a frame. Holding 2.0 ATA takes a rigid steel or acrylic vessel with a sealed door — which is why every 2.0 ATA model is a hard-shell and weighs 300 kg or more.
→Compression and decompression time. Reaching and leaving 2.0 ATA takes longer than 1.3, so a session at higher pressure needs a longer booking slot. Operators plan 60–90 minutes per slot on our hard-shells.
→Operator attention. At higher pressure, equalising the ears on the way down and a controlled release on the way up matter more. Operator training at handover covers this for every model.
→The room. Pressure does not change the room size, but the weight that comes with 2.0 ATA vessels does — check floor loading on upper floors.
→The paperwork. A vessel holding one atmosphere of gauge pressure can fall within pressure-equipment rules. Under the model WHS laws, some plant needs design and item registration depending on its hazard level; ask your state regulator about the specific model and setting.

Adjustable chambers

Several hard-shells are adjustable from a low setting up to their maximum: the ARC Seat series from 1.1 to 2.0 ATA in ten steps, the CUBOID series from 1.3 ATA, and the CORE, LUME and AURA series to 2.0. The setting used in any session is the operator's or practitioner's decision, not the chamber's — the equipment simply has the range.

Oxygen is a separate number

Pressure and oxygen concentration are independent specifications. Every Oxivity chamber is fed by the TRIAD engine's PSA oxygen generator at ≥93% ±3% — the same source whether the chamber is set to 1.3 or 2.0 ATA. There are no cylinders.

Not a clinical guide

This page explains the equipment. What pressure, duration or frequency is appropriate for any person is a decision for a qualified practitioner, and any therapeutic use of a chamber in Australia raises ARTG and advertising-code questions covered in the regulatory note below.

Questions people ask

Is 2.0 ATA "better" than 1.3 ATA?

That is a clinical question, not an equipment one, and Oxivity does not answer it. From an equipment point of view, 2.0 ATA needs a hard-shell, a longer session slot and a floor-loading check; 1.3–1.5 ATA can be delivered by a 30 kg soft-shell.

Can I run a 2.0 ATA chamber at a lower setting?

Yes. Most Oxivity hard-shells are adjustable; the ARC Seat runs from 1.1 ATA and the CUBOID from 1.3 ATA.

Does higher pressure use more electricity?

Marginally — the compressor works longer to reach the setting. It still runs from a standard power point on every model.

What does "±3%" on oxygen mean?

The PSA generator delivers at least 93% oxygen, varying by about three percentage points with temperature, humidity and filter condition.

Sources

Oxivity chamber specifications and list prices — All 21 models, inc GST, as published on this site
Safe Work Australia — model WHS laws and plant registration — Pressure equipment may need design and item registration depending on its hazard level
Therapeutic Goods Administration — Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods — Whether a device is a therapeutic good depends on how it is supplied and advertised

Regulatory note

Oxivity supplies hyperbaric chambers and related equipment as wellness equipment and makes no therapeutic claims for them. In Australia, a device supplied for a therapeutic purpose must be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), and advertising of therapeutic goods is governed by the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code. Whether either applies to your intended use is a question for the Therapeutic Goods Administration and your own advisers. Nothing on this page is medical, legal or financial advice. See our disclaimer.