Vestibule Enhances RF Isolation, Provides Continuous Shielded Environment
April 1, 2013. Select-A-Shield RF EMI Shielded tents are used for applications ranging from precompliance testing to secure communications. To assure shielding effectiveness during entry and exit, Select Fabricators Inc. has developed a vestibule for its Select-A-Shield walk-in enclosures. Like most enclosures any walk-in enclosure, opening the door can degrade immediate shielding effectiveness, resulting in possible data-capture compromise or data corruption. With the addition of the Select-A-Shield vestibule, which is integral to the enclosure, the shielding environment is kept intact for consistent shielding performance.
In a typical 9’ wide x 12’ length Select-A-Shield tent, the vestibule is situated in the right hand front corner. 3’ x 4’ in size, the vestibule provides entry for personnel via a separate single-door double-magnet (patent pending) closure system that opens out. The vestibule has its own separate conductive floor, door, and inner walls apart from the tent itself, which allows maximum isolation for continuous testing or examination. The door opening to the main compartment opens inwards, which makes entry and exit easier.
Select-A-Shield RF EMI shielded enclosures with vestibules typically include a white ESD liner and ventilation. “Ventilation is necessary when people occupy a RF EMI shielded tent,” stated Lynne Woodworth, chief development officer at Select, “Select’s fan and vent system is RF EMI shielded to preserve the shielding effectiveness of the structure. The white ESD liner not only protects against static, it also helps technicians read and record data against a neutral, brighter background.”
Select-A-Shield RF/EMI enclosures are constructed with RoHS compliant, durable, lightweight, silver/copper/nickel Nova Select fabric, Select’s proprietary highly conductive material. Shielding effectiveness for a vestibule measures -73 dB with both doors closed at 916 MHz. A double-wall RF EMI shielding tent with ESD liner yields an average SE of -78 dB average from 150 kHz to 18 GHz without the vestibule. “We developed this US based fabric to yield high conductivity for the widest range of applications, stated Woodworth. “We’ve done everything from die-cut parts to a shielded enclosure large enough to hold a tractor. The possibility to design shielding that assures RF EMI isolation from off-the shelf standard configurations to custom designs is what drives Select.”
Select-A-Shield RF EMI products are suitable for numerous applications including wireless device development and testing, secure communications, satellite communications testing and isolation, EMC pre-compliance, medical and aerospace equipment shielding, cellular and computer forensics, and RFID shielding for commercial and industrial settings.