What are we talking about when referencing “horizontal” versus “vertical” autoclaves?

Horizontal autoclaves are front-loading units with a horizontal chamber. Users access the chamber from a single door on the front of the machine. For most North American users, when they picture a lab autoclave, this is the model that jumps to mind. Techs can add racks or loading trolleys to handle larger or heavier loads. A horizontal autoclave comes in benchtop or free-standing models.

Vertical autoclaves are top-loading units with a vertical, cylindrical chamber. Models used for heavier loads can be outfitted with an integrated hoist. A vertical lab autoclave is always floor-standing (apart from small, basic “stove-top” and pressure-cooker style autoclaves).

What are the Characteristics of Vertical vs. Horizontal Machines?

Footprint:

Vertical units have a much smaller footprint relative to chamber volume. Vertical autoclaves require more vertical space to open the door and for loading and unloading, but available vertical clearance is usually less precious than floorspace in labs or workspaces. In small spaces or in smaller facilities, a top-loading autoclave unit can free up space without sacrificing load capacity.

Horizontal units require more floor space for the unit itself, plus a good amount of free space in front to allow for door swing and loading/unloading.

Ergonomics and workflow:

Vertical, top-loading machines are usually loaded using wire baskets. This can be difficult, especially with heavy loads. Lifting cumbersome or bulky items into or out of a deep chamber can be awkward and challenging.

Horizontal, front-loading machines are typically easier and faster to load and unload, are best for high-volume sterilization, and are often more ergonomic for frequent use. A bench top horizontal autoclave offers easier access to the chamber.

Which Machine Best Suits Your Laboratory Sterilization Needs?

Vertical and horizontal autoclaves have key differences. Choosing the right autoclave depends on space requirements, typical load volume, and your lab’s or facility’s steam sterilization needs.

Vertical autoclaves deliver chamber capacity and ease for sterilization of taller items. A Priorclave 100L or 150L vertical autoclave will accommodate a tall vessel (either full or empty). By comparison, to sterilize a similar sized fermentor/bioreactor in a horizontal front loader, you’d need a 320L machine with a slant rack, and even then you could have issues if the vessel is holding fluid. These diagrams illustrate the available space in chambers of top-loading versus front-loading machines.

High-capacity vertical autoclaves are also popular for sanitizing waste loads. In a vertical autoclave, a user can simply drop a bag of trash into the chamber, press the start button, and walk away – it’s as easy as dropping that bag of trash into a trash bin.

Horizontal/front-loading units require more dedicated space for the unit itself, plus sufficient clearance in front to allow for door swing, loading, and unloading the sterilization chamber. Horizontal autoclaves are large as compared to vertical autoclaves, but are available in fully featured benchtop models, and offer ease for loading and unloading liquid items such as culture media.

What Key Similarities are Common to Horizontal and Vertical Priorclave Autoclaves?

Some manufacturers limit certain options and features to either their horizontal or vertical autoclaves. With Priorclaves, both horizontal and vertical autoclaves can feature:

• low loading heights
• compact designs
• modular construction for easy upgrading
• standard thermal safety locks
• vacuum assisted cooling
• programmable control
• vacuum and air-ballast/overpressure options
• dedicated media cycles

Every Priorclave autoclave comes with free lifetime technical support and a low-energy/low-water easy-maintenance design optimized to minimize lifetime operating costs.
Priorclave is also the only manufacturer offering Biomaster Protected® Antimicrobial Surfaces. Biomaster’s revolutionary antimicrobial coating incorporates an active agent, and is effective against bacteria, mold, and mildew, preventing cross-contamination. No other sterilizer manufacturer offers this level of safety, both inside and out.

Horizontal or Vertical: Which One Should You Choose?

Vertical/top-loading autoclaves

• Compact and smaller footprint
• Ideal for tall or fragile items
• Best for fermentors, bioreactors, and liquids
• Great for general lab glassware
• No-fuss sanitization for bagged waste

Horizontal/front-loading autoclaves

• More familiar layout/orientation
• Best for mixed loads
• Better in many cases for R&D
• Designed for easy, ergonomic loading and frequent use
• Available as a fully featured programmable benchtop model

How Can Priorclave Help?

Every Priorclave autoclave begins with a conversation. Our team will explore your sterilization needs and regional concerns. We will then help you determine the right configuration of the right model for your tasks, facilities, and requirements. Once your lab autoclave is properly specified, that unit will be hand built, from start to finish, in our London factory.

Ready to discuss your equipment needs? Reach out to us today.