About our product and process validation testing services
Whether it's testing to recognised standards, or designing something bespoke to your needs, our testing services can help you to evaluate the performance and efficacy of your products or processes.
We offer an unrivalled range of large-scale testing facilities at our extensive UK facility, the HSE Science and Research Centre. Working with us, you'll benefit from our extensive experience and knowledge.
Aerospace testing
HSE has worked with the aerospace sector for several decades and in that time, we have helped to make air travel safer, faster and more efficient. In the safety-critical environment of the aerospace industry, it is vital that new materials, components and equipment are tested and evaluated for performance.
As well as testing to recognised standards, we excel in solving some of the most difficult challenges that no one else can. The breadth of our capability and the versatility of our testing facilities means that we can design and deliver bespoke solutions to some of the most complex issues in aviation.
Ammonium nitrate testing (detonation resistance testing)
The HSE Science and Research Centre is a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited testing laboratory for Ammonium Nitrate Detonation Resistance Testing (AN DRT). You can check our lab accreditation on UKAS.
The Ammonium Nitrate Materials (High Nitrogen Content) Safety Regulations 2003 prohibit the importation, manufacture, supply or keeping of ammonium nitrate materials where the nitrogen content derived from ammonium nitrate is greater than 28% by weight unless the material has a certificate attesting that it has passed a Detonation Resistance Test (DRT) or is otherwise exempt.
Battery safety and energy storage
Batteries are all around us in energy storage installations, electric vehicles (EV) and in phones, tablets, laptops and cameras.
Under normal working conditions, batteries in these devices are considered to be stable. However, if subjected to some form of abnormal abuse such as an impact; falling from a height; extreme environment changes or overcharging, these devices may be rendered unstable.
In an unstable condition, batteries can change rapidly and, in the worst cases, vent violently with flame.
Our battery testing services include:
- automotive testing to UN ECE Regulation 100
- bespoke battery abuse testing (including measurement, initiation, video analysis, gas sampling and residue analysis)
- testing and validation of new materials or products
In addition to our dedicated battery safety chamber, the HSE Science and Research Centre's site spans more than 550 acres where we routinely conduct large scale bespoke fire and explosive experiments. Such large scale, highly energetic testing has been conducted safely on our site for more than 40 years.
Besides open field tests there are a number of vessels of varying shapes and sizes across our wider estate that can accommodate high pressure rises. The largest of these vessels has an internal volume of 3600 cubic metres. These vessels could be used for larger scale, enclosed battery testing.
Decontamination testing
HSE offers a range of testing, research and consultancy services to advise and help government, technology innovators and industry sectors, such as healthcare, manufacturing and those who conduct laboratory work, to evaluate the efficacy of decontamination approaches, methods and devices.
Our services
Chemical disinfection device efficacy testing
As well as offering testing services aligned to BS EN 17272:2020, HSE specialises in the design of bespoke testing procedures to assess the efficacy of disinfection devices and novel applications of common chemical disinfectant technologies, including formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, ozone and peracetic acid.
Germicidal UV disinfection technology efficacy testing
As well as offering testing services aligned to the recently developed standard BS 8628:2022, HSE can work with manufacturers, suppliers and customers of germicidal UV disinfection devices to design bespoke testing procedures to assess the efficacy of different technologies against a range of bactericidal, mycobactericidal, sporicidal, yeasticidal, fungicidal and phagicidal challenge activities.
Research and consultancy
Our customised services range from advice on decontamination techniques and experimental design to full scale testing. We are also able to undertake structured literature reviews, such as rapid reviews and scoping reviews, on topics related to this area of science and treatment. Contact us to find out how we can help you.
Dust explosion testing
HSE offers specialist testing to help duty holders comply with their legal responsibilities to control the risks to safety from fires and explosions caused by combustible dusts.
These include, but are not limited to:
- ISO/IEC 80079-20-2:2016 Explosive atmospheres - Part 20-2: Material characteristics - Combustible dusts test methods
- BS EN 14034-2:2006+A1:2011 Determination of explosion characteristics of dust clouds
- Determination of the maximum rate of explosion pressure rise (dp/dt)
- BS EN 50281-2-1:1999 Electrical apparatus for use in the presence of combustible dust. Test methods. Methods of determining minimum ignition temperatures
- CEI IEC 1241-2-1 Electrical apparatus for use in the presence of combustible dust - Part 2: Test methods - Section 1: Methods for determining the minimum ignition temperatures of dust
- BS EN 13821:2002 Potentially Explosive Atmospheres. Explosion Prevention And Protection. Determination Of Minimum Ignition Energy Of Dust/Air Mixtures
Explosives and pyrotechnic testing
UN manual testing for the classification of dangerous goods
Explosives are dangerous goods and must have been assigned a classification by the competent authority of a contracting party to the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) before they are consigned for carriage by road in Great Britain.
HSE offers a variety of testing in accordance with the manual to help with the classification and safe transportation of dangerous goods.
These include:
- UN gap test
- UN Koenen test
- Time/pressure test
- BAM Fallhammer test
- Rotter test
- BAM Friction test
- Thermal stability test
- Thermal stability test for unpackaged articles and packaged articles at 75°C
(HSE Testing and Monitoring operates independently from the competent authority function).
Testing in accordance with the Energetic Materials Testing Assessment Policy Manual of Tests (EMTAP)
Where classifications for commercial explosives in Great Britain are awarded by HSE, classifications for military explosives are awarded by the Secretary of State for Defence. The Defence Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives Safety Regulator is appointed as the UK competent authority to fulfil this role.
The Energetic Materials Testing Assessment Policy Manual of Tests (EMTAP) is one of several standards relevant to the qualification of energetic materials and associated technical assessment for military explosives classification.
HSE Testing and Monitoring offers a variety of testing in accordance with EMTAP to help with the classification of military explosives.
These include:
- Rotter test
- Temperature of ignition test
- Ease of ignition (Bickford Fuze) test
- Train test
- Electric spark test
- Time/pressure test
Ballistic Mortar Testing
A Ballistic Mortar test is used to measure the explosive power of a substance.
Fire and explosion safety
We have extensive experience of helping organisations across a wide range of high-hazard industries managing:
- fire
- explosion
- process safety risks
Apart from the human cost, a major incident can lead to great expense including loss of production, legal costs and increased insurance premiums, as well as the damage to your business reputation.
Our services include:
- carrying out bespoke research
- building tailored facilities to your exact requirements
- helping with your product development
- troubleshooting your general safety issues
- enabling you to introduce new technologies safely and successfully
- process safety management, including COMAH compliance audits
- analysis of incident, near miss and other key performance indicators to focus safety improvements
- hazardous area classification and management to ATEX and DSEAR regulations
- hazard studies such as HAZID, HAZOP, FMEA and bowtie analysis
- QRA, occupied building risk assessment and Layer Of Protection Analysis (LOPA)
- compliance with IEC61508 and 61511, including determination of SIL targets and validation of SILs
- fire and explosion consequence modelling
Product safety and validation testing
Being able to trust and rely on the performance of products and processes in the workplace is essential if you are to protect your workers from injury and ill health.
This is not only important to users of work equipment, but also to manufacturers who wish to independently validate the performance of the products and processes they supply.
HSE Testing and Monitoring can provide testing services for the independent validation of the performance of health and safety products and processes.
We can test to recognised standards or devise bespoke testing protocols in order to generate objective test data.
Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) testing
Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is the last line of defence against many workplace hazards.
As such, it's vital that RPE is manufactured to the relevant standards so that it functions effectively to protect the health of the wearer and prevent illness or even loss of life.
It's also vital that it's worn and maintained correctly to provide maximum protection.
Our PPE experts can provide:
- testing of RPE to European standards (gas and particulates)
- a range of RPE testing including flame, mechanical strength, measurement of air-flow rate and bespoke filter testing
- protection and practical performance testing on volunteers, using ethics committee approved procedures
- assessment of RPE performance in the workplace
Transport infrastructure testing
Hydrocarbon fuel tank testing
We are able to test vehicle fuel tanks in accordance with the requirements of UN ECE Regulation 34.
Get in touch
For more information or to make an enquiry about HSE’s testing and monitoring services get in touch on GOV.UK.
Contact us