Pressure Testing

What is pressure testing and why is it important?

Pressure testing reduces the risk of product failure in the field by simulating the pressure conditions that products are exposed to during their life. This may be a reduced pressure at altitude or an increased pressure below sea level.

The test specification defines the applied pressure level. This pressure may be the cruising altitude of an aircraft or even the low pressure seen at the top of a mountain.

Why choose TÜV SÜD for pressure testing?

Low pressure testing is performed in specialist altitude vacuum test chambers. These chambers also allow the temperature and in some cases humidity to also be controlled, allowing TÜV SÜD to run complex combined altitude, temperature and humidity tests. This test is referred to as an Icing Test and simulates the freeze thaw cycles seen by aircraft as they repeatedly ascend and descend.

High pressure testing is performed in an over pressure test chamber. This type of chamber increases the internal pressure but does not control the temperature or humidity. This chamber may also be filled with water to perform hyperbaric subsea testing.

We can provide manufacturers with the following testing services:

• Altitude testing up to 72,000 ft (40 mbar)
• Temperature, Altitude and Humidity Cycles (Icing Test)
• Rapid Decompression
• Overpressure Testing up to 5500 mbar
• Hyperbaric Testing down to 55 m underwater

We provide pressure testing to many specifications including the following common standards:

• RTCA/DO-160
• MIL-STD-810
• DEF-STAN 00-35
• IEC 60068

Any test not on our UKAS scope which is within our capability can be added quickly through our flexible schedule, which is a rare privilege granted to us by our accrediting authority.