Will your products or components operate as designed when exposed to fire conditions? How can you demonstrate compliance with both customer and international regulations? What is the impact on your bottom line if your components are over designed or on-the-flip side, non-compliant?

Testing can be used to simulate the effects of a real fire and to measure the ability of items to continue to function, to quickly self-extinguish and ensure re-ignition cannot occur.

In consideration of fire and hazard minimisation, it is clearly better to prove via demonstration of compliance with requirements rather than accept third party assurances.

As concepts develop and materials are selected, an understanding on how a particular material or component will perform reduces your risk and minimises wasted effort while in the long term improving safety and reducing hazards. Items tested can range from material samples of new composites, fabrics, even carpets to more complex components and systems level demonstration of fuel or hydraulic systems, or pumps or actuators for aircraft engines. Often the test is combined with additional factors to represent severe operating conditions of the test items themselves, or the environments they are found in.  These can include vibration, and varying effects of fluids or air flow with pressure, temperature variations, and where present, additional mechanical loading. The ranges and application will depend on formal specifications or standards and/or individual customer requirements.

Fire and flammability testing are required for products used in a wide range of industries, including building and construction, aerospace, automotive, marine, oil and gas, rail, defence, telecommunications, and consumer electronics.

Resonate Testing works across an array of industries, however primarily specialises in fire safety testing for the Aviation industry. We are UKAS accredited to ISO 17025, the standard for all major methods of compliance testing for aircraft propulsion grade testing.

Due to the large quantities of highly flammable fuel and limited possibilities for escape, a fire on an aircraft poses a significant threat to life or brand integrity.

With the expected growth in air travel, fire fatalities are said to increase by four percent annually. Consequently, the industry aims to further improve fire safety by improving materials used and testing components and systems in support of aircraft type certificate, i.e. approval to fly commercially.

The FAA, TC, EASA and other regulatory organisations define compliance with a number of specifications for fire and flammability testing. These include ISO 2685, FAA AC20-135, FAA Powerplant Engineering Report No. 3A, FAA fire test handbook etc., to transport aircraft standards FAR/CS25 Part 25 and Part 33, CS-E. Meeting these specifications require specialised burner equipment and the knowledge and expertise to achieve the starting flame parameters.

Resonate Testing’s key equipment for both aviation and other industry testing includes:

• - Kerosene oil burners - including a standard modified gun oil burner and the new NexGen Sonic burner, both of which meet the FAA and EASA test requirements
• - Multi-purpose flammability test cabinet
• - Blow torch
• - Wooden crib and straw testing

Resonate Testing is continually working alongside regulators, airframers, engine suppliers and component OEMS to update best practice and increase the consistency between labs and ultimately, improve safety.  We are also involved in a significant R&D effort to support the adoption of the new ‘sonic burner’ developed by the FAA. Our testing ability ranges from testing on materials for use in the aircraft cabin and passenger and crew areas, cargo liners, insulation, as well as more complex engine systems, components and fire walls.

Our extensive capability and experience allows us to test across a variety of industries. You can be assured that with Resonate Testing, you are guarantee high-quality testing processes. Contact us toady on +44(0)28 9073 6390 or email info@www.resonatetesting.com to find out more about our range of testing.

Check out the videos below demonstrating our fire and flammability testing processes in action”

Fire Testing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg-R8zPg1Mw

Flammability Testing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktaKyhzq464

Believe it or not, vibrations are all around us. From small devices such as headphones to large items like your car engine, most of us use items that vibrate on a daily basis. Many products are required to undergo vibration testing to meet rigorous standards or product-specific test protocols to achieve approval or certification, or simply for validation during product development phases.

Vibration Testing can ensure that products are:

• - Able to meet the reliability requirements
• - Fit for purpose
• - Resistant to fatigue failure
• - Able to continue functioning under vibration conditions that they will experience in the field and in transit
• - Safe to use
• - Able to meet the required quality

There are many different types of vibration testing methods that can be used to recreate the complex conditions of the real world such as gunfire, helicopter rotors, tank tracks, various engine induced vibrations, lifecycle usage wear and tear, and transportation conditions prior to service.

The three main forms of vibration for testing are

• - Sinusoidal
• - Random
• - Mixed Mode

Sinusoidal Testing

Sine (one-frequency-at-a-time) tests are performed to survey the structural response of the device under test (DUT). During the early history of vibration testing, vibration machine controllers were limited only to controlling sine motion so only sine testing was performed. Later, more sophisticated analogue and then digital controllers were able to provide random control (all frequencies at once).

Random Testing

A random (all frequencies at once) test is generally considered to more closely replicate a real-world environment, such as road inputs to a moving automobile.

Mixed Mode Testing

Mixed mode testing is combination of two vibration profiles such as Sine-On-Random or Random-On-Random for example.

At Resonate Testing, we have the vibrational testing capability to give you confidence in your product’s reliability. Our vibration test laboratory features high force electrodynamic vibration tables that can test to a wide range of frequencies, amplitudes and spectrums.

Our vibration testing services are unique on the island of Ireland and can provide organisations that have testing requirements, the opportunity to utilise our innovative capabilities and testing expertise with a high-quality service for all. Our services are available to customers locally on the island of Ireland, Great Britain and internationally.

Our vibration, shock and mechanical testing capability includes;

• - Sinusoidal vibration including resonance tracking and dwell
• - Random, Sine-on-Random and Random-on-Random vibration
• - Classical shock, complex shock pulses, shock response spectrum analysis
• - Up to 36 channels of measurement using state-of-the-art vibration controllers and signal analysers
• - Electrodynamic shaker capability up to 54kN and 100mm displacement range across three shaker systems
• - Vacuum slip table features for multiple axis/orientation testing
• - Vibration testing combined temperature and humidity chamber
• - Bespoke shock testing solutions and test rigs including pyroshock capability
• - 16 channel vibration monitoring in the field which can be recreated in the lab
• - Bespoke mechanical test solutions such as push/pull, high-tension force loading and strain gauge monitoring are also available.

Resonate Testing has a proven track record of vibration testing in a number of industries including but not limited to aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, medical devices, consumer goods, telecommunications and even space launcher hardware.

Check out a video of our vibration testing process in action, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1zXWTj_thk.

If you need assistance with testing, contact Resonate Testing today on +44(0)28 9073 6390 or email info@www.resonatetesting.com.

NEWRY-based testing company, Resonate Testing Ltd, has invested in future development by offering young talent a number of intern and graduate opportunities.

The company, which specialises in high quality fire and flammability, vibration and shock, environmental and climatic testing and certification services, has experienced continued growth and global success since its establishment in 2015. This has allowed Resonate Testing Ltd to offer internships and post-graduate roles that will enable young talent to see first-hand, the practical elements involved in working for an innovative, global company.

Tom Mallon, Managing Director said, “Here at Resonate Testing Ltd, we are passionate about developing young people and helping to teach them the ‘tricks of the trade’. Sometimes the practical experience can make the difference in a good and a great engineer! We have had some fantastic talent come through our doors who we are sure will go on to carve successful careers.”

Newry student, Méabh McMahon, who is studying Aero-Mechanical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, was one such student who recently completed a placement with Resonate Testing Ltd. Speaking about her experience, Méabh said, “My time at Resonate Testing Ltd gave me the opportunity to put the theoretical experience that I learnt at University into practice and apply it to real world test items. I was given the opportunity to assist in the testing on customers’ parts and products, as well as helping with additions, analysis and support of the company’s quality management systems.

“One of the main achievements for me was producing high quality reports for customers, explaining and backing up what was completed, which is a critical part of the business. I worked on a range of reports for various sectors including aerospace and telecommunications, as well as for military equipment and consumer goods, so there was a lot of multi-industry experience and exposure.

“This involvement has made me more confident in both my technical and practical skills and I’m looking forward to using the knowledge in my final year of University and to help me in my career thereafter.”

In addition to Méabh’s experience, Resonate Testing Ltd has hired Olivia McAvoy as the first graduate engineer of the company’s new graduate programme. Olivia, from Newry, recently graduated from Queen’s University in Belfast after completing a degree in Aerospace Engineering.

Resonate Testing Ltd operates from a 6,000sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility and provides services to the UK, Ireland and beyond.

For more information, visit the website www.resonatetesting.com or call +44(0)28 9073 6390.