Photovoltaic Testing

Around the world, solar and other renewable energy technologies are seeing widespread adoption in both residential and commercial applications. As prices drop, and governments continue to offer tax rebates and other incentives for switching from fossil fuels, the market for solar devices will continue to grow. With this growth, there will be an increased need for photovoltaic testing services to confirm new products meet consumer demands for safety and performance. A growing market is also likely to mean increased regulatory demands — something that will require sophisticated partnerships and industry expertise to keep up with.

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Environmental Simulation Testing

National Technical Systems

What is environmental simulation testing? Simply put, simulated test environments are all about preparing products for real-world use. This is accomplished by gaining as much testing experience and performance data as early as possible during the products’ lifecycles. Simulated environmental testing usually involves creating artificial environments for test items to determine their expected resilience to their anticipated environments.

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Accelerated Weathering – UV Exposure Testing

National Technical Systems

Accelerated weathering is the simulation of the damaging effects of long term exposure of coatings, materials, and products to outdoor conditions. There are a number of different types of outdoor conditions accelerated weathering addresses, including wind, rain, icing, sand and dust, and of course, UV exposure.

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Air Contaminants / Mixed Flowing Gas Testing

National Technical Systems

Any product or system component that’s exposed to the air has the potential to incur damage due to atmospheric conditions and contaminants. For telecommunications, aerospace, automotive and other equipment, these conditions can lead to premature wear and potential liability issues down the line. As a result, air testing equipment has become an important part of the quality-control process.

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Altitude Testing

National Technical Systems

Products and equipment used at excessive heights need to be durable enough to withstand the extreme conditions they will face. Accurately replicating temperature, humidity and atmospheric conditions requires specially designed facilities in which controlled, precise altitude testing can be performed.

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Bird Strike Testing

National Technical Systems

Many people may consider flocking birds such as sea gulls, ravens, and pigeons to be a nuisance but otherwise harmless. However, to jet aircraft and individuals carried aboard, the possibility of a bird strike poses an existential threat. For instance, when U.S. Airways Flight 1549 crashed into the Hudson River in New York back in January, 2009, the subsequent investigations performed by the NTSB and FAA found that a double bird strike during take-off (one in each engine) caused the incident.

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Corrosion Testing

National Technical Systems

Realistically, the only way to know whether or not a particular product will withstand corrosive environments is to test it in corrosive environments. Unfortunately, testing equipment in their intended environments would take years at the rates that corrosion normally occurs. This means the solution involves testing equipment under conditions that produce highly accelerated rates of corrosion. Our corrosion testing laboratories are equipped to provide corrosion testing and corrosion monitoring under accelerated conditions to simulate years’ worth of accumulated corrosion within a period of days.

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Explosive Atmosphere Testing

National Technical Systems

Will your product operate in a highly volatile environment without creating ignition and causing an explosion? Explosive atmosphere testing provides vital information about motors, lighting systems, bilge pumps, aircraft components, electronics, and other systems. Explosive atmosphere testing determines whether a product will be able to operate properly in a fuel contaminated, highly volatile environment without creating ignition and causing an explosion. Causes of ignition vary from tiny electrical arcs in battery-operated equipment to hot spots on surfaces of sealed, encased units, to sparks from other mechanical sources.

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Fire and Flammability Testing

National Technical Systems

Will your products, subsystems or components operate as designed when exposed to fire conditions, or will they go up in flames? Fire and flammability testing is required for products used in a wide range of industries, including Aerospace, Defense, Telecommunications, and Consumer Electronics. NTS offers fire and flammability testing services, typically falling into two categories: 1) ignition and flame spread, and 2) fire resistance.

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Fungus Testing Lab

National Technical Systems

Many products that operate in warm, humid environments must be tested to withstand fungal attacks, since this problem can cause a myriad of operational challenges. From interfering with delicate system components to causing premature wear and corrosion, a fungal infestation can lead to a number of problems than affect the lifespan of your product and potentially cause serious liability issues.

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Hail Impact Testing

National Technical Systems

Hail is an extremely destructive force of nature, especially for aircraft, with impacts occurring at more than 600 mph. NTS performs hail and stone strike testing and high velocity hail strike testing. These tests can be performed using clear ice, stone and aluminum projectiles of up to two inches in diameter, fired at velocities of up to 741 miles per hour(331.4m/sec, 1087.4 f/sec). Typical test programs include aircraft windshields, antennas, radomes, and wheel/brake assemblies. Using a laser equipped system with a high degree of accuracy, repeatable impacts can be performed to within a quarter inch of the desired target. This accuracy allows NTS to test even the smallest of test samples, as well as limit the potential damage area of larger units.

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Accelerated Life & Stress Testing (HALT/HASS)

National Technical Systems

Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT), Highly Accelerated Stress Screening (HASS), and Accelerated Weathering are three methods utilized for early determination of potential problems your products may encounter during the course of their lifetime. These methods are conceptually similar to fatigue testing, as they attempt to wear out test materials or products at highly accelerated rates.

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Highly Accelerated Thermal Shock (HATS2™) Testing

National Technical Systems

NTS is the exclusive provider of HATS2™testing services in North America. Thermal shock testing has long been the accepted method to check robustness and reliability of plated-through holes and solder joint connections. Historically, thermal shock testing has been performed utilizing either dual chamber air-to-air systems or liquid-to-liquid systems. Both of these methods offer significant disadvantages in cost, time, and the fact that the samples must be transported between the hot and cold environments. Transportation of the samples between the temperature environments makes monitoring the resistance of the samples difficult and inaccurate due to the length and quantity of wires. The infrequent monitoring typically associated with traditional thermal shock methods also makes detection of “glitch” conditions marginal at best.

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Humidity Testing

National Technical Systems

Whenever products and materials spend extended periods of time in a humid environment, various types of breakdowns can be expected. Coatings can fail. Electronic and optical equipment tends to degrade. Fuels break down. The list of associated failures is extensive.

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Icing and Freezing Rain Testing

National Technical Systems

For any product or system component that is regularly exposed to the elements, due diligence and quality control must include testing for all conditions likely to be encountered during use. Freezing rain and ice in particular present a number of obvious challenges for aircraft, automobiles and other vehicles. Rigorous freezing rain tests should be made part of any environmental testing program, both for meeting RTCA DO-160 and other requirements, and for delivering an overall safer and more versatile product to market. As an important partner to the aviation and defense industries, NTS can help you meet these goals.

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Immersion Testing

National Technical Systems

Immersion testing evaluates how well your product or component will hold up when submerged in water or other liquids. This is not limited strictly to waterproofing — other factors, such as the ability to withstand rapid changes in pressure or exposure to caustic chemicals, can also be made a part of testing. As a result, immersion testing is an investment in more robust and durable design. By taking the time to test these factors early in the development process, you can create an all-around better product and shorten your time to market.

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Ingress Protection Testing

National Technical Systems

Ingress Protection testing, or IP testing, tests a product’s ability to protect against “ingress,” that is, the infiltration of water, dust and foreign objects. Some of the standards related to IP testing are MIL-STD-810 (Military), RTCA/DO-160 (Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics), and IEC 60529 (International Electrotechnical Commission).

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Salt-Fog and Salt Spray Testing

National Technical Systems

Salt-fog and salt spray testing is conducted to determine the effectiveness of protective coatings and finishes on materials, as well as the effects of salt deposits on the physical and electrical aspects of a product. NTS can conduct your corrosion testing to meet the requirements of various regulatory standards as well as customized testing programs. We have the chambers, support equipment and the technical expertise to ensure the proper application of testing requirements to your product in a professional laboratory environment.

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Sand and Dust Testing

National Technical Systems

NTS operates some of the largest and most accurate sand and dust testing chambers available in the industry. We can accommodate parts in excess of 8 ft3 (0.25 m3) and comply with the requirements of various regulatory standards. While sand or dust circulate at up to 40 mph (65 kph) we can modify the test according to your special requirements, including running at temperatures of up to +200°F (+95°C). A calibrated “hopper” which assures that an adequate amount of contaminant is entering into circulation manages the input to the chambers. In addition to measured inputs, NTS employs an electronic beam, which determines that there is the right mixture of sand or dust and air in the test medium at any given time. This enables our technicians to adjust for loss in real time, and make corrections to ensure that the test article is exposed to the harmful particulate matter for the requisite amount of time.

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Solar Radiation Testing

National Technical Systems

Prolonged exposure to solar radiation can be very damaging to equipment that is stored or used outdoors. NTS operates state-of-the-art solar radiation testing facilities, capable of testing to solar standards for various different product types. We utilize proprietary sources of radiation to provide the spectral content and irradiance to the exacting requirements specified by these standards. We also provide the exact temperatures and wind speeds required by these standards.

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Space Simulation Testing

National Technical Systems

NTS is one of only a few facilities in the world capable of performing simulation testing that mimics the extreme conditions found in the upper atmosphere and outer space. By precisely controlling temperature, altitude and humidity, we give you a clearer picture of how your product will respond, allowing you to make engineering changes that reduce your liability and simplify your path to regulatory compliance.

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Thermal Vacuum Testing

National Technical Systems

NTS’s thermal vacuum testing services have been used in preparation for both manned and unmanned spaceflight. We have worked directly with government agencies and associated contractors to develop and maintain accurate, controlled conditions suitable for performing thermal tests.

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Wind and Rain Testing

National Technical Systems

Severe wind and rain conditions can be encountered anywhere in the world, often with little notice. Excessive wind can interfere with communications equipment, lead to premature wear and corrosion, and limit radar effectiveness. Properly testing your product or system components against wind and rain is necessary both for regulatory compliance and overall quality control.

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Temperature & Humidity Testing

National Technical Systems

Temperature and humidity testing determines how components, subsystems and complete systems behave in severe environments that involve elevated temperatures and high or fluctuating relative humidity. The tests can be static with constant temperature and humidity, they can involve the cycling of both, they can be temperature-humidity bias tests (where the moisture is used to induce a failure in an electrical device) or some combination of all of these.

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