13.3 Development tests

Development tests are carried out by manufacturers to allow the performance of design concepts and completed prototypes to be explored. These tests fall into four categories:

1. test rig work;

2. exploration of the limits of performance;

3. proving a new product before certification, or proving changes to an established product before re-certification;

4. certification tests.

Taking each in turn:

1. At the outset of the development of a new product, the design team will identify those areas of the design which may contain a measure of technical speculation. Test rigs will then be designed and built so that tests can be carried out in order to be certain that working solutions have been found and that these solutions can be built into the prototype design. These test rigs can be produced to look at any area of the design, thermal, mechanical or electrical, and will usually include measuring transducers which, of course, do not form part of the eventual product that will be type tested.

2. While some test rig and development testing will be carried out at in-house test facilities, development tests to explore the limits of performance may need to be conducted at independent testing stations such as KEMA in the Netherlands, CESI in Italy and BSTS in the UK. As test rig and development tests are controlled by the manufacturer, and would not necessarily comply with the requirements of a specific standard, these testing stations would issue Reports of Performance detailing the test results obtained whether or not the...