Altitude Testing

LabTest Certification Inc. offers High Altitude (Low Pressure) testing to evaluate the effects of a low pressure environment on products. Altitude testing can be performed on products which are likely to be transported, stored or operated at high altitude to evaluate any potential negative physical or operational effects caused by the low pressure environment. The most common products needing this type of test are aviation components, equipment transported or operated in aircraft, equipment installed at high altitude, and more.

During an altitude test, the product is installed within a chamber capable of withstanding the differential pressure. Air from inside the chamber is gradually removed at a controlled flow rate, until the required low pressure to simulate the high altitude level is achieved. The low pressure environment is maintained for the duration of the test to evaluate the physical and/ or operational effect of the environment on the product.

This video is an example of how important it is to use the proper equipment and what could happen if the system used is not designed to handle such high negative pressure.

In this video, Galileo gravity theory is demonstrated 400 years later in NASA’s huge vacuum chamber. This is not necessarily how Altitude testing works, per se, however, it is an example of a zero gravity experiment, when the masses of the objects don’t have any effect on the free-falling speed anymore, cancelling the air resistance by removing the air from the chamber (and creating vacuum).

LabTest testing capabilities include:

• Up to 11.6 kPa (1.68 psia)
• 50,000 feet altitude

• ST/SG/AC.10/11
• RTCA/DO-160
• MIL-STD-810