Product and component testing

We test how seats, components and engineering systems behave under controlled vibration, to recognised standards or to a customer's own protocol.

Seat vibration isolation

We perform laboratory and field tests of the vibration transmissibility of seats for vehicle and seat manufacturers, using human subjects or a dynamic dummy. 

Standardised tests are conducted on suspension seats and railway passenger seats, and tests can equally be tailored to a customer's own requirements where no standard applies.

Dynamic stiffness and force-deflection

We operate three indenter rigs covering different component sizes, measuring the dynamic stiffness of seats, seat cushions, suspension seat components, springs and dampers. The largest of the three also performs quasi-static force-deflection measurement, for load-deflection curves of seat cushions and compliant components.

Engineering vibration testing

Our electrodynamic and servo-hydraulic shakers support testing throughout the product development cycle: dynamic characterisation, modal testing, durability and fatigue assessment, and environmental qualification. Computer-controlled systems reproduce arbitrary vibration profiles, measured service environments, or recognised international test standards.
 

Standards

Seat vibration testing

  • BS EN ISO 10326-1:2016 Laboratory method for evaluating vehicle seat vibration: basic requirements
  • BS ISO 10326-2:2022 Application to railway vehicles
  • BS ISO 10326-3:2024 Specification of dynamic dummies for Z-axis motion
  • BS EN ISO 7096:2020 Earth-moving machinery: laboratory evaluation of operator seat vibration
  • BS ISO 5007:2003 Agricultural wheeled tractors: laboratory measurement of transmitted vibration
  • BS EN 13490:2001+A1:2008 Industrial trucks: laboratory evaluation of operator seat vibration
  • ISO 5008:2002 Agricultural tractors and field machinery: whole-body vibration measurement (field test)

Agricultural tractor driver's seats 

Requirements formerly set by Directive 78/764/EEC are now contained within:

  • Regulation (EU) No 167/2013
  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1322/2014 (as amended), Annex XIV

Vibration and shock qualification testing

We provide testing and qualification support to the following standards:

  • MIL-STD-810H with Change 1 Environmental engineering: Method 514.8 vibration, Method 516.8 shock
  • Def Stan 00-035 Part 3, Issue 7 Environmental test methods for defence materiel
  • RTCA DO-160G Change 1 Airborne equipment: Section 7 shock, Section 8 vibration
  • BS EN 60068-2-6 Test Fc: sinusoidal vibration
  • BS EN 60068-2-27 Test Ea: shock
  • BS EN 60068-2-64 Test Fh: broadband random vibration
  • BS EN 61373 Railway rolling stock equipment: shock and vibration, by mounting category
  • BS EN 50125-3:2003 Railway signalling and telecommunications equipment: environmental conditions
  • BS ISO 16750-3:2023 Road vehicle electrical and electronic equipment: mechanical loads
  • ECSS-E-ST-10-03C Rev.1, BS ISO 19683:2026, NASA GSFC-STD-7000B Spacecraft and small satellite qualification and acceptance testing
  • ASTM D4169, ISTA procedures Transport and distribution simulation, for small packages and components within the shakers' stroke and payload limits

Testing is subject to specimen size, mass, frequency and displacement limits, so please contact us to confirm that a particular test can be accommodated before specifying it.