Materials Performance Laboratory

SERVICE

PRODUCT

DETERMINANT

TECHNIQUE

PROCEDURE

LIMITATIONS

ISO/IEC 17025
Infrastructure and Asset Integrity

Evaluation of mechanical performance of pedestrian and impact attenuation surfaces

Pedestrian surfaces

Slip resistance

Wet pendulum

AS 4663 Appendix A

AS 4586 Appendix A

On-site tests

Slip resistance

Wet-barefoot inclining platform

AS 4586 Appendix C

Slip resistance

Dry floor friction tester

AS 4663 Appendix B
AS 4586 Appendix B

On-site tests

Slip resistance

Oil-wet inclining platform

AS 4586 Appendix D

ISO/IEC 17025
Manufactured Goods

Material performance evaluation of elastomers, plastics and composite products

Plastic film and sheeting

Light transmission; Ultraviolet exposure of non-metallic materials

Photocell

 
AS/NZS 4257.4

Prepared test specimens

Impact resistance

Impact hammer

AS/NZS 4257.6

Accelerated weathering

Weatherometer; Xenon-arc

ASTM D2565, ASTM D4459, ASTM D7869, ASTM G155

Ultraviolet exposure of non-metallic materials

UV lamp

AS/NZS 2433

Colour fastness

Not applicable

AS/NZS 1580.601.3

After exposure to UV light

Accelerated weathering

Weatherometer

ISO 4892-2, SAE J1885, SAE J1960

Continuous light: Irradiance 0.30 to 0.70 W/m2 @340nm;
Relative humidity: 30 to 95%;
Temperature: 0 to 120°C;
Light and dark cycles;

Impact resistance

Not applicable

AS 4257.6

After exposure to UV light

Light transmission

Not applicable

AS 4257.4

After exposure to UV light

Accelerated weathering

Fluorescent UV light

ASTM D4329, ASTM G151, ASTM G154, ISO 4892-3

Temperature 40 to 80°C, condensation

Material performance evaluation of paint and related products

Architectural coatings; Decorative coatings; Industrial coatings; Marine coatings; Protective coatings on wooden furniture

Resistance to mudcracking

Visual comparison

AS 1580.409.1

Durability

Not applicable

AS/NZS 1580.457.1
ASTM G154 - Standard practice for operating fluorescent light apparatus for UV exposure of nonmetallic materials
ASTM G155 - Standard practice for operating xenon arc light apparatus for exposure of non-metallic materials

Atmospheric coastal and marine at Flinders, Victoria;
Atmospheric and tropical at Darwin, Northern Territory;
Atmospheric light industrial at Clayton, Victoria

Appearance

Visual comparison

AS 1580.603.1

Boiling water resistance

Gloss meter; Visual comparison

AS 1580.456.1

Resistance to solvent immersion

Visual comparison

AS 1580.453.1

Relative dry hiding power

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.213.1

Application properties - Brush

Gravimetric

AS/NZS 1580.107.8

Application of paint at a nominated spreading rate by Wet film mass

Resistance to mineral oil and other organic liquids

Visual comparison

AS 1580.454.1

Gloss

Gloss meter

AS/NZS 1580.481.1.5

Degree of fungal or algal growth

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.481.1.13

Degree of colour change

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.481.1.12

pH

Potentiometric

AS/NZS 1580.505.1

Water based paints

Adhesion

Knife test

AS 1580.408.2

Resistance to yellowing - Dark chamber

Gloss meter; Spectrophotometry; Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.461.1

Application properties - Spray

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.205.2 - Conventional spraying
AS/NZS 1580.205.4 - Airless Spraying

Corrosion; Degree of corrosion of coated metal substrates

Neutral salt spray (NSS)

AS 2331.3.1

Thinner compatibility

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.208.1

Fineness of grind

Gauge block; Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.204.1

Skin formation

Classical

AS 1580.203.1

Application properties - Roller

Paint inspection gauge; Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.205.3

Degree of dirt retention

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.481.1.4

Colour measurement

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.601.1

Abrasion resistance

Taber abraser

AS 1580.403.2

Degree of chalking

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.481.1.11

Resistance to washing

Gloss meter; Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.459.1

Colour measurement

Spectrophotometry; Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.601.3

Adhesion

Crosscut test

AS 1580.408.4

Recoating properties

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.404.1

Ease of manual re-incorporation

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.211.2

Consistency

Consistency by flow-cup

AS/NZS 1580.214.2

Artificial weathering; Salt spray

Not applicable

ASTM G85-02 (A5 only) (Standard practice for modified salt spray (fog) testing)

Gloss

Gloss meter

AS/NZS 1580.602.2

at 20°, 60° and 85°

Degree of settling

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.211.1

Degree of cracking

Microscopic examination; Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.481.1.8

Dry film thickness; Water absorption

Paint inspection gauge

AS/NZS 1580.108.1

Permanent magnet instruments

Impact resistance

Falling weight

AS 1580.406.1

Flexibility; Thermal stability; Water absorption

Falling weight; Gravimetric; Visual comparison

AS/NZS 3862 Appendices L, O, P

Blocking resistance of latex paint finishes

Visual comparison

AS 1580.409.3

Wet film thickness

Gravimetric

AS 1580.107.1

Outdoor weathering

Not applicable

AS/NZS 1580.457.1
Assessing the individual film defects by the appropriate method(s) of AS 1580.481 through AS/NZS 1580.481.1.13 and AS 1580.481.3.

Exposure site location: atmospheric coastal and marine at Flinders, Victoria; atmospheric and tropical at Darwin, Northern Territory; atmospheric light industrial at Clayton, Victoria

Drying time

BK type recorder

AS 1580.401.3

Resistance to water at room temperature

Gloss meter; Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.455.1

Surface dry condition evaluation

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.401.1

Consistency

Stormer viscometer

AS/NZS 1580.214.1 (Procedure 1)

Sanding appraisal; Surface dry condition evaluation

Visual comparison

AS 1580.401.5

Wet film thickness

Wet film thickness by gauge

AS/NZS 1580.107.3

Evaluation of materials suitable for test panels

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.103.1, AS/NZS 1580.104.1

Dry film thickness

Paint inspection gauge

AS 1580.108.2

Dry hiding power contrast ratio

Calculation; Reflectance

AS 1580.213.2

Ductility

Visual comparison

AS 1580.402.1

Scratch resistance

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.403.1

Density tests

Pycnometer

AS/NZS 1580.202.1, AS/NZS 1580.202.2

Also includes Water dispersed paints subject to foaming.

Salt spray

Not applicable

ASTM B117 (Standard practice for operating salt spray (fog) apparatus)

Sample preparation

Routine conditions - Temperature/humidity/airflow

AS/NZS 1580.101.1, AS/NZS 1580.101.4, AS/NZS 1580.101.5

Degree of blistering

Microscopic examination; Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.481.1.9

Degree of dirt collection

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.481.1.3

Adhesion

Pull-off test

AS 1580.408.5

Surface dry condition evaluation

Mechanical thumb

AS 1580.401.6

Degree of corrosion of coated metal substrates

Salt droplet

AS 1580.452.2

Discolouration

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.481.1.2

Degree of erosion

Paint inspection gauge; Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.481.1.6

Degree of flaking and peeling

Microscopic examination; Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.481.1.10

Artificial weathering; Salt spray; Ultraviolet ageing and thermal ageing test

Not applicable

ASTM D5894 (Standard practice for cyclic salt fog/UV exposure of painted metal, (Alternating exposures in a fog/dry cabinet and a UV/condensation cabinet))

Artificial weathering; Ultraviolet ageing and thermal ageing test

Not applicable

ASTM G154 - Standard practice for operating fluorescent light apparatus for UV exposure of nonmetallic materials ASTM G155 - Standard practice for operating xenon arc light apparatus for exposure of non-metallic materials

Sample preparation

Not applicable

AS/NZS 1580.214.0 (Rheological properties- guide to test methods)

Wet film thickness

Gravimetric

AS/NZS 1580.107.2

Degree of corrosion of coated metal substrates

Visual comparison

AS 1580 481.3

Colour measurement

Spectrophotometry

AS/NZS 1580.601.3

Degree of checking

Microscopic examination; Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.481.1.7

Resistance to cathodic disbonding

Visual comparison

AS/NZ 4352

Low temperature coalescence

Visual comparison

AS 1580.409.2

Hardness

Pencil hardness

AS/NZS 1580.405.1

Consistency

Consistency by rotational viscometer

AS/NZS 1580.214.5

Architectural coatings; Decorative coatings; Industrial coatings; Marine coatings; Protective coatings on wooden furniture; Stains

Sample preparation

Not applicable

AS/NZS 1580.106.1

Also on product: Timber test panels For outdoor weathering testing

Pre-treatment tests; Sample preparation

Sanding; Solvent cleaning

AS 1580.105.1 ;105.2

Metal test panels

 Architectural coatings; Decorative coatings; Industrial coatings; Protective coatings on wooden furniture

Application properties - Brush

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.205.1

Light fastness

Spectrophotometry; Visual comparison

AS 1580.482.1

Road marking paint

No-pick-up time tests of road marking paints

Visual comparison

AS/NZS 1580.401.8

Mechanical performance evaluation of components for building envelopes, framing and interior lining

Facade assemblies including interior and exterior cladding systems

Ash content

Muffle furnace

ASTM D5630 Procedure B Table A1.2

Polyethylene and olefinic polymers

ISO/IEC 17025
Materials

Chemical analysis of polymers and related materials

Paints and related coating materials

Non-volatile content by mass

Gravimetric

AS 1580.301.1

Pigment content

Gravimetric

AS 1580.302.1

Non-volatile content by volume

Classical

AS 1580.301.2

Sample collection

Paints and related coating materials

Not applicable

Not applicable

AS 1580.102.1

Fire Systems, Thermal, Medical PPE Laboratory

ISO/IEC 17025 (2017)
Manufactured Goods

Electrical equipment approval and safety evaluation

Fire detection and protection systems including control and indicating equipment

Electrical safety

Endurance and resistance to external conditions; Function assessment including abnormal operation

Fire detection, emergency alarm, warning, control and intercommunication systems
for the purpose of environmental design and construction compliance
AS 4428 Series
AS 4428.3,
AS 4428.4 (excluding clause 16.13),
AS 4428.6 (excluding clause 17.8),
AS 4428.7,
AS 4428.16 (excerpt clause 18.16).
AS 7240 Series
AS 7240.2 (excluding clause 5.8),
AS 7240.4 (excluding clause 6.10),
AS 7240.13.
NZS 4512

 Fire detection and protection systems including control and indicating equipment; Fire detection and warning devices

Effect of environmental exposure on electrical equipment and enclosures

Cold; Damp heat - Cyclic (12 + 12 hour cycle); Damp heat - Steady state; Dry heat; Hammer; Shock (impact); Vibration

AS 60068.2.1, IEC 60068-2-1;
AS 60068.2.2, IEC 60068-2-2;
AS 60068.2.6, IEC 60068-2-6;
AS 60068.2.27, IEC 60068-2-27;
AS 60068.2.30, IEC 60068-2-30;
AS 60068.2.47, IEC 60068-2-47;
AS 60068.2.75, IEC 60068-2-75;
AS 60068.2.78, IEC 60068-2-78;

Evaluation of electrical appliances and devices - Performance

Cells and batteries

Capacity; Charge retention

Not applicable

Sealed batteries used in control and indicating equipment :
AS/NZS 4029.2;
IEC 60896-2:MOD clauses 5.1 and 5.4 only;
ActivFire Specification TS001

Evaluation of fire risk (excluding electrical products) and fire mitigation performance

Fire detection and warning devices

Air movement and stability; Corrosion; Dry heat; Endurance; Frangibility; Functional and compatibility assessment; Heat sensitivity; Impact; Indicator visibility; Low temperature; Sensitivity; Sound pressure level; Vibration; Voltage stability

Not applicable

Automatic fire detection and alarm systems Heat detectors, heat alarms, smoke detectors, warning devices and other related products
For the purpose of environmental design and construction compliance
AS 1603 series
AS 1603.3 (excluding clause 5.14),
AS 1603.11 (excluding clause 3.7),
AS 1603.13.
AS 2362 series
AS 2362.1,
AS 2362.2,
AS 2362.17.
AS 3786 (excluding clauses 5.15.1 and 5.25)
AS 7240 series
AS ISO 7240.3 (excluding clauses 5.16 and 5.17),
AS ISO 7240.5 (excluding clause 5.18),
AS 7240.7 (excluding clause 5.18),

AS ISO 7240.10 (excluding clauses 6.17 and 6.18),
AS ISO 7240.11 (excluding clauses 5.18, 5.19 and 5.20),
AS 7240.12 (excluding clause 5.16),
AS 7240.15 (excluding clause 5.20),
AS ISO 7240.17 (excluding clause 5.13),
AS ISO 7240.18 (excluding clause 5.12),
AS 7240.20 (excluding clause 5.14),
AS ISO 7240.24 (excluding clause 5.18).
FTS 118 SSL Test Specification

Fire sprinkler heads

Functional and compatibility assessment; Leakage

Not applicable

SSL specification FTS 123 AS 1851 clauses 3.21 a, b, c and clause 3.22 of Table 2.4.1.3 - (Testing only)

Performance evaluation of personal protective equipment (PPE)

Medical face masks

Synthetic blood penetration

Not applicable

AS 4381 Table 2
ASTM F1862
ASTM F1862M/13
ISO 22609

Single use face masks (including Target Plate method)

Breathability

Not applicable

AS 4381 Table 2EN 14683:2014 Annex C

Single use face masks

Bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE)

Aerosolised bacterial impaction

AS 4381 Table 2,
ASTM F2101,
EN 14683:2014 Annex B,
CSIRO TS-012

Single use face masks

Thermal performance evaluation of building and insulating products

Rigid and flexible thermal insulation materials

Thermal conductivity; Thermal insulation performance; Thermal resistance measurement

Heat flow meter apparatus

Formed shapes and formed insitu materials, Blanket type mineral fibre insulation :
Steady state thermal transmission properties
AS/NZS 4859.1;
ASTM C518;
ASTM C653 including AS/NZS 4859.1 - Appendix D;
ASTM C687 clauses 7.1 and 7.2

in the range of 0.1 m2 K/W to 10.0 m2 K/W

at sample thicknesses of 2 mm to 200 mm

Fire Technology Laboratory

ISO/IEC 17025 (2017)
Manufactured Goods

Evaluation of fire risk (excluding electrical products) and fire mitigation performance

Building materials

Ignitability

Not applicable

AS 1530.3

Elements of building construction

Building materials; Elements of building construction

Combustibility

Furnace

AS 1530.1

Refractory tube furnace

Flammability

Not applicable

AS 1530.2

Flexible materials

Heat release

Not applicable

AS 1530.3

Smoke release

Oxygen consumption calorimeter

AS 1530.3

Flame propagation

Not applicable

AS 1530.3,
AS 5113,
BS 8414-1 and BS 8414-2,
ISO 13785-2

 Building materials; Prepared test specimens

Smoke release

Cone calorimeter; Dynamic measurement; Oxygen consumption calorimeter

AS/NZS 3837,
ISO 5660.1,
ISO 5660.2

Smoke production rate

Heat release; Mass loss rate; Smoke release

Cone calorimeter

ISO 5660.1

Heat release

Cone calorimeter; Oxygen consumption calorimeter

AS/NZS 3837,
ISO 5660.1

Non-combustibility performance

Furnace

BS 476.4,
ISO 1182

Refractory tube furnace

Components for smoke and heat control systems

Fire resistance

Not applicable

BS 7346.3

Smoke curtains

Components for the protection of openings in fire resistant walls and separating elements

Fire resistance

Not applicable

AS 1905.1 Sections 3.1 to 3.4,
AS 1905.2 Sections 6 and 7,
AS 4072.1,
ASTM E814

Fire resistant doorsets;
Fire resistant roller shutters;
Service penetrations and control joints;
Penetration firestop systems

Composite assemblies of structural materials; Masonry unit assemblies

Fire resistance

Not applicable

ASTM E119

Structural assemblies for buildings including load bearing and other walls and partitions, columns, girders, beams, slabs and composite slab and beam assemblies for floors and roofs

Elements of building construction

Fire resistance

Not applicable

BS 476-20, BS 476-21, BS 476-22, BS 476-23 ;
EN 1363-1, EN-1363-2, EN-1364-1, EN 1364-2, EN 1365-1, EN-1365-2, EN-1365-3, EN-1365-4 ;
ISO 834.4, ISO 834.5, ISO 834.6, ISO 834.7, ISO 834.8, ISO 834.9

Load bearing elements (walls, floors, roofs, beams, columns, vertical separating elements, horizontal separating elements); Non-load bearing elements (Ceilings, walls, vertical separating elements)

Fire resistance

Not applicable

AS 1530.4

Fire resistance; Simulated bushfire attack

Large flaming sources; Small flaming sources

AS 1530.8.1,

AS 1530.8.2

Fire resistance tests on elements of building constructions which can be accommodated in a horizontal furnace of nominal plan dimensions 4.56 m x 3.66 m
or in a vertical furnace with nominal plan dimensions 3.0 m x 3.0 m

Fire resistance; Heat resistance

Not applicable

AS 1692.1 Sections 4 and 5 ;
BS 476-24 ;
EN 1366-1, EN 1366-2, EN 1366-3 ;
ISO 10294.1 ;
SS 333

Service installations;
Fire dampers;
Penetration seals;
Ventilation ducts

Factory made air ducts and air connectors

Surface burning characteristics

Not applicable

 UL 181 part 9

Floor covering systems

Critical radiant flux

Radiant heat

AS ISO 9239.1,
ASTM E648,
ISO 9239-1

Burning behaviour

Products for installation in ships

Fire resistance

Not applicable

FTP Code 2010 Annex 1: Part 3 Appendix 1

"A", "B" and "F" class divisions

Windows, doors, shutters and blinds

Fire resistance

Not applicable

EN-1634-1, EN-1634-2, EN-1364-3,
ISO 3008, ISO 3009

Door and shutter assemblies;
Openable windows;
Glazed elements;
Smoke control doors;
Door hardware

Wiring system elements

Fire resistance

Not applicable

AS/NZS 3013