We all have sophisticated electronic equipment in our homes, from the humble TV set to state-of-the-art sound systems. Electrical products have the potential to be very dangerous. Thankfully, problems are rare as products undergo strict tests before going anywhere near the shops, or us. One part of Bureau Veritas is helping to make it all safer, seizing opportunities for growth as technology moves on.

Simulating real life conditions

We see how an appliance performs under everyday usage. For example, we have robots that will press all the buttons on a telephone key pad, 10 000 times, to make sure that it can withstand the type of pressure it will be under, says Philippe Sissoko, electronics, telecoms & health manager at Bureau Veritas Electrical and Electronic Product Services. 

Electrical spectacle
Bureau Veritas' LCIE, based near Paris, is a highly specialized testing and certification center for every type of electrical and electronic device. Despite the economic slowdown, the center is working in some very strong growth areas. Our teams work with producers of electrical goods and machinery to protect people and businesses from faulty, unsafe equipment. Fifty tests a day are carried out here. Half of the lab's testing activity is for consumer goods, items that people use every day; the other half is for industrial machines, such as factory equipment. We also help clients with product design, to ensure compliance with regulations, adds Philippe Sissoko. The focus on electrical and electronic product services sets the center apart from other labs in the Consumer Products Services Division.

Growing in electric fields
In everyday life, high frequency radio waves (or electromagnetic waves) surround us; emitted from such products as global satellite navigation boxes in cars and mobile phones. As technology moves so quickly, it is important to check that new technologies can work side by side. One way to do this is through Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing. It is used for goods that emit radio waves such as televisions, computers and digital set top boxes. And as clients must comply with regulations to limit human exposure to electric fields, EMC testing is a growth area for the lab.

Testing in a protective bubble
For EMC testing, we place products in a controlled environment to accurately measure their radio wave, or electromagnetic, emissions. We use large rooms, isolated from all radio wave interference, called Faraday cages. Taking a laptop computer as an example, first we turn it on and measure the radio waves it gives out. We then reverse the process by bombarding the laptop with radio waves to check that it still works. In the Faraday cage, we test the latest wireless technologies such as Bluetooth, WiFi and WiMax, ensuring that a product's emissions will not affect other devices, while still receiving all the signals it needs to, explains Philippe Sissoko.  

Green electronics
Not only do electrical producers need to ensure safety but energy saving capacity and recyclability too. Laws relating to these issues are taking effect and this type of testing is another growth area for the Group.

Virtual reality with a human touch
Alain Barrère, from the domestic electrical department, tells us: Repetitive tests, such as opening and shutting a microwave door thousands of times, are carried out by automated systems. However, technicians carry out most testing and they are highly involved in the process. Products related to food are tested using real ingredients. What better way to test an electric grater than with real cheese? Or by making a carrot purée to check that a blender works correctly? There is method to all this. For example, cotton that is used to test washing machines has to be a specific weight and size so that different tests can be measured against each other, says Alain Barrère. Each household appliance undergoes 20-30 hours of testing. 

Red alert
Electrical safety testing involves checking for all risks such as electrocution, overheating and exploding batteries. Each product is different. With radiators, we study three temperatures: the surface, internal temperature and that of the room. We also deliberately cause short circuits to see how the appliance reacts and to check that if a short circuit occurs in real life, it will not be dangerous, explains Alain Barrère. Luxurious spa baths are tested by heating the water to 40°C and ensuring that everything works correctly at the same time, such as the jet streams of water and internal pumps.

Invisible force
Electricity is one of man's great inventions, bringing light, warmth and comfort for work and play. And the men in white coats make sure that we can all safely enjoy the power at our fingertips. With ever more high-tech products on the market, that power is set to grow, along with the need for electrical testing. Our tests help to make sure that laptops do not explode if their batteries overheat or that toasters grill bread and not hands! concludes Philippe Sissoko.