Consumer expectations and water regulations leave no margin for leaking components leaving the factory. A leaking radiator valve, a water heater that fails its pressure test, or an electric shower with a compromised heater circuit seal are all field failures that carry warranty cost, safety liability, and reputational risk. Testing at the point of manufacture is the only reliable way to catch these failures before they reach the installer or end user.
Furness Controls has supplied production line leak testing instruments to domestic appliance and plumbing component manufacturers for over 60 years. Our instruments are built for continuous production use, capable of testing components across a wide range of pressures and volumes with the speed and repeatability that high-volume manufacturing demands.
Standards and Accreditation
Our instruments and calibration services are designed to support the quality and compliance requirements of domestic appliance and plumbing component manufacturers.
Furness Controls holds UKAS accreditation and operates in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 across our calibration laboratories in the UK, France, Germany, and the US. All calibrations are fully traceable to national standards.
Our instruments are suitable for use in programmes requiring compliance with:
Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 - UK plumbing compliance
Water Byelaws 2004
WRAS (Water Regulations Advisory Scheme) - approval of water fittings
Component |
Test Parameters |
Recommended Products |
|---|---|---|
Electric Showers |
Pressure decay leak test Case tests and heater element circuit tests Typical 2 bar test pressure < 6.5 cc/min allowable leak with air |
|
Radiator Control Valve |
Pressure decay leak test 1.8 bar typical test pressure < 5 cc/min leak required |
|
Timed Valve for Public Urinal Flushing |
Pressure decay leak test Typical 5 bar test pressure < 2.95 cc/min leak |
|
Water Diverter |
Pressure decay leak test Typically tested at 3.6 bar 2 cc/min typical air leak limit Multi-step tests allow testing in each position Blockage test checks open positions |
|
Water Filter (with internal filter media) |
Pressure decay leak test Normally tested at 5 bar or 75 PSI Various acceptable leak rates from 1.9 to 3.2 cc/min depending on filter size |
|
Water Heater Vessels |
Pressure decay leak test Prefill @ 0.6 bar, test @ 0.5 bar Permissible leak: 6 cc/min utilising reference volume |
Looking for a more specialised solution?
We design, manufacture, and calibrate all instruments in-house, with our headquarters in East Sussex and dedicated calibration laboratories in France and Germany. If your application falls outside standard parameters, our engineers can develop a bespoke instrument tailored to your exact test requirements - delivering a complete turnkey solution from specification through to calibration and commissioning.
Have a question, want to find out more, or ready to speak to an engineer?
Have a question, want to find out more, or ready to speak to an engineer about your domestic appliance or plumbing testing requirements?
Get in touch below