Laboratory

BE&K Laboratory meets the requirements of PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and has received a level II approval of Central Laboratory of Technical Inspection (Centralne Laboratorium Dozoru Technicznego) no. LB-140/06. Our engineers have international IWE qualifications and the personnel consists of highly qualified experts with applicable international certificates for non-destructive testing according to EN 473. We make use of modern equipment supplied by leading manufacturers such as Krautkramer, ICM or Parker.

Scope of services:

  • Visual testing (VT)
  • Radiographic testing (RT)
  • Ultrasonic testing (UT)
  • Magnetic-particle testing (MT, MT using UV light)
  • Dye penetrant testing (PT, PT using UV light)
  • Leakage testing with the penetration and negative pressure methods
  • Ultrasonic thickness measurement (UTT, also through anticorrosion layers)
  • Hardness measurement (HB, HRB, HRC, HV)
  • Layer thickness measurement on ferromagnetic and paramagnetic materials
  • Rubber layer thickness measurement
  • Poroscopy testing
  • Assessment of the technical condition of structures
  • Measurement of ferrite content
  • Inspections and commissioning of structures and documentation

Visual testing (VT) is the basic direct testing method. It utilizes different kinds of optical tools such as magnifying glass, telescopic mirrors, fiberscopes, endoscopes and other. Visual testing allows for assessing the condition of the surface when fabricating new elements, performing repairs and inspecting structures in operation such as boilers, high and low pressure tanks, closed profile frameworks, heat exchangers, pipelines and other.

Radiographic Testing (RT) is a nondestructive testing method of inspecting materials for hidden flaws by using the ability of short wavelength electromagnetic radiation (high energy photons) to penetrate various materials. Since the amount of radiation emerging from the opposite side of the material can be detected and measured, variations in this amount (or intensity) of radiation are used to determine thickness or composition of material. Penetrating radiations are those restricted to that part of the electromagnetic spectrum of wavelength less than about 10 nanometers. We perform tests of welded joints, forgings, steel castings, aluminum, bronze and other materials.

Ultrasonic Testing (UT) uses high frequency sound energy to conduct examinations and make measurements. Ultrasonic inspection can be used for flaw detection/evaluation, dimensional measurements, material characterization, and more. The methods used are echo, shadow, phased array and other in order to detect surface, subsurface and inside flaws such as bubbles, cracks, debonding and other. The time needed to obtain the results is one of the advantages of this method. We perform tests of welded joints, forged elements, steel castings, aluminum, bronze, brass and other materials.

Magnetic particle testing is a non-destructive testing process for detecting surface and subsurface discontinuities in ferroelectric materials such as iron, nickel, cobalt, and some of their alloys. The process puts a magnetic field into the part. The piece can be magnetized by direct or indirect magnetization. Direct magnetization occurs when the electric current is passed through the test object and a magnetic field is formed in the material. Indirect magnetization occurs when no electric current is passed through the test object, but a magnetic field is applied from an outside source. The magnetic lines of force are perpendicular to the direction of the electric current which may be either alternating current (AC) or some form of direct current (DC) (rectified AC). The presence of a surface or subsurface discontinuity in the material allows the magnetic flux to leak. Ferrous iron particles are applied to the part. The particles may be dry or in a wet suspension. If an area of flux leakage is present the particles will be attracted to this area. The particles will build up at the area of leakage and form what is known as an indication. The indication can then be evaluated to determine what it is, what may have caused it, and what action should be taken if any.

Ultrasonic thickness measurement is a method of performing non-destructive measurement of the local thickness of a solid element (typically made of metal, if using ultrasound testing for industrial purposes) basing on the time taken by the ultrasound wave to return to the surface. Ultrasonic waves have been observed to travel through metals at a constant speed characteristic to a given alloy with minor variations due to other factors like temperature. Thus, given this information, called celerity, one can calculate the length of the path traversed by the wave. Using this method we can measure structures such as boiler drums, collectors, pipelines, vessels and other.

Hardness measurement: hardness is the measure of how resistant solid matter is to various kinds of permanent shape change when a force is applied. Macroscopic hardness is generally characterized by strong intermolecular bonds, however the behavior of solid materials under force is complex, therefore there are different measurements of hardness: scratch hardness, indentation hardness, and rebound hardness. Hardness is dependent on ductility, elasticity, plasticity, strain, strength, toughness, viscoelasticity, and viscosity. The units in which the results of hardness measurement are given depend on the invasive method used (HV, HB, HRC, HRB). We are also able to conduct non-invasive measurements (also called dynamic) which make use of the elastic properties of the material and kinetic energy of the sampler.

Poroscopy testing is the testing of the integrity/leakage of hydroisolation, chemo-resistant and polyurethane layers and other isolation covers. All isolation layers of max. 7 mm thickness on conductive surfaces (e.g. pipelines, tanks or machines) are inspected using high voltage of 1-20 kV direct current that is generated by a high-voltage defectoscope. The voltage is directed to the probe and the earthing is connected to the ground. When the probe moves along the covered surface, any leakage caused by surface defects is detected by the spark-over triggering an alarm in the defectoscope. The following defects can be detected using this method: sagging, craters, leakage, wrinkling, poor coverage or cracks.