Testing Facilities

Our specialist testing facilities in Norway are built to carry out small- to large-scale fire and explosion tests under controlled, realistic conditions.

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Purpose-Built Testing Facilities

Gexcon’s dedicated testing facilities on the island of Sotra, near Bergen, Norway, are designed to carry out small-, medium-, and large-scale fire and explosion tests under controlled conditions. 

Our laboratories and outdoor test sites are equipped with a wide range of vessels and setups, allowing for flexible test scenarios involving both gases, dusts for testing mechanical equipment, explosion protection systems, and blast- & fire-resistant products or bespoke testing to meet customer needs. 

Whether for research, equipment testing, or custom studies, our facilities support accurate and practical testing to help you assess hazards and prove product capability and thus help you improve safety, and meet regulatory needs.

Small-Scale Testing Facilities

Most small-scale and laboratory-scale tests are performed at Gexcon’s test laboratory facilities at Steinsland, Sotra, near Bergen, Norway.

A wide range of gas and dust explosion testing projects using vessels in the volume range from less than 1 liter to approximately 2 m3 can usually be performed in the laboratory. In this wide range of test vessels, test scenarios can be varied significantly. Several closed vessels are available, as well as several open or vented test vessels.

Small-scale testing at Gexcon includes both equipment testing, gas and dust explosion research as well as specialised or dedicated testing projects that are tailor-made to suit customer requirements and needs.

The small-scale test facilities at Gexcon’s test laboratory include, among others, the following test vessels:

  • 2.0 litre cylindrical vessel (L/D ~ 2.5m, Pmax = 10 barg)
  • 5.5 litre cylindrical high-pressure vessel (L/D ~ 1.7, Pmax = 200 barg)
  • 20 litre spherical dispersion chamber (D=0.35 m, Pmax = 16 barg)
  • 1.4 m repeated obstacle vessel (L/D ~ 4.7, volume ~130 litre)
  • Transient driver section (L=3.5 m, volume ~315 litre)
  • 0.52 m3 vessel (L/D ~1.0, Pmax = 10 barg)
  • 1.5 m3 rectangular cabinet for equipment testing (L/D ~1.5)
  • And several other test vessels and apparatuses

Mid- and Large-Scale Testing Facilities

All medium-scale and large-scale explosion tests are performed at Gexcon’s test sites at Børnesskogen and Steinsland on the island of Sotra, just outside Bergen, Norway.

Gas and dust explosion testing using vessels in the volume range from 0.5 m3 to 55 m3 can be performed. A wide range of test vessels are available for which the venting configuration(s) and test scenarios can be varied significantly. Several closed vessels are also available.

Large-scale testing at Gexcon includes both equipment testing, gas and dust explosion research as well as specialised or dedicated testing projects that are tailor-made to suit customer requirements and needs.

The large-scale test facilities at Gexcon’s test sites at Sotra include the following test vessels:

  • 0.52 or 1.1 m3 closed/vented vessel (L/D ~ 1.0 or 2.1, Pmax = 10 barg)
  • 2.2 or 3.2 m3 closed/vented vessel (L/D ~ 1.3 or 1.7, Pmax = 10 barg) 
  • 4.6 m3 closed/vented vessel (L/D ~ 0.9, Pmax = 10 barg)
  • 6.1 m3 closed/vented vessel (L/D ~ 1.1, Pmax = 10 barg) 
  • 12.5 m3 closed vessel (L/D ~ 1.2, Pmax = 10 barg) 
  • 25 m3 closed/vented vessel (L/D ~ 2.2, Pmax = 10 barg)  
  • 52.5 m3 cylindrical vessel (L/D ~ 4.5, Pmax = 32 barg) 
  • 55 m3 realistic offshore module (L/D ~ 3.4, Pmax = 3 barg)

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