What Is Impact?
Impact test is a test in which damage, breakage or safety behavior is evaluated by applying a sudden impact to the sample from a defined mass and height. The order and acceptance criteria vary depending on the application area: for battery cells it is an abuse test, for plastics and glass it is a mechanical strength test.
Purpose of Impact
The purpose is to determine the product's resistance to impacts that may occur during use or an accident; In battery application, it is to evaluate the risk of internal short circuit and thermal events as a result of impact.
Which Products Is Impact Applied To?
- Battery cells and modules (abuse tested)
- Plastic sheet and injection parts
- Automotive exterior trim and glass components
- Furniture surface and structural elements
- Packaging and protective enclosures
In Which Sectors Is Impact Used?
Standards Related to Impact
- IEC 62133-2Safety in portable lithium cells and batteries test
- UL 2580Safety in electric vehicle batteries test
- ISO 179-1
- ISO 180
- ASTM D256
- ISO 6603-2
Impact Conditions
- Battery application
- Mass and fall height defined in the standard; A rod is placed on the cell and a blow is applied.
- Polymer application
- Pendulum (Charpy/Izod) or falling weight arrangement
- Specimen temperature
- Room temperature or lower temperature according to specification
- Safety
- Battery tests are carried out in an explosion-proof cabinet
Equipment for Impact
- Falling weight impact device
- Pendulum impact test machine
- Explosion-proof test cell (battery)
- Temperature and voltage recording
- High-speed camera
Sample Requirements for Impact
- In the battery experiment, the sample is fully charged and disposable.
- Polymer samples must be sized and conditioned in accordance with the standard
- The number of samples is determined according to the applied standard
- Impact location must be defined in the specification
Duration of Impact
The moment of impact lasts seconds. In battery experiments, a working day is planned along with the observation period.
Impact Procedure
- 1The sample is identified and the initial state is recorded.
- 2The mechanism to be applied (pendulum, falling weight or battery pulse) is established.
- 3Mass and drop height are set according to the standard.
- 4The blow is applied; force, temperature or absorbed energy are recorded.
- 5In the battery experiment, temperature and voltage are monitored throughout the observation period.
- 6The damage type and result are evaluated.
Impact Acceptance Criteria
Acceptance criteria vary depending on the application area. The typical criterion in battery tests is the absence of fire and explosion; In polymer and glass tests, the minimum impact strength or fracture type is defined in the specification.
Evaluation of Results
In battery application, temperature increase, voltage drop and gas release are evaluated. Material application is based on the energy absorbed and the type of fracture.
Impact Report
- Standard and layout applied
- Mass, height or pendulum capacity
- Sample description and impact location
- Measured energy or temperature/voltage records
- Damage type and observations
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- UN 38.3 (battery transport)
- UNECE R100
- Material product standards
Mobilya Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Impact test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Furniture testing shows that a product stays safe and functional throughout its expected service life. Tests are run with loading cycles representing real use: sitting, leaning back, opening and closing drawers, loading doors, loading shelves and tipping.
The logic of the field rests on the NUMBER OF CYCLES. Sitting on a chair once shows nothing; repeating it tens of thousands of times reveals structural weaknesses. Furniture tests therefore combine static loading with fatigue cycles and define different levels according to intensity of use: domestic use, commercial use and heavy commercial use mean different cycle counts for the same product.
TIP-OVER SAFETY carries particular weight in this family. Because storage furniture tipping onto a child has caused serious injuries and deaths, product standards define separate tests for it: loading with drawers open, hanging from a door and climbing scenarios are simulated. In the United States this subject has become a legislative heading of its own and has produced a mandatory specification.
The second axis is chemical and concerns indoor air quality. Formaldehyde release from wood-based panels and volatile organic compound emissions from coatings and textile components are measured. For formaldehyde, a restriction regulation applies on the EU side and CARB Phase 2 and TSCA Title VI limits in North America; these limits differ and export requires assessment against the destination market.
The third axis is flammability. In upholstered furniture the filling material and the upholstery fabric are assessed together; real ignition sources such as a cigarette and a match flame are simulated. The United Kingdom has historically applied the strictest national regime on this subject.
Surface durability is the fourth axis: abrasion, scratching, stain resistance, heat and moisture resistance, light fastness. These tests show how well the product will keep its appearance and shape commercial expectations particularly for kitchen and office furniture.
There is NO sector-specific CE regime for consumer furniture; safety is demonstrated under the general product safety framework using EN durability standards. For furniture permanently fixed into a structure, construction products legislation may come into play. This distinction matters in project work: a kitchen cabinet and a built-in system fabricated in place can fall under different regimes.
Method groups in this field
Seating
Seat and back loading cycles, arm strength, drop test, tipping resistance, leg and joint strength.
Tables and work surfaces
Static and cyclic loading, horizontal strength, tipping, surface durability.
Storage furniture
Shelf and door loading, drawer cycles, tip-over safety and climbing scenarios.
Beds and mattresses
Durability cycles, edge strength, loss of thickness after loading.
Emissions
Formaldehyde release (chamber, perforator and gas analysis methods), VOC emission test chamber measurements.
Surface and flammability
Abrasion, scratching, staining, heat and moisture resistance; ignitability in upholstered furniture.
Commonly confused in this field
- A result obtained for domestic use does not support a claim of commercial use; the cycle counts and levels are different.
- Tip-over safety is a separate test; passing the durability cycles does not demonstrate tip-over safety.
- Formaldehyde limits differ by market; EU compliance does not mean CARB/TSCA compliance.
- Flammability in upholstered furniture is valid for the COMBINATION of fabric and filling; a change of fabric requires reassessment.
- A result obtained on one model does not cover the whole range; differences in size, material and joints may require separate assessment.
Which decisions these results support
- Determining the durability class for commercial and domestic use
- Tip-over safety and child safety conformity
- Compliance with formaldehyde and VOC emission limits
- Meeting tender and project specification requirements
- Determining destination market requirements for export
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Impact
Which impact test does this page describe?
The document lists impact testing in multiple families: battery abuse, plastics, automotive exterior trim, glass and furniture. That's why the page covers every context; Which layout to apply is determined by your product and specification.