Maritime Life Support

Test & Evaluation (T&E) is of critical importance to ensure modern high-performing and complex diving and submarine escape systems operate effectively, efficiently and safely in the world’s oceans. QinetiQ continues to set the pace in this demanding and challenging field by focussing on the critical questions, taking full account of technological advances and providing timely and essential evidence when needed.

We remain at the forefront of T&E, operating the Diving and Hyperbaric Test Centre (DHTC) which operates a unique range of specialist facilities and capabilities for the research, testing and evaluation of diving, submarine escape and other hyperbaric systems.. Our world-class test facilities include the Life Support Systems Laboratory (LSSL), Experimental Diving Tank (EDT), the hydrostatic and extreme temperature Tank (HETT) and the Hyperbaric Trials Unit (HTU).

With our wealth of experience in diving and escape system experimentation, performance analysis and the development and exploitation of empirical and semi-empirical methods, we provide efficient and fast turn-around assessment of diving and submarine escape system performance. Our resources, insight and expertise help to avoid human casualties, protect people in extreme environments and provide thorough testing of leading-edge diving equipment for military and commercial use. The DHTC can support rapid forensic investigations of diving and life support equipment following serious incidents.

Although configuration of the HTU specifically enables assessment of submarine escape systems and components, the Unit is also used to support development and innovation programmes to ensure new equipment meets the standards required in extreme underwater environments. By recreating the actual pressure conditions when escaping from a submerged submarine - completely independent of the performance of the components under test – the Unit enables escape system components to be evaluated against any defined test standards. This provides the service flexibility required for a diverse range of test programmes – from pipeline pigs for the oil and gas industry to accurate pressure cycling trials of submersible components and complex testing of deep diving equipment.

DHTC Performance Assessments deliver substantial benefits for customers:

• Exhaustive testing of system components against defined standards
• Independent Verification and Validation of system performance
• Unique Submarine Escape facility
• The foundation of UK MOD submarine Safe to Escape policy and guidance
• Support to Safety Case development
• Minimised through-life costs and reduced risk
• Can pressure and function test equipment to 1500 m.

QinetiQ is a long-term partner of the UK Royal Navy for diving and life support research as well as testing and evaluation. We have unrivalled knowledge and insight in the field of diving and life support and, for more than three decades, we have delivered these specialist services for a wide range of organisations including NATO, UK Health and Safety Executive and commercial diving equipment providers such as James Fisher Defence (JFD).

We are one of the world’s leading research organisations into hyperbaric physiological effects in diving and other environments. All of our Diving & Life Support Services are supported by an extensive range of unique and truly world class facilities at the Diving and Hyperbaric Test Centre in Gosport, UK. Our independence from manufacturers, suppliers and end users always ensures our impartiality and enables us to provide rapid response forensic testing services for the investigation of serious diving incidents on a regular basis.

We are renowned internationally for our expertise in the development of equipment operation and maintenance procedures, optimisation of breathing gas composition and decompression requirements as well as pragmatic decompression procedures. Our team of technical experts have drafted and acted as the main technical point of contact for the development of NATO, MOD, British, European and ISO standards for diving related equipment and systems. Our specialist advisory services encompass the principles of hazard and accident identification and quantified risk assessment for diving breathing apparatus, diving procedures and life-support systems.

QinetiQ Diving & Life Support Services include:

• Equipment Testing and Validation – providing uncrewed and crewed testing services to define the safe performance of diving systems.
• Incident Investigation – rapid response forensic service for investigating diving equipment involved in serious incidents, including the provision of expert witness.
• Diver Performance Optimisation, Testing & Advice – providing assessment of gas toxicity, decompression profiles, effects of sound and thermal protection for optimal diver performance.
• Diving Safety and Assessment – development of standards for diving equipment and systems, building safe optimised diving procedures and technical support to equipment safety cases.
• Diving Medical Support – medical support to diving operations including the provision of hyperbaric oxygen therapies at St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester, along with the capability to perform diving medicals.

Effective and reliable Submarine Escape, Rescue, Abandonment & Survival (SMERAS) is of critical importance in submarine design and operation and many of the world’s submarine fleets have benefitted from QinetiQ’s wide range of proven support services in this specialist area. Our highly qualified team of submarine escape and rescue experts respond to both planned work and unplanned activities and we have undertaken trials and provided Guardbook advice for the UK Royal Navy, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian and Canadian Navies. We are a long-established partner for SMERAS research, test and evaluation for the UK Royal Navy and are world leaders in research into physiological effects in the SMERAS environment.

QinetiQ has developed an advanced software model that enables air-usage to be simulated when components of escape systems are added or changed or when different tower geometries are being considered. Scenarios can be simulated by the model in order to provide information on the impact of potential safety issues early in the design phase. Our SMERAS team is directly involved with extensive and fully instrumented tower trials conducted at sea, with data used to calibrate and validate the models to generate reliable predictions during interrogation.

The team delivers unique support on submarine escape trials, providing all of the equipment for measuring flow rates, temperature, hood levels of water, tower levels of water and pressure. From this data it is possible to determine if the escape tower is running too slow or too fast and to establish its optimum operating performance to maximise escape opportunities. QinetiQ also provides a rapid response team of Submarine Escape Training Tank (SETT) qualified personnel, ready to go to sea and conduct trials at any time.

QinetiQ’s SMERAS Support Services deliver benefits using a unique range of world class facilities - including our Hyperbaric Trials Unit.  We deliver impartial advice that is independent of any supplier, manufacturer or end user.

SMERAS Support Service

• Concept Design & Development
• Tower Escape Systems
• Surface Abandonment
• DISSUB Survival
• Submersible Rescue
• Audit and Assessment

We understand the importance of assuring people’s safety when operating in challenging enclosed environments such as submarines and submersibles, armoured fighting vehicles, aircraft and spacecraft. With experience spanning more than 30 years, we are established leaders in the modelling and assessment of enclosed atmospheres.

QinetiQ provides independent advice and guidance on atmosphere control equipment and test and evaluation of air quality, as well as field trials and a range of design and support services.

Our comprehensive range of services include:

• Test and evaluation of air quality to identify issues and demonstrate compliance
• Preparation and management of air quality field trials
• Design and support of air quality equipment and systems
• Advice on the removal of contaminants.

QinetiQ is the only commercial organisation able to offer such a broad range of services, delivering advice and guidance on enclosed atmosphere control that is independent of any supplier. Our services are supported by an extensive range of state-of-the-art equipment, facilities and software. Our Environmental Sciences Laboratory has UKAS accreditation for the analysis of compressed gases (e.g. air for breathing apparatus) and carbon dioxide absorbing materials.

We provide strategic support throughout the full lifecycle of an enclosed environment from design and acquisition through to operations and disposal. Our services are delivered by a team of highly knowledgeable scientists and engineers who have extensive experience in the application of science and technology to all aspects of atmosphere control.

Until now, the design of an enclosed ventilation system has been limited to static studies of flow rates and volumes based on the designer’s experience. QinetiQ’s proprietary software, BREATH, creates real-time simulations of the air flows through a proposed design to quickly highlight any potential flaws at the design stage. As it is an entirely virtual process, multiple redesigns are easily created and then tested, long before the system leaves the drawing board.

QinetiQ is able to provide:

• World leading expertise in all aspects of atmosphere control, provided by highly qualified engineers and scientists
• Extensive atmosphere control research and development capabilities
• A deep understanding of enclosed environments and associated safety issues
• Analysis of compressed gases (e.g. air for breathing apparatus) and carbon dioxide absorbing materials in UKAS accredited laboratories