Helium Leak Testing Services

Helium leak testing services in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the UAE — sniffing, hard vacuum and integral hood methods by EIAC-accredited ITMAD, detecting leak rates as low as 1×10⁻¹² mbar·l·s⁻¹ and locating leaks precisely. Last reviewed: August 2026.

Helium leak testing detects leaks between one thousand and one million times smaller than pressure decay methods can resolve. The helium atom is small enough to pass through paths that hold back other gases, and mass spectrometer detection responds to helium alone — so moisture, process residues and atmospheric conditions produce no false indications.

Sensitivity

The hard vacuum technique resolves leak rates as low as 1×10⁻¹² mbar·l·s⁻¹; sniffing detects to around 1×10⁻⁶ mbar·l·s⁻¹. For scale, a leak of one cubic millimetre per second is roughly 1×10⁻³ mbar·l·s⁻¹ — several orders of magnitude larger than what this method finds.

Methods

• Helium sniffingThe component is pressurised with helium and a hand-held sniffer probe is scanned across weld seams, flanges, seals and valve packing. Used for large assemblies, pipelines and anything that cannot be placed in a vacuum chamber.
• Hard vacuum (vacuum spray)The component is evacuated and helium sprayed on the outside. Helium entering through a leak path reaches the mass spectrometer connected to the evacuated system. Highest sensitivity available, suited to pressure vessels and sealed assemblies.
• Integral hood — under pressureThe object is pressurised with helium and enclosed in a collection hood. Escaping helium accumulates and the detector measures total leak rate. Used where a whole-item figure is required rather than a location.
• Bombing testFor hermetically sealed components with an internal cavity. The item is held in a helium pressure chamber for an extended period so helium penetrates any leak path, then transferred to a vacuum chamber where escaping helium is measured. Used for sealed electronics, semiconductor packages, ampoules and small pressure-tight assemblies that cannot be connected to a detector directly.
• Integral hood — under vacuumThe object is evacuated and surrounded by a helium-filled hood. Gives a cumulative total leak rate, suited to small closed vessels, medical devices and semiconductor components.
• Bubble leak testingDirect pressure or vacuum box technique. The surface is wetted with a surfactant solution and pressure differential applied; bubbles form at a through-wall defect. Far less sensitive than helium, but fast, low cost and suited to large weld seams and tank floors where the leak sizes of interest are well within its range.

Where it applies

• Oil and gas — pipelines, pressure vessels, valve assemblies, flanges, wellhead components
• Power generation — boilers, condensers, steam turbines, heat exchangers
• Marine and offshore — vessels, rigs, subsea equipment, offshore containers
• Chemical and petrochemical — reactors, storage tanks, process pipework
• Manufacturing — closed vessels, vacuum chambers, production line verification
• Aerospace and defence — hydraulic and fuel system components, sealed enclosures
• Automotive — engine components, fuel tanks, heat exchangers, HVAC

Why helium rather than pressure decay

• Detects leaks orders of magnitude smaller
• Selective to helium, so no false positives from moisture or other gases
• Locates the leak precisely rather than only confirming one exists
• Dry and temperature-independent, so no drying before return to service
• Quantified, reproducible leak rates suitable for an audit trail
• Finds micro-leaks early, before they develop into failures

Standards applied

• ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section V, Article 10 — leak testing, covering the detector probe, tracer probe and hood techniques, with acceptance to the relevant construction code section
• ASTM E498 — leaks using the mass spectrometer leak detector in the tracer probe mode
• ASTM E499 — leaks using the mass spectrometer leak detector in the detector probe mode
• ASTM E493 — leaks using the mass spectrometer leak detector in the inside-out testing mode
• ISO 20485 — tracer gas method for non-destructive leak testing
• Client, project and manufacturer specifications where these set a tighter acceptance threshold

Calibration and reference leaks

A leak rate figure is only meaningful if the instrument was calibrated against a known standard at the time of test. The detector is calibrated using a certified reference leak before testing begins and verified again on completion, so any drift during the test is identified rather than assumed absent. Response time and background helium level are established before measurement, since residual helium in the working area will otherwise mask or exaggerate a result. Reference leak certification and calibration records form part of the report.

Acceptance criteria

Acceptance is set by the code or specification governing the item, not by the test method. Pressure equipment built to ASME normally carries an acceptance threshold stated in the construction code; process and pipeline work is more often governed by a client specification. Where no criterion has been specified, we will say so before testing rather than apply a default — a leak rate reported against the wrong threshold is worse than no test, because it gets recorded as a pass.

Preparation and limitations

Surfaces must be clean and dry at the test location, as oil, water and residues will temporarily seal a leak path and reopen in service. Components previously exposed to helium retain background gas that must be allowed to dissipate before a valid test. Very large volumes take longer to evacuate and to reach a stable background, which affects scheduling on shutdown work. Where a leak is intermittent or opens only at operating temperature or pressure, the test conditions must reproduce that state, and we will advise where they cannot.

Accreditation and coverage

ITMAD is accredited by the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) as an inspection body, is an ADNOC approved inspection contractor, and is listed on the Abu Dhabi City Municipality register of Approved Third Party Inspection Bodies. Certificates are issued in the format required by the governing authority, including Dubai Municipality and the Dubai free zone authorities, and inspection is carried out across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the northern Emirates. Testing is carried out by qualified NDT technicians at client sites, fabrication yards and offshore facilities across all seven Emirates.

What you receive

• A report identifying the item tested, method applied and test parameters
• Measured leak rate, with the acceptance threshold applied
• Location of each leak found
• Instrument calibration traceability
• Pass or fail against your specification

Frequently asked questions

What is helium leak testing used for?

Detecting and locating leaks in pressurised systems, vacuum systems, sealed components and pipelines — wherever an undetected leak would create a safety, environmental or quality risk.

How does it compare to other methods?

Mass spectrometer detection resolves leak rates as low as 1×10⁻¹² mbar·l·s⁻¹, up to a million times more sensitive than pressure decay, and unlike bubble testing it gives a quantified result.

Is helium leak testing safe?

Helium is non-toxic, non-flammable and chemically inert. As bottled helium is an asphyxiant, work is carried out with appropriate ventilation and confined space controls.

Which method suits my application?

It depends on component size and geometry, the sensitivity required, and whether the item can be pressurised or evacuated. Our engineers assess this and recommend the technique.

Is testing available across the UAE?

Yes — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and all other Emirates, including mobilisation to site and offshore.

Is ITMAD accredited for this work?

ITMAD is accredited by the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC), so inspection and test results are formally recognised across the UAE and by international clients operating in the region.