Testing that Reaches the World
ROPS / FOPS Testing
The Clark Testing Structural Testing Laboratory provides ROPS, FOPS & TOPS testing services in accordance with SAE J/ISO 3471 to qualify structures and cabs typically installed on almost any type of operator driven or stationary machinery. These ROPS, FOPS, & TOPS tests insure the protection and safety of operators from a rollover (ROPS), tip over (TOPS) and a falling object (FOPS). Clark Testing has facilities and capabilities to perform destructive testing of large off-road equipment requiring extreme loads up to 1 million pounds.
The Structural Testing Laboratory has capabilities that include customized structural test programs with advanced Finite Elemental Analysis (FEA) capabilities which allow Clark Testing to utilize high tensile materials, significantly reducing weight and cost. Ensuring operator safety while using mechanical equipment is of paramount importance particularly for equipment that operates in hazardous environments or uneven terrain. Delivering industry-recognized safety evaluations and testing for specialized safety installations that protect operators from specified hazards. Safety testing protocols include: Rollover protective structures (ROPS), Falling object protective structures (FOPS), Tip-over protective structures (TOPS).
ROPS / FOPS Testing Standards:
- ISO 3471 ROPS Testing
- ISO 3471:2008 specifies performance requirements for metallic roll-over protective structures (ROPS) for earth-moving machinery, as well as a consistent and reproducible means of evaluating the compliance with these requirements by laboratory testing using static loading on a representative specimen.
- ISO 3449 ROPS Testing
ISO 3449:2004 specifies laboratory tests for measuring the structural characteristics of, and gives performance requirements in a representative test for, falling-object protective structures (FOPS) intended for use on ride-on earth-moving machines as defined in ISO 6165. It is applicable to both FOPS supplied as an integral part of the machine and those supplied separately for attachment to the machine. It is not applicable to FOPS intended for use on landfill compactors, excavators, rollers, trenchers, pipelayers, for the additional seat for operation of an attachment (e.g. attachment backhoe), or on machines with a power rating of less than 15 kW.
- Level I FOPS Testing
Impact strength for protection from small falling objects (e.g. bricks, small concrete blocks, hand tools) encountered in operations such as highway maintenance, landscaping and other construction site services
- Level II FOPS Testing
- Impact strength for protection from heavy falling objects (e.g. trees, rocks) for machines
