BAM Video films may be obtained on request in DVD or VHS format, see contact information on the right. Professional formats can be made available to the media.
BAM Video no 68, 2009, 8:12 min, FLV, 54 MB
The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing BAM is responsible for working towards safety in technology and chemistry. It is making a significant contribution to recognising the dangers inherent in technology and keeping risks at a minimum. For experiments of high danger potential BAM uses a test site comprising twelve square kilometres of land situated fifty kilometres from Berlin. Here, BAM Test Site Technical Safety has been built during the past years. As a result, BAM has obtained a test site which is exceptional in Europe. There are several separate test areas to be used by chemists, physicists, engineers and biologists. They work on developing and improving experimental procedures and legal directives aimed at ensuring the safe handling of hazardous materials, chemicals and technical equipment. The interdisciplinary research of the different departments results in the continuous elaboration of methods to ensure technical safety.
BAM Video no 66, 2009, 10:10 min, FLV, 54 MB
The agricultural use of sewage sludge is highly dubious due to the sometimes high level of pollutants and will be sharply reduced in the future. This means that sewage sludge must be increasingly fed into utilisation schemes where the nutrients, in particular phosphorus, are recovered. The EU project SUSAN followed the strategy that sewage sludge is treated in mono-incinerators (plant incinerating sewage sludge only) and the resulting sewage sludge ash is processed into a marketable phosphorus-rich fertiliser.
Division 4.3 Environmental Material and Product Properties
EU project SUSAN
BAM Video no 66, 2009, 12:10 min, FLV, 20 MB
For BAM, pyrotechnics is an important working field. BAM issues approvals for pyrotechnical and blasting accessories and carries out the required tests. It acts in the mandatory area, provides expert opinions and advises political authorities and industry. Staff members participate in standardisation committees and carry out audits at producers. Apart from pyrotechnical articles, airbags and seatbelt pretensioners are being tested in BAM's laboratories, as well as igniters and special pyrotechnical articles for stage- and film-effects.The video film shows the working group Pyrotechnics performing their daily work and explains their tasks in detail.
BAM Video no 64, 2009, 14:10 min, FLV, 78 MB
In recent years, the production of solar modules has increased strongly. The amount of waste materials originating from damaged and end-of-life photovoltaic modules is expected to rise because of the growing photovoltaic capacities. The recycling of these modules is of major importance due to economical and ecological reasons. The recovery of wafers from conventional silicon modules is relatively easy to perform. In contrast, the recycling of thin film modules is posing a technical challenge. The RESOLVED project is aimed to present a solution to this problem. RESOLVED is a demonstration project within the EU-programme LIFE-Environment.
Division 4.3 Environmental Material and Product Properties
EU project RESOLVED
BAM Video no 60, 2007, 13:46 min, FLV, 95 MB
High-alloy steel production generates large amounts of high-grade steel slag. This slag has so far only been re-used to a small extent, for instance as an additive in the cement industry. A method for recovering valuable metallic materials from high-grade steel slags has been developed in the RECARC EU project, and at the same time optimizing the slag quality. The results provide an important contribution to saving natural resources and the environment.
Division 4.3 Environmental Material and Product Properties
EU project RECARC
BAM Video no 58, 2005, 8:12 min, FLV, 47 MB
Composite fibre materials are increasingly being used in lightweight structures such as aeroplanes, wind turbines, automobiles or railway vehicles. Since these new materials are gaining in importance, knowledge about their service life under various external conditions is necessary for their safe use. BAM is developing test methods for assessing their reliability and long-term behaviour, characterisation of their mechanical characteristics and damage assessment.
BAM Video no 56, 2002, 17:22 min, FLV, 125,5 MB
BAM is the competent authority for testing and analyses and quality assurance in certification procedures for containers which transport radioactive substances. If a manufacturer requests the approval for a type of container, BAM performs the stipulated tests. Approvals granted by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) are based on the official test certificate issued by BAM. In addition, BAM is the competent authority for the approval of special types of radioactive substances, "radioactive substances in special form". These are used in medical instruments for example.
Division 3.3 Safety of Transport Containers
Division 3.4 Safety of Storage Containers
BAM Video no 53, 2001, 11:11 min, FLV, 78 MB
The packaging industry is one of the largest industries in Germany. Packaging containing dangerous goods must be absolutely safe. BAM is competent in testing, approval and quality assurance of dangerous goods packaging. The results from testing and research are integrated into national and international standards and legislation. BAM provides advice for industry and the Ministries. Databases, such as Datenbank GEFARHRGUT (Dangerous Goods Database) and information on securing dangerous cargos are available to the public.
BAM Video no 49, 1999, 7:30 min, FLV, 49 MB
CASTOR containers are manufactured in Germany and are used for the transportation and intermediate storage of irradiated fuel elements from nuclear power stations. How does a CASTOR behave in a serious accident? This was demonstrated by a full-scale test in BAM in 1999. A rail tank partially filled with liquid propane was exposed to a fire until it exploded. Parts of the tank hit the CASTOR container which was positioned directly beside the rail tank. The CASTOR container was overturned and dug itself into the soil 10 m away but remained intact.
Division 3.3 Safety of Transport Containers
Division 3.4 Safety of Storage Containers
BAM Video no 47, 1999, 16:39 min, FLV, 120 MB
Is the effect of a fire sufficient to make a rail tank burst? Does a fire brigade have enough time to start danger mitigating measures? These questions were answered by BAM in 1999 after a spectacular test. A rail tank with a volume of 45 m3 was partially filled with 10 m3 of propane and exposed to a fire. Next to the tank was an empty CASTOR container fresh from the factory. After only 15 minutes the rail tank exploded. The CASTOR container was subject to a direct hit, overturned and dug itself into the soil 10 m away without sustaining any damage.
Division 3.2, Tanks for Dangerous Goods and Accidental Mechanics
BAM Video no 45, 1999, 7:45 min, FLV, 53,6 MB
Modern industry, space technology and medical technology place enormous demands on new high-performance materials. These demands are placed on non-metallic composite materials, industrial ceramics and medical bone substitutes because they all have to withstand extreme loads. Testing these new materials needs suitable methods. X-ray topography makes it possible to test high-performance materials using non-destructive techniques.
Department 6 Materials Protection and Surface Technologies
Division 5.4 Materials Technologies of Advanced Ceramics and Composites
BAM Video no 43, 1999, 12:00 min, FLV, 84 MB
The safety and load-bearing capacity of bridges must be regularly tested. In addition to visual methods, BAM also uses a self-developed early warning system which is based on oscillation calculations. This method enables additional information on the building condition to be collected. In this way safety standards can be improved, maintenance costs reduced and information can be provided about the expected service life of a structure.
Orders
BAM Federal Institute for Materials
Research and Testing
Technical inquiries
Andreas Kelling
Unter den Eichen 44-46
12203 Berlin
phone:
+49 30 8104-3033
email:
Andreas.Kelling@bam.de
