Guidance

Evidential breath-alcohol analysis instruments

These guides describe the technical requirements for type approval for new breath-alcohol testing instruments for police use in Great Britain.

Documents

Evidential breath-alcohol analysis instruments

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Assessment of police electromagnetic compatibility and radio frequencies

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Radio frequency susceptibility test requirement

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Details

This is reference material for manufacturers wishing to develop new equipment. The documents contain details of:

  • the construction of mobile, transportable and fixed evidential breath-test instruments
  • their operations
  • the methods for testing prior to submission to the secretary of state for consideration

These instruments detect and measure ethanol in the expired air from the alveoli (air sacs in the lungs).

You can ask for a copy of the following documents by emailing hota-submissions@homeoffice.gov.uk:

  • Evidential breath alcohol testing instruments (version 1.0, October 1994)
  • Forensic Science Service - electromagnetic immunity test procedures for breath alcohol measuring devices (10 May 2002)

We are aware this paper form may have accessibility issues. We are reviewing it so that we can fix these. Read more about our accessible documents policy

Updates to this page

Published 9 October 2014
Last updated 22 June 2023 + show all updates
  1. Accessible version of 'Radio frequency susceptibility test requirement' added.

  2. Added two new documents: 'Assessment of police electromagnetic compatibility and radio frequencies', and 'Radio frequency susceptibility test requirement'. Added contact details to request further documents.

  3. First published.

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