scope:

This Defence Standard specifies requirements for procedural and technical aspects and guidelines to be followed in relation to testability during development of equipment for the UK armed forces. It should be used in conjunction with BS EN 60706-5 Edition 2, Maintainability of Equipment, Part 5 Testability and Diagnostic Testing.

This document is intended to be used throughout the acquisition chain from the customer to the prime contractor, down to individual sub-contractors and suppliers of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) equipment. 

The activities required to achieve Testability are likely to be specific to each project. The concepts can be applied to all types of products (bespoke, COTS), regardless of the technology (mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, software) they employ. 

The objective of the standard is to ensure that testability requirements are defined by the customer early in the procurement phase, incorporated into the design, implemented, documented and verified. 

The Standard provides guidance on the Testability process including:

• a definition of testability
• why it is carried out
• when it should be carried out
• how and what should be specified
• what it means in practice
• how it should be assessed
• other aspects that should be considered.