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

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Assessment of police electromagnetic compatibility and radio frequencies

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Radio frequency susceptibility test requirement

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

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

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.