Oxygen, Moisture, CO₂ & Light Barrier Testing for Packaging Materials

A single breach in packaging integrity can compromise product safety, accelerate spoilage, and expose your business to costly regulatory penalties and reputational damage. As one of the leading barrier property testing laboratories in UAE, METS Lab provides high-precision analysis to evaluate how effectively packaging materials resist the transmission of gases, moisture, and light — before they reach the market or cause product failures. Our ISO-accredited laboratory utilizes advanced permeation and transmission measurement systems to ensure every sample is assessed against rigorous ASTM, ISO, and DIN benchmarks. By providing comprehensive characterization of oxygen transmission rates, water vapour permeability, and related barrier parameters, we help manufacturers demonstrate packaging performance and compliance with confidence. We deliver detailed, data-driven reports necessary for product certification, regulatory submissions, shelf-life validation, and sustainable packaging development.

Our Core Barrier Property Testing Services Include

• Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) Testing
• Water Vapour Transmission Rate (WVTR / MVTR) Testing
• Carbon Dioxide Transmission Rate (CO₂TR) Testing
• Light Transmission & UV Barrier Testing
• Nitrogen & Other Gas Permeability Testing
• Grease & Oil Resistance Testing

Why Barrier Property Testing is Important?

Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) Testing

Oxygen transmission rate testing measures the volume of oxygen passing through a packaging film or material per unit area per unit time. Oxygen ingress is one of the primary causes of food spoilage, pharmaceutical degradation, and oxidation of sensitive products. In the UAE, food safety regulations and international packaging standards increasingly mandate oxygen barrier data for modified atmosphere packaging and active packaging systems. As a leading barrier property testing laboratory in UAE, METS Lab provides comprehensive OTR testing in compliance with the following standards:

• Standard Test Method for Oxygen Gas Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a Coulometric Sensor — ASTM D3985
• Standard Test Method for Determination of Oxygen Gas Transmission Rate, Permeability and Permeance at Controlled Relative Humidity Through Barrier Materials — ASTM F1927

Water Vapour Transmission Rate (WVTR) Testing

Water vapour transmission rate testing evaluates the rate at which moisture migrates through packaging materials. Moisture ingress or egress is a critical failure mode for food, pharmaceutical, electronics, and hygiene products. Effective moisture barrier performance directly impacts shelf life, product quality, and compliance with regulatory moisture content specifications. At METS Lab, we conduct specialist analysis to precisely measure water vapour permeability under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. Our WVTR testing is conducted in accordance with the following standards:

• Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials — gravimetric cup method — ASTM E96
• Standard Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a Modulated Infrared Sensor — ASTM F1249
• Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of water-vapour transmission rate using the capacitance sensor method — ISO 15106-1
• Determination of water-vapour transmission rate using an electrolytic detection sensor method — ISO 15106-3

Carbon Dioxide Transmission Rate (CO₂TR) Testing

Carbon dioxide transmission rate testing is critical for businesses involved in beverage packaging, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), and carbonated product containers. CO₂ permeation through packaging walls leads to loss of carbonation, flavour degradation, and reduced shelf life. At METS Lab, we perform precise CO₂ permeability measurements to help clients validate the barrier effectiveness of their packaging formats. CO₂ transmission testing is performed in accordance with the following standards:

• Standard Test Method for Determining Gas Permeability Characteristics of Plastic Film and Sheeting — ASTM D1434
• Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of gas-transmission rate using a differential-pressure method — ISO 15105-1
• Determination of gas permeability of plastics films and thin sheets — Manometric method — DIN 53380-2

Light Transmission & UV Barrier Testing

Light transmission and ultraviolet barrier testing evaluates the ability of packaging materials to block or attenuate visible light and UV radiation. Light-sensitive products — including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, dairy products, and fine chemicals — require packaging that provides effective light barriers to prevent photodegradation. At METS Lab, we follow internationally recognized methods to assess total light transmittance, UV blocking efficiency, and haze values across the full spectral range. Our testing is in accordance with the following standards:

• Standard Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics — ASTM D1003
• Standard Test Method for Transparency of Plastic Sheeting — ASTM D1746
• Plastics — Determination of the total luminous transmittance of transparent materials — ISO 13468-1
• Determination using double-beam instrument with reference beam — ISO 13468-2

Key Parameters in Barrier Property Testing

METS Lab provides comprehensive barrier property analysis across all major test categories. As a leading barrier property testing laboratory in UAE, we utilize advanced permeation measurement systems and strictly follow ASTM, ISO, and DIN standards to evaluate critical transmission and permeability properties. This ensures precise data for packaging validation, shelf-life studies, and regulatory compliance. Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) Testing

Parameter	Key Standards
Oxygen Transmission Rate (cc/m²/day)	ASTM D3985 / ASTM F1927
Oxygen Permeability Coefficient	ISO 15105-2 / DIN 53380-3
OTR at Controlled RH (%)	ASTM F1927
Permeance (cc/m²/day/atm)	ASTM D3985 / ISO 15105-2
Activation Energy of Permeation	ISO 15105-2
OTR vs Temperature Profile	ASTM D3985

Water Vapour Transmission Rate (WVTR) Testing

Parameter	Key Standards
Water Vapour Transmission Rate (g/m²/day)	ASTM E96 / ASTM F1249
Moisture Vapour Permeability	ISO 15106-1 / ISO 15106-3
WVTR at 38°C / 90% RH	ASTM F1249
WVTR at 23°C / 50% RH	ASTM E96 / ISO 15106-3
Water Vapour Permeance	ASTM E96

 CO₂ Transmission Rate Testing

Parameter	Key Standards
CO₂ Transmission Rate (cc/m²/day)	ASTM D1434 / ISO 15105-1
CO₂ Permeability Coefficient	DIN 53380-2 / ISO 15105-1
CO₂ Permeance	ASTM D1434

Light Transmission & UV Barrier Testing

Parameter	Key Standards
Total Luminous Transmittance (%)	ASTM D1003 / ISO 13468-1
Haze Value (%)	ASTM D1003
UV Transmittance (280–400 nm)	ISO 13837/ASTM E903
Clarity / Transparency (%)	ASTM D1746
Spectral Transmittance Profile	ISO 13468-1 / ISO 13468-2/ASTM E903

Industries We Serve

Our facility provides specialized barrier property analysis across a wide range of sectors. By ensuring compliance with international standards, we help partners validate packaging performance, substantiate product claims, and meet regulatory requirements. We regularly serve the following industries for barrier property testing services:

• Food & Beverage Packaging Manufacturers
• Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Packaging
• Flexible Packaging & Laminate Producers
• Cosmetics & Personal Care Packaging
• Electronics & Semiconductor Packaging
• Agricultural Film & Greenhouse Film Producers
• Sustainable & Biodegradable Packaging Developers
• Industrial & Specialty Film Manufacturers

Why Choose METS Lab?

With extensive experience in the region’s industrial and regulatory landscape, Middle East Testing Services (METS Lab) is a leading barrier property testing laboratory in UAE. We combine technical expertise with advanced laboratory infrastructure to deliver reliable results that support your packaging validation, certification, and compliance goals: Comprehensive Reporting: Our detailed reports include permeation curves, transmission rate values, and barrier efficiency data to support product certification and shelf-life claims. Expert Technical Team: Our scientists are experienced in interpreting complex barrier property data and can provide tailored guidance on test selection, standard applicability, and result interpretation.

FAQ Section

What is Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) and why does it matter?

OTR measures the volume of oxygen that passes through a packaging material over a set period under defined conditions. It is a critical parameter for food and beverage packaging, as high oxygen ingress accelerates oxidation, spoilage, and colour degradation. Manufacturers of oxygen-sensitive products must demonstrate that their packaging meets OTR specifications to ensure product quality and shelf life.

What is the difference between permeability and transmission rate?

Transmission rate (e.g. OTR, WVTR) measures the total flux of a gas or vapour through a specific material sample under defined conditions. Permeability is a material property normalized for thickness, allowing comparison between materials of different gauges. Both values are important depending on whether you are evaluating a specific packaging format or comparing raw materials.

Which standard should I use for OTR testing of food packaging?

The choice of standard depends on your target market and packaging format. ASTM D3985 and ASTM F1927 are widely accepted for film and sheeting in North American markets. ISO 15105-2 is commonly required for European and international regulatory submissions. Our technical team can guide you on the most appropriate standard for your product and market.

How long does barrier property testing take?

Test turnaround varies depending on the method and the permeability level of the material. Standard OTR and WVTR tests typically complete within 5 to 10 business days for moderate-barrier materials. High-barrier materials with very low transmission rates may require extended equilibration times of several weeks. We provide realistic timelines at project initiation based on sample characteristics.

Can you test both flexible films and rigid containers?

We test flexible films, multilayer laminates, rigid films, and sheet materials. For rigid containers and bottles, we can advise on appropriate test adaptations and relevant standards. Our flexible testing programs are designed to support packaging development, material qualification, and final product validation alike.

Do your test results support packaging certification and shelf-life validation?

Our testing is conducted in compliance with the standards required by major certification schemes, regulatory authorities, and retailer technical requirements. Our comprehensive reports are structured to meet the documentation requirements of certification bodies and support shelf-life modelling studies.

Need specialized barrier property testing? Share your project details with us, and we’ll provide a personalized quote to meet your requirements.