Sigma-HSE Ltd
About us
Sigma-HSE is a global leader in Process Safety Management, supporting clients across Europe, America, and Asia.
We address one of the most critical challenges in the world - ensuring safety in every workplace.
Our dedicated team of engineers and technical experts helps organisations achieve compliance, safeguard teams, and protect operations efficiently and cost effectively.
With a fully equipped ISO/IEC 17025 dust flammability lab and a state of the art Chemical Reaction Hazard and Thermal Screening lab, we deliver precise test data on the flammability, explosivity, and thermal reactivity of your materials.
We offer a comprehensive suite of specialist safety services, including Process Safety Management, DSEAR/ATEX, HAZOP, HAC, Vent Sizing, Chemical Reaction Evaluation, and Incident Investigation.
Sigma-HSE also provides bespoke workshops, open seminars, and tailored in person training, designed for all levels from operational staff to directors, helping embed a strong safety culture throughout your organisation.
Transform your process safety today. Protect your teams, your business, and the environment with Sigma-HSE
Products
Chemical Process Evaluation Testing (DSC, ARC, ARSST etc.)
Our CPE laboratory provides validated, scale-representative data essential for moving your processes from laboratory-scale synthesis to full-scale production safely. By integrating thermal screening, reaction calorimetry, and adiabatic testing, we identify thermal runaway risks before they become operational liabilities. We’ll give you the technical evidence needed to justify design decisions and demonstrate to regulators that your chemical reaction hazards are under total, documented control.
Dust Combustibility Testing (Group A/B)
The Dust Combustibility (Group A/B) test is conducted to assess whether dust or powder will form a flammable atmosphere or support flame propagation when dispersed as a dust cloud in the open air. This test categorises dust or powder into one of two groups: Combustible (Group A) – Flammable or explosive Non-Combustible (Group B) – Non-flammable or non-explosive
Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE) Testing
This test determines the minimum ignition energy of a dust cloud in the air by using electrical spark ignition. The Minimum Ignition Energy test will aid in characterising, preventing, protecting and mitigating combustible dust explosions and fire hazards.
Minimum Ignition Temperature (MIT) Testing
Our UK laboratory generates Minimum Ignition Temperature (MIT) test data for your combustible, flammable & explosive dust. This test determines the lowest temperature at which a hot surface area will ignite combustible dust or powders when dispersed in air.
Layer Ignition Temperature (LIT) Testing
Our UK laboratory generates flammable & explosive test data for your combustible dust and powders. The layer ignition temperature test determines the lowest temperature at which a heated surface will ignite combustible dusts or powders when settled as a dust layer.
Explosion Severity (Pmax & Kst) Testing
Our UK-based combustible dust testing laboratory generates explosion severity test data for your combustible dusts. This test generates useful data for any dust that can form a flammable atmosphere. It also determines maximum explosion pressure and provides four key values: Pmax – The greatest peak pressure achieved throughout a test series. dP/dtmax – The greatest achieved rate of explosion pressure rise. Kst – A dusts’ explosion severity. St Class – Classification of dusts into classes to help with selection of protective equipment (i.e. explosion suppression and vent sizing). The Explosion Severity test will aid in characterising, preventing, protecting and mitigating combustible dust explosions.
Minimum Explosible Concentration (MEC) Testing
Our UK laboratory generates flammable & explosive test data for your combustible dust and powders. The Minimum Explosible Concentration test is conducted to determine the minimum quantity of combustible dust dispersed in the air, as suspended dust clouds, that can form a flammable atmosphere.
Limiting Oxygen Concentration (LOC) Testing
Our UK laboratory generates flammable & explosive test data for your combustible dust and powders. The Limiting Oxygen Concentration test determines provides data for the design of nitrogen inerting systems or to confirm if combustible dusts or powders are appropriate for processes with a limited oxygen atmosphere.
Burning Behaviour Testing
Our UK laboratory generates burning behaviour test data for your combustible dust and powders. This dust explosion test is conducted to assess the behaviour (severity) of combustion propagation through a material deposit when ignited by an external ignition source.
Flammable Limits (LEL/UEL) Testing
Our UK process safety laboratory generates flammability limits test data for your flammable & explosible liquids, gases, and vapours. This test is conducted to determine the lower and upper flammable concentration limits of chemicals that have sufficient vapour pressure to form flammable mixtures at atmospheric pressures at specific temperatures.
Auto-Ignition Temperature (AIT) Testing
Our UK laboratory generates auto ignition temperature test data for your flammable & explosible liquids, gases, and vapours. The auto-ignition temperature (AIT) test is conducted to determine the lowest temperature at which a substance will produce hot-flame ignition in the air at a specific atmospheric pressure, without the aid of an external energy or ignition source such as a spark or flame. It is also called ‘spontaneous ignition temperature’.
Powder Volume Resistivity Testing
Our UK laboratory generates electrostatic test data for your dusts and powders. The powder volume resistivity test is performed to establish the electrical resistance / conductivity of a solid bulk material – either conductive, static dissipative or insulating.
Liquid Conductivity Testing
Our UK laboratory generates electrostatic test data for your liquids. The liquid conductivity test is conducted to establish whether a liquid will allow an electrical charge to migrate through it or not and therefore evaluate its ability to accumulate and retain a charge.
Surface Resistivity Testing
Our UK laboratory generates surface resistivity test data for to establish whether your liners, bags, gloves and any other sheet materials are either electrically conductive, static dissipative or insulating. Surface resistivity indicates the ability of a material to allow charge to migrate across its surface and hence its electrical conductance.
Volume Resistivity Testing
Our UK laboratory generates volume resistivity test data for to establish whether your material can promote sufficient electrical connection to avoid charge accumulation are in line with the standards guidance on resistivity boundaries.
Powder Charge Relaxation Time Testing
Our UK-based process safety laboratory generates electrostatic test data for your powders. The powder charge relaxation time test is conducted to establish a material’s ability or failure to self-dissipate energy or static charge.
Oxidising Solids – UN Test O.1 Testing
Our UK laboratory generates test data for materials that you are looking to transport. The Oxidising Solids – UN Test O.1 is primarily conducted for the purposes of transportation classification of solid substances.
Self-Heating Solids – UN Test N.4 Testing
Our UK laboratory generates test data for materials that you are looking to transport. The Self Heating Solids – UN Test N.4 is conducted for the purposes of transportation testing for self-heating properties of bulk materials.
Burning Rate – UN Test N.1 Testing
Our UK laboratory generates test data for materials that you are looking to transport. The Readily Combustible Solids or Flammability of Solids (Burning Rate) – UN Test N.1 is primarily conducted for the purposes of transportation classification.
DSEAR Risk Assessments
DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations) requires that a hazard must be present – this is usually the presence of an explosive atmosphere and an effective source of ignition. The key requirements for complying with the regulations revolve around the completion of a thorough risk assessment and the undertaking of a Hazardous Area Classification (HAC). Ultimately, the assessment aims to provide a coherent focus for the identification and mitigation from: flammable substances with explosive and oxidising properties alongside substances corrosive to metal substances that can create explosive atmospheres work activities involving other substances that could create a fire, explosion or similar energetic (energy releasing) event e.g. runaway exothermic reactions, decomposition of unstable substances, dust explosions. the occurrence of industrial incidents caused by fires and explosions
ATEX Risk Assessments
ATEX is the name given to the European directives to ensure that all EU member states create appropriate legislation so that there are appropriate conformity procedures for the health and safety of workers potentially at risk from an explosion in an explosive atmosphere that is caused by work activity. Compliance is implemented in the UK through the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). Manufacturers of ATEX equipment intended to be used in potentially flammable atmospheres or hazardous areas must comply with the Equipment for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (EPS).
Fire Risk Assessments
Our Fire Risk Assessments go beyond tick-box compliance to deliver practical, prioritised recommendations. We’ll reduce your fire risk, lower your insurance premiums, protect your people and assets, and gives you documented evidence of due diligence.
HAZOP Studies
Our HAZOP studies provide a systematic and collaborative evaluation of potential hazards within your plant or process. Our experienced facilitators will identify deviations, assess risk, and identify any gaps in your risk management—delivering a clear, actionable report designed to allow you to strengthen safety, support compliance, and optimise operational performance.
HAZID Studies
A Hazard Identification is a systematic and thorough method for ensuring that all significant hazards are considered and all potential accident triggering events are identified. The study identifies hazards from: Previous operational experience Effect of failure of equipment designed to protect, detect or mitigate hazards Human error
Process Safety Management
Our Process Safety Management services build robust systems tailored to your operations. These are built to help you prevent catastrophic incidents that could devastate communities, destroy assets, result in criminal prosecution, and irreparably damage your reputation.
Comprehensive Safety Review
Our Comprehensive Safety Review pairs your team with a seasoned engineer who identifies safety gaps, clarifies regulations, and provides mentoring. We can be your foundation for building internal capability and delivering peace of mind that your operations can withstand regulatory scrutiny while protecting your workforce.
COMAH Support
Our COMAH support helps you navigate complex regulatory requirements without placing additional strain on internal resources. Your safety reports and management systems meet regulator expectations and stand up in practice. We’ll reduce the risk of enforcement action, protect your licence to operate and avoid fines, prosecution, or enforced shutdowns.
COSHH Assessments
Our COSHH assessments identify chemical health risks across your operations, including hazards that may otherwise be overlooked. We provide practical, proportionate control measures that protect employee health while remaining commercially viable. This supports legal compliance, reduces absence and compensation claims, and demonstrates a clear duty of care.
NEIRA Risk Assessment
Non-electrical equipment is commonly used in the handling and processing of flammable liquids, gases and powders across the process industries. As mechanical equipment can cause frictional heat or sparks during routine operations or equipment-upset conditions, it is necessary to identify and eliminate or control these specific ignition sources. The objective of the assessment known as a Non-Electrical Equipment Ignition Risk Assessment (NEIRA) is undertaken to complete this objective.
LOPA Studies
Our LOPA studies give you the data you need to justify safety investments to management. We can achieve this by focusing resources where they'll have the greatest impact, and demonstrating to regulators that you've taken a rigorous, quantitative approach to managing your major accident hazards.
Functional Safety Studies
Our functional safety studies confirm that your safety systems will perform as required when demand arises. We help you avoid unnecessary over-engineering while ensuring protection remains proportionate to risk. Our documentation will provide clear, defensible evidence for regulators, insurers, and stakeholders managing high-hazard operations.
CompEx Training
Our CompEx training ensures your personnel hold industry-recognised competence for working in explosive atmospheres. We can provide you assurance that ignition risks are properly understood and controlled across your site. This will also protects your organisation from liability, supports insurance requirements, and demonstrates due diligence should an incident occur.
Bespoke Training
Our bespoke training is tailored to your processes, risks, and organisational responsibilities, with no off-the-shelf content. We build real competence that improves decision-making and reduces reliance on external consultants. This strengthens safety culture and ensures clear accountability from shop floor to boardroom.
E-Learning
Our e-learning delivers consistent, high-quality safety training that fits around operational demands. It reduces training costs while ensuring a common baseline of knowledge across your workforce. Completion tracking provides auditable evidence of compliance and ongoing competence management.