Advantages:

• low leakage rates detectable
• no vacuum in the test chamber necessary
• no influence on the measurement result through thermal effects
• cost-efficient and maintenance-free sensor system

Drawbacks:

• for complex test specimen geometries, homogenization of test gas difficult under atmospheric pressure
• eventually high extension of cycle time caused by helium contamination in test chamber
• disturbances through natural occurrence of helium in the atmosphere
• often unsuitable for testing plastic parts due to high permeation of helium