A Setaram C-80 calorimeter has been modified in order to measure the heat flow of energetic materials at pressures up to 69 MPa. A manifold and sample cells capable of operating at high pressure were designed, constructed and evaluated. This paper will describe, in detail, the high pressure manifold construction, safety assessment and calibration. As well, the results for initial trials with ammonium nitrate (AN), and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) at various pressures and heating rates will be discussed. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.