diff --git a/src/util/cstr_helper.c b/src/util/cstr_helper.c
index 7d005a0..ec51594 100644
--- a/src/util/cstr_helper.c
+++ b/src/util/cstr_helper.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #include "cstr_helper.h"
 
 
-int copy_cstr(const char *source, char **dest)
+int cstr_copy(const char *source, char **dest)
 // Determines length, allocates memory, and returns a null terminated copy
 // Be Aware: caller is responsible for freeing memory
 {
@@ -39,7 +39,20 @@ int copy_cstr(const char *source, char **dest)
 }
 
 
-bool isnullterm_cstr(const char *source)
+bool cstr_validate_id(const char *element_id)
+// Determines if invalid characters are present in an element id string
+{
+    const char *invalid_chars = " \";";
+
+    if (strpbrk(element_id, invalid_chars))
+        return false;
+    else
+        return true;
+}
+
+
+bool cstr_isnullterm(const char *source)
+// Determines if the string passed is null terminated or not
 {
 	if (strchr(source, '\0'))
 		return true;
diff --git a/src/util/cstr_helper.h b/src/util/cstr_helper.h
index c344042..6817f5d 100644
--- a/src/util/cstr_helper.h
+++ b/src/util/cstr_helper.h
@@ -18,8 +18,21 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
 
-int copy_cstr(const char *source, char **destination);
-bool isnullterm_cstr(const char *source);
+#if defined(__cplusplus)
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+
+int cstr_copy(const char *source, char **destination);
+
+bool cstr_validate_id(const char *element_id);
+
+bool cstr_isnullterm(const char *source);
+
+
+#if defined(__cplusplus)
+}
+#endif
 
 
 #endif /* CSTR_HELPER_H_ */
diff --git a/src/util/filemanager.c b/src/util/filemanager.c
index eb9c4cd..13c59c0 100644
--- a/src/util/filemanager.c
+++ b/src/util/filemanager.c
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ int get_filename(file_handle_t *file_handle, char **filename)
 // BE AWARE: The memory allocated here must be freed by the caller
 //
 {
-    return copy_cstr(file_handle->filename, filename);
+    return cstr_copy(file_handle->filename, filename);
 }
 
 
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int open_file(file_handle_t *file_handle, const char *filename, const char *file
     if (filename == NULL)
         _get_temp_filename(&(file_handle->filename));
     else
-        copy_cstr(filename, &(file_handle->filename));
+        cstr_copy(filename, &(file_handle->filename));
 
     if (file_mode == NULL)
         error = -1;
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ int remove_file(file_handle_t *file_handle) {
 bool is_valid(file_handle_t *file_handle)
 {
 	if ((file_handle->filename == NULL && file_handle->file == NULL) ||
-		(isnullterm_cstr(file_handle->filename) && file_handle != NULL))
+		(cstr_isnullterm(file_handle->filename) && file_handle != NULL))
 		return true;
 	else
 		return false;
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ int _get_temp_filename(char **tempname)
         return error;
     }
     else
-        copy_cstr(name, tempname);
+        cstr_copy(name, tempname);
 
     // --- free the pointer returned by _tempnam
     if (name)
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ int _get_temp_filename(char **tempname)
     // --- for non-Windows systems:
 #else
     // --- use system function mkstemp() to create a temporary file name
-    copy_cstr("enXXXXXX", tempname);
+    cstr_copy("enXXXXXX", tempname);
     error = mkstemp(*tempname);
 #endif
     return error;
diff --git a/tests/util/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/util/CMakeLists.txt
index 59463e9..c707e0b 100644
--- a/tests/util/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/util/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ set(CMAKE_LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/lib)
 set(CMAKE_ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/lib)
 
 
+add_executable(test_cstrhelper ./test_cstrhelper.cpp
+                               ../../src/util/cstr_helper.c)
+target_include_directories(test_cstrhelper PUBLIC ../../src/)
+target_link_libraries(test_cstrhelper ${Boost_LIBRARIES})
+
+
 add_executable(test_errormanager ./test_errormanager.cpp
                                  ../../src/util/errormanager.c)
 target_include_directories(test_errormanager PUBLIC ../../src/)
diff --git a/tests/util/test_cstrhelper.cpp b/tests/util/test_cstrhelper.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1209e99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/util/test_cstrhelper.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+/*
+ ******************************************************************************
+ Project:      OWA EPANET
+ Version:      2.2
+ Module:       test_cstrhelper.cpp
+ Description:  tests for C string helper functions
+ Authors:      see AUTHORS
+ Copyright:    see AUTHORS
+ License:      see LICENSE
+ Last Updated: 04/16/2019
+ ******************************************************************************
+*/
+
+#define BOOST_TEST_MODULE cstr_helper
+#include <boost/test/unit_test.hpp>
+
+#include "util/cstr_helper.h"
+
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE(test_cstrhelper)
+
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_validate_id){
+
+    BOOST_CHECK(cstr_validate_id("big tank") == false);
+    BOOST_CHECK(cstr_validate_id("big\"tank") == false);
+    BOOST_CHECK(cstr_validate_id("big;tank") == false);
+
+    BOOST_CHECK(cstr_validate_id("big-tank") == true);
+}
+
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE_END()