Testing services for the physical properties of building components and materials

We advise you on hygrothermal issues, examine the quality of your buildings using air-tightness and thermographic measurements and prepare expert reports.

The requirements for old and new buildings have become increasingly stringent in recent years. Planners and contractors need a broad specialist knowledge if they are to achieve a high level of comfort in terms of thermal insulation and moisture proofing.

Range of services

We offer the following services:

Measurements and accredited testing

Determination of air permeability of buildings (blower door, fan pressurisation method)
On-site determination of the air permeability of windows and building components
Wood-moisture and climate data loggers
Identification of moulds in collaboration with external partners
Measurement of the heat transfer coefficients (U-values) of building components in the lab with the guarded hot box method and on site
On-site measurement of the water absorption coefficients of plaster systems
Measurement of the thermal resistance R of homogeneous and layered non-metallic building materials (ISO 8302, EN 12664, EN 12667, EN 12939)*
Determination of the thermal conductivity i.e. the transfer factor T of building components
Determination of the heat transfer coefficient (Ug value) of insulating glass in horizontal and vertical position (EN 674)*

Consulting and expert appraisals

Appraisal of structural damage and defects
Consulting for the energy renovation of buildings

Calculations

Hygrothermal simulations with WUFI®
Two- and three-dimensional thermal-bridge calculations to EN ISO 10211
Calculations for the appraisal of the mould risk of building component joints
Calculation of U-value of windows to EN ISO 10077-2

Acoustics

Measurement of airborne sound insulation of building components in buildings to EN ISO 16283-1
Measurement of the impact sound insulation of building components in buildings to EN ISO 16283-2
Measurement of airborne sound insulation of building façades to EN ISO 16283-3
Measurement of room acoustic parameters e.g. reverberation time to EN ISO 3382-2

* tests accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS) (accreditation number: STS 317. The SAS is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). This means that the tests accredited by us are recognised internationally.

All orders are carried out by qualified specialists from the relevant field and treated confidentially.

Infrastructure

We provide services and carry out development tasks using state-of-the-art laboratory equipment that includes the following:

Lightweight test rig (BFH-AHB and EMPA, Dübendorf)
Noise measurement set for performing building acoustics measurements (airborne and impact sound)
Sound intensity measurements
Vibration measurement kit for performing building acoustics measurements (airborne and impact sound)
Sound intensity measurements
Vibration measuring kit for performing vibration analyses
Blower-door measuring devices for measuring the air-tightness of buildings, leak detection and joint permeability of building components
Thermal imaging camera
Wood moisture and climate data logger
Climate chambers and multiple climate chambers to investigate heat and moisture insulation of building components
2D and 3D thermal-bridge calculations
WUFI® (transient heat and moisture software from the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics) to calculate heat and moisture flows
Measurement of U-value of components using a guarded hot box
Measurement of the thermal conductivity of building materials using a guarded hot plate
Swivelling guarded hot plate measuring device