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Energy Efficiency and Thermal Performance

 

BBA Testing Services can offer various ways to determine the thermal performance of materials or systems, from room-sized elements in guarded hot boxes to smaller samples in heat-flow meters. BBA Testing Services is UKAS accredited for many of these thermal tests but can also offer other thermal testing beyond this remit.

 

 The BBA can undertake computer modeling of building elements and systems, and condensation risk analysis.

 

Window Rig

 

Guarded Hot Box 1

 

The measurement of room-sized, complex or homogeneous test panels can be undertaken in this apparatus examples being: residential and patio doors; windows and wall panels or systems (up to 450 mm thick).

 

The rig can be rotated anywhere between 0° and 90° to simulate the actual orientation of the structure under examination

 

Guarded Hot Box 2

 

Typically, this apparatus is used to test window systems but it can also be used for testing glazing and complex wall panels. Full-size cavity wall systems have been tested using our modular wall system. This allows cavity wall insulation of various types and thicknesses to be installed between the wall leaves.

 

Heat-flow meters

 

BBA Testing Services has two heat flow meters which are probably the largest in Europe, being able to take samples up to a maximum size of 760 mm by 760 mm and 300 mm thick. They can be used to measure the thermal conductivity (λ value) of materials.

 

Our second Heat Flow meter has the same capabilities but with the added feature that it can be rotated to allow testing at any angle between 0° and 90°.

 

The emissivity of reflective surfaces can also be measured as well as relative emissivity tests carried out in conjunction with an emissometer.

 

UKAS accredited tests

 

The BBA is accredited by UKAS to carry out product tests in accordance with the following Standards:

  • BS EN ISO 8990 : 1996 Thermal insulation — Determination of steady-state thermal transmission properties — Calibrated and guarded hot box
  • BS EN ISO 12567-1 : 2000 Thermal performance of windows and doors — Determination of thermal transmittance by hot box method — Complete windows and doors
  • ISO 8301 : 1991 Thermal insulation — Determination of steady-state thermal resistance and related properties — Heat flow meter apparatus
  • BS EN 12667 : 2001 Thermal performance of building materials and products — Determination of thermal resistance by means of guarded hot plate and heat flow meter methods — Products of high and medium thermal resistance