Member Article

SMEs urged to use Midlands' only environmental test chamber

A consultant in the construction industry has urged other small and medium sized enterprises in the West Midlands to use the only environmental test chamber in the region to test products in extreme conditions.

Sustainable Building Futures, which is based at the Engineering and Computing Building at Coventry University, gives SMEs, primarily in the construction industry, the opportunity to road-test their products ahead of going into mass production.

The service is free since the programme is fully funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Coventry University.

Peter Townend, director of Telford-based XQLE Ltd, is testing a product called Quad-Lock which is used to build walls, floors and roofs over a ten-week period in the environmental test chamber.

He said: “We are looking at a number of detailed factors to do with eliminating water ingress and understanding how moisture is handled by the product.

“We are testing both the junction between a tiled roof and the wall eaves and between a wall and window frame to make sure they are water-tight. Should water get in, it will dissolve dyes fitted in the tests pieces which will leave coloured traces where they flow. Even a small amount of water can turn the dye powder into ink.

“Through these tests we will evaluate the products in temperatures between minus ten degrees to plus 35 degrees centigrade. We will also be evaluating the test pieces for thermal movement and cracking.

“The importance of this free service to SMEs in the region can not be overstressed. This type of scientific research can help to ensure through evaluation that the designs of product are functioning as expected and if it isn’t, it gives companies the opportunity to fix it at the prototype stage rather than when it has been manufactured.

“It means you can have confidence in the product because you have followed through the processes and know it works.”

Dr Vinh Doan, Environmental Technologies Business Manager at Sustainable Building Futures, works with each client to determine their testing and technology requirements and how to replicate the environment and climate conditions needed to fully put their products through their paces.

She said: “The environmental test chamber is ideal for any SMEs in the West Midlands who are involved in the construction industry because it is free to use, it is a unique service and companies don’t have to travel far.

“The chamber is made-up of two rooms, one to represent outdoor conditions and the other to replicate indoor conditions.

“All the different pieces of equipment provide vital information for SMEs to use at the construction stage of their product.

“The funding we receive means companies based in the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire are eligible to use the test chamber.”

The chamber, which can be used to test windows, doors, external insulation and cladding, has already been used by several companies.

For further information about the Sustainable Building Futures project and how it can help SMEs, contact sbf@coventry.ac.uk, telephone 024 7765 8800 or visit www.coventry.ac.uk/sbf

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .