Testing rig investment

Exova Group, which was recently acquired by Element Materials Technology, has invested in weather and security testing rigs at its Wednesbury laboratory.

The new equipment will be used for weather and security testing doors and windows to BS 6375-1, including air permeability, water tightness and wind resistance.

Having previously accommodated weather test samples up to 4m high and 3m wide, Element is now increasing this ability with an additional weather rig able to accept test samples up to a maximum of 5m wide and 4m high.

The laboratory’s security testing capability has also increased with another new rig that will fit samples up to 5m wide and 3m high, giving the facility three security rigs that can be used to test simultaneously.

A customer requiring a full initial type test program on both doors and windows will be able to carry out the four weather and security tests simultaneously on different test rigs. This will mean test programmes that would have taken several days can now be completed in a fraction of the time.

Rob Veitch, EVP Fire and Building Products, Element, said: “With two weather testing rigs running simultaneously, we will be able to offer customers faster turnaround times, shorter test duration and less client time on site. Our increased capacity for larger test samples will also better accommodate our customers’ evolving technical requirements.”

John Lawrence, managing director of Westcoast Windows, said: “We have been working with Exova for over seven years, employing its weather tightness and security testing equipment to enable third party independent certification of our composite windows and doors. Its investment in the new larger testing rigs has enabled us to test our largest sliding doors, which was essential to ensure our full range of products can be encompassed within the Exova BM Trada Q Mark scheme and Secured by Design accreditation demanded by our customers.”

Element provides testing to British, European and International standards for Secured by Design, CE marking and individual specifier requirements for doors and windows.