Insulating materials in the building construction: Products from renewable resources in the simulation test

In the building construction more and more loose insulating materials are used. These are blown or poured into cavities and are especially practical in processing, because they fill up all construction irregularities. Their disadvantage: if they settle too strongly in the course of time, thermal bridges develope in the cavity that damage the exterior wall of the house.

MPA NRW has developed a testing device that simulates accelerated ten years or more of service life. Thus the setting behaviour of loose insulating materials can be tested and it can be documented how the volume filled up by it changes within the course of the years - for example due to vibrations caused by road traff

Information for the clients on their way to making their product tradeable

The trend - also with insulating materials - goes into the direction of products from renewable or recycled resources. The manufacturers regularly develop new materials from seaweed, hemp shives, rice peels or cellulose. MPA NRW is by no means in demand only as a service provider for tests. The experience of the testing engineers on the European market and their participation in the European panels and committees are also useful for the clients who want to make a new innovative product testable and need information about the applicable testing methods for its approval.

The testing laboratory possesses all recognitions for the national and European market

MPA NRW tests all kinds of flat, tubular and loose insulating materials, manufactured in the factory or at the point of use. National and European individual tests, surveillance tests, approval tests and initial tests as well as "Initial Type Tests" (ITT) can be conducted. The testing laboratory for thermal insulation posses all necessary recognitions for the national and European market.

MPA NRW is a member of the Expert Group of the SDG5 and as a testing centre fulfils the requirements for measurement inaccuracies of < 1.5 percent according to EN 1946 when conducting thermal insulation tests on insulating materials for building construction.

More information

Comprehensive tests in MPA NRW National and European recognitions of MPA NRW