Structural Testing of Building Products & Systems
Our ability to provide comprehensive structural testing relies on the expertise and experience of our in-house engineers and housing industry experts, and the capacity of our state-of-the art laboratory where we have the ability to conduct a range of tests, from component parts, to house sections, to whole-house testing, including:
Tension, Bending & Compression Testing
With our universal test machines we analyze the tension, compression, and bending performance of building products – from concrete cylinders and beams to structures up to 10 feet tall with loads up to 200,000 pounds.
Material & Structural Systems Testing
From services such as testing the ability of a bathtub to hold the weight of its occupant to compressive strength of full-size walls with loads up to 200,000 pounds, our engineers use applied research methodologies to test a wide range of materials and systems, including wood, steel, concrete, and masonry, and other innovative and hybrid systems, and their connections. Our focus on understanding the performance of a house as a system is what sets us apart.
Uniform Load Testing
Applying equally distributed load over a surface, Home Innovation Labs tests building components for strength and stiffness. Plus, we are the only facility in the United States that can test full-size wall specimens under realistic hurricane-strength dynamic wind pressure traces.
Shear Wall Testing
Through shear wall testing we uncover the strength and capacity of systems and wall structures and their connections. Applying monotonic or cyclic loads, our shear wall machines put building components to the test under real-world conditions.
Combined Uplift & Shear Testing
By adding a vertical load component to our shear wall equipment, we conduct tests to understand the performance of roof systems and their connections under even the most realistic wind conditions possible.
Custom Testing
Our custom tests are designed to help manufacturers and associations understand how products and systems will perform – before they are brought to market. Custom tests shed light on ways to ensure products perform optimally and can be produced most cost effectively.