Karim Ghazi Wakili

Test facilities

The laboratory has two Guarded Hot Plate apparatus for the determination of the thermal conductivity of building materials with  Lambda < 0.1 W/mK.
The required specimen dimensions are 500 x 500 mm²  and 750 x 750 mm² . The range of the average measuring temperature is -5°C to 40°C. For materials with 0.1< Lambda< 2 W/mK a Heat Flow Meter apparatus is available with specimen dimensions of 250 x 250 mm².
Standards addressed:
ISO 8302, EN 12667, EN 12939, EN 1946-1/2/3, SIA 279

Rudi Blessing, Thomas Stahl

This apparatus enables the determination of the thermal trans-mittance (U-value W/m²K) of walls, windows and doors at steady state and dynamic conditions. The maximum  specimen dimensions are:
1500 mm x 2000 mm
The temperatures at the warm and cold chamber are in the range of -10°C and +40°C respectively.
 Standards addressed:
EN ISO 8990, EN ISO 12567-1 / 2, EN 12412-2, EN 1745

Stephan Carl, Karim Ghazi Wakili

In response to the increased occurrence of overheating problems in glazed buildings, EMPA has focussed on the determination and modelling of the total solar energy transmittance of multiple glazing combined with different shading systems. Measurements are performed in a calorimetric outdoor test facility. The experimental results are compared to weighted g-values from numerical modelling, which are based on a view factor method (EEIG Paslink, IQ-Test).

Bruno Binder, Stephan Carl

Two climate chambers with devices imitating rain, frost and solar radiation are available. The response of the outer layer of a building façade to weathering can be tested as well as the washing out of particles solicitated  by cyclic occurrence of rainy and dry periods. In addition 4 climatic rooms with adjustable temperature and relative humidity are available for different tests and conditioning procedures

Roger Vonbank, Thomas Stahl 

Calculation of 2 and 3 dimensional distribution of temperature and heat flows in complex building details under steady state and transient boundary conditions. This includes the calculation of linear and point thermal transmittance coefficients Psi[W/mK] and  chi[W/K]. Temperature dependence of physical properties is considered for the simulation of fire impact. Standards addressed:
EN ISO 10077-2, EN ISO 10211, EN ISO 6946

Bruno Binder, Karim Ghazi Wakili