Air-conditioned test hall

At our Holzkirchen site, we operate a state-of-the-art climate-controlled test hall as well as the world’s largest outdoor test site for investigating building materials, construction systems, building components, and system components at full scale (1:1). Here, we analyze the performance of building components under real weather conditions and generate reliable data for assessing the durability of construction products. In the climate-controlled test hall, customized and innovative wall and roof constructions can be installed and examined under defined climatic conditions. Precise measurements of temperature and moisture distribution within the building components are carried out, complemented by continuous monitoring of heat flows and hygrothermal processes. In addition, we offer testing of tear resistance and adhesive tensile strength on external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) to objectively evaluate the performance and quality of façade systems.
 

Outdoor Testing Under Real Weather Conditions

The outdoor test site provides ideal conditions for long-term investigations. Due to the local climate - characterized by high solar radiation in summer, cold winters, and intense driving rain - it enables realistic testing under extreme environmental conditions. Dedicated test areas for flat and pitched roofs, as well as flexible wall assemblies, allow for the analysis of a wide range of construction variants.

Thanks to the modular design of the climate-controlled test hall, both small-scale wall elements (approx. 50 cm × 50 cm) and large-scale elements (up to approx. 2.5 m × 3 m) can be integrated. The roof of the experimental building is divided into test sections approximately 2.5 m wide and can be equipped with monopitch, gable, or flat roof constructions.
 

Combining Field Testing and Simulation

A key added value lies in the combination of outdoor testing and hygrothermal simulations (e.g., WUFI®). This approach allows for validation of experimental results through simulation tools, enables parametric studies, and significantly reduces the overall effort required for outdoor testing.

Several meteorological monitoring stations located on the test site and in the surrounding area have continuously recorded all relevant climate parameters for decades. These data form the basis for detailed microclimate analyses as well as hygrothermal and energy simulations.

Our comprehensive expertise allows us to tailor field tests precisely to our clients’ research questions. We offer a wide range of services, including investigations of

• thermal insulation performance of materials and systems
• moisture behavior and durability
• moisture buffering capacity and thermal properties of specialized material layers, e.g., phase change materials (PCM) oand low-emissivity (low-E) materials
• temperature, moisture, and heat flow monitoring

Please contact us, we will develop customized testing concepts tailored to your requirements and support you from experimental planning through in-depth analysis to the targeted optimization of your products.

Technical data

Special features

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Determination of moisture uptake and release in small-scale wall elements exposed to controlled indoor winter climate conditions on the interior side and to natural weathering on the exterior side. The method is used, for example, to compare different exterior coatings or insulation systems. In addition to moisture content, temperature profiles and heat flows can also be measured.