May 27 2014
Exova Warringtonfire, the specialist fire and security testing and certification provider, has announced new investment in door and window testing capabilities at its Willenhall site, with new window durability test rigs tripling existing capacity.
The investment will enhance capacity and allow a faster turnaround of testing results and reports for customers.
Mark West, Door & Window Laboratory Manager, explains: “The recent move of our Door & Window testing division into its own dedicated facility has freed up the extra space to increase our durability testing capabilities.
We have received a large number of enquires for these tests in the past 12 months, and this expansion allows us to complete the suite of operational, security and weather tests within a much shorter timeframe.”
Durability testing of windows has become a key area since it was introduced into the British Standard for operational & strength requirements BS6375-2 in 2009. For products to claim compliance with PAS24, and the material specific standards BS644 for timber windows, BS7412 for PVC windows or BS4873 for aluminium windows, or be entered into Secured by Design approved certification schemes, all windows are required to undertake a minimum of 10,000 opening and closing cycles. These ‘real life’ tests simulate years of service of a window in just a few days, and can identify potential problems far in advance of failures in the operational environment.
Many customers are also keen to state the durability performance of their windows on their CE-marking Declaration of Performance, a mandatory requirement to sell windows in the UK and Europe, where products that have completed a number of cycles in excess of the UK industry minimum classification of 10,000 can appear more attractive than their competition.
Mark adds: “With the help of our increased capacity many of our clients are now looking to go above and beyond the minimum requirements providing them with a clear competitive edge in the market place.”