London, UK – November 1, 2017 – Exova Group Limited (Exova), which was recently acquired by Å·ÃÀÊìÅ®ÂÒÂ× (Element) to create one, world-class global testing services partner, has invested in both weather and security testing rigs at its Wednesbury, UK, laboratory to improve the quality of services to customers.
The new equipment will be utilized for weather and security testing doors and windows to BS 6375-1, including air permeability, water tightness and wind resistance. Having previously accommodated weather test samples up to four meters high and three meters wide, Element is now increasing this ability with an additional weather rig able to accept test samples up to a maximum of five meters wide and four meters high. The laboratory’s security testing capability has also increased with another new rig that will fit samples up to five meters wide and three meters high, giving the facility three security rigs that can be utilised to test simultaneously. A customer requiring a full initial type test program on both doors and windows will be able to carry out the four weather and security tests simultaneously on different test rigs. This will mean test programmes that would have taken several days can now be completed in a fraction of the time.
Rob Veitch, EVP Fire and Building Products, Element, said: “This investment offers a unique service in the industry. With two weather testing rigs running simultaneously, we will be able to offer customers faster turnaround times, shorter test duration and less client time on site. Our increased capacity for larger test samples will also better accommodate our customers’ evolving technical requirements.”
Valued customer, Westcoast Windows, design and manufacture Swedish composite windows, doors and sliding doors. John Lawrence, Managing Director, comments: “We have been working with Exova for over seven years, employing their weather tightness and security testing equipment to enable third party independent certification of our composite windows and doors. Their investment in the new larger testing rigs has enabled us to test our largest sliding doors, which was essential to ensure our full range of products can be encompassed within the Exova BM TRADA Q Mark scheme and Secured by Design accreditation demanded by our customers.”
Element provides testing to British, European and International standards for Secured by Design, CE marking and individual specifier requirements for doors and windows.
Secured by Design is the national police crime prevention initiative, which has worked closely with Element and the industry to help set security standards for doors and windows.
About Element
In June 2017, Å·ÃÀÊìÅ®ÂÒÂ× acquired to create one, world-class global testing services partner. Element specializes in providing a comprehensive range of materials and product qualification testing, consulting, certification and calibration services to the global Aerospace; Fire & Building Products; Infrastructure & Environmental; Oil & Gas; and Transportation & Industrials sectors.
Element’s expanded network of 6,200 Engaged Experts operate out of nearly 200 laboratories in more than 30 countries and are trusted by organizations to test and advise on the safety, quality, performance and compliance of their products, systems and operations.
Media contact:
Diana Milford, External Communications Manager
T: +44 (0) 131 333 8052 / +44 (0) 776 888 4954
Devan LaBrash, Pagoda Porter Novelli
T: +44 (0) 131 556 0770
“With two weather testing rigs running simultaneously, we will be able to offer customers faster turnaround times, shorter test duration and less client time on site. ”
Rob Veitch
EVP Fire & building products