Why Testing Is Important For Consultants
When selecting a building enclosure consultant, it’s important to make sure they have proof of concept experience. In order to receive the most value, your third-party team should be providing recommendations based on performance testing results and proven failure mechanisms. A quality assurance plan without performance testing encourages consultants to rely on guesswork - and they may not be providing credible, fact-based recommendations.
Over the years, we’ve found that integrating performance testing services has made us better third-party consultants. Testing allows our team to get an early look at typical problems builders face and provide solutions that make the entire project team succeed.
Water Spray Testing
One of our most effective performance tests is diagnostic water spray testing, which can be performed with a calibrated hand held nozzle, or a complete spray rack set up on the outside of a window system. This test simulates wind and rain in a controlled environment, allowing the team to get feedback on the installed systems and find problem areas before construction is complete.In a recent high-rise construction project, our consultants worked alongside our testing and field services team to evaluate the performance of window mockups. For this project, we were first involved in the development of window detailing during the design and then tested our details to find the best solution for our client.
Blue Quality Services field services team created custom built chambers, like the one shown to the left, surrounding window installations in a mockup test wall. Utilizing industry standard performance testing protocols, we created a pressure vacuum and measured the air leakage across the assembly. We used the results of the chamber tests and selected the best preforming detailing strategy.
The results from these tests were surprising and changed our minds regarding flanged window installation. Because of testing, we ended up selecting a detailing strategy that not only provided the best performance, but also saved our client time and money. Truly, a win-win situation.
Learn about the different Performance Testing Packages we offer.
