Thermal Insulation Block Testing To EN Standards

The mechanical properties of the insulation materials are important parameters in determining their suitability for purpose. The EPC is part of a series of measures being introduced across Europe to reflect legislation, which will help to cut carbon emissions from buildings and tackle climate change. Now required whenever a building is built, sold or rented out, the certificate provides energy efficiency ratings for the building.

The LR30KPlus can be equipped with special versions of the TG166 rectangular compression platens to accommodate insulation blocks up to 350mm x 350mm for compression testing to EN 826, EN 12430 and EN 12431. EN 826 applies to the determination of the compressive stress at 10% deformation in compressive creep tests and for applications in which insulation products are only exposed to short term loads.

EN12430 covers the behaviour of products under a force applied to a small area of a test specimen at a given speed. The standard can be used to determine whether the products have sufficient strength to withstand forces applied directly to them, either during installation or during application, mainly due to pedestrian traffic. EN12431 specifies equipment & procedures for determining the thickness of thermal insulation products for impact sound insulation in floating floor applications.

The LR30KPlus is fitted with adhesive grips for tensile testing of thermal insulation blocks to EN 1607 and EN 12090. EN1607 specifies methods for the determination of tensile strength perpendicular to the faces of the blocks. EN12090 applies to the determination of shear behaviour

The LR30KPlus testing machine combines high performance, flexibility and exceptional ease of use and is ideally suited to the testing of thermal insulation blocks. The machine uses high accuracy interchangeable XLC Series load cells for tension, compression and cycling through zero force measurements. The high stiffness frame incorporates a crosshead guidance system to prevent side loading of the test sample. NEXYGENPlus control and analysis software allows full control of data acquisition, processing and storage.