Reynaers Institute Expands with New Rotatable Climate Simulator
New R-Cube positions Reynaers on the forefront of testing technology in the building industry
Duffel (Belgium), November 2011 – The Reynaers Institute, Reynaers Aluminium’s training, testing and research facility located in Duffel (Belgium) completed a new expansion of its premises with the opening of the R-Cube, a rotatable climate simulator allowing the test engineers to test curtain walls, doors and windows on energy, thermal and air tightness performances. With this new investment, Reynaers confirms its vision to position the Reynaers Institute as the industry’s foremost center of excellence in the development of energy-efficient and comfortable building solutions.
R-Cube
The rotatable R-Cube has been developed to provide state-of-the-art analyses on the performances of curtain walls, doors and windows allowing the product designers to develop even more sustainable, energy-efficient and comfortable aluminium building solutions. The R-Cube allows constructions to be exposed to a combination of different temperature, air tightness, wind, humidity and sun conditions. This allows the Reynaers engineers to compare and evaluate different solutions for sun shading, natural ventilation, types of glazing and building connections, in relation to different orientations of the building. Furthermore, solutions of double skin facades can be studied in detail to assess comfort and energy performance.
The R-Cube has a fully automated controller allowing freely programmable temperature cycles and relative humidity. This allows the engineers to simulate winter or summer conditions whenever requested. The R-Cube also has a complete logging system for logging all data such as energy usage (cooling/heating) and different temperatures in and around the R-Cube.
Additional technologies used in the R-Cube include an infrared camera and a Blower Door test installation. This equipment allows to accurately assess differences in temperature to evaluate insulation and to identify the overall air tightness of an installed construction.
The overall U-value of the R-Cube itself is 0,12 W/m²K (U-value ranges between 0,08 W/m²K and 0,16 W/m²K) and can be considered as a passive house.
Reynaers Institute
Next to the new R-Cube, the Reynaers Institute, the company’s 2800 m² large training, testing and research facility, accommodates highly sophisticated testing equipment including 4 large air, wind and water-testing rigs, cyclic and mechanical testing machines and acoustic chamber. Every year an average of 140 tests are performed in the Reynaers Institute, all according to European standards for quality, durability and reliability. Tests are performed on standard systems for certification, as well as on tailor made solutions, specially designed for large projects.
Further information:
Press contact: Els Fonteyne, Group Communication Manager
e-mail: Els.Fonteyne@reynaers.com
Tel: +32-15 30 86 74