Testing, Research + Development
To solve our clients’ most pressing and critical safety challenges, we use our network of in-house safety testing lab facilities, led by the industry’s most well-respected scientists and engineers in their fields, to conduct testing under variable conditions and applications.
Putting our Solutions to the Test
Our performance-based design engineering approach is informed by our relentless commitment to delivering the most applicable solution through analysis, research, testing and modeling. This unique capability enables us to provide accurate, efficient results, achieve regulatory approvals for new products, and obtain the code changes needed for a successful project.
We perform a broad range of testing using state-of-the-art equipment and data acquisition to evaluate systems and assess hazards in situations where analysis is not sufficient to provide the best solution. Testing is used in material/product development, system performance quantification, design/analysis support, forensics, and developing input data for models. In addition, each laboratory performs non-standard mock-up tests to support the needs of the client.
Fire + Protection Research Systems
Our fire safety testing experience includes conducting small, medium and large-scale testing to support clients in product development and evaluation; identifying behavior of materials exposed to fire conditions, such as cladding; ignition and flame spread; assessment of fire protection systems including detectors, suppression systems, passive fire protection, and smoke control; as well as input data for thermal and fire modeling.
Chemical + Material Testing
We have broad experimental capabilities for characterizing, evaluating and visualizing the behavior of materials and chemicals. This testing includes characterizing materials at initial state and following extreme exposure conditions including corrosion, high temperatures, high humidity, UV and accelerated aging. In addition, our staff has extensive experience in identifying compounds and chemicals as well as using advanced techniques to understand failures. Our process safety laboratory has the capability to analyze materials for their thermal stability and under runaway conditions.
Combustible Dust
Determining dust explosibility helps quantify potential risk. The standardized approach is to perform an initial screening test on a representative dust sample. Further combustible dust testing will give the complete picture of potential explosion severity and likelihood of ignition and is necessary for the design of explosion protection systems to establish a basis for safety. We provide a suite of combustible dust sampling and testing services in general accordance with OSHA Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Equipment includes a 1 Cubic Meter Chamber.
Structural Testing
Our testing team can evaluate the mechanical and structural behavior of structural materials and assemblies in response to various scenarios such as fire, compression, tension, bending and point loads. We have in-house capabilities to perform small and intermediate scale structural response tests of various materials and connections, including metals, concrete, plastics, fiber reinforced plastics and composite systems.
Water
Our safety testing lab team routinely performs water system assessments to support clients in identifying hazardous components in their water, such as water quality characteristics and their impacts on water system failures. We also conduct flow testing on water systems in buildings and other structures to ensure proper operation. In addition, we perform field testing of fire suppression main systems for flow performance and use in-house software to determine system performance.
Electrical + Data
We provide field and laboratory electrical system testing services that range from power distribution systems to circuit boards, including evaluation of batteries, assessment of the electrical integrity of systems, effects of environmental condition on electrical system performance, and data extraction/analysis.
Process Safety
We have an extensive background in thermal-hydraulic testing with both large- and small-scale applications, including the construction of custom mobile testing skids for the purpose of quality control, R&D, and fatigue testing. Some of the testing includes: hydrostatic and dynamic pressure testing of components, water hammer, including non-condensable gas and steam, multi-phase flow, and vortex generation and suppression.
RELATED INSIGHTS + RESOURCES
Articles
Design Fire Scenarios for Hazard Assessment of Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles
Our experts present a new approach to evaluate the fire hazards associated with modern passenger vehicles.
MEET OUR EXPERTS
Anil Kapahi
Director, RDT+E
Anil Kapahi
Director, RDT+E
PhD, Mechanical Engineering, BS, Mechanical Engineering, Member, Member, Member
Daniel Martin
Fire Protection Engineer
Daniel Martin
Fire Protection Engineer
MSc, Fire Safety Engineering (IMFSE) Ghent University, BS, Mechanical Engineering, Professional Engineer, MD, NJ, MN, Security Clearances: Secret, ,
Dr. Jonathan Hodges
Manager, Research, Development, Testing + Evaluation Division
Dr. Jonathan Hodges
Manager, Research, Development, Testing + Evaluation Division
PhD, Mechanical Engineering, MS, Mechanical Engineering, BS, Mechanical Engineering, Member
Jeremy Lebowitz
Senior Director + Market Leader
Jeremy Lebowitz
Senior Director + Market Leader
BS, Chemical Engineering, MS, Fire Protection Engineering, Registered PE: MA
Jens Conzen
Vice President, Business Development
Jens Conzen
Vice President, Business Development
MBA, Data Science, MS, Engineering Mechanics, Dipl. Ing., Produktiontechnik (Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering and Business), Professional European Engineer, EUR ING, Member, Principal Technical Committee Member NFPA 855, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems, Member, Energy Storage Fire Prevention and Mitigation Advisory Committee, Member, Member, Member
Jerry Back
Senior Engineer
Jerry Back
Senior Engineer
BS, Mechanical Engineering, MS, Fire Protection Engineering, PE
