ASETLabs
Institutes of various university-level institutions collaborate in the Association of Accredited Swiss Energy Testing Laboratories (ASETlabs). Cutting-edge testing facilities are available for the certification of products and for the support of R&D, P&D, and aR projects. Each of the contributing labs offers extensive specialist expertise in their field that is both internationally acknowledged and routinely confirmed by the Swiss Accrediation Service. ASETlabs members are able to provide joint solutions for complex, extensive and transdisciplinary projects in the shape of joint ventures and by using the infrastructure and expertise of its various labs.
The Building Technology Test Center is a member of ASETlabs.
Building Technology Test Center
The Building Technology Test Center is part of the Building Technology Laboratory and accredited according to EN ISO/IEC 17025 (STS 0179). It offers thermal, air flow and acoustic measurements on building technology components and units as well as related applications.
Infrastructure and Range of Services
Testing of Air-to-Air Heat Exchangers
Since its initial accreditation in 1997, the the Building Technology Laboratory has been active in the field of measuring and testing air-to-air heat exchangers. For this purpose it operates an internationally recognized test facility. This is designed for the measurement of heat exchangers up to 7'000 m³/h according to the European standard EN 308 and the standard of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
In the laboratory, measurements are carried out on heat recovery systems for the European certification Eurovent and the US Association for Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration AHRI.
Testable components and devices
(1'500 to 7'000 m3/h)
- Recuperative and regenerative heat exchangers such as rotary heat exchangers and plate heat exchangers
- run-around coil systems and heat pipes
Testing of Residential and Small-Scale Non-Residential Ventilation Units
The testing rig is designed for residential ventilation units (RVUs) and small-scale non-residential ventilation units (NRVUs) in an air volume range of 40 to 1,200 m3/h. Tests are conducted according to the European EN 13141-7 and EN 13141-8 and other norms. Among other things, the tests serve as a basis for energy labeling according to the 1253/2014 and the 1254/2014 EU directives. The measurements are also used for the declaration of ventilation units of the energie-cluster.ch association, for approval by the German Passive House Institute (PHI) and for approval in Belgium.
Tested Devices
- Air handling units with supply and exhaust air
- Recuperative and regenerative heat recovery systems
- Exhaust-air heat pumps for the heating of supply air and/or water
Contact: Prof. Heinrich Huber
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Assessment of Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Environment
The professionals at the Building Technology Laboratory test the thermal environment of all types of rooms directly on site. This is made quantitatively by testing the thermal comfort according to the international standards ISO 7730, EN 16798, part 1 and 3 (until now EN 15251, still valid) and ASHRAE 55. The indoor air temperature and dew point are measured, as are the wet-bulb temperature, air velocity, radiant power in the room, operative temperature and the dry heat loss. Data is often recorded over a prolonged period lasting several weeks by installing the special measuring instruments on site and then analyzing the data back in the laboratory.
From the recorded data, the draft risk , turbulence level of the air, optimum operating temperature, Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) – a statistically founded statement on the thermal comfort of the user taking into account clothing and the degree of activity – and the Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied (PPD) are all assessed.
The laboratory also offers an additional service – namely the site identification of comfort in the rooms as experienced by the users. The Building Technology Laboratory has developed their own online questionnaire and evaluation method for this purpose. Measurements are made according to the Swiss and European standard SN EN 15251.
A climate chamber in the laboratory also allows in-depth examinations to be made in this area. In order to ensure the full scope of testing, the chamber is equipped with a floor and walls that can be heated or cooled individually. Individual window openings can be thermally represented and the humidity of the room can be adjusted as required. A wide range of ventilation scenarios are used for testing and visualizing the air flow in the room.
Contact: Martin Hämmerle
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Acoustic Testing
The in-house acoustic test rig is comprised of two rooms – a reverberation chamber and an anechoic chamber. The two rooms are connected by an air duct with a ventilator and attenuators. In contrast to closed acoustic testing rooms, this also allows for acoustic testing to be made on ventilation systems and components using air flows, as the air – muffled accordingly – is able to circulate.
Components and devices are tested according to the European standard EN ISO 3741 in terms of noise emissions and insulation or flow noises. The test rig is suitable for frequencies of 100 Hz to 10,000 Hz and volumetric air flows of up to 2,000 m3/h.
Larger devices that cannot be transported into the acoustic chamber are tested using the sound intensity method according to the standard EN 9614-2. Moreover, measurements are also offered on site, such as those used to assess telephony through ventilation ducts.
What we offer
- Flow noise measurements on dampers, diffusors, grilles, ventilators, air handling units, air passages etc.
- Noise emission measurements on ventilators, trench heaters and ventilation units etc.
- Insertion loss measurements on attenuators
- Measurement of noise transmission and assessment of acoustic problems on site
Learn more about acoustics in research and services on the interdisciplinary thematic acoustics@T&A platform.
Contact: Andreas Odermatt
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Measurement of Air Volume Flows and Pressure Losses
Aerodynamic measurements are carried out on the air flow test rig, in particular tests on air volume flow but also measurements of pressure losses on various ventilation air conditioning components. At the heart of the process are reference flow rate meters, with which extremely precise volumetric air flow measurements are possible.
A large test rig covers measurements between 500 and approximately 32,000 m
3/h. This test rig is designed according to the principle of a suction-side test chamber for ventilators as detailed in ISO 5801 and is equipped with additional heat exchangers and humidifiers. These also enable tests to be made at variable temperatures and humidities. A smaller test rig is used for tests between 0.4 and 1,000 m
3/h and can be used with both positive and negative pressure.
What we offer / Measurement Examples
- Ventilator measurements according to ISO 5801
- Measurement of air flow and pressure loss on ventilation and air conditioning components
- Testing of volumetric air flow meters
Contact: Prof. Heinrich Huber
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Trace Gas Measurements
Trace and tracer gas testing is a versatile method for the measurement of both very large and very small air volumes (e.g. tunnels, leakages). It is also used for the metrological assessment of air exchange rates, ventilation efficiency and effectiveness as well pollutant extraction efficiency. Another application is the measurement of the spread of local emissions relevant for groups such as people with an active Covid-19 infection.
What we offer / Measurement Examples
- Ventilation effectiveness: Air exchange efficiency, air renewal and ventilation efficiency, eliminating pollutants
- Air-mass flow, air exchange, air age and short circuits in ventilation systems
- Leak tests and airtightness tests on ventilation units
- Exhaust-air transmission on rotary heat exchangers
- Analyzing the spread of pollutants or odorous substances and refrigerants
Contact: Erich Stauffer
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Measurements on Hydraulic Components
The hydraulic test rig is used to conduct examinations involving water. It is equipped to measure pressure loss coefficients, valve characteristics and pump characteristics in a range from 200 to 40,000 liters per hour.
The Swiss Gas and Water Industry Association (SVGW) requires manufacturers of sanitary components to specify the pressure losses of their components, which then must be validated by an independent test laboratory. The building technology laboratory carries out these EN 1267 validation measurements.
Contact: Frank Gubser
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Performance Assessments of Components and Devices
Thanks to the various different test rigs in the laboratory, the specialists are able to offer a wide range of additional measurements and testing procedures.
What we offer / Measurement Examples
- Thermal measurements on components such as exhaust light fittings
- Thermal output measurements on components such as trench heaters, cooling beams etc.
- Thermal measurement and pressure losses on air-to-water heat exchangers and air heat exchangers
- Inspection of controllers for cooled ceilings and floor heating
- Measurement of humidifier and dehumidifier performance
- Drying performance of tumble dryers
- Visualization of flows in devices
- Casings of air handling units: mechanical strength, air leakage, heat transfer coefficient/ thermal transmittance, thermal bridging factor and acoustic insulation according to EN 1886
Contact: Prof. Heinrich Huber
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Testing in the Area of Hospital Ventilation
In addition to its accredited activities, the Test Center specializes in the ventilation of buildings in the health care sector (hospitals, operating theaters, patients’ rooms, waiting rooms, etc.) and indoor air quality.
It operates its own operating theater ventilation test rig for the qualification of operating theaters (i.e. protection level measurements) according to the SWKI VA105-01 standard of the Swiss Society of Building Technology Engineers. The test rig was built in the framework of the research project “Building Technology in the Health Sector”. Today, the test rig is used for advanced testing of indoor air quality and other experiments in the field of operating theaters and clean rooms.
A second test rig in the lab is used for hygienic examinations of ventilation units according to the SWKI VA104-01 norm.
There is also a test rig available for the assessment of portable air purifiers (recirculation units) according to, for instance, the Swiss Testing Standards.
Contact: Prof. Benoit Sicre
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Field Tests and Operation Optimizations
The Test Center’s research associates and lecturers also use their extensive measuring equipment outside the confines of their facilities.
They make their long-standing practical experience and specialist expertise available for operational optimization, expert opinions and surveys.
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Flug durch das Labor Gebäudetechnik
Visit our lab virtually with a flight through the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts – Engineering & Architecture, Institute Building Services and Energy IGE.
Team
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Florian Brzezinski
Senior Research Associate
Florian Brzezinski
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Johan Verbiest
Head of the Testing Laboratory Building Technology
Johan Verbiest
Personal profile
