Climatic Chamber Configurator
Discover the Climatic Chamber Configurator
Our guide to choosing the climate chamber best suited to your needs.
Materials tend to change their characteristics based on the different environmental conditions to which they are exposed.
Starting from the nature of each one and the use that will be made of it, it is therefore essential to be able to predict the reaction of a compound in any possible situation, before placing it on the market.
Testing of building materials
The discussion becomes even more important when we talk about building materials.
The compounds used to build our homes and buildings must be subjected more than others to stress tests and to reproductions of environmental conditions that simulate real ones:
So let's talk about climatic tests for building materials.
Climate change and building materials
Furthermore, now more than ever, buildings must deal with the consequences of climate change, a topic at the centre of numerous recent debates.
Buildings, especially those designed not so recently, have suffered a significant increase in damage in recent years. Unpredictable weather conditions (drought, heavy rain and wind, record temperatures—see the urban heat island phenomenon) are seriously jeopardizing the stability of our buildings.
A vulnerability that cannot be managed unless corrected.
The collapse of structures due to the effects of climate change is an increasing phenomenon: one of the various examples we have already discussed is that of frost heave.
Climatic tests on building and construction materials
How then can we build buildings that are less subject to these unpredictabilities?
By subjecting building materials to stability and accelerated aging.
The growing demand for more resistant, flexible and less exposed construction products to various climatic phenomena has consequently increased the demand for more stringent tests on construction materials.
At the same time, various research centers have developed norms and reference standards to regulate the various processes.
The most widely used reference standards are: EN-1367-1, EN-12004; EN-1348
So how do we produce durable building materials?
By subjecting the materials to climatic tests.
FDM's experience in the construction of climaticchambers
FDM has been in the field since 1949: over the years we have acquired significant know-how, becoming a leader in the field of climatic testing on materials, thanks to innovation and unique customer attention.
Compared to the latter, in fact, FDM is able to provide totally customized solutions, even from scratch, based on the different requirements of the customer, starting from the core business, that of climatic chambers.
A concrete example: concrete flooding in a climatic environment
Let's take the specific case of concrete.
Many companies contact us every day to perform climatic chamber tests on test specimens/samples of building materials such as concrete.
For more information on concrete testing, read this guide to concrete carbonation.
The problem to be solved is therefore to test its resistance to different possible environmental conditions.
The FDM climate chamber tank system
To carry out concrete tests in a climate-controlled environment , we created a controlled environment with a drowning system .
The FDM flooded climate chamber for building materials testing treats the concrete by immersing it in water and controlling its climate through a system of tanks.
The tank system for climatic chambersallows you to fill and empty water in a container located inside the climatic chamber, without opening it.
It is made up of two containers with a volume of 150 litres each.
The filling of the internal container is managed by a level device.
Water is filled and drained via a fill/drain valve located at the bottom of both containers.
The outer container is divided into two parts, one containing the water, and another managing its movement.
Inside it is installed a hydraulic pump, a drain valve and a water temperature thermostat.
The thermostat is set to 23°C by the manufacturer, and manages the exact water temperature via a resistor.
Below you can download a summary data sheet about this system.
Download the technical data sheet or contact us for a personalized quote based on your specific needs.
For specific carbonation applications and controlled CO2 atmosphereson building materials, FDM manufactures a test chamberCO2 , compliant with EN 12390-12 and ASTM C1202 standards.
Reference standards for testing building materials
Climatic testing of building materials is governed by a series of European and international standards. Here are the main standards that can be performed with FDM concrete testing chambers.
EN 12390-9 — Freeze-thaw resistance of concrete
EN 12390-9 defines the method for determining the scaling resistance of hardened concrete subjected to freeze-thaw cycles in the presence of a saline solution. The specimens are placed with the test surface in contact with a 3% NaCl solution and subjected to thermal cycles:
- Frost phase: -20C for at least 16 hours
- Thawing phase: +20C for at least 8 hours
- Number of cycles: 28 cycles (28 days)
Finally, the mass of material flaked from the surface is measured. The FDM C-BCXPRO chamber with flooding system is the ideal solution for this test, thanks to its precise ramp control and the ability to automatically manage the liquid level.
EN 1367-1 — Frost resistance of aggregates
EN 1367-1 determines the frost resistance of aggregates (gravel, crushed stone) used in concrete and road surfaces. Samples are immersed in water and subjected to 10 freeze-thaw cycles between -17.5°C and +20°C. The percentage mass loss after the cycles indicates the aggregate's frost resistance.
This test requires a chamber with a sample immersion system and a temperature range of at least -20C to +25C. The FDM C-BXPRO series chambers with a bath system meet these requirements
EN 12004 — Tile adhesives: Frost resistance
EN 12004 includes among its requirements the verification of the freeze-thaw resistance of cementitious adhesives for ceramic tiles. The specimens (tiles glued to the substrate) are subjected to thermal cycles to verify that the adhesion is not compromised by thermal stress.
Other standards for building materials
In addition to the above-mentioned standards, FDM chambers are used to perform tests according to:
- EN 12390-2: Curing of concrete specimens at 20C in a controlled humid environment
- EN 12390-12: Accelerated carbonation test in a controlled atmosphere with CO2
- EN 13687-1/2/4: Thermal cycles on coatings and concrete protection systems
- EN 1338/1339/1340: Frost resistance of concrete paving blocks, slabs and kerbs
- ASTM C666: American Standard for Freeze-Thaw Resistance of Concrete (Rapid Method)
Do you need a quote or have questions about the product?
Contact us for more information about this product. Contact Us
Discover the FDM solution for concrete testing: our concrete test chamber complies with EN 12390-9 and UNI EN 1367-1 standards, with an automatic immersion system and programmable freeze-thaw cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions About Climatic Testing of Building Materials
Which building materials require climate chamber testing?
Virtually all building materials subject to environmental exposure: concrete (carbonation and freeze-thaw tests), mortars and plasters (adhesion after thermo-hygrometric cycles), waterproofing membranes , insulating windows and doors , thermal insulation (EPS, XPS, rock wool), exterior paints and varnishes , WPC composite panels , sealants . Climatic tests are mandatory for CE marking according to Regulation (EU) 305/2011.
How long do accelerated weathering tests on building materials last?
It depends on the standard: the freeze-thaw test according to UNI EN 12371 requires 56 cycles (about 4-6 weeks). Typical thermo-hygrometric aging tests last 300-1,000 hours. Accelerated carbonation tests range from 28 to 180 days. The UV test according to EN ISO 4892 on coatings typically lasts 1,000-2,000 hours.
What temperature ranges are needed for testing building materials?
Most tests require a range of -20°C to +70°C, with an extension to -40°C for alpine climates or +80°C for facades exposed to direct sunlight. Freeze-thaw cycles operate between -20°C and +20°C with a controlled ramp. Combined thermal stress tests (EN 1026, EN 12412-2 for windows and doors) reach -10°C on one side and +40°C on the other with differential control.
Do you need a certified chamber for CE marking of building materials?
The standard does not explicitly require a "certified chamber," but it does require that tests be performed at laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 (ACCREDIA in Italy) and that the chamber be IQ/OQ qualified and periodically calibrated with instruments traceable to national metrological standards. FDM chambers are designed to meet these requirements and are in use at numerous ACCREDIA construction materials testing laboratories.
Speak directly with our engineers
Do you need to pass a regulatory test or are you looking for a chamber designed to your test protocol? Tell us your needs: the FDM technical team will respond to you, without intermediaries.