ABOUT BETAC
The Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre (BETAC) enables organizations in the building construction industry to access Red River College’s capability, equipment, assets and expertise. BETAC’s services address the inherent challenges with designing and constructing a durable, energy efficient building envelope in Manitoba’s unique climate.
Contact BETAC
B-100-2055 Notre Dame Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0J9
Services offered in: English and French
Request Interactive Visit: http://interactivevisits.ca
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RESEARCH AND INNOVATION EXPERTISE
EXPERTISE
- Large building airtightness testing and training
- Laboratory air water and structural testing for wall mock-ups
- Building envelope test methods
- Thermal testing with dual environmental chamber with common wall
- Building energy data analysis
- Building envelope monitoring with field sensors
TECHNOLOGY SECTORS
- Clean Technology
- Construction
- Environmental Technology
EQUIPMENT AND LABS
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| Dual environmental chambers with common wall section – independently controlled, additive humidity and -40 C to +40 C temperature range | Dual side-by-side environmental chambers with independent control of additive humidity and temperature from -40 °C to 40 °C. When operated independently, the chambers are able to simulate a suitable environment for weather testing materials, components, assemblies, or operational testing of equipment within designed environmental conditions. When the chambers are operated simultaneously, they are able to simulate two different environments for weather testing of materials, components or assemblies built into the common wall opening. When operated simultaneously, the chambers are able to supply two volumes of conditioned air for use in operational testing of equipment (ie. Heat Recovery Ventilator testing using high humidity air ducted to the unit and supply of ducted exterior winter air for freeze testing of the unit). |
| Fenestration test system – capable of testing 12’ x 12’ wall assembly for air and water infiltration, as well as structural deflection | The Air-Water-Structural (AWS) chamber is capable of conducting pressurization/depressurization, wind drive rain, and structural testing on materials, components or assemblies built into a 12’x12’ frame (the capacity of the AWS chamber). Note that smaller samples may be tested when constructed within a 12’x12’ carrier frame for installation into the AWS chamber. The AWS chamber is capability of conducting the following ASTM test standards: ASTM E 2357-17 Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage of Air Barrier Assemblies, ASTM E1186-17 Standard Practice for Air Leakage Site Detection in Building Envelopes and Air Barrier Systems, ASTM E331-00 Standard Test Method for Water Penetration Performance of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference, ASTM E330/E330M-14 Standard Test Method for Structural Performance of Exterior Windows, Doors, Skylights and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference. Other test standards not listed may be tested should the AWS chamber meet the testing requirements. |
| Large building blower door test equipment – for airtightness testing of institutional and commercial buildings. 50,000 cfm capacity | The large building airtightness equipment is used for conducting airtightness testing on large residential, commercial or institutional buildings. ASTM E3158-18 Standard Test Method for Measuring the Air Leakage Rate of a Large or Multizone Building is the current ASTM standard typically used for large buildings. This testing can be used to determine the air leakage rate of a building for use in validation to meet code or design goals. This information can also be used to assist with renovations and construction when diagnostic testing is conducted to determine areas of high air leakage (or construction deficiencies from specifications and details). |
| Building envelope sensors – temperature, moisture, relative humidity, heat flux | Building envelope sensors including temperature, moisture, relative humidity and heat flux can be installed in pre-existing buildings or incorporated into the building design or new or renovated construction projects. This installation of these sensors allows for monitoring of components of envelope assemblies for short or long term study. These sensors are able to signal areas of possible failure or deficiencies when compared with other site installations under normal operation. Additionally, this equipment is capable of determining performance of envelope assemblies that can be compared to modeled/simulated performance results. |
| Miscellaneous building envelope diagnostic tools – mini-lab for window and door testing in field; infrared thermography cameras; video boroscope for wall investigations; moisture meters | BETAC has other specialized tools for use in building testing and diagnostics. The Can-Best Smart-Lab is capable of conducting field airtightness, water penetration and structural testing of windows, doors and small wall assemblies. The thermal cameras (Flir T1020sc and Fluke Tir32) are capable of conducting thermographic diagnostics within the field or the lab by capturing video or still images. This equipment requires a temperature difference in the object that is being tested and can be used in conjunction with the airtightness equipment or dual environmental chambers. Moisture meters are a non-destructive handheld devices that are placed on a test sample surface to measure the moisture penetration of the material. |