Our large industrial wind tunnel offers an adjustable continuous outlet velocity of up to 10 m/s with a free jet cross-section of 4.0 x 2.5 m². The cross-section can be reduced to 2.25 x 1.5 m² using an adapter nozzle, allowing for speeds of up to 20 m/s and more. A turntable with a diameter of 6.5 m is installed in front of the wind tunnel for more comfortable work. The industrial wind tunnel is used in particular for testing natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilators (NSHEV), see below.

The large I.F.I. boundary layer wind tunnel offers a controllable reference wind speed of up to 10 m/s with a cross-section of 2.8 m x 1.6 m. The measuring length is 4 m long. Special installations (Counihan turbulence generators, various types of roughness) create a realistic wind profile in the area of the measuring section. This wind tunnel of Eiffel construction is optimized for investigations on model scales of 1:150 to 1:500, but larger model scales up to 1:50 are also possible with adaptations. A turntable with a diameter of 2.5 m is installed in the wind tunnel, allowing to take into account the different wind directions. The measuring range can be automatically recorded with a three-axis traversing device. Tests, e.g. to determine wind loads on buildings, are carried out in accordance with the applicable WTG guideline as required in DIN EN 1991-1-4/NA:2010.

The small I.F.I. boundary layer wind tunnel offers a controllable reference wind speed of up to 25 m/s with a cross-section of 1.78 m x 0.9 m. This wind tunnel of Eiffel construction has a measuring section length of 2 m. Special installations (Counihan turbulence generators, various types of roughness) are used to generate a realistic wind profile with regard to velocity increase and turbulence behavior. A turntable with a diameter of 1.5 m is installed in the wind tunnel, allowing to take into account different inflow wind directions. This is optimized for investigations on model scales of 1:250 to 1:800. The tests, e.g. to determine wind loads on buildings, are carried out in accordance with the applicable WTG guideline as required by DIN EN 1991-1-4/NA:2010.

A mirror can be mounted above the measuring section, so that distortion-free flow observations can be recorded vertically to the direction of flow. For example, this type of flow observation is used in sand erosion studies. Therefore, the tunnel also has special sand traps in the outlet area.

The valid determination of wind loads in one of our wind tunnels can only be carried out with the help of suitable building and object models. The models used must be as abstract as possible on the one hand and as detailed as possible on the other. They are given tiny air inlet openings at the relevant points as measuring points, to which our special pressure measurement technology is connected during the measurement.

The task of creating and preparing the model is therefore carried out by our in-house model-building workshop. The specialists in this department have years of experience in reading construction plans, using suitable materials and tools and positioning appropriate measuring points.

I.F.I. has sophisticated equipment for carrying out fire and smoke tests. A very important advantage is that all our real fire simulations are conducted under complete control of the combustion and can be stopped at any moment without losing any time. Combustion and its simulation are always soot-free. The resulting combustion gases are then made visible with largely harmless and precipitation-free mist or smoke admixtures.

In rooms with particularly temperature-sensitive installations, fire and smoke simulations with real fire are not possible. For these cases, I.F.I. has developed a smoke generator with equivalent heat release through the addition of light gas.

Thermal and therefore very realistic tests can be generated with the patented I.F.I. fire simulation devices based on gas burner technology, and their arrangement were included in the German guideline VDI 6019-1.

In addition to the fire smoke tests in buildings described above, the I.F.I. also offers smoke extraction tests in tunnels.

When carrying out smoke extraction tests with simulated vehicle fires, the characteristic properties of the real fire are primarily characterized by the flames escaping from the engine and interior of the vehicle. The I.F.I. therefore uses the body of an Opel Omega Caravan with special burner and fire protection equipment for these tests. The total possible thermal heat release of 5 MW is distributed over two burners in the engine compartment and four in the interior of the vehicle, which can be activated in stages according to real fire spread scenarios and heat release processes determined in fire tests on original vehicles. At the same time, all requirements of the applicable directives (RE-ING, RABT, EABT) can be met with this test facility. In 2023, the body of a VW Foxx small car was also purchased in order to be able to realistically simulate the fires of electric vehicles.

The combustion itself takes place residue-free with liquid gas, the visualization of the smoke takes place by evaporation of medical white oil, which ensures a realistic turbidity of the air in smoky areas without leaving larger or even questionable residues in the examined building.

If required, fires can also be carried out using petrol as a fire agent.

We test laboratory fume cupboards for our clients in accordance with EN 14175-3:2003. Our test room allows us to measure the volume flow of the fume cupboard, the inflow velocity into the working area and the tracer gas concentration upstream of the fume cupboard. In this way, the retention capacity and the dependence on movements upstream of the fume cupboard are determined. For this purpose, I.F.I. is equipped with the necessary ventilation systems, measuring equipment and an automated device for simulating a laboratory technician moving in front of the fume cupboard.

The I.F.I. roof tester was designed from experience with real wind damage to flat roofs specially for the time-shortened testing of mechanically fastened or bonded flat roof membranes. With the help of a fan control system and the negative pressure it generates, realistic wind load profiles of up to 10 kPa negative pressure can be applied to the 6 m x 2.5 m test structures. Continuous repetition results in the premature ageing of the membranes and fasteners or bonds used. The test provides manufacturers with interesting information about the design loads and possible weak points in the interaction of the elements.

As part of an EOTA work program, the ETAG006 guideline was replaced by the "European Assessment Document" EAD 030351-00-0402 "Systems of mechanically fastened flexible roof waterproofing sheets". In Chapter 2.2.1.3 and Annex 1, this EAD document refers to EN 16002 with regard to the applicable test methods. The tests with our test facility fully comply with the standard.

Tests "based on" EN 16002 are also possible for bonded roof structures.

In this test rig, the aerodynamic free area of NSHEV in accordance with DIN EN 12101-2:2003 are determined experimentally on the original with and without the influence of side wind. For the test, the NSHEV is mounted on a turntable that closes off a specially designed settling chamber at the top. This simulates the outflow from an infinitely large space (i.e. without interfering influences). The large I.F.I. industrial wind tunnel is used to simulate the influence of side wind. It has an outlet area of 4.0 m width and 2.50 m height. The average speed of the free jet is 10 m/s in tests pursuant to the standard, corresponding to a wind speed of 36 km/h or wind force of 5 Bft.

The aerodynamic free area of NSHEV is determined experimentally on a model with and without the influence of side wind in accordance with DIN EN 12101-2:2003. The basic structure of the test facility for models (scale 1:5 to 1:10) is represented on the figure. For the test, the model of the NSHEV is mounted on a turntable that closes off a specially designed settling chamber at the top. This simulates the outflow from an infinitely large space (i.e. without disturbing influences). For the simulation of the influence of side wind, the large I.F.I. industrial wind tunnel equipped with an adapter nozzle is used.

In the I.F.I. test rig, tests can be carried out on pressure differential systems (smoke protection pressure systems) in accordance with EN 12101-6:2022-11 section 5.4.1 to determine the performance classes. At the same time, additional measures can be conducted and assessed as part of the tests, to reduce leakage at exit doors, such as air curtains.

The airtightness of buildings or parts of buildings is becoming increasingly important with today's energy-saving requirements. The I.F.I. has both a standard blower door and project-specific measuring equipment for testing compliance with these requirements (e.g. in accordance with the Energy Saving Ordinance or for defined pressure conditions for mechanical smoke extraction or smoke control).

For the procedure defined in ISO 9972, the area to be tested is brought to a specified positive or negative pressure with the aid of fans. Subsequently, the air volume required to maintain the pressure is measured at the fan.

At the I.F.I. we have the facility to simulate loads with alternating pressure and suction. With the alternating pressure test facility, horizontally arranged test specimens with dimensions of up to 1.6 m x 3.1 m can be subjected to high numbers of load cycles and high pressure differences. The large test area also enables the testing of very large individual components such as fire protection wall cladding, suspended ceilings or doors in their complete original structure. A pressure change sequence of up to approx. 2.5 Hz and a pressure difference of up to 5 kPa can be achieved. Tests with several million load cycles are thus possible in a very short time. We can carry out temporary tests as well as continuous tests with over 1 million load cycles.

The I.F.I. has various measuring devices to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile air filter systems in its own test room or at your premises. We measure the overall filter effect, the reduction of the aerosol particle concentration, the distribution of the filtered air or remaining particles in the room as well as comfort factors at different volume flow rates of the air purification device.