I.F.I. is notified body for Testing, Inspection and Certification according to the 
CPD (Construction Product Directive).

The I.F.I.-Testing laboratory offers the following tests of NSHEV for ITT (Initial Type Testing) in accordance with EN 12101-2:
   • Determination of the aerodynamic free area according to Annex B
   • Reliability test according to Annex C
   • Opening under load according to Annex D
   • Tests under wind load and resistance to wind-induced vibration according to Annex F

and in co-operation with partner laboratories:
   • Tests at low temperature according to Annex E
   • Tests under heat exposure according to Annex G

I.F.I.-Inspection body offers:
   • Initial inspection of the factory and of the FPC (Factory Production Control)
   • Continuous surveillance of the FPC

If a new product is placed on the market, it has to  be CE-marked. The I.F.I.-Certification body issues the mandatory CE Certificate of Conformity.

Type testing

The fume cupboards are installed in the I.F.I. test room by the client and connected to the electrical system. After connection to the controlled exhaust system of the test room and installation of the test equipment, I.F.I. carries out type tests for the given sash openings in accordance with  EN 14175 .

Complete type testing in compliance with EN 14175-3:2019 comprises the following tests:

• Face velocities
• Containment of the inner measurement plane
• Containment of outer measurement plane
• Robustness of the containment
• Air exchange efficiency
• Pressure drop
• Sash suspension
• Sash forces of the sash
• Protection against splashes
• Sash limiter
• Indicator function
• Illumination

The evaluation criteria are the required limit values of the professional association for raw materials and chemical industry (BG RCI), technical committee chemistry dated July 29, 2003. A certificate is issued for fume cupboards tested to be compliant with these limit values for the given nominal volume flows.

For almost 40 years I.F.I. conducts wind uplift tests on a wide variety of roofing systems, e.g. tiles, shingles, pavers, gravel, bonded and mechanically fastened roofing membranes. Testing wind permeable systems like tiles, shingles and pavers the pressure equilibration process between upper and lower element surface has to be taken into account. However, there are no standardised tests yet available.

Mechanically fastened roofing systems have to be tested for fatigue failures. This is taken into account by the method specified in ETAG 006 of the European Organisation for Technical Approvals (EOTA).

The wind uplift test described in ETAG 006 was largely elaborated by Prof. Gerhardt of I.F.I. Wind uplift tests are usually conducted in the I.F.I. roof and façade testing facility consisting of a 6 m x 1.5 m x .75 m chamber. This chamber is connected with a computer controlled fan which applies a defined pressure to the chamber. Due to a computer controlled butterfly valve the test specimen is subjected to pressure load and discharge of the pressure. This enables the realistic simulation of the wind gust action.

I.F.I. has developed a test rig with a pressure alternating range of approx. ± 8 kPa enabling the testing of the fatigue endurance limit of plane building elements to pressure alternation (positive/negative pressure, pressure/suction).

The large testing surface (1.6 x 3.1 m) also allows testing of very large building elements such as fire protection wall claddings, suspended ceilings or doors in original dimensions.

With fast pressure cycles up to 3 Hz it is possible to reach pressure difference velocities of up to 50 kPa/s and 100 000 to 150 000 cycles per day. Tests involving several million cycles are therefore possible in very short time.

The tests will be conducted in the I.F.I. driving rain wind tunnel.

The test specimen of 2 m width by 3 m length (till the ridge) will be roofed with the tiles or roofing stones supplied by the manufacturer. The test specimen is installed such that the vertical axis of the roof is inclined against the vertical axis of the wind tunnel to test several roof pitch angles.

The rain simulation is obtained by spraying water into the air stream above the test specimen using 2 rows of nozzles. From fundamental studies it is obvious that rain penetration is caused mainly by the wind induced pressures at the head laps pushing the surface water flowing downs the roof excerpt into the batten space. Therefore the water spray is adjusted in such a way as to simulate the rainfall on roof of 10 m length. The test results may therefore be applied to pitched roof of typical apartment blocks, office buildings, as well for small family dwellings.

The test specimen is provided with carefully sealed PE-underlays over the rafters. Any water penetrating into the batten space drips onto and drains down the underlay. It will flow into a gutter fixed at the lower side of the underlay, collected in a vessel and measured. With these information the DRI (Driving Rain Index) may be determined.