Building and construction testing services

• What we do
• Our standard of work
• Our services
  • Fire testing 
  • Fire safety engineering 
  • Fire systems testing
  • ActivFire™
  • Hydraulics
  • Standard acoustic measurements
  • Materials testing
  • Metals, ceramics and polymer testing
  • Waterproof membrane testing
  • Tiling services
  • Slip resistance
  • Facade engineering

CSIRO’s Industrial Research Services (IRS) group provides an extensive range of independent services.

These include:

• testing
• assessment
• research
• consulting.

IRS aims to:

• support the development of better building products and systems
• improve the competitiveness of Australia’s manufacturing, building and construction industries.

What we do

IRS offers:

• contract research services: in materials and manufacturing science
  
  
• testing: to demonstrate compliance with Australian and International Standards, determine performance levels or support a performance-based building application
  
  
• assessments: these represent valuable opinions from an internationally recognised body on the ability of a product or system to meet a specific requirement
  
  
• consulting: to provide solutions in the design, development and establishment of performance requirements for building products and systems.

Our standards

IRS clients receive a service that is:

• independent
• authoritative 
• confidential 
• internationally recognised 
• accurate 
• professionally managed 
• completed in a timely manner.

Our services

IRS offers the following services:

• Fire testing: of building elements and materials to Standards such as:
  • Australian (AS)
  • British (BS)
  • American (ASTM, UL)
  • international (ISO, IMO)
    
• Fire safety engineering: performance-based design for:
  • fire safety
  • fire modelling
  • hot smoke tests
    
• Fire systems testing: a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) approved laboratory carries out research and testing in the areas of:
  • sprinklers
  • suppression systems
  • fire protection equipment
  • smoke detectors
  • fire indicator panels
    
• ActivFire™: a CSIRO-run scheme for the certification and listing of active fire protection equipment. Read more on the ActivFire™ web site [external link]
  
  
• Hydraulics: NATA approved testing of metal and plastic plumbing components or systems to Australian and overseas standards
  

• Standard acoustic measurements: these include testing:
  • airborne sound insulation of walls, floors, doors or windows 
  • impact sound insulation and reduction of floors and walls 
  • impact sound reduction of floor coverings 
  • sound absorption of materials and objects 
  • airflow resistance of acoustic materials 
  • loss factor of vibration damping materials
    
• Materials testing: a NATA approved evaluation service for physical properties of materials such as:
  • paints
  • metals
  • plastics
  • organic surfaces such as wood

Tests include:

• Metals, ceramics and polymer testing: thermomechanical and service performance evaluation of:
  • metals
  • ceramics
  • refractories
  • polymers
    
• Waterproof membrane testing: performance and general testing to Australian Standards
  
• Tiling services: evaluation and testing for:
  • performance appraisal
  • product development
  • diagnosis of system failures
    
• Slip resistance: a range of services including:
  • collaborative and strategic research
  • consultancy
  • testing to international Standards
    
• Facade engineering: services include:
  • design and prototype testing
  • aging facade assessment and remediation.
  • weather performance
  • structural performance
  • SIROWET, CSIRO’s wall evaluation test (a performance testing technique verifying strength and serviceability).

Learn about the other Technical Services & Facilities CSIRO offers.

• ActivFire™ is a registered trade mark of CSIRO Australia

Contact Information

Related Links

• Building & Construction
• Fire Safety & Control
• CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering
• NATA [external link]
• ActivFire™ [external link]

• Improving ventilation and thermal comfort in buildings
• Understanding the science of fire
• Improving fire safety, control and prevention
• Geomechanical testing for industry