Lab Testing

Testing and Training for Global Opportunities

 

iBDC has united our unparalleled involvement in the U.S. fenestration industry and our foundation of expert engineering capabilities with Istituto Giordano in a transatlantic collaboration. Istituto Giordano is one of the most important centres of applied research, quality control and certification in Europe. iBDC provides lab testing services to European and other international manufacturers to assist them with establishing themselves in the U.S. market. The result of this partnership is a one-stop European centre for testing, training, and education about the North American market.

Testing

At Istituto Giordano, iBDC has established a European hub for testing of systems and products for the U.S. market. With its ISO 17025 Certification, Istituto Giordano is recognized by various Quality Assurance and Certification Agencies in the U.S. Manufacturers benefit from a “turnkey” service catered to engineering and testing that will be recognized in North America. This process enables clients to introduce their systems and products to distributors, architects, and glaziers in their target markets while ensuring full compliance with the standards and requirements of building officials. iBDC’s lab testing services open up fantastic opportunities for the most innovative and cutting-edge European manufacturers, as well as for consumers in the U.S.

iBDC has specialized competence in navigating clients through Florida’s High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) testing protocols. South Florida’s Miami-Dade County is home to the most rigorous wind-borne debris standard in the world, and the additional requirements may pose significant barriers to entry for this key market. However, our proficiency in window and door standards and codes for this market and many others enables us to support our clients in establishing new business throughout the entire U.S.

Training and Learning

In addition to testing, we provide seminars and training sessions for European manufacturers, engineers, and glaziers to help them understand the differences between the European and American markets, including technical and cultural aspects. We also educate our clients on the full scope of the Building Code Compliance process, from the conceptual planning phase to installation, which is essential for selling products in any of the thriving U.S. markets.

Although U.S. standards and codes may be unfamiliar and daunting to European companies, we ensure that our clients are equipped with all the information and resources that they need to approach their target markets for windows, doors, facades, and other building products. Through these engagements, we provide our European clients with the necessary technical expertise to tailor their products to the particular needs and expectations of the North American markets.

Florida

  • The Florida Building Code (FBC) is the set of reference standards for building construction designed for by the State of Florida. Window and door product approval under the FBC is heavily influenced by hurricane protection protocols.
  • The Miami-Dade NOA is one of the most stringent window and door product certifications to achieve in the world as a result of the County’s susceptibility to powerful Hurricanes known as the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). Window and door products must undergo rigorous testing to be approved for use in this area.

Texas

  • The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) is the administrative body that oversees building product evaluation and compliance with proper standards and codes for the Coastal Counties in the State of Texas.

New York

  • Similar to the environmental conditions of those in Europe, the New York market is a perfect gateway market for European manufacturers to introduce their products with little to no changes to their design.
  • Although impact products are becoming more requested in demand in coastal regions, the majority of the market calls for non-impact products.
  • Thermal Attributes of the European Products are also inline with what the market is currently demanding and what is foreseen in the coming future to come.

California

  • Similar to New York, the Californian market could be considered a market where European Products would be most compatible in regard to Structural and Thermal.
  • Title 24 is the “Code” that all building products have to abide by in California. This is their Thermal Efficiency standard to ensure products maintain higher level of performance than other states
  • Seismic should be a considered consideration as well but, that can be engineered for stand alone windows and doors and tested for multi-story type of wall panel systems.Title 24 is the “Code” that all building products have to abide by in California. This is their Thermal Efficiency standard to ensure products maintain higher level of performance than other

Other Regions of the United States

  • Each State in the U.S. has adopted its own versions of the International Building Code (IBC) and other testing standards through which windows, doors, and other building products are certified for use. Therefore, the codes and standards in one State may not be the same as another State. iBDC supports clients support spans across all for every states so that they can be assured that their products are in agreement with the appropriate codes.