Material and Product Testing

The Entwicklungs- und Prüflabor Holztechnologie GmbH (EPH) provides a comprehensive programme of testing of all types of wood-based materials. The testing is based on national and international standards and guidelines. The tests are performed within the scope of third-party surveillance or of services. The EPH develops test programmes especially tailor-made to clients’ requirements for accompanying product developments.

 

Accredited procedures

Current test procedures in the accredited area

Materials/Wood/Wood-based Materials

Windows/Doors

Structural Physics

Wood Engineering

Façade Elements

Wood-Polymer Composites (WPC)

Jens Gecks

Dipl.-Ing. 

Jens Gecks

Head of laboratory

+49 351 4662 243

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Materials/Wood/Wood-based Materials

Testing of Wood und Wood-based Materials

  • Mechanical and physical tests on wood, wood-based materials, furniture components, nails and staples, façade elements, of structural parts preventing falls, of floating and rigidly laid floor covering, plastics, insulating materials
  • Determination of characteristic values of wood-based materials
  • Determination of moisture resistance by cyclical tests, climate tests and water immersion storage
  • Determination of heat and moisture protection characteristics

Testing of Adhesives and Bonded Joints

Dipl.-Ing. 

Jens Gecks

+49 351 4662 243

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Windows/Doors

Testing of Windows and Doors

  • Usability testing
  • Air permeability
  • Driving rain impermeability
  • Resistance to wind load

Mechanical Strength

  • Vertical load
  • Static warping
  • Impact resistance, soft impact
  • Permanent functionality; operating forces

Hygrothermal Properties

  • Proof of deformation / stability under climatic exposure

Heat-protecting Structural Elements

  • Determination of technical thermal insulation characteristics (U value, isotherms, surface temperatures, etc.) French doors, doors, frames
  • Structural and physical proof by:
    • tabular methods
    • numerical methods
    • measuring (windows, doors, frames)

Technical Ventilation Properties

  • Proof of ventilation behaviour / air volume flow

CE Marking

  • Burglar resistance
  • Recognised test laboratory for burglary-inhibiting properties of structural elements (RC1 - RC6) acc. to DIN EN 1627 - 1630             (at DIN CERTCO).

Dipl.-Ing. (BA) 

André Zänker

+49 351 4662 404

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B. Eng. 

Matthias Obst

+49 351 4662 400

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Lutz Neugebauer

+49 351 4662 302

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Structural Physics

Structural-physical Investigations in Complex Systems

  • Testing of acoustic properties (walking noise/footfall noise)
  • Determination of the heat permeation resistance
  • Determination of water vapour permeability
  • Testing of solid wood
  • System testing of load-bearing flooring
  • Testing of adhesives for non-load-bearing and load-bearing applications
  • Testing of insulating materials based on European standards

Dipl.-Ing. 

Jens Gecks

+49 351 4662 243

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Dipl.-Phys. 

Heiko Kühne

+49 351 4662 259

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Wood Engineering

The Entwicklungs- und Prüflabor Holztechnologie GmbH (EPH) performs numerous tests on wood, wood products and wood-based materials. Apart from classical mechanical testing, the EPH also provides system testing, testing regarding dynamic impact and structural-physical testing. Moreover, the EPH is recognised as a notified body for laminated timber according to EN 14080, strength-assorted wood according to EN 14081-1, wood-based materials according to EN 13986 and laminated veneer lumber according to EN 14374. In addition to that, the EPH is an approved Testing, Surveillance and Certification Body in accordance with the LBO for several wood-engineering products and wood-based materials.

Mechanical and physical Testing

  • Testing of formwork beams

  • Testing of mechanical connectors

  • Technical heat-protection testing

  • Testing of load-bearing flooring and roof boarding

  • Adhesive testing

  • Technical moisture-protection material testing

  • Wood assortment regarding strength

  • Climatic pre-treatment

Dipl.-Ing. 

Jens Gecks

+49 351 4662 243

send E-Mail

Façade Elements

Testing of façade elements and balcony balustrades

  • Mechanical of panel and board material
  • Physical testing of thermal and moisture protection
  • Pull-out testing
  • Climate testing
  • Testing acc. to the ETB (German Uniform Technical Building Regulation) Directive “Fall prevention components”

 

 

Dipl.-Ing. 

Jens Gecks

+49 351 4662 243

send E-Mail

Wood-Polymer Composites (WPC)

  • Testing of Terrace Decking from wood-polymer materials in accordance with the quality regulations of the German Quality Association of Wood-based Materials
  • Testing of products from natural fibre/polymer materials acc. to

                               - EN 15534-1 Test Methods

                               - EN 15534-4 Floor Boarding

                               - EN 15534-5 Wall Claddings

                               - EN 15534-6 Fencing Profile and Systems

                               - ISO 16616 Terrace Decking

The test mark is awarded by the German Quality Association of Wood-based Materials.

Dipl.-Ing. 

Jens Gecks

+49 351 4662 243

send E-Mail