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CARBSE’s Single Patch Sky Simulator system consists of a turntable, mirror and Fresnel lamp. By emulating one sky patch out of the total 145 virtual divisions with equal area of the sky dome, as per Tregenza’s model, a building model placed on the turntable can be rotated so that the lamp is directed from each of the sky dome’s 145 divisions, and illuminance levels can taken. These measurements are then aggregated so that they accurately reflect the daylight performance of the space under the whole sky dome. The advantage of this is that because the measurements are taken according to 145 patches, once measured physically only once, the effective sky can be altered to simulate any sky condition simply by adjusting the weightage of individual patches, and calculating the effect on the building’s illuminance levels.

A Guarded Hot Box is used to test the thermal performance of non-homogenous specimens, such as complex wall assemblies, cavity walls, ventilated shaded wall assembly or walls with phase change materials (PCM). It determines the amount of heat transfer through a given material or assembly of various materials. This is done by controlling the temperature on both sides of the material and minimizing the extraneous heat transfers other than those through the given material, which can be used to determine the thermal transmittance of a homogenous as well as non-homogenous specimen, and can test a specimen with a maximum thickness of 350mm. The metering chamber is cooled using chiller and the guard chamber is maintained at same temperature using an HVAC system. The climatic chamber is maintained at higher temperature using electric coils. Surface, water and air temperature sensors are placed for temperature control along with humidity (RH), pressure, and air velocity sensors placed at equal distances.

The solar calorimeter measures the solar gain through fenestration products. This is the fundamental test by which the solar gains through the window assembly of any such components can be measured. It can also be used for the measurement of the solar efficiency of photo voltaic cells used in Solar PV panels. The solar calorimeter is an insulated enclosure designed to permit the continuous introduction and extraction of a measured flow of fluid mass and equipped with an empty aperture into which a fenestration system is inserted for characterization. The main components of this equipment include room side metering chamber, guard chamber, surround panel for installing test specimen, calibration panel, heliostat and enclosure.

The Thermal Comfort Chamber (TCC) is a chamber sized 6m x 5m x 3m, which can precisely simulate a wide range of indoor environmental conditions with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 40°C and relative humidity from 16% to 95%, along with changing air distribution patterns and speed. This particular capability is useful for Indian studies because it allows researchers to measure the impact of air velocity, a necessary criteria in a context dependent on the use of fans for cooling. These conditions are maintained and monitored by sophisticated air conditioning systems and control devices. The purpose of the TCC is to conduct experiments to evaluate the impact of various indoor environmental conditions on occupant comfort, productivity, and wellbeing. People participating in the research would sit on four workstations in the TCC and experience thermal conditions set by the research team.

CARBSE employs hygrothermal test facilities, which employ three types of test for material characterization. The first determines the sorption isotherm, the second derives water vapor transmission, and the third quantifies water uplift characteristics due to capillary action. The material properties derived from these tests help in calculating the water content of building materials subjected to various temperatures, pressure and RH conditions. Such characterization aids the understanding of moisture migration occurring in opaque building assemblies, which impacts structural stability, indoor air quality and energy demand for the maintenance of desired indoor conditions.

The Lasercomp FOX 600 is used to measure the thermal conductivity and characterize various materials. The thermal conductivity of a specimen is determined by measuring the heat flux, specimen thickness, and temperature difference across the specimen. This microprocessor-based instrument conducts tests in accordance with ASTM C518, EN 12667, and ISO 8301. Materials such as PU foam, industrial insulating materials, thermocol, foamular, expanded and extruded polystyrene (EPS and XPS), glass wool sandwiched between two plywood sheets, and styrofoam can be characterized using this equipment. The instrument accommodates specimen sizes up to 600 mm × 600 mm, with thicknesses up to 200 mm. It is capable of measuring thermal conductivity in the range of 0.01 W/m·K to 0.2 W/m·K.

A spectrophotometer is a device that measures light intensity as a function of the colour, or, more specifically, the wavelength, of light. Our facility is equipped with a spectrophotometer integrated with a 150 mm integrating sphere, enabling accurate characterization of the optical properties of glazing materials, architectural materials, and systems relevant to energy transfer in flat specular glazing materials. The glazing may be monolithic, coated, laminated, or have applied films. The solar absorptance, reflectance, and transmittance of materials are determined using this spectrophotometer setup with an integrating sphere. The tests are conducted in accordance with EN 410, IS 16231-2, NFRC 300, ISO 9050, and ASTM E903. The specimen size ranges from a minimum of 60 mm × 60 mm to a maximum of 100 mm × 100 mm, with a maximum thickness of approximately 20 mm. Different thicknesses can be accommodated for testing optical properties.

The emissivity of glazing and architectural materials is measured in the infrared (IR) range (approximately 2500 nm to 50,000 nm) using a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. Fourier transform spectroscopy is a measurement technique in which spectra are obtained based on the coherence of a radiative source, using time-domain or space-domain measurements of electromagnetic radiation. This technique can be applied to various types of spectroscopy, including FTIR and FT-NIR spectroscopy. The tests are performed in accordance with BS EN 12898 and EN 673. Specimens with a minimum size of 60 mm × 60 mm can be tested. Different thicknesses can be accommodated for emissivity measurements.

Air Leakage Chamber is used to determine the air-leakage rates of windows, doors and curtain walls. NFRC 400 document based on ASTM E 283 determines the testing procedure. Air leakage chamber is not of the shelf-ready to use equipment- it needs to be constructed according to the use. The Air leakage chamber will help in evaluating the relative performance of various fenestration products. ASTM E 283 is a laboratory test method that has been used for many to measure air leakage rated under controlled conditions. Air leakage chamber will help to evaluate present construction practices as well as new improved construction practices.

Data loggers are useful equipments to monitor environmental conditions inside and outside buildings. It can log data for long time (up to 3 years) at regular defined intervals for temperature, humidity, luminance and also if needed can measure CO/CO2 with additional probe. The data loggers measures the temperature range from -20° C to 70°C, Relative humidity of 5% to 95%, and light intensity from 1 to 4500 foot candles.

The RTD PT-100 sensor is used for accurate temperature measurement. It can be used to measure surface temperature, air temperature, or material temperature depending on the installation method. These sensors are widely used to study the thermal performance of materials and evaluate the thermal behavior of building components. RTD sensors are also used in experimental setups for determining the U-value of materials, assemblies, and building components by measuring temperature differences across them.

A luminance meter is used to measure the brightness of surfaces and light sources. It is widely applied in lighting assessments and post-occupancy evaluation (POE) studies to evaluate visual comfort, glare, and overall lighting quality. The instrument also enables the assessment of luminance ratios and peak luminance, which are important for understanding brightness distribution in built environments.

The micro weather station with a four-sensor data logger helps in multi channel monitoring of microclimates in one or more locations and it uses a network of smart sensors for taking measurements. Key features of the smart sensors are Automatic detection, Easy expansion, Digital network, Weatherproof. The micro sensors also helps in optimizing Lifecycle Energy Performance of commercial and residential Building (which measures temperature, RH, Rain, wind speed and direction, soil moisture, solar radiation and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR).

A portable emissometer is used to measure the emissivity of material surfaces. Our facility is equipped with this instrument to accurately determine the thermal emissivity of glazing, architectural materials, and coated surfaces relevant to heat transfer and energy performance. Measurements are carried out by placing the probe in contact with the specimen surface, where emissivity is determined based on infrared reflectance characteristics. This method enables quick and reliable evaluation of a wide range of materials, including metals, coated surfaces, and low-emissivity (low-e) coatings. The tests are conducted in accordance with ASTM E1371. The instrument is suitable for both laboratory and field applications and can accommodate specimens of various sizes and shapes, provided the surface is sufficiently flat and accessible.

A thermal constants analyser is an instrument used to measure the thermal transport properties of materials, such as thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat capacity. Our facility is equipped with a thermal constants analyser based on the Transient Plane Source (TPS) method, enabling accurate characterization of a wide range of materials, including insulating materials, polymers, composites, and building materials. The measurements are performed by placing a sensor between or on the specimen surfaces and applying a transient heat pulse, while recording the temperature response to determine the thermal properties. This method allows testing of solid, liquid, and anisotropic materials with minimal sample preparation. Tests are conducted in accordance with ISO 22007-2. The instrument accommodates various specimen sizes and geometries, and different thicknesses can be tested depending on the material type and measurement requirements.

A portable reflectometer is used for the rapid measurement of solar reflectance of material surfaces. Our facility utilizes this instrument to evaluate the reflective performance of roofing, paving, and other exterior building materials, which is important for assessing heat gain and energy efficiency. The measurement is performed by placing the device directly on the test surface, where it determines reflectance by comparing incident and reflected radiation under controlled conditions. This allows quick and reliable evaluation of materials such as coatings, tiles, membranes, and painted surfaces. The tests are conducted in accordance with ASTM C1549. The instrument is suitable for both field and laboratory applications and can be used on a variety of materials, provided the surface is clean, dry, and reasonably flat.