WINDOWS Magazine Winter 2017 | Page 31

NEWS | WINDOWS BIGGER & BETTER AZUMA UPGRADES TESTING RIG TO BETTER SERVE THE INDUSTRY A s the fenestration industry continues to evolve and grow, so does the need for bigger and better testing facilities. testing rig for larger products to test to the AS 2047 compliance requirements of the NCC. One of Australia’s largest privately-owned compliance testing and engineering companies, Azuma, is at the forefront of the latest technology. The AS 2047 wind and water penetration testing rig is designed specifically to test windows and doors for the harsh Australian environment. The Sydney-based company has become well known for its wide range of industrial design, engineering and testing services throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The new facilities cater for the increase in demand for larger products, including windows and doors up to 4 x 4 metres. The rig also has a fan that can produce impressive test pressure up to both positive and negative 20,000 Pa, should products require meeting such pressures. Part of the company’s expansive repertoire includes load testing of many products, including balustrades and ladders, cycle testing of window and door hardware, impact testing of security products, debris impact testing of products for cyclonic areas, accelerated corrosion testing for both surface finishes and operable hardware, and wind, water and air penetration testing of both fenestration and cladding products. Boasting NATA accreditation and therefore being able endorse most testing, Azuma is capable of testing to Australian and international standards. Testing is a critical part of the design process, ensuring each product is not only fit for production and purpose, but also that it raises the benchmark ensuring compliance. Azuma is dedicated to improving its service to the fenestration industry and, as part of that commitment, the company has just introduced a brand new state-of-the-art “With compliant products becoming more important to the construction industry, the new rig adds capacity for testing more products - ensuring compliant products are going out to market,” says Azuma technical consultant, Craig Brennan. “A lot of buildings are now having bigger windows installed and Azuma can now meet this need to test those products for compliance,” says Craig. In addition to its size, the new testing rig also caters for a number of additional specific testing requirements. requirements of AS 1170 Structural Design Actions Part 2: Wind Actions, plus Azuma now measures air infiltration differently through a laminar flow meter.” The Azuma testing facility is one of only three independent testing facilities of its kind in Australia. “We’re making more modifications to the new test rig to make it even more user- friendly and to make setup more efficient,” says Craig. “We’re continuing to tinker with the scope and flexibility of our test rigs and facility to make it an even better experience when testing your products for compliance.” Azuma’s facilities allow businesses to push the boundaries of their product development through physical testing. In addition to offering a range of testing facilities - in line with Australian and international standards and various industry codes of practice, there is also the opportunity to test product performance and measure them against the performance claimed by competitors for comparative studies and evaluations. “The new rig increases our capacity to test to AS 2047, which allows businesses to meet their NCC legislative requirements,” says Craig. This invaluable data provides endless opportunities for designers and engineers when making product improvements or modifications and helps propel the industry to greater heights. “We can also test cyclic wind pressures for cladding construction on buildings as to the Contact Azuma Design on 02 9604 0255 or [email protected] WINDOWS MAGAZINE 29