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      Logo of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland
      En
      Locations and ContactFHNW LibraryMedia Relations

      Testing centre for wood-fired heating systems

      Through its activities, the accredited testing centre supports the safe, clean and efficient operation of boilers and domestic heating systems.

      The testing centre for wood-burning stoves is accredited as a type C laboratory by the Swiss Accreditation Service SAS. A type C laboratory is authorised to develop and validate its own test procedures and have these procedures accredited and can therefore respond much more flexibly to the specific needs of customers.


      The accreditation therefore applies to the test types and measurement principles on which the test methods are based, such as the following:

      • Heating tests

        • Testing at nominal heat output

        • Testing at low / light load

      • Determination of direct and indirect efficiency

      • Baking and cooking tests

      • Carrying out safety tests

        • Testing of limiting devices

        • Checking the design of the safety heat exchanger

        • Checking the fire protection requirements

        • Design criteria for solutions to prevent burn-back

      • Leakage, pressure loss and pressure loss testing

        • Carrying out leak tests

        • Pressure testing of water-bearing components

        • Leak test on the heating gas side

        • Water-side resistance

      • Analysing fuel properties and determining the water content

      • Analysing gaseous flue gas components

        • Oxygen (O2)

        • Carbon monoxide (CO)

        • Carbon dioxide (CO2)

        • Hydrocarbons (VOC)

        • Nitrogen monoxide and dioxide (NO, NO2)

        • Method for particle measurement (PM)

      • Determination of the dust mass concentration at low dust concentrations

      • Calculations

        • Annual space heating utilisation rate

        • Energy efficiency index

        • Annual space heating emissions

        • Calorific value (GCV)

      • Checking the requirements for design, production, safety and technical heating requirements

      • Checking the risk analysis for completeness, correctness and plausibility

      • Electrical power consumption of heat generators

      • Test procedure for airborne noise emissions from heat generators

      • Determination of the effectiveness of downstream

      • Dust reduction devices

      The following product groups can thus be tested with suitable test methods within the scope of accreditation:

      • Domestic fireplaces for solid fuels
        • Room heaters EN 16510-2-1, EN 12809 (*)
        • Fireplace inserts including open fires EN 16510-2-2, EN 13240 (*)
        • Cookers EN 16510-2-3, EN 13229 (*)
        • Domestic boilers (up to 50 kW) EN 16510-2-4, EN 12815 (*)
        • Storage heaters EN 16510-2-5, EN 15250 (*)
        • Room heaters, inserts and cookers for wood pellets EN 16510-2-6, EN 14785 (*)
      • Boilers for solid fuels ≤ 500 kW, type testing (EN-303-5)
      • Solid fuel boilers > 500 kW, safety test (own test method based on EN-303-5)
      • Solid fuel boilers > 500 kW to ≤ 1,000 kW, type test (own test method based on EN-303-5)

      * For these test methods, the test centre is recognised as a designated body (Notified Body, conformity assessment body) NB 2113 in accordance with European Construction Products Regulation No. 305/2011. These have been withdrawn and will be replaced by the new 16510-2 series of standards as soon as the latter have been harmonised by the European Commission.

      Emissions are assessed in accordance with the regulations of the European Ecodesign Directive.

      The test centre is registered with the Swiss Accreditation Body under the accreditation number STS 0396. It is also recognised by the EU Commission as designated body (Notified Body, Conformity Assessment Body) NB 2113 in accordance with the European Construction Products Regulation No. 305/2011. This guarantees EU-wide recognition of the reports issued by the test centre. We also advise national authorities on the drafting of new legislation and chair the standards committee INB NK-176 - Combustion systems for solid and liquid fuels.