News

Local Testing Centre On The European Stage

The Building Performance Assessment Centre (BPAC) was delighted to receive a visit from a European Commission delegation last week, including senior staff from Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise. The EC delegation included Ms Agnes Lindemans, Head of Section for UK, Ireland and Latvia. The visit to BPAC “Hangar 17” was organised by Edinburgh Napier University to demonstrate a previous Proof of Concept project that was funded by the Scottish Enterprise scheme and European ERDF funding.

BPAC is a UKAS accredited testing facility with a difference.  Unlike other facilities, they become a key partner in the product development process and assist in delivering integrated solutions to the construction industry.  BPAC is a collaboration between leading construction figures and academic experts that provide practical, sustainable solutions to meet ever tightening Government driven building regulations.  The key to BPAC is to test and deliver building systems rather than products in isolation.
   
BPAC’s development has been at breakneck speed, from an empty shell to an advanced testing facility, with state of the art equipment and a network of leading industry specialists in only 18 months.  Funding has been critical in making this possible.

BPAC’s Chairman, Doug Cullen, is extremely positive when questioned on the effect of the funding towards two of the BPAC prototype test buildings, “We couldn’t have achieved all we have done in such a short time-frame without the support of Edinburgh Napier, Scottish Enterprise and such ERDF funded innovative projects. Not only have Edinburgh Napier supported BPAC, both in funding partnerships and with their expertise, but they have also supported industry client projects and helped drive forward SME innovations. This has assisted in making BPAC a centre of excellence for on-going research and development.”

Prof Smith also expressed the aspects for future innovation:
“Considering the positive impact so far, the partnership between BPAC (Hangar 17) and Institute for Sustainable Construction at the University, has the potential to deliver so much more when taken to construction sector companies right across Scotland and the UK. Given the current and future challenges this sector faces support for the construction sector is strategically important to Scotland’s economy”