HPT Installs Weather Testing Mockup at ORNL.

The HPT team recently traveled to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to install our latest mockup in the Hygrothermal Airflow Model (HAM) chamber at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This specialized chamber allows researchers to simulate extreme weather conditions, helping us gather data on how our wall assembly performs under controlled temperature and moisture levels. We’re excited about this collaboration, as it will give us valuable insights into the durability and efficiency of our design, especially under challenging climate conditions like those often seen in the northeastern U.S.

The purpose of this testing is to see how well our mockup manages both temperature and moisture flow under realistic seasonal changes. With ORNL’s HAM chamber, we can mimic conditions ranging from freezing winters to humid summers, which helps us understand how each layer of our assembly—from insulation to the exterior barrier—responds to varying environmental stresses. This information is crucial for ensuring our designs maintain comfortable indoor conditions, reduce energy use, and remain resilient over time. By testing the wall under these simulated conditions, we can spot any potential issues and make improvements before moving forward with full-scale installations.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to work with ORNL’s expert team and advanced facilities, which allow us to put our innovations to the test in a controlled environment. This collaboration will enable us to gather data that informs our design process, ensuring that the GRID system we’re developing will perform reliably in a range of climates. We’re looking forward to sharing the results and incorporating these insights as we continue working toward energy-efficient and durable building retrofits.