The Insurance Research Lab for Better Homes at the University of Western Ontario is a first-of-its-kind research facility to examine all aspects of house construction. The $7-million structure will house full-scale homes and buildings for intensive study and eventual destruction. Novel experiments on extreme wind effects, moisture penetration, energy efficiency and mould growth will be performed. The ultimate aim of the research is to improve construction techniques to make our communities more resilient to natural hazards and more energy efficient in the coming decades.
The test building sits inside a steel reaction frame, which provides an area to mount wind-pressure boxes that are 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 metres square. The exterior structure around the test building is purposely built on wheels attached to a pair of rails so researchers can pull it away.