Services and Expertise

Organizations and professionals involved in the design, construction, renovation, commissioning and maintenance of building envelopes partner with the Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre (BETAC) because we have the facilities, equipment and expertise to help them find building envelope solutions suitable for Manitoba conditions.

Services

BETAC can assist you by reducing the risk and uncertainty of new building envelope designs and the use of new, innovative products and materials. BETAC recognizes the need to consider the intended use of buildings and the associated potential impacts on the building envelope.

Technical Services

Take a concept from paper and computer screen into simulated real-world conditions where it can be tested before a full-scale and expensive commitment has to be made.

BETAC offers a number of in-house and mobile resources for testing mock-ups and assemblies for air, water, structural and thermal performance during the design phase and prior to their construction, as well as pre-certification testing of product prototypes. The BETAC also provides an advisory service to assist companies and other clients to produce building product development roadmaps.

Research and Development

BETAC has the facilities, equipment and experienced staff to work with companies and organizations to research, test and assess solutions suitable for extreme conditions.

Our research serves our province’s building envelop industry by pursuing three aims: (1) to accelerate the development, adaption and adoption of new building materials, products and assemblies, (2) to monitor and assess the performance of individual building envelope components and complete assemblies and (3) to develop diagnostic tools and improved methods that help industry identify building envelope deficiencies.

Training

The only constant in our industry is change. The ability to adopt the latest best practices and keep up to date with provincial and federal energy codes is critical to the success of your organization.

We offer flexible training options with best-in-class and cost-effective learning solutions led by industry experienced instructors, including one- to three-day courses and customized modules on building field and lab testing, building science, and building envelope commissioning testing methods. BETAC also provides specialized training for testing methods, protocols and standards to address building materials assemblies and whole building performance, as well as bespoke training packages to suit your needs. Seminars, courses and programs include topics related to testing methods, protocols and standards to address building materials, assemblies and whole building performance.

Expertise

BETAC’s approach focuses on facilitating advancements in building efficiency primarily durability and energy efficiency, while addressing the building’s intended use, life service and climate zone location. We have three core areas of expertise:

Building Materials and Assembly Testing

Testing component materials and assembly concepts before implementation enhances environmental sustainability. Waste is reduced by avoiding post-construction retrofits.

Our expertise in building material and assembly testing includes:

Identifying new techniques, saving resources and money
Testing full assemblies
Testing materials and systems under different environmental conditions to mimic real world conditions
Determining compatibility, continuity and constructability of assemblies
Determining whether the joints, junctions and penetrations of materials and assemblies will perform as intended
Determining the sequence of assembly; reducing trial and error on site lessens the impact on the critical path of the project

Whole Building and Subsystems Testing and Commissioning

Testing concepts before implementation enhances environmental sustainability. Waste is reduced by avoiding post-construction retrofits. More effective techniques can be identified, saving resources and money.

Our expertise in whole building and subsystems testing and commissioning includes:

Providing design confirmation by comparing models to actual mock-ups
Preparing mock-ups for pre-construction performance confirmation and failure analysis
Identifying and mitigating deficiencies prior to construction
Delivering building envelope commissioning services (BECx)
Verifying design to reduce liability
Helping you stay abreast of standards and methods and expand your scope of practice
Recognizing that test equipment is in keeping with test protocols
Having confidence that test results are accurate and meet with specifications

Building Performance Benchmarking and Monitoring

Our Experts

Our people are a bridge between the laboratory and the built environment. BETAC also has the ability to engage faculty, students and external associates in the delivery of its services. Here’s our team: