Climatic Testing Facility

National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
What the facility does

Provides a single location to test vehicle, rail car and component performance under an exceptionally wide range of thermal and environmental conditions

Areas of expertise

Designed specifically to evaluate the performance of even the longest and largest commercial and military equipment, vehicles and components under severe climatic conditions, the climatic testing facility can produce temperatures ranging from -46° to +55°C.

A full suite of instrumentation and 500+ channels for data recording keeps track of performance under controlled conditions of snow, rain, freezing rain, ice, and fog – and even a combination of those conditions, changing where needed over a period of time to simulate changing weather.

Measuring 30 metres in length, 6 metres in width, and 6 metres in height, the climatic testing facility is one of the largest and most versatile of its type in North America. Our technical staff have decades of experience in design and testing for extreme climatic conditions.

Research services

Environmental simulations of temperature and precipitation, as well as solar (heat) loading.

Sectors of application
  • Automotive
  • Defence and security industries
  • Transportation
Specialized lab Equipment  Function
Large Climatic Chamber Large Climatic Chamber Thermally and humidity controlled, versatile set up for precipitation conditions required
Small rapid rate thermal chamber Thermotron Thermal control from -73C to +173C, with rapid rate of change capability between 10 and 20 degrees C per minute; size approx. 1.2m by 1.2m by 0.9m
Small temperature/humidity chambers CSZ Cincinnati Sub Zero Temperature -73C to +170C with programmable humidity control; size approx. 0.9 by 0.9 by 0.9 meter
Settling dust chamber Settling dust chamber Provides a settling dust atmosphere in a purpose built chamber measuring approx. 1.2 m by 1.2m by 1.2 m; testing to IEC 60529.
Altitude Chamber Abbess Instruments Size approx. 0.6m by 0.6m by 0.6m; altitudes beyond 40,000ft equivalent; rapid decompression set up possible
Title URL
Climate Change Chamber on CTV Morning Live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA0UOozApkY