Article
November 17 , 2006
Winter Test Facility
The first phase of the construction of the new Winter Test Facility is essentially complete. New products are already undergoing testing with excellent results. Numerous other products are scheduled for test this winter.
Capabilities include:
- Heated 12' by 10' shelter
- Fenced 12' by 12' test area
- 208 volt 3-phase electric service
- Eight analog and 28 digital channels of logged data
- Temperature, humidity and precipitation logged at the test site
- Hourly weather observation at the adjacent airport logged
- Four gutter and down spout systems that can be independently deiced
The next phase will add several pavement sections. Each will have MI, self-limiting and constant wattage heaters installed along with appropriate environmental sensors.
The new facility will aid the development of a variety of new freeze protection products and technologies. An important byproduct is the gathering of long term performance data for various snow melting system configurations. With limitations, test results of general interest will be published on this site in the form of application notes, white papers, etc.