National Physical Laboratory

Thermal Performance image Thermal Performance

NPL's Thermal Performance team provides a wide range of measurement facilities for characterising thermophysical properties of materials and the heat transfer within engineering structures.

Measurement Areas

  • Thermal Analysis

    Thermal analysis of materials using DSC, DMA, TMA and TGA.

  • Thermal Expansion

    Thermal expansion measurements can be made within the temperature range -140 °C to 1400 ° C.

  • Thermal Conductivity

    Thermal conductivity and thermal resistance measurements on construction and engineering materials.

  • Thermal Transmittance

    Thermal transmittance (or U-value) is a measure of the thermal performance of non-homogeneous, building structures.

Thermal performance data on materials and structures is required for design and heat management in most forms of advanced engineering and processing. NPL provides comprehensive, world-class facilities (a number being unique within the UK) for measuring thermal properties including: thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, thermal transmittance, heat capacity and thermal expansion.

NPL provides technical experts on thermal measurement to a wide range of CEN, ISO, BIPM and EURAMET working groups and has UKAS accreditation to ISO Guide 34 for the provision of reference materials and transfer standards used to calibrate commercial measurement apparatus. We also offer consultancy and a range of measurement services, providing both the material data required for modelling industrial applications and the accredited measurements required for certification of construction products.

Collaboration

For more information about the Thermal Performance team and our work, please contact Lindsay Chapman.

The Thermal Performance Industrial Advisory Group (IAG) monitors and guides the research carried out at NPL.