Design of an advanced hot box-cold box with full climatic control to test heat, air and moisture transport through real scale building elements

A versatile hot box-cold box test facility called HAMSTER enables to evaluate the energy and hygrothermal performance of up to 3m high, 3m wide and 3.6m deep building test elements including walls, flat or pitched roofs and floors. This equipment allows for the precise measurement of thermal performance according to standards. It also allows for the study of heat, air and moisture phenomena taking place in building elements under realistic climatic conditions including the effects of rain, sun or wind. Interior and exterior climates are simulated in, respectively, the hot and cold chambers by controlling the temperature, relative humidity, pressure difference between both chambers, infra-red or solar simulator heating and water spraying in the cold chamber. Critical issues that have been solved during the design and construction phases in order to reach both the required performances and the versatility of the test facility are discussed