your partner in testing and certification

ABOUT

CAPITAL TESTING

Capital Testing and Certification Services (formerly HPVA Laboratories) is a leader in providing testing services and developing industry standards. Our dedicated, professional staff has years of combined experience and expertise in wood science, fire science, analytical chemistry, and inspection and certification services.
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our testing services

FIRE

TESTING

Capital Testing offers large-scale and small scale fire tests for building products, transportation materials and military applications.

EMISSIONS
TESTING

Capital Testing offers formaldehyde emissions testing as specified in the CARB 93120 ATCM and EPA TSCA Title VI regulations.

ENVIRONMENTAL
TESTING

Capital Testing offers two large-scale environmental chambers capable of testing products in challenging or even extreme temperature and humidity conditions.

PHYSICAL
TESTING

Capital Testing offers a full suite of physical and mechanical tests to suit your needs and ensure your product meets industry standards.  

Our Certification Programs

Capital Testing offers a suite of ISO 17065-accredited certification programs designed to help you prove compliance with regulatory requirements and national consensus standards.

Laboratory News

Capital Testing Logo
By Josh Hosen 21 Aug, 2024
Capital Testing is proud to announce the following physical properties test methods are now covered under our ISO/IEC 17025 scope of accreditation: ASTM D2047 Static Coefficient of Friction (James Machine) ASTM D2394 Sections 18-23 Falling Ball Indentation ASTM D3330/D3330M Method F Tape Peel Test (90-degree) ASTM D3359 Coating Adhesion (“Crosshatch”) ASTM F1265 Resistance to Impact for Resilient Floor Tile ASTM F1914 Short-Term Indentation and Residual Indentation of Resilient Floor Covering EN 16094 Microscratch Test for Laminate Floor Coverings ISO 4918 Castor Chair This expansion is part of our continued commitment to meeting the needs of the wood, laminate, and resilient flooring markets. The methods align well with some of Capital Testing’s currently-accredited offerings that already support the flooring industry, including: ANSI/HPVA EF 2020 (Three Cycle Soak and Moisture Content) ASTM D523 Gloss ASTM D1037 Properties of Wood-Base Fiber and Particle Panel Materials (Janka Hardness, MOE/MOR, Nail Withdrawal) ASTM D4060 Abrasion Resistance (Taber) ASTM E648 Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering Systems ASTM E662 Specific Optical Density of Smoke (Smoke Box) ASTM F1515 Light Stability of Resilient Flooring by Color Change (Xenon Arc) CAN/ULC S102.2 (Canadian Flame Spread Test for Flooring) Whether you are developing new flooring products or just benchmarking against the competition, Capital Testing is here to help. To learn more about these tests or to request a quote, contact experts@capitaltesting.org. To view our updated scope of accreditation, visit here .
low heat release rate material tested in ASTM E1354
By Josh Hosen 26 Jul, 2024
Capital Testing is pleased to announce the launch of our new accredited certification program for waste, rubbish, and laundry containers manufactured from low peak rate of heat release materials. The use of low-heat-release materials in waste bins and laundry containers is specified in several safety standards and fire codes, including the International Fire Code (IFC), NFPA Fire Code (NFPA 1), NFPA Life Safety Code (NFPA 101), NFPA Standard for Fixed Guideway and Transit Systems (NFPA 130), and even state-specific codes like the North Carolina Fire Protection Code (2018 NCFC Section 304.4). In general, these codes and standards require such products to be made of entirely noncombustible materials, or of materials that meet a peak rate of heat release not exceeding 300 kW/m 2 when tested in accordance with the ASTM E1354 cone calorimeter test at an incident heat flux of 50 kW/ 2 in the horizontal orientation. Since many of these products are made of combustible plastic, manufacturers typically need to comply with these peak rate of heat release requirements. Recent revisions to the IFC highlight the growing concerns about the impact these products can have on fire safety. In the 2024 IFC, Section 304 Combustible Waste Materials was revised to extend the above low-heat-release requirement to the following products and applications: -high-capacity (>40 gallon) waste bins; -dumpsters; -waste and linen containers used in health care facilities; and -waste containers used in dormitories and colleges The newly-created Appendix O in the 2024 IFC also includes a non-mandatory reference to this requirement for waste bins used for valet trash and recycling collection services in apartment complexes and other multifamily housing units. Enlisting Capital Testing to certify your products provides third-party attestation that it complies with these requirements, and helps differentiate your products from the competition. Certification also simplifies the verification process when a code official, fire marshal, or specifier requests proof of compliance. For more information about the certification process or to discuss your product-specific questions, contact Josh Hosen at josh@capitaltesting.org . Capital Testing’s newly-expanded ISO/IEC 17065 (certification programs) and ISO/IEC 17020 (inspection programs) scopes of accreditation can be found here: Certification Programs: https://www.iasonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/PCA-111-Cert.pdf Inspection Programs: https://www.iasonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/AA-716-cert-new.pdf To learn more about the ASTM E1354 test method, visit our cone calorimeter webpage or contact experts@capitaltesting.org for a quote.
CANFER Formaldehyde Amendment
By Josh Hosen 12 Jul, 2023
On June 17th, Health Canada published Regulations Amending the Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulations in Canada Gazette, Part I. The amendments are open for public comment until August 31st, 2023. These amendments serve to resolve several lingering issues from the original Regulations, including: 1.) QC test requirements: QC testing carried out routinely in production mills do not need to be accredited to ISO/IEC 17025. The amendments clarify that only the primary testing (i.e. initial qualification testing and quarterly testing) needs to performed by an accredited laboratory. 2.) Recordkeeping: the requirements for maintaining Declarations of Certification (DoC's) throughout the supply chain were revised to clarify these requirements for manufacturers, importers and sellers of component parts and finished goods. a.) Manufacturers of component parts and finished goods can now create an "attestation" document that includes the entity's address and contact information, and the third party certifier (TPC) information for each DoC received with panels incorporated into these products. These manufacturers must still retain copies of all DoC's they receive, as well as the attestation(s) they create, but they do not need to provide them to importers or sellers . b.) Importers and sellers of component parts and finished goods no longer need to receive and retain copies of all DoC's for the component parts and finished goods they import or sell, respectively; instead, they must receive and retain the attestations mentioned above. This removes some of the burdensome recordkeeping and supply chain confidentiality issues associated with the original requirements, which mandated they retain (and in the case of importers, pass along) all products' DoC's throughout the supply chain. 3.) Notice of non-compliant lots: The time period required to notify customers of a non-complying lot was revised from 48 hours to 72 hours to align with TSCA Title VI. Other minor amendments were made as well, and are worth reviewing if you are in any way impacted by CANFER. The amendments can be reviewed in their entirety here: Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 157, Number 24: Regulations Amending the Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulations . It is beneficial to have a copy of the original Regulations open for review as well, which is located here: Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulations (justice.gc.ca) . We know it's difficult to keep up with regulatory changes like these, and to fully understand how they impact you and your company. Capital Testing’s dedicated staff is here to help, so contact us today if you have any questions.

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ACCREDITATIONS

Capital Testing is accredited by the International Accreditation Service (IAS). Certificates can be found at the links below:
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