Innovative insulation test chamber Kelvin has officially opened
Realistic field testing of (post-)insulation materials possible in innovative test chamber
Geldermalsen, September 25, 2025 – The performance of (re-)insulation materials for walls, floors, and roofs can now be realistically tested thanks to the innovative insulation test chamber opened this month by the Dutch certification body SKG-IKOB. Previously, insulation materials could only be tested to a limited extent, and only the theoretical insulation value was determined.
Reliable information for the consumer
Bastiaan Benz, Managing Director of the SIH Group, is enthusiastic:
The test chamber is an asset to the insulation industry. The leap from theoretical insulation values to actual values gives the consumer an even more reliable picture of the product.
Cindy Kremer, Managing Director of Vereniging Eigen Huis, adds: “With the results of the test chamber, we will soon be able to advise our members even better on insulation and making their homes more sustainable. That is what we do it for.”
Insulation values determined only theoretically so far
Until now, insulation materials were primarily tested in laboratories on small samples of 30 x 30 centimeters, where only the theoretical insulation value was determined. These values form the basis for NTA 8800, the mandatory calculation method for determining the energy performance of buildings and obtaining energy labels.
Testing under realistic conditions
In practice, however, insulation materials are combined with other building materials and applied in various building components, such as at an angle on a roof or embedded in a floor. Weather influences play a major role in this. The new test chamber realistically simulates these conditions and makes it possible to test complete building components of 2 by 2 meters, with temperature differences of up to 20 degrees.
Importance for housing construction and sustainability
The opening of the test chamber comes at a crucial moment. The Netherlands faces the challenge of building nearly 800,000 new homes by 2030, of which around 100,000 must be delivered well-insulated annually. In addition, two out of three existing homes are still insufficiently insulated. Independent and reliable information regarding the quality of insulation materials is therefore essential for homeowners looking to make their homes more sustainable.
Collaboration between SKG-IKOB and Vereniging Eigen Huis
For this reason, SKG-IKOB and Vereniging Eigen Huis (VEH) have entered into a collaboration for the construction of the test chamber. VEH has made knowledge and expertise available to design the test chamber as effectively as possible. The testing in the insulation test chamber will be conducted under accreditation. The first parties have already registered to have their insulation materials tested. It is not yet known when the first results will be available.
More information and contact
Companies interested in having insulation materials tested can contact Astrid Michelson, Post-Insulation Coordinator at SKG-IKOB. You can reach her at 088-244 0100 or by email at
