NRC Canadian Centre for Housing Technology (CCHT): How to Access Home and Building Testing Facilities

If you build, design, or manufacture housing technologies, proving real‑world performance matters. The NRC Canadian Centre for Housing Technology (CCHT) gives Canadian businesses access to full‑scale houses and monitored buildings where products and systems can be tested under controlled conditions. This guide explains who can use CCHT, what testing is available, and how to get access through the National Research Council of Canada (NRC).

What the NRC Canadian Centre for Housing Technology (CCHT) Is — and Is Not

The Canadian Centre for Housing Technology is a research facility operated by the NRC. It is not a grant or direct funding program. Instead, it works on a fee‑for‑service basis. Businesses pay for access to advanced housing and building testing environments.

CCHT focuses on testing how whole houses and building systems perform. Testing is done in fully instrumented, real‑scale houses and facilities. This approach provides results that are stronger than lab‑only testing.

Who Can Use CCHT Facilities

According to the NRC, CCHT services are available to:

Manufacturers of building materials, equipment, and systems
Public utilities
Housing technology companies, including cleantech and construction tech firms

There is no requirement to be a startup or SME. Large firms and utilities also use the facility.

Types of Home and Building Testing Available at CCHT

CCHT specializes in whole‑house performance testing and long‑term monitoring. Common testing applications include:

Energy performance testing
Measure heating, cooling, and overall energy use in real houses.
Building envelope and materials testing
Assess walls, windows, insulation systems, and assemblies under realistic conditions.
Mechanical and HVAC system testing
Evaluate heat pumps, ventilation systems, and integrated mechanical designs.
Smart home and housing technology trials
Test controls, sensors, and automation systems in occupied‑style environments.
Comparative testing
Run side‑by‑side comparisons of new technologies against baseline systems.

Testing environments are fully monitored. Temperature, humidity, energy use, and system behaviour are tracked continuously.

How to Access the NRC Canadian Centre for Housing Technology

Accessing CCHT follows a structured NRC process.

Step 1: Define Your Testing Objective

Be specific when setting your goals. NRC will want to know:

What technology or system you are testing
Which performance metrics matter (energy, durability, comfort, emissions)
How you plan to use the results (product validation, certification support, R&D)

Clear goals help lower both cost and testing time.

Step 2: Contact NRC to Discuss Scope and Feasibility

CCHT projects are planned with NRC researchers and facility staff. Together, you will decide:

If CCHT is the right facility for your project
The level of instrumentation or monitoring needed
The estimated timelines and costs

Testing is custom‑scoped for each project. There are no off‑the‑shelf packages.

Step 3: Receive a Fee‑for‑Service Proposal

CCHT operates on a fee‑for‑service model. Costs depend on:

How long the testing will take
How complex the setup is
The amount of monitoring and analysis required

There is no fixed price list available publicly. You will receive a custom proposal.

Step 4: Conduct Testing and Receive Data

Once your project is approved:

NRC staff run or support the testing
Data is collected under controlled conditions
You receive performance data and technical results for your business use

This data can support certifications, investor due diligence, procurement decisions, or funding applications.

Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you find grants or tax credits that may help offset testing costs by province and industry.

Using CCHT Results to Support Funding and Tax Credits

CCHT does not provide funding, but its results are often used to support:

SR&ED tax credit claims
Clean technology or energy efficiency grants
Utility pilot and demonstration programs

Strong third‑party data from NRC facilities can improve credibility with funders and government reviewers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming CCHT is a grant
It is a paid research facility. Plan your budget early.
Being too vague about testing goals
Unclear objectives may lead to higher costs and longer timelines.
Waiting until after product launch
CCHT is most valuable before commercialization.
Not aligning testing with future funding needs
Plan your testing metrics to match grant or SR&ED requirements you may apply for later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the NRC Canadian Centre for Housing Technology a grant program?
No. CCHT is a fee‑for‑service research and testing facility operated by the NRC. It does not provide direct funding.

Q: How much does CCHT testing cost?
Costs vary by project scope, duration, and instrumentation. Pricing is provided through a custom NRC proposal.

Q: Who is eligible to use CCHT facilities?
Manufacturers, public utilities, and housing technology companies are eligible to access CCHT services.

Q: Can CCHT testing support SR&ED or grant applications?
Yes. While CCHT does not fund projects, its data can support SR&ED claims or other funding applications.

Q: How long does whole‑house testing take?
Timelines depend on project complexity and monitoring needs. Longer tests provide stronger performance data.

Next Steps

If your business needs real‑world housing or building performance data, the NRC Canadian Centre for Housing Technology is one of Canada’s most credible testing options. Pairing NRC testing with the right grants or tax credits can help reduce your overall project cost.

GrantHub tracks hundreds of active federal and provincial funding programs across Canada — including those that support testing, pilots, and validation — so you can see which ones might fit your CCHT project.

NRC Canadian Centre for Housing Technology (CCHT): How to Access Home and Building Testing Facilities