NRC Indoor Environment Testing: How to Access IAQ and Building Performance Testing in Canada

NRC Indoor Environment Testing: How to Access IAQ and Building Performance Testing in Canada

If your business needs reliable indoor air quality (IAQ) or building performance data, the National Research Council Canada (NRC) Indoor Environment Testing Research Facilities can help. These facilities offer trusted testing services that most companies cannot do themselves. NRC experts assist with product development, validation, and meeting building standards. This is a fee-for-service program and is open to Canadian businesses and organizations.

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What the NRC Indoor Environment Testing Facilities Offer

The NRC’s indoor environment testing facilities are set up to check how buildings, building materials, and systems work in real-world conditions. This is not a grant program. It is a paid testing and research service run by NRC scientists and engineers.

Main testing services include:

• Indoor air quality (IAQ) testing
  • Measuring pollutants and studying exposure
  • Checking how ventilation affects contaminants
• Materials emissions testing
  • Using special chambers to measure chemicals released by building products
• Mould and microbiology labs
  • Testing how mould grows and finding ways to control it
• Sound transmission and acoustics
  • Measuring how well materials block or reduce noise
• Energy and daylighting performance
  • Testing energy use in buildings or building parts
  • Studying how daylight affects comfort and energy use

These services are often used by manufacturers, construction companies, clean-tech firms, and engineering consultants who are creating or testing new products.

Who can apply

• Canadian businesses
• Industry groups
• Research organizations
• Public-sector or not-for-profit groups working on building-related technologies

Facility location

• 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0R6

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How to Access NRC IAQ and Building Performance Testing

Getting started with NRC indoor environment testing is straightforward, but planning ahead is important.

Step 1: Review NRC facility capabilities

Visit the NRC’s Indoor environment testing research facilities page to see which labs and services match your needs.

Step 2: Contact the NRC business development lead

NRC works directly with each client to set up projects. The current contact is:

• Chris Pezoulas
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 343-990-9101

As the page was last updated on August 29, 2022, it’s best to send an email first to confirm details and availability.

Step 3: Define your testing needs

Be clear about:

• What product or system you want tested
• The performance details you need (like IAQ, energy, or acoustics)
• Any standards or certifications you are aiming for
• When you need results and your budget

Clear details help keep costs and timelines reasonable.

Step 4: Proposal, contract, and testing

NRC will:

• Check if the testing is possible
• Give you a cost estimate (it’s a fee-for-service)
• Set up a formal agreement
• Do the testing and provide a report with valid data you can use for regulations or marketing

Before you start, consider using tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher to see if grants or tax credits could help cover your testing costs, such as innovation or clean-tech programs. Checking for funding in advance can help with your budget planning.

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How This Fits with Grants and Tax Credits

NRC indoor environment testing is not a grant. However, the costs may support other funding applications.

• SR&ED tax credits: If the testing supports experimental development, your NRC costs might be eligible. This depends on how your project is set up and documented.
• Clean-tech and energy efficiency grants: Proven test results from NRC can make your grant applications stronger by showing your product works as you claim.

The NRC Indoor Environment Testing Research Facilities program is run by the federal government and is currently open. If you want to see which grants or credits might apply, GrantHub tracks hundreds of programs across Canada, making it easier to find funding that matches your project.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Thinking NRC testing is free
   NRC indoor environment testing is a paid service. There is no subsidy.

2. Contacting NRC without a clear plan
   Vague requests slow down the process and can make it more expensive.

3. Waiting until the last minute
   Lab time fills up. Plan testing early in your product development.

4. Not matching testing with funding rules
   If your testing does not fit SR&ED or grant requirements, you may not recover any costs later.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is NRC indoor environment testing a grant program?
No. It is a fee-for-service testing service provided by the National Research Council Canada.

Q: Who can use NRC IAQ and building performance testing facilities?
Canadian businesses and organizations working on building technologies, materials, or systems can apply.

Q: What types of testing does NRC provide?
Testing includes indoor air quality, materials emissions, mould, acoustics, energy use, and daylighting performance.

Q: Can NRC testing costs be claimed under SR&ED?
Sometimes, yes. It depends on whether the testing supports experimental development. Ask a tax expert for advice.

Q: How long does NRC indoor environment testing take?
It depends on how complex your tests are, how busy the labs are, and your project needs.

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Related Topics

• Air Quality Improvement Tax Credit: HVAC Upgrade Eligibility Checklist
• How AgriAssurance funding supports food safety, quality, and export readiness

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Next Steps

NRC indoor environment testing gives your business trusted data to support your products and claims. The next step is to see if grants, tax credits, or innovation programs can help with your costs. GrantHub lists hundreds of grants and incentives across Canada — check which ones fit your business before you book NRC testing.