Testing the Limits: The CARWASH

Mother Nature is unpredictable, so how can we ensure that our buildings survive her worst days? USDA Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory scientists use a special testing facility to analyze how building materials handle unpredictable elements. This unique chamber is known as the CARWASH (Chamber for Analytic Research on Wall Assemblies exposed to Simulated Weather). Inside the facility, full-sized wall constructions face simulated environmental stressors by using wind generators, rain nozzles and heat lamps to mimic real-world conditions.