Why a Mock Up - Because the Owner Expects it Done Right

With building facades becoming more complex in design and new materials being designed to interact with each other, it is more important then ever to build and test mock ups. Perhaps the largest benefit to the mock up is the lessons learned from failures discovered through the various types of tests performed. It is here in the failures that tradesmen and architects learn how to construct and design better buildings and create easier “dummy – proof” details.

Most owners find it difficult to pay for this procedure, yet expect perfection by tradesmen during the construction of their building. In educating the owner on the benefits of a mock up, and how it can; increase the life cycle of there building, improve its energy efficiency, and increase the knowledge of the installer before installing products on their building, an owner will have the right information to decide if a mock up is necessary for their project.

Mock ups may be built and tested in the field, as an actual part of the building, or in a testing lab. There are benefits and disadvantages to each of these. However, functional testing of the installed materials and how they transition into each other should be the main purpose for all mock ups. This presentation will focus on actual case studies of on site and lab tested mock ups, provide test procedures, discuss how mock ups can changed building sequences, alter details and help ensure the product was properly installed on the owners building the first ti