VIBM: Centre for Equipment, Environment and Occupational Safety Visits Korea Conformity Laboratories (KCL), Korea
The Vietnam Institute for Building Materials (VIBM) and Korea Conformity Laboratories (KCL) have signed a cooperation agreement to implement the pilot project “Technology demonstration and commercialization of low cost/high efficient building energy package considering climate/economic conditions in Vietnam”.
KCL headquarters, Korea
KCL is Korea’s building environment research and testing institute (under the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy), providing testing and certification services for a wide range of products such as building materials, environmental products and consumer goods.
Project objective: to pilot and commercialise low-cost building energy-saving technology packages suited to Vietnam’s climate (increasing construction costs by no more than 20% compared with conventional construction while saving more than 60% of building energy).
Main project activities:
- Research and propose amendments to QCVN 09;
- Develop new quality control standards for windows, insulation materials, films and paints, and establish an energy labelling system for insulation materials in Vietnam.
- Research and develop an energy-efficient building model for Vietnam.
- Research, develop and pilot the energy-saving technology package (at most 20% higher construction cost and 60% energy savings) under real conditions in Vietnam.
- Apply the technology package in real buildings (apartments, offices).
- Develop cooperation between Vietnamese and Korean enterprises in manufacturing and trading energy-saving building materials.
- Establish a system for transferring production and construction technology between Vietnam and Korea in the construction sector.
Under the cooperation agreement, on 10–11 April 2023, the Centre for Equipment, Environment and Occupational Safety (now the Centre for Environment and Construction Mechanics) – VIBM visited and worked with Korea Conformity Laboratories (KCL) in Korea on the following:
- Exchanging project results.
- Visiting laboratories and working directly in the fields of: building environment and energy (energy efficiency assessment; acoustic environment testing; weathering resistance testing; testing and assessment of walls and glass façades); new and renewable energy (testing and assessment of solar PV / BIPV / PV performance; testing of hybrid solar thermal systems; testing of hybrid ventilation system performance; testing of HVAC* using renewable thermal energy); living environment and safety (building materials and crime-prevention products; fire safety inspection and appraisal).
The visit was very productive. KCL highly appreciated the capability and dedication of the project team. The project achieved strong results and has potential for further cooperation and expansion. The delegation gained practical experience in energy, building acoustics, living environment and safety testing to expand at VIBM and in Vietnam.
Selected photos from the visit to KCL, Korea:
Reporting on project content and results
Energy simulation testing
Door airtightness testing
U-value testing
Impact sound insulation testing
Installing an acoustic test specimen
Exchanging souvenirs
Centre for Equipment, Environment and Occupational Safety
