CRM has two hydraulic lab facilities in North Manchester, and can perform physical evaluations of almost any drainage product. The facilities include:
- A 2m diameter radial feed test tank for the testing of conventional and siphonic roof drainage outlets. EN12056 requires non standard outlets to be tank tested, to generate a water depth/discharge curve.
- A 15m long 1.2m wide tilting flume, capable of carrying flows in excess of 300 l/s.
- The UK's largest indoor industrial gutter test facility. This 22.5m long 500mm wide industrial gutter is located 6m above the laboratory floor, allowing siphonic systems to be tested or demonstrated.
In addition to these standard test facilities CRM can design and construct test rigs of any shape and size, individually tailored to the product and the customer's requirements. Rigs can be for evaluation purposes, or in some cases may be used as a sales tool, with clients either bringing their customers, or making a promotional video to be shown by sales staff. CRM can produce edited scripted videos in either DVD or computer MPEG/AVI format. As well as performing hydraulic tests CRM can perform impact, load and temperature effect testing. Road and surface drainage products can be tested for flow performance, blockage resistance and sediment transport characteristics.
When CRM are commissioned during the development process, mock up products, allowing for easy modification, are made and various factors optimised. All testing work carried out by CRM is completely independent and confidential. CRM can work with clients to develop conceptual ideas and systems, and prototype items can be produced for testing, before expensive tooling up is undertaken.
