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R&D and innovation

Testing and laboratory

Information on testing and laboratory work is now part of R&D and innovation. Each result applies to the system, sample and test stated; it is not a general certification of BYOND Canarias.

R&D&I and materials

Testing, laboratory and sustainability

Measuring, testing and making use of materials is part of BYOND's everyday work. From our laboratory in Gran Canaria we check how surfaces perform and develop new materials using recovered glass. Every figure should be read in the context of the system applied, the substrate and the project.

BYOND Canarias R&D&I centre with two technicians at work

FABAC test

Three million passes

In the FABAC accelerated test, ten surfacing samples received three million loads from a twin-wheel half-axle loaded to 65 kN, an intensity comparable to 200 daily bus passes over 30 years. The Zoruflex samples tested were among the nine pieces that showed no significant visual deterioration.

3,000,000
load cycles
65 kN
per half-axle
9 of 10
samples without significant visual deterioration
FABAC accelerated testing machine used for the three-million-pass test

Slip resistance

One sample for every project

Before carrying out a project we prepare a sample with the planned configuration, aggregate and finish, and measure its slip resistance with a pendulum. The result depends on texture, aggregate, moisture and wear, so we never apply a generic value to every solution.

DB-SUA
safety in use
UNE-EN 16165
test method
Measuring slip resistance with a pendulum on a laboratory sample

Urban acoustics

Quieter streets

We have measured noise in public spaces before and after treatment. In the study carried out, a street treated with Zoruflex recorded 59 dBA compared with 73 dBA on a loose cobblestone surface. Results depend on the setting, traffic speed and the system chosen.

59 dBA
treated street
73 dBA
loose cobblestones
Sound level meter measuring noise on a street surfaced with Zoruflex

CO₂ and NOx

Environmental studies

Surfacing samples were analysed by the Research Technical Services of the University of Alicante to study their CO₂ adsorption capacity, and the photocatalytic interaction of certain solutions with NOx has been studied. These are lines of study on specific systems, not a general promise for any surface.

Testing bench in the BYOND laboratory

Recycled glass

Recovered glass, treated as an engineering material

Recovered glass does not go straight into a surface. It is crushed, washed, graded and characterised in the laboratory before becoming an aggregate. BYOND can also colour it, with 16 base colours, 30 blends and four grain sizes, for seamless surfaces, road markings, coverings, terrazzo and precast elements. The same research has led to ByoGlass, the material under development for 3D printing.

  1. Receiving and crushing
  2. Washing and sorting
  3. Controlled grading
  4. Laboratory characterisation
Where we use recycled glass
Coloured recycled glass aggregates in amber, white, black, terracotta and blue

Laboratory and materials

Crushed recovered glass in the laboratory before washing
Clean crushed recycled glass ready for grading
Technician sieving recycled glass aggregate in the laboratory
Formulating and mixing materials in the BYOND laboratory
Zoruflex surfacing samples on the FABAC test track

How we talk about sustainability

  • We explain which materials are included and why.
  • We make use of local aggregates, existing soil and treated glass where it makes technical sense.

Enquiry

Let’s discuss your project

Discuss the material, the use of the space and application conditions with BYOND.

Contact BYOND