Home Innovation Research Lab Opens New Fire Testing Facility
NAHB Chairman Carl Harris, Home Innovation Research Labs Chairman Don Pratt, Prince George County Councilwoman Ingrid Watson, NAHB Second Vice Chairman Bill Owens, Home Innovation Research Labs CEO Mike Luzier (l to r) at the grand opening
Home Innovation Research Labs hosted a grand opening of its new state-of-the-art fire testing facility in May 2024. The event — attended by local policymakers, NAHB Senior Officers and staff, and other influential builders, product developers and partners — spotlighted the new lab, which provides more than two dozen fire tests used to measure wall and floor ratings, flame spread, flammability, combustibility, and more.
The lab is a one-of-a-kind facility featuring seven furnaces with the most advanced technology available in the market, including the world’s first and only stainless steel large-scale vertical and horizontal furnaces. The environmental conditioning system maintains consistent conditions, guaranteeing reliable results, while the pollution control system eliminates the impact of pollution to provide the most environmentally clean testing possible.
“The construction of our new fire testing laboratory is a testament to our ongoing commitment to advancing safety and innovation in construction,” stated Mike Luzier, president and CEO of Home Innovation Research Labs, in a press release. “By providing a cutting-edge facility for research and testing, we aim to contribute significantly to the advancement of fire-resistant materials and systems, ultimately enhancing the safety and resilience of the buildings in which we live and work.”
NAHB members attending the 2024 Spring Leadership Meeting also have an opportunity to tour this facility on Monday, June 10, from 1-5 p.m. The tour, which is expected to last for approximately two hours, will include transportation to and from the Marriott Marquis DC.
Registration is limited to 50 attendees. Register now to attend.
Learn more about Spring Leadership Meeting events at nahb.org.
Latest from NAHBNow
Legal
Jun 11, 2026
Supreme Court Sides Against DOE Appliance OverreachOn June 8, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a D.C. Circuit Court ruling that would have allowed the Department of Energy (DOE) to effectively eliminate certain gas appliances from the market.
Resiliency | Environmental Issues | Disaster Response
Jun 10, 2026
NAHB Urges Long-Term NFIP Reauthorization, Warns Against PrivatizationIn a joint letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, NAHB and the National Association of Realtors urged the secretaries, as co-chairs of the FEMA Review Council, to act on four key items related to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Latest Economic News
Economics
Jun 11, 2026
Residential Building Material Prices Rise at Highest Rate In Over Three YearsWholesale prices of goods used in residential construction rose in May as energy prices continued to climb.
Economics
Jun 10, 2026
Inflation Surpassed 4% in MayInflation accelerated to a new three-year high in May, driven by continued increases in energy costs from the Iran war. Energy costs drove more than 60% of the monthly increase, with national gasoline prices jumping more than a dollar since the war began.
Economics
Jun 10, 2026
Home Building Regulatory Cost Burdens Increased 40% from 2021 to 2026A new NAHB study shows that, on average, regulations imposed by government at all levels account for $131,734, or 26.4%, of the final price of a new single-family home built for sale. Of this amount, $46,795 is due to a higher price for the finished lot, attributable to regulations imposed during the lot’s development.