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
Jul 30, 2026
New Certification Makes NGBS Compliance Easier for Multifamily ProjectsA new compliance option in the 2025 National Green Building Standard® (NGBS) is designed to make it even easier to showcase how high-performance features have been incorporated into certain multifamily projects.
Jul 29, 2026
Fed Holds Rates as Inflation and Energy Costs Cloud OutlookThe Federal Reserve opted to keep its key interest rate unchanged on Wednesday, while signaling that additional rate increases remain possible if inflation does not continue to ease.
Latest Economic News
Jul 30, 2026
PCE Inflation Eased in JuneAfter reaching a three-year high last month, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge eased in June following declines in energy prices amid a temporary truce with Iran. This marked the first monthly decline in six years.
Jul 30, 2026
Top Ten Builder Share Across Largest Housing MarketsAn earlier post described how the top ten builders in the country accounted for 43.6% of new single-family closings in 2025. BUILDER magazine has now released additional data on the top ten builders within each of the 50 largest new home markets in the U.S., ranked by single-family permits.
Jul 29, 2026
Amid Supply-Side Inflation Pressures, The Fed HoldsThe Federal Reserve held the federal funds rate at a target range of 3.5% to 3.75% at the conclusion of its July policy meeting. There were three dissenting votes on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), all of which supported raising the federal funds rate by 25 basis points.