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
Economics
Jan 23, 2026
Which Local Markets Are Seeing Declines in House Pricing?Nationally, house prices continued to rise at a modest pace in the third quarter of 2025. However, this national trend masks significant variation across local markets. See which markets have experienced housing price declines in recent quarters.
Advocacy
Jan 22, 2026
NAHB Urges Congress to Ease Regulatory Burdens to Help Housing AffordabilityThe best way to ease the nation’s housing affordability crisis is for policymakers to eliminate excessive regulations that are preventing builders from increasing the housing supply, NAHB told Congress today.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Jan 22, 2026
House Prices Decline in Local Markets Despite National GrowthNationally, house prices continued to rise at a modest pace in the third quarter of 2025, as mentioned in our previous quarterly house prices post. However, this national trend masks significant variation across local markets. While many metro areas continued to see house price appreciation, others experienced notable declines following several years of rapid growth.
Economics
Jan 21, 2026
Private Residential Construction Spending Edges Higher in October on Home ImprovementsPrivate residential construction spending was up 1.3% in October, rebounding from a 1.4% decline in September 2025. This modest gain was primarily driven by increased spending on home improvements.
Economics
Jan 21, 2026
Single-Family Permits Cooled in the FallIn October, single-family building permits weakened, reflecting continued caution among builders amid affordability constraints and financing challenges. In contrast, multifamily permit activity remained steady and continued to perform relatively well.