Advancing Fire Innovation for a Safer, More Resilient Future
The state-of-the-art fire testing lab marks the latest major investment in the Greater Boston area for Saint-Gobain. The Innovation Hub North America sits on 26 acres across Northborough and Marlborough, MA and has gone through a campus transformation over the last decade. This 15,000 sq foot project represents a nearly $30 million investment in the region, with the full site ultimately hosting more than 400 local jobs.
Featuring one of the most advanced emissions control systems available, the fire lab will be used to safely and sustainably test Saint-Gobain construction systems for compliance with fire certification standards. It is designed to meet the industry leading ANSI/UL and CAN/ULC standards for measuring the fire resistance of construction materials, with the goal of earning the ability to offer essential product certification credentials.
Built for Today’s Global Challenges
As extreme weather, rapid urbanization, and population growth reshape the built environment, the need for safer, more resilient construction solutions has never been greater. This 15,000-square-foot facility is designed to meet that challenge—enabling the next generation of fire-resistant materials, systems, and solutions.
What We’re Testing
The facility was designed to assess fire resistance in several different areas, enabling Saint-Gobain to identify and test solutions to complex project-specific needs for our customers.
Commitment to the Community
The fire lab features digitally controlled furnaces and a cutting-edge emissions control system that removes all VOCs and combustion byproducts, eliminating odor and smoke during fire tests.
Planning For the Future
The introduction of in-house fire lab testing further differentiates Saint-Gobain’s commercial construction offerings, advancing a key component of the company’s “Lead and Grow” strategy, announced last October. When combined with the existing large-scale acoustic testing and other advanced testing capabilities available at Northborough, Saint-Gobain will be able to offer small-to-large-scale, on-demand customizable testing to meet a wide range of commercial construction needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
A fire lab conducts fire resistance tests designed to assess the performance of construction components for their fire compartmentalization properties or load bearing abilities when exposed to fire. There are a broad range of fire resistance tests designed to simulate how each tested component will react under fire threat.
The complete fire lab construction project cost approximately $30 million. The groundbreaking was in October 2024 and the certificate of occupancy was issued in June of 2026. The project created approximately XXX local construction jobs.
The purpose of a fire lab is to measure the stated fire resistance of systems to ensure they will properly function in real-world applications. To this end, the goal is not to ignite items or allow items to catch or remain on fire. Part of the testing also involved a “fire hose test,” which ensures materials maintain their integrity under real world fire suppression efforts.
For added safety, the fire lab includes additional fire suppression systems designed in coordination with the local fire department.
There are currently six certified fire labs in North America. Saint-Gobain's Fire Lab at the Innovation Hub North America campus was designed to meet the stringent testing requirements of a certified lab and has the goal of achieving certifying credentials.
In order to become a certifying fire lab, a facility must demonstrate that the operation is safe for all involved and that they meet very strict quality standards in line with UL requirements.
Safety is Saint-Gobain’s top priority and the fire lab was designed to meet the highest safety standards. The building was designed utilizing lessons from existing fire lab facilities related to process flow, ceiling clearances, staging space, and furnace design. The furnaces also employ advanced, fully electronic controls to offer maximum temperature precision and furnace control.
While fire labs are considered critical for assessing the safety of construction components and are generally exempt from certain environmental regulations, Saint-Gobain remained committed to eliminating any environmental impacts of the facility.
This was achieved through the installation of a state-of-the-art emissions control system that virtually eliminates any smoke, odors, or pollutants from being released into the environment. The only by product that may be occasionally visible from the site is a plume due to condensation.
Advanced waste water control systems are also incorporated at the facility, reducing the use of local water supplies and ensuring water is treated to remove any contaminants.