User:YonchevBG/Building Research Institute Sofia - NISI

„Building Research Institute – NISI“ SOE is a state owned research institute and control body with competencies in construction part of the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.

The Institute was founded in 1899 as a laboratory (Control place) by the Ministry of civil buildings, roads and development of Bulgaria. At first the main task of the laboratory is to test hydrolic binders (cement and lime), imported from abroad, later on additional construction materials were included in its scope.

Currently the institute has one of the largest scopes for testing and conformity assessment of construction products in Bulgaria.

The institute has two main subparts. The first is acredited test lab for construction materials, which conducts tests based on standartized methods (EN/ISO) as well as unstandartized ones. The second subpart of the institute is the Notified Body according to Regulation 305 of EU, where the institute is under number 2032.

The Laboratory is devided in three sectors: "Concretes, rebars, construction materials and products", "Structures and soil mechanics" and "Construction chemistry and insulations". The institute has a full size chamber for building material acoustics. Also the institute has a specialized building with prestressed concrete floor for testing with the capability to test full size structures.

Some of the most interesting tests done in NISI the last 10 years are: Testing of the tunnel lining segment for the Sofia Subway - second and third diameter, Testing glass barriers for the Sofia Zoo on impact, Testing for watertightness of 2m diameter GFRP pipes, Testing for relaxation of high strength steel bars at 220 tons force.


 * НИСИ, МРРБ – official site