The CSTB has a team of 80 people in Saint Martin d'Hères, near the University of Grenoble campus. The Grenoble facility offers local stakeholders its expertise in environment, health and comfort across a range of activities including envelope quality improvement, which is critical to the energy performance and longevity of buildings. The CSTB supports public and private stakeholders by conducting research, tests and assessments, issuing certifications and providing installation training. By putting its skills and test facilities at the disposal of stakeholders, the CSTB fulfills a service mission in the interest of efficiency.
Activities
The CSTB’s Grenoble site conducts research on health risks associated with electromagnetic fields and lighting systems. It also contributes to improving visual comfort by means of natural or artificial light, and acoustic comfort in all types of buildings.
In addition, the Grenoble teams work closely with their colleagues in Marne-la-Vallée to support stakeholders in developing their environmental strategy (eco-design, life-cycle assessment) by deploying test resources specifically devoted to innovative envelope components, and specialized software such as Elodie.
CSTB experts have extensive know-how in assessing the sanitary quality of products used in construction, decoration and cleaning: these can be a prime source of chemical emissions in indoor environments.
Another special feature in Grenoble is assistance for professionals working with glazed products. CSTB teams in Grenoble test and certify manufacturer products (garage and factory doors, fittings) and provide training to professionals on their proper installation.
Test facilities
Other specialized fields:
Partners
Well-connected in the Grenoble area, the CSTB works in close collaboration with the local authorities of greater Grenoble, Isère department and the Rhône-Alpes Region to help them meet the challenges of the energy transition. As a signatory of Grenoble’s 2005 Air Energy Climate Plan, the CSTB participates in working groups on the continued development and implementation of this plan.
The CSTB is involved in the local scientific and technical community as a member of the ACTRA Association of 13 technical and research centers in the Rhône-Alpes area. Pierre Verri, Deputy Director of the CSTB Grenoble site, is the Secretary General of the association.
The Grenoble Alpes University is a key partner of the CSTB for research projects, including the jointly-run Phéline facility studying electromagnetic fields. This project brings together teams from Joseph Fourier University, the Grenoble Institute of Technology, the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the CSTB.
Projects conducted by the CSTB in the field of lighting and electromagnetic fields have a truly global reach thanks to partnerships in the United States and Europe.
