Aliaxis is proud to operate a world-leading testing facility for high-rise buildings, the National Lift Tower (NLT) in Northampton. This state-of-the-art facility serves as a hub for innovation in high-rise plumbing systems, enabling Aliaxis to push the boundaries of research and development in this critical field.

Main Capabilities of the National Lift Tower (NLT)

The NLT offers a wide range of capabilities essential for advancing high-rise building solutions. The Aliaxis High-Rise Research Centre, located at the National Lift Tower, features the world’s tallest drainage testing installation — a 96-meter soil stack. At this facility, Aliaxis demonstrates DWV (Drainage, Waste, and Ventilation) systems in 3 configurations:

• Passive venting: a traditional system that relies on natural air movement through vent pipes extending to the roof, allowing air to escape and fresh air to enter. While effective for low- to mid-rise buildings, passive venting requires extensive piping and roof penetrations, which increase complexity and costs.
• Stackareators: an optimised design reducing installation costs by decoupling water and air flows in the stack pipes from the branches.
• Studor Active Venting Solutions: a smart solution based on Positive Air Pressure Attenuators (P.A.P.A.) to manage positive air pressure within drainage systems; and Air Admittance Valves (AAVs) to avoid negative pressure levels. These solutions, which are recommended in high-rise conditions, eliminate the need for vent pipes and roof penetrations, offering a more efficient and cost-effective approach to manage pressure fluctuations and avoid trap seal loss.

The NLT facility’s technical capabilities attract industry professionals from across the globe, including building regulation inspectors, consultants, designers, international developers, M&E contractors, main contractors, and public health engineers. These experts visit the tower to conduct research, development, testing, marketing, and education across various industries, further solidifying its role as a central hub for innovation.

C.I.B. Water and Drainage Symposium (Northampton, August 2024)

Further demonstrating its leadership in high-rise building solutions, Aliaxis hosted the C.I.B. Workgroup 062 Symposium dedicated to water and drainage in Northampton from August 20 to 22, 2024. This event brought together over 80 global experts to discuss critical topics in building and construction, including drainage systems, water supply management, and sustainable practices.

The symposium provided participants with a unique opportunity to visit the NLT, where they explored Aliaxis’ cutting-edge research and witnessed firsthand the advanced DWV systems designed for high-rise applications. This event underscored Aliaxis’ commitment to setting the standard for high-rise plumbing systems, fostering collaboration, and driving innovation across the industry.