ITC is the reference research body of the Italian National Research Council in the construction field and has its main seat is in San Giuliano Milanese, having branches in Bari, Padua, L’Aquila, Rome and Milan. ITC-CNR carries out studies, experimentations and certifications on building materials and components. 

The Institute deals with bioclimatic facades and windows for the optimization of energy management and innovative heating and air-conditioning systems; it also performs researches on buildings’ behaviour models for energy certification purposes. 

The Institute has developed an original technique for the monitoring of energy/environmental conditions of buildings prior to and following the execution of improving actions.

Potential pollutants are investigated in ITC-CNR laboratories through analyses and, until a recent past, through field trials; an example is the development of “pollution-eating” external coating materials using photocatalytic additives activated by sun-light to absorb noxious urban gases emissions. These materials are developed through laboratory analytical activity using sophisticated instruments. 

Acoustic pollution is also taken into account by ITC-CNR whose activities aim at studying and realizing both passive and active systems intended for the protection of the inhabited environment. The Institute has developed standardized tests on building components and innovative devices applying active noise control to building elements.  

Besides dealing with energy and environmental sustainability, ITC-CNR is also working for the safety and quality of the built-up environment by performing researches on various building components.

Fire safety is dealt with in a modern laboratory where materials and components’ fire behaviour is studied while fire mathematical models and related safety measures are developed in parallel.

Other activities cover the application of informatics to the preservation of the cultural and architectural heritage, the creation and management of multimedia archives, the evaluation of seismic damage, buildings for the elderly and disabled people. 

The global quality of buildings requires trained building operators; this purpose is served by ITC-CNR Formazione, a unit created by ITC-CNR and accredited by the Lombardy Regional Administration. This unit plans, develops and carries out professional courses for superior training and update.

Finally, ITC-CNR is actively involved in the certification activity as it supports manufacturers in the  compulsory EC marking for construction products after executing all the tests and assessments provided for by many relevant harmonized European standards or, being a member of EOTA, deriving from its issued ETAs. 

Lacking a reference standard, products’ fitness is proven by means of an engineering-based appraisal following a voluntary approach (i.e. UEAtc network). 

An important part of the activity carried out is devoted to developing new test methods for the appraisal of the behaviour of manufactured products.

Its involvement in all of these activities aiming at the global improvement of the built-up environment makes ITC-CNR a partner in many national and international co-operation works that are essential to achieve the research goals set out.