I.F.I. Institute for Industrial Aerodynamics GmbH

What I.F.I. Institute for Industrial Aerodynamics GmbH does

I.F.I. Institute for Industrial Aerodynamics GmbH is a privately held German professional services firm founded in 1990 in Aachen as an affiliated institute of FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences. The company operates specialized testing facilities — including three purpose-built wind tunnels (large industrial, large boundary layer, small boundary layer), patented gas-burner fire simulation equipment, and dedicated test rigs for natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilators (NSHEV), pressure differential systems, and pressure/suction alternating loads — that enable physical and CFD-based evaluation of airflow phenomena on and within buildings and structures. Its service portfolio spans three clusters: Building Aerodynamics (wind load analysis, facade and PV wind engineering, sunblind control), Fire Protection and Smoke Control (NSHEV certification per EN 12101-2, pressure differential systems per EN 12101-6, real fire and smoke testing), and Indoor Air and HVAC (fume cupboard testing per EN 14175, ventilation system consulting, air filter testing).

The firm generates revenue exclusively through project-based professional services contracts — testing, certification, consulting, and CFD simulation — priced via custom quotes rather than published rates. Its customer base includes large European industrial and infrastructure enterprises (BASF, Siemens, Airbus, BMW, Roche, Allianz, Fraport, Swiss RE, Goldbeck) and public sector clients (Die Autobahn, Schweizerische Bundesbahnen). Distribution is direct enterprise engagement with no channel or reseller model, supported by thought-leadership activity in DIN and VDI standards committees and conference participation (EACWE, ICWE). The company holds DAkkS accreditations D-PL-17774-01-00 (testing body) and D-ZE-17774-01-00 (certification body), plus DIBt Notified Body No. 1368 designation for CE marking of construction products under EU Regulation 305/2011.

I.F.I. is led by a dual Managing Director team of Denise Berger (Dipl.-Kff., Dipl.-Volksw.) and Dr.-Ing. Rolf-Dieter Lieb following the June 2025 departure of long-time Prokurist Bernd Konrath. The firm operates two adjacent sites in Aachen (~15 employees total) and has executed projects in 17+ countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and North America. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the firm is privately held with no outside investors.

Name

I.F.I. Institute for Industrial Aerodynamics GmbH

Legal name

I.F.I. Institut für Industrieaerodynamik GmbH

Website

https://ifi-ac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

I.F.I. is a privately held German aerodynamics testing, certification, and consulting firm serving construction, building services, and industrial clients with wind tunnel testing, NSHEV CE certification, and CFD simulation from its Aachen headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Aerodynamics Testing & Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAIAJAI

Smoke Control & Fire/Smoke Damper Inspection & Testing

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Services & Facility Operations/Fire Protection & Life Safety Services (Inspection/Testing/Sprinklers)

SECONDARYEUAEAHAN

Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Energy Infrastructure & Services (EPC, O&M, Field Services)/Inspection, Testing & Certification (ITC) / NDT for Energy Infrastructure

Keywords

• Industrial aerodynamics testing
• Wind tunnel testing services
• Smoke exhaust ventilator certification
• Fire and smoke testing
• Computational fluid dynamics consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Testing and Certification Services: Accredited testing and certification of products including natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilators (NSHEV), fume cupboards, pressure differential systems, PV systems, and building components. Includes CE marking services as Notified Body.
2. Engineering Consulting: Expert consulting services for wind load analysis, smoke control systems design, ventilation system optimization, and building aerodynamics.
3. Simulation Services: Numerical flow simulations (CFD) and wind tunnel model testing for clients in construction and industrial sectors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

I.F.I. provides accredited testing, certification, and engineering consulting services focused on industrial aerodynamics, building wind engineering, and fire/smoke control. Using proprietary wind tunnels, fire simulation devices, and CFD simulations, the firm delivers legally required CE marking certifications for natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilators and other building products, alongside wind load analysis, ventilation optimization, and fire/smoke testing for construction, building services, and industrial clients.

Product overview

I.F.I. Institute for Industrial Aerodynamics GmbH is a research-oriented testing, certification, and consulting service provider specializing in industrial aerodynamics and fluid mechanics. The company operates at the interface between industry, construction, research, and standardization as an institute affiliated with FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences. Its portfolio centers on three core service areas: (1) Building Aerodynamics including wind load analysis, wind comfort assessments, and wind tunnel testing for structures and PV systems; (2) Fire Protection & Smoke Control covering natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilators (NSHEV) testing/certification, pressure differential systems, and real fire/smoke simulation tests; and (3) Indoor Air & HVAC Services including energy and ventilation systems consulting, fume cupboard testing, air purifier testing, and numerical simulations. The company holds accreditations from DAkkS (D-PL-17774-01-00, D-ZE-17774-01-00) and notification as European Notified Body No. 1368 from DIBt for product certification according to CPR (EU) 305/2011. Services are delivered through specialized facilities including multiple wind tunnels, fire/smoke test equipment, and test rigs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wind Load Analysis on Buildings & Environment Determination of real wind effects on buildings, facades, and photovoltaic systems using wind tunnel tests and analysis of wind measurement data, supporting structural engineering and architectural design for construction industry clients.
• Natural Smoke & Heat Exhaust Ventilators (NSHEV/NRWG) Testing & Certification DAkkS-accredited testing (D-PL-17774-01-00) and certification (D-ZE-17774-01-00) of NSHEVs according to EN 12101-2:2003, including aerodynamic free area determination, functional safety testing, and CE marking as Notified Body 1368.
• Smoke Control & Pressure Differential Systems Testing Testing and certification of pressure differential systems (smoke protection pressure systems) according to EN 12101-6:2022-11, including smoke control concepts for buildings, tunnels, and garages.
• Smoke & Fire Tests Real fire simulations, smoke extraction tests, and controlled fire tests conducted in buildings and tunnels using patented gas-burner fire simulation devices and harmless precipitation-free mist smoke visualization per VDI 6019-1.
• Fume Cupboard Testing Testing of laboratory fume cupboards according to EN 14175-3:2003, measuring volume flow, inflow velocity, tracer gas concentration, and retention capacity for laboratory equipment manufacturers.
• Non-Smoker Protection Systems Testing Testing and certification services for non-smoker protection systems used in public buildings and enclosed spaces.
• PV System Wind Load Testing Wind tunnel investigations for photovoltaic systems to determine wind loads on flat roof systems, ground-mounted systems, and agrivoltaic systems, including type testing for PV manufacturers.
• Wind Tunnel Testing Services Physical testing using the large industrial wind tunnel (up to 20 m/s), large boundary layer wind tunnel (1:150 to 1:500 scale), and small boundary layer wind tunnel (1:250 to 1:800 scale) for building aerodynamics and wind load determination.
• Numerical Simulation (CFD) Services Computational fluid dynamics simulations for airflow, smoke extraction, ventilation systems, pressure distribution, and energy efficiency analysis, supported by I.F.I.'s contribution to VDI 6016 quality assurance for numerical simulations.
• Air Purifier / Air Filter System Testing Testing of mobile air filter systems measuring overall filter effect, aerosol particle concentration reduction, filtered air distribution, and comfort factors.
• Pressure/Suction Alternating Load Testing Testing facility for pressure/suction alternating loads on test specimens up to 1.6m x 3.1m with high load cycles and pressure differences up to 5 kPa at frequencies up to 2.5 Hz, supporting over 1 million load cycles.
• Roof Durability / Wind Load Resistance Testing Testing wind load resistance of roof elements, including mechanically fastened or bonded flat roof membranes according to EN 16002 and EN 17686.
• Wind Analysis & Zoning for Sunblinds Control Systems Wind analysis and zoning of sun protection systems on building facades, including design of decentralized or central wind control systems for motorized blinds to protect against excessive wind loads.
• Energy & Ventilation Systems Consulting Consulting on design, operation, and optimization of HVAC systems (RLT), industrial ventilation, and exhaust systems, including special expertise in energy efficiency, comfort, and climate concepts for swimming pools, ice rinks, hospitals, and high-bay warehouses.
• HVAC System Testing & Inspection Testing and inspection of room air conditioning systems (RLT) according to DIN 1946-7 and energy efficiency standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10-30% reduction in peak velocity pressure (design pressure qp) achievable through detailed wind data analysis
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WTG - Windtechnologische Gesellschaft e.V.coreOthersProfessional association for wind technology. I.F.I. participates through memberships and conference exchanges.
• DIVB - Deutsches Institut für vorbeugenden Brandschutz e.V.coreOthersGerman institute for fire prevention. I.F.I. participates in exchange of expertise in fire protection.
• VFDB - Verein zur Förderung des Deutschen Brandschutzes e.V.minorOthersAssociation for the promotion of German fire protection.
• DIN - Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerI.F.I. actively contributes to DIN standardization committees, including participation in development of DIN 18199 for solar systems on roofs and facades.
• VDI - Verein Deutscher Ingenieure e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerI.F.I. contributes to VDI guidelines including VDI 6016 for quality assurance in numerical simulations.
• FH Aachen - Fachhochschule AachencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerI.F.I. was founded as an affiliated institute of FH Aachen in 1990, maintaining ongoing academic cooperation for research and teaching.
• AAWE - American Association for Wind EngineeringminorOthersInternational professional association for wind engineering.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Element Materials Technology: Global testing and certification provider for construction and industrial products. Comparable to IFI in serving product manufacturers with accredited test reports, but spans many sectors and lacks IFI's aerodynamics specialization.
• TÜV SÜD Industrie Service: Global testing, inspection, and certification giant with building products and HVAC testing capabilities. Comparable as a Notified Body competitor in CE marking, but operates across many industries rather than specializing in aerodynamics.
• TÜV Rheinland: International TIC services provider with construction product testing and certification offerings. Overlaps with IFI on CE marking and product certification, but is a broad incumbent rather than a niche specialist.
• DEKRA: Global testing and certification organization with building services and product testing divisions. Comparable as a Notified Body in adjacent construction categories, but offers a much broader service portfolio.

Direct peers

• CPP Wind Engineering: Specialist wind engineering consultancy providing wind tunnel testing, CFD, and wind load studies for buildings and structures. Closely comparable in service scope and customer base (architects, developers, structural engineers).
• ift Rosenheim: German notified testing and certification body for building components (windows, facades, doors, smoke control). Directly comparable to IFI in serving building product manufacturers with accredited testing and CE marking/notified body services.
• RWDI: Global wind engineering and microclimate consulting firm operating boundary layer wind tunnels for building aerodynamics, cladding wind loads, and pedestrian wind comfort. Directly comparable to IFI's wind tunnel and wind load analysis services for construction clients.
• BRE Group (Building Research Establishment): UK building science center performing testing, certification, and standards development for construction products. Comparable to IFI in combining accredited testing facilities, certification body services, and research-driven positioning.
• BMT Group: International engineering consultancy with wind tunnel and CFD capabilities for structures, offshore, and built environment. Comparable to IFI in combining physical wind tunnel testing with numerical simulation for construction and infrastructure clients.
• CSTB (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment): French national building research institute providing testing, certification, and technical assessment for construction products. Comparable in acting as a Notified Body and providing wind/smoke/HVAC test services for manufacturers selling into European construction markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ifi-gmbh

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about I.F.I. Institute for Industrial Aerodynamics GmbH