Reliability over time: Impertek case study at IUAV University

In 2001, an outdoor raised flooring was installed in the courtyard of LABSCO, the Construction Science Laboratory at IUAV University of Venice. The surface consisted of washed gravel tiles laid on Martinetto supports from Impertek’s Pedestal Line, with heights ranging from 6 to 20 cm.

Over twenty years later, Impertek’s supports returned to the spotlight thanks to a case study that highlighted their long-term quality and durability. This was a rare and valuable opportunity: the chance to analyse components that had been installed and actively used for decades, rather than simply testing laboratory samples.

This installation thus provided a concrete chance to assess the actual performance of the materials used. The supports remained in use for two decades in a particularly challenging environment, the Venetian lagoon, characterised by constant humidity, saline air, extreme temperature variations and heavy foot traffic. Despite these conditions, Impertek supports delivered continuous and uninterrupted service without the need for extraordinary maintenance. Some Martinetto supports were removed from the flooring and tested at Impertek’s technical laboratory, providing concrete data on their condition and performance.

The architectural context of the installation, designed in the early 2000s by architect Francesco Venezia and located in an outdoor environment subject to harsh weather conditions, made this flooring an ideal site to assess the long-term reliability of Impertek solutions.

In 2017 and again in 2023, a selection of supports was extracted from the still fully operational flooring and subjected to load-bearing tests in Impertek’s technical lab. The tests simulated real-world stress by applying a vertical force through a metal tube positioned on the head of each support. The outcome was clear: no structural failures, no breakage and full structural integrity, even after more than twenty years of exposure.

These results confirm that the supports continue to meet their original performance standards, demonstrating the quality and material durability of Impertek’s products, even under intense use.

This case study stands as a concrete proof of the long-term reliability of Impertek’s solutions, even in critical environmental conditions. It is not just a theoretical evaluation, but a real-world validation of components installed more than twenty years ago, components that still guarantee full functionality, safety and top-level performance today.

Choose Impertek for long-lasting solutions, tested over time and ready to meet the challenges of any project. Contact us to explore our complete range of supports and installation systems!