Research · Field tests
AE Field Lab
Documented tests on outdoor materials and systems in Arizona conditions — not marketing demonstrations dressed up as science.
No tests are published yet. Tests are being designed and run; results appear here only after they meet the documentation standard below. We will not generalize a single demonstration into a universal product claim.
Test categories
Where a published test exists, the card will link to its full record. Cards without links are categories we plan to cover.
Surface temperatures
Pavers, artificial turf, concrete, and composite decking under Arizona sun.
No published test yet
Shade effects
Measured temperature differences under pergola, sail, and structural shade configurations.
No published test yet
Drainage & infiltration
Permeable paver and base assemblies under controlled water volumes.
No published test yet
Turf cleaning methods
Side-by-side cleaning protocols for pet, food, and mineral soiling.
No published test yet
Paver stain resistance
Common Arizona staining agents on sealed and unsealed pavers, timed exposure.
No published test yet
Lighting output & energy use
Lumens at fixture, lumens at target, draw per scene for outdoor lighting systems.
No published test yet
Glass cleaning methods
Hard-water mineral removal protocols on tempered glass barriers.
No published test yet
Irrigation distribution
Catch-cup distribution uniformity for common drip and rotor configurations.
No published test yet
Material aging & UV
Long-exposure samples of finishes, fabrics, and coatings — dated and photographed.
No published test yet
Pool-deck slip considerations
Wet/dry friction observations on common pool-deck materials. Not a code certification.
No published test yet
What every published test includes
A test does not publish until its record contains all of the following:
- Question being tested
- Date(s) of test
- Location or environment
- Products or materials tested (brand, model, batch)
- Test setup (diagram or photograph)
- Equipment used (instruments and calibration date)
- Measurement method and protocol
- Sample size and replicates
- Results (raw + summary)
- Photographs and/or video
- Limitations and known confounders
- Conflicts or commercial relationships
- Reviewer (named AE staff)
- Last-reviewed date
Language standards
Test write-ups describe what was measured under stated conditions. They do not use the following words unless the evidence legitimately supports them:
- proves
- always
- safest
- coolest
- strongest
- maintenance-free
A test of three paver samples in one back yard on one afternoon is not proof. It is one observation that earns one carefully worded sentence — not a hero claim.
Connected research
Field Lab findings will be linked from the relevant material pages, service pages, comparisons, cost guides, project case studies, and videos as they publish.