The role of experimental tests in the certification of Dry Foundations

From idea to product: the contribution of LSF kit experimentation

17 February 2026

The development of dry foundations Ledrosteel Foundation required an articulate and rigorous course of applied research conducted in collaboration with outstanding scientific institutions. Metallurgica Ledrense, with the support of theUniversity of Trento (DICAM e Department of Industrial Engineering) and the CNR-IBE of San Michele all'Adige, has devoted four years to the experimental characterization of the system, investing significant resources to obtain reliable data on structural behavior under various loading conditions.

A crucial aspect of this path was the study of the connection system between the LSF foundations and the superstructure, a crucial element in ensuring proper load transfer and overall system functionality. Experimental tests conducted at the CNR-IBE Mechanical Testing Laboratory in San Michele all'Adige, Italy, under the supervision of the engineer Riccardo Fanti, allowed to verify the performance of the connection and of the complete wall system, providing essential data for theobtaining the CE marking through ETA 22/0093 and for the publication of theEAD 200171-00-0103 on Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in September 2025.

In this article, Eng. Fanti explains the mode of execution of the tests and the results obtained, highlighting how the experimental validation of the connection system contributed greatly to the definition of the performance characteristics of the Ledrosteel Foundation foundations.

Laboratory tests performed on the connection system between LSF and superstructure

A key element for the functional use of the Ledrosteel Foundation is the connection system Of the same with the superstructure. This element was studied and verified at the CNR-IBE in San Michele all'Adige, Italy, and was realized through a adjustable M20 threaded rod both in height and in the plane of support. It provides the necessary tolerances to allow the installation of the sleeper, on which to attach the superstructure, with millimeter accuracy. Such a connection system (see figure below) is called a "hinge" because it is designed to transfer axial and horizontal action to the LSF and not moment.

The connection system was tested at the CNR-IBE Mechanical Testing Laboratory. of San Michele all'Adige. In particular, three specimen load configurations were tested:

Compression
Traction
Cut

Compression tests demonstrated a'high punching resistance of the reinforced concrete slab., in fact, failure was not reached before 250 kN load. Tensile tests ensured a strength greater than 18 kN, which represents the self-weight of the LSF, while in shear tests, the calculation strength of the steel threaded bar was reached.

Laboratory tests performed on the wall system

Following the above tests performed on the connection system at the CNR-IBE laboratory and the tests performed on the single LSF element at DICAM in Trento, Italy, the following were performed four tests at the CNR-IBE Mechanical Testing Laboratory in San Michele all'Adige on a complete system consisting of the following elements:

X-Lam wall and related connections
Steel sleeper during the first test and concrete sleeper during the second test
LSF gabions (3 aligned gabions)

Tests performed on the complete system confirmed the results obtained at the connection and individual element level, highlighting the good performance of the system consisting of multiple aligned LSF elements.

From Laboratory to Certification

The results of the tests conducted at CNR-IBE were a key step in the Ledrosteel Foundation certification pathway.. Experimental validation of the connection system and the behavior of the wall-LSF assembly provided the technical evidence needed to obtain the CE marking through ETA 22/0093, turning an innovative system into a certified solution that can be used by structural construction professionals.

Eng. Riccardo Fanti

A civil engineer with a degree from the University of Trento, Eng. Fanti specializes in wood structures and innovative building systems. His activity combines research, experimentation and technical application, with a focus on X-Lam buildings and structural connection systems. He collaborates on scientific studies and experimental campaigns on advanced components and solutions, contributing to the development of more efficient, safe and sustainable construction.