Who is R&D Services?

R&D Services, Inc.

R&D Services, Inc. was founded in 1994, but the foundation of R&D goes back to the 1970s. The United States found itself in two separate energy crises that forced the US to reduce fuel consumption and dedicate more effort to increasing energy efficiency in homes and businesses. The US Department of Energy worked together with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to research and develop innovative ways to evaluate and improve insulation products and decrease US dependence on oil.

Ron Graves and Dr. David Yarbrough worked at ORNL during this time and were instrumental in researching insulation products, developing new test methods, evaluating product performance, and advancing building construction techniques. Ron and Dave dedicated the rest of their career at ORNL to these efforts and became two of the world’s leading experts in insulation and testing.

In 1994, Ron and Dave decided to take their expertise to the private business world and create R&D Services, Inc. Starting in Ron’s basement in Lenoir City, Tennessee with a small room of equipment and decades of knowledge, R&D quickly became a contributor to the insulation industry. Since its inception, the company has worked closely with some of the largest insulation manufacturers in the world.

Officially becoming an accredited laboratory by NVLAP, which operates under the US Department of Commerce, further boosted the growth of R&D Services, the company quickly grew and expanded laboratory capabilities at a larger facility in Cookeville, Tennessee where it would stay for the next 17 years. In 2020, R&D relocated into a brand-new state-of-the-art facility in Watertown, Tennessee. The new location would allow for the expansion of the business and elevated service to its clients.

Since its founding, R&D has grown into an accredited organization working with building product manufacturers around the world. We serve clients on 6 continents and test innovative and conventional insulation products from all industries. R&D is continually expanding capabilities for testing, engineering, and inspection services, and works with code bodies and approval agencies in all parts of the world. We also work closely with ASTM and CAN/ULC to improve current test methods and develop new test methods for evaluating always-changing products. R&D looks forward to helping you meet all of your development and testing needs.