Senior Materials Technician
Testing building products is part science, part judgement. Nigel Kell has spent his career refining both.
Ask Nigel Kell what he does and he’ll reply, “How long have you got? I’ve been here a wee while.”
Nigel arrived at BRANZ as a chemistry student on a part-time placement. That was 37 years ago.
He is a senior materials technician, responsible for testing materials and products for compliance with the New Zealand building code. His work spans double glazing, building underlays, accelerated UV weathering, and tensile and compression testing.
He manages BRANZ's Insulated Glazed Unit testing facility – the only independent facility in the country. Units undergo accelerated ageing in line with European standards to demonstrate a minimum 10-year service life. He oversees the entire process single-handedly, from liaising with customers and conducting the tests to writing reports and sending clients the final bill.
What sets Nigel apart is his approach when things don't go to plan. When products fail testing, he doesn't just deliver the findings – he works with manufacturers to help them understand what went wrong and refers samples to other testers when needed. “I’ve had fabulous feedback – clients appreciate my expertise and willingness to help them resolve problems.”
Beyond the lab, Nigel is a long-standing health and safety advocate at BRANZ. He has served on the Health and Safety Committee, acted as the representative for his team, and is a BRANZ first aider.
“I'm really happy when companies produce great products. When I receive something that struggles to meet compliance, I do everything I can to help them achieve what’s required.”