diff --git a/city_model_structure/thermal_boundary.py b/city_model_structure/thermal_boundary.py
index 2c7e62fc..552e664a 100644
--- a/city_model_structure/thermal_boundary.py
+++ b/city_model_structure/thermal_boundary.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from city_model_structure.thermal_opening import ThermalOpening
 from city_model_structure.surface import Surface
 from city_model_structure.layer import Layer
-import helpers.assumptions as assumptions
+from helpers.configuration import Configuration
 from typing import List
 
 
@@ -108,8 +108,8 @@ class ThermalBoundary:
   @property
   def u_value(self):
     if self._u_value is None:
-      h_i = assumptions.h_i
-      h_e = assumptions.h_e
+      h_i = Configuration().h_i
+      h_e = Configuration().h_e
       r_value = 1.0/h_i + 1.0/h_e
       try:
         for layer in self.layers:
diff --git a/city_model_structure/thermal_opening.py b/city_model_structure/thermal_opening.py
index f4072afc..159aee9d 100644
--- a/city_model_structure/thermal_opening.py
+++ b/city_model_structure/thermal_opening.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import helpers.assumptions as assumptions
+from helpers.configuration import Configuration
 
 
 class ThermalOpening:
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ class ThermalOpening:
     self._area = None
     self._openable_ratio = None
     self._conductivity_w_mk = None
-    self._frame_ratio = assumptions.frame_ratio
+    self._frame_ratio = Configuration().frame_ratio
     self._g_value = None
     self._thickness_m = None
     self._inside_reflectance = None
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ class ThermalOpening:
   def u_value(self):
     if self._u_value is None:
       try:
-        h_i = assumptions.h_i
-        h_e = assumptions.h_e
+        h_i = Configuration().h_i
+        h_e = Configuration().h_e
         r_value = 1 / h_i + 1 / h_e + float(self.conductivity_w_mk) / float(self.thickness_m)
         self._u_value = 1 / r_value
       except TypeError:
diff --git a/config/configuration.ini b/config/configuration.ini
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dc0e7b11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/configuration.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# These values are intended as configurable assumptions
+[convective_fluxes]
+h_i = 10  # W/m2K
+h_e = 25  # W/m2K
+
+[windows]
+frame_ratio = 0
diff --git a/helpers/assumptions.py b/helpers/assumptions.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 13115d60..00000000
--- a/helpers/assumptions.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-# These values are intended as configurable assumptions
-# ToDo: these values need to be changed into configurable parameters
-
-# convective fluxes
-h_i = 10  # W/m2K
-h_e = 25  # W/m2K
-
-# windows' default values
-frame_ratio = 0
diff --git a/helpers/configuration.py b/helpers/configuration.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0c971460
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helpers/configuration.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import configparser
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+class Configuration:
+  def __init__(self):
+    base_path = Path().resolve().parent
+    config_file = Path(base_path / 'config/configuration.ini').resolve()
+    self._config = configparser.ConfigParser()
+    self._config.read(config_file)
+
+  @property
+  def h_i(self):
+    return self._config.getfloat('convective_fluxes', 'h_i')
+
+  @property
+  def h_e(self):
+    return self._config.getfloat('convective_fluxes', 'h_e')
+
+  @property
+  def frame_ratio(self):
+    return self._config.getint('windows', 'frame_ratio')
diff --git a/tests/test_physics_factory.py b/tests/test_physics_factory.py
index 889d6690..116ad42b 100644
--- a/tests/test_physics_factory.py
+++ b/tests/test_physics_factory.py
@@ -24,4 +24,21 @@ class TestPhysicsFactory(TestCase):
     return self._nyc_with_physics
 
   def test_city_with_physics(self):
-    city = self.get_city_with_physics()
\ No newline at end of file
+    city = self.get_city_with_physics()
+    for city_object in city.city_objects:
+      self.assertIsNotNone(city_object.average_storey_height, 'average_storey_height is none')
+      self.assertIsNotNone(city_object.storeys_above_ground, 'storeys_above_ground is none')
+      for thermal_zone in city_object.thermal_zones:
+        self.assertIsNotNone(thermal_zone.effective_thermal_capacity, 'effective_thermal_capacity is none')
+        self.assertIsNotNone(thermal_zone.additional_thermal_bridge_u_value,
+                             'additional_thermal_bridge_u_value is none')
+        self.assertIsNotNone(thermal_zone.indirectly_heated_area_ratio, 'indirectly_heated_area_ratio is none')
+        self.assertIsNotNone(thermal_zone.infiltration_rate_system_on, 'infiltration_rate_system_on is none')
+        self.assertIsNotNone(thermal_zone.infiltration_rate_system_off, 'infiltration_rate_system_off is none')
+        self.assertIsNotNone(thermal_zone.bounded, 'bounded is none')
+        for thermal_boundary in thermal_zone.bounded:
+          self.assertIsNotNone(thermal_boundary.outside_solar_absorptance, 'outside_solar_absorptance is none')
+          self.assertIsNotNone(thermal_boundary.outside_thermal_absorptance, 'outside_thermal_absorptance is none')
+          self.assertIsNotNone(thermal_boundary.outside_visible_absorptance, 'outside_visible_absorptance is none')
+          self.assertIsNotNone(thermal_boundary.window_ratio, 'window_ratio is none')
+          self.assertIsNotNone(thermal_boundary.layers, 'layers is none')