diff --git a/tempest/api/orchestration/base.py b/tempest/api/orchestration/base.py
index 446f4ab..f83169f 100644
--- a/tempest/api/orchestration/base.py
+++ b/tempest/api/orchestration/base.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #    under the License.
 
 import os.path
+import yaml
 
 from tempest import clients
 from tempest.common.utils import data_utils
@@ -125,7 +126,7 @@
                 pass
 
     @classmethod
-    def load_template(cls, name, ext='yaml'):
+    def read_template(cls, name, ext='yaml'):
         loc = ["stacks", "templates", "%s.%s" % (name, ext)]
         fullpath = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), *loc)
 
@@ -134,6 +135,14 @@
             return content
 
     @classmethod
+    def load_template(cls, name, ext='yaml'):
+        loc = ["stacks", "templates", "%s.%s" % (name, ext)]
+        fullpath = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), *loc)
+
+        with open(fullpath, "r") as f:
+            return yaml.safe_load(f)
+
+    @classmethod
     def tearDownClass(cls):
         cls._clear_stacks()
         cls._clear_keypairs()
diff --git a/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_environment.py b/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_environment.py
index 3911e72..bc46901 100644
--- a/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_environment.py
+++ b/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_environment.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
     def test_environment_parameter(self):
         """Test passing a stack parameter via the environment."""
         stack_name = data_utils.rand_name('heat')
-        template = self.load_template('random_string')
+        template = self.read_template('random_string')
         environment = {'parameters': {'random_length': 20}}
 
         stack_identifier = self.create_stack(stack_name, template,
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 '''
         environment = {'resource_registry':
                        {'My:Random::String': 'my_random.yaml'}}
-        files = {'my_random.yaml': self.load_template('random_string')}
+        files = {'my_random.yaml': self.read_template('random_string')}
 
         stack_identifier = self.create_stack(stack_name, template,
                                              environment=environment,
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
     random_value:
         value: {get_attr: [random, random_value]}
 '''
-        files = {'my_random.yaml': self.load_template('random_string')}
+        files = {'my_random.yaml': self.read_template('random_string')}
 
         stack_identifier = self.create_stack(stack_name, template,
                                              files=files)
diff --git a/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_neutron_resources.py b/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_neutron_resources.py
index e92b945..27c6196 100644
--- a/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_neutron_resources.py
+++ b/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_neutron_resources.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
             raise cls.skipException("Neutron support is required")
         cls.network_client = os.network_client
         cls.stack_name = data_utils.rand_name('heat')
-        template = cls.load_template('neutron_basic')
+        template = cls.read_template('neutron_basic')
         cls.keypair_name = (CONF.orchestration.keypair_name or
                             cls._create_keypair()['name'])
         cls.external_network_id = CONF.network.public_network_id
diff --git a/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_non_empty_stack.py b/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_non_empty_stack.py
index 585c90b..a97c561 100644
--- a/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_non_empty_stack.py
+++ b/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_non_empty_stack.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
     def setUpClass(cls):
         super(StacksTestJSON, cls).setUpClass()
         cls.stack_name = data_utils.rand_name('heat')
-        template = cls.load_template('non_empty_stack')
+        template = cls.read_template('non_empty_stack')
         image_id = (CONF.orchestration.image_ref or
                     cls._create_image()['id'])
         # create the stack
diff --git a/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_nova_keypair_resources.py b/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_nova_keypair_resources.py
index a81a540..336fc99 100644
--- a/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_nova_keypair_resources.py
+++ b/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_nova_keypair_resources.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
     def setUpClass(cls):
         super(NovaKeyPairResourcesYAMLTest, cls).setUpClass()
         cls.stack_name = data_utils.rand_name('heat')
-        template = cls.load_template('nova_keypair', ext=cls._tpl_type)
+        template = cls.read_template('nova_keypair', ext=cls._tpl_type)
 
         # create the stack, avoid any duplicated key.
         cls.stack_identifier = cls.create_stack(
diff --git a/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_swift_resources.py b/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_swift_resources.py
index 6d53fb2..2ba2811 100644
--- a/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_swift_resources.py
+++ b/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_swift_resources.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     def setUpClass(cls):
         super(SwiftResourcesTestJSON, cls).setUpClass()
         cls.stack_name = data_utils.rand_name('heat')
-        template = cls.load_template('swift_basic')
+        template = cls.read_template('swift_basic')
         os = clients.Manager()
         if not CONF.service_available.swift:
             raise cls.skipException("Swift support is required")
diff --git a/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_volumes.py b/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_volumes.py
index 5ac2a8d..d422752 100644
--- a/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_volumes.py
+++ b/tempest/api/orchestration/stacks/test_volumes.py
@@ -31,43 +31,44 @@
         if not CONF.service_available.cinder:
             raise cls.skipException('Cinder support is required')
 
-    def _cinder_verify(self, volume_id):
+    def _cinder_verify(self, volume_id, template):
         self.assertIsNotNone(volume_id)
         resp, volume = self.volumes_client.get_volume(volume_id)
         self.assertEqual(200, resp.status)
         self.assertEqual('available', volume.get('status'))
-        self.assertEqual(1, volume.get('size'))
-        self.assertEqual('a descriptive description',
-                         volume.get('display_description'))
-        self.assertEqual('volume_name',
-                         volume.get('display_name'))
+        self.assertEqual(template['resources']['volume']['properties'][
+            'size'], volume.get('size'))
+        self.assertEqual(template['resources']['volume']['properties'][
+            'description'], volume.get('display_description'))
+        self.assertEqual(template['resources']['volume']['properties'][
+            'name'], volume.get('display_name'))
 
-    def _outputs_verify(self, stack_identifier):
+    def _outputs_verify(self, stack_identifier, template):
         self.assertEqual('available',
                          self.get_stack_output(stack_identifier, 'status'))
-        self.assertEqual('1',
-                         self.get_stack_output(stack_identifier, 'size'))
-        self.assertEqual('a descriptive description',
-                         self.get_stack_output(stack_identifier,
-                                               'display_description'))
-        self.assertEqual('volume_name',
-                         self.get_stack_output(stack_identifier,
-                                               'display_name'))
+        self.assertEqual(str(template['resources']['volume']['properties'][
+            'size']), self.get_stack_output(stack_identifier, 'size'))
+        self.assertEqual(template['resources']['volume']['properties'][
+            'description'], self.get_stack_output(stack_identifier,
+                                                  'display_description'))
+        self.assertEqual(template['resources']['volume']['properties'][
+            'name'], self.get_stack_output(stack_identifier, 'display_name'))
 
     @test.attr(type='gate')
     def test_cinder_volume_create_delete(self):
         """Create and delete a volume via OS::Cinder::Volume."""
         stack_name = data_utils.rand_name('heat')
-        template = self.load_template('cinder_basic')
+        template = self.read_template('cinder_basic')
         stack_identifier = self.create_stack(stack_name, template)
         self.client.wait_for_stack_status(stack_identifier, 'CREATE_COMPLETE')
 
         # Verify with cinder that the volume exists, with matching details
         volume_id = self.get_stack_output(stack_identifier, 'volume_id')
-        self._cinder_verify(volume_id)
+        cinder_basic_template = self.load_template('cinder_basic')
+        self._cinder_verify(volume_id, cinder_basic_template)
 
         # Verify the stack outputs are as expected
-        self._outputs_verify(stack_identifier)
+        self._outputs_verify(stack_identifier, cinder_basic_template)
 
         # Delete the stack and ensure the volume is gone
         self.client.delete_stack(stack_identifier)
@@ -86,21 +87,22 @@
     def test_cinder_volume_create_delete_retain(self):
         """Ensure the 'Retain' deletion policy is respected."""
         stack_name = data_utils.rand_name('heat')
-        template = self.load_template('cinder_basic_delete_retain')
+        template = self.read_template('cinder_basic_delete_retain')
         stack_identifier = self.create_stack(stack_name, template)
         self.client.wait_for_stack_status(stack_identifier, 'CREATE_COMPLETE')
 
         # Verify with cinder that the volume exists, with matching details
         volume_id = self.get_stack_output(stack_identifier, 'volume_id')
         self.addCleanup(self._cleanup_volume, volume_id)
-        self._cinder_verify(volume_id)
+        retain_template = self.load_template('cinder_basic_delete_retain')
+        self._cinder_verify(volume_id, retain_template)
 
         # Verify the stack outputs are as expected
-        self._outputs_verify(stack_identifier)
+        self._outputs_verify(stack_identifier, retain_template)
 
         # Delete the stack and ensure the volume is *not* gone
         self.client.delete_stack(stack_identifier)
         self.client.wait_for_stack_status(stack_identifier, 'DELETE_COMPLETE')
-        self._cinder_verify(volume_id)
+        self._cinder_verify(volume_id, retain_template)
 
         # Volume cleanup happens via addCleanup calling _cleanup_volume