What the fire safety industry really wants from its test providers
- May 14
- 2 min read
At the 2026 edition of the Fire Safety Event, we took the opportunity to ask the people who matter most, the fire safety professionals working in our industry every day, what they value, what frustrates them, and how their current test providers are performing. Over 150 responses later, the results make for a compelling read.
Participants were asked to rate a number of key factors, including UKAS accreditation, service provision at one location, report turnaround time, cost and laboratory location, between 1 (of little importance) to 5 (most important). Here's what they said...
UKAS accreditation came out on top by a clear margin with an average score of 4.6, underscoring just how important recognised, trustworthy fire testing is to the industry. Closely behind were the practical considerations of service breadth and speed of reporting, while cost and location, though relevant, ranked lower than some might expect.
Overall satisfaction with test providers sits at a modest 3.51 out of 5, suggesting the industry as a whole feels there is meaningful room for improvement. Notably, those who currently test with UKTC scored their satisfaction at 4.05, compared to 3.10 for those using other providers.
Andrew Hutchison, UKTC's Operations Director, commented on the results, "The message from the industry is clear... Accreditation, efficiency, and service breadth matter far more than price alone. At UKTC, these priorities are at the forefront of everything we do and the satisfaction scores from our own customers reflect that commitment."
A full summary of the survey results can be viewed in the graphic below.
Participants were entered into a prize draw with a free fire test at UKTC up for grabs. Rob Wakefield of Rockwool UK was the eventual winner and will benefit from a free UKAS accredited fire test at UKTC's fire resistance laboratory.
If you're looking for a testing partner that delivers on what the industry says matters most, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us by clicking here.
