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Fire testing specialist, United Kingdom Testing and Certification (UKTC), has broken ground on a multi-million pound expansion at its East Kilbride testing facility.   Acquired by leaders in testing, inspection and certification services, SOCOTEC UK and Ireland in July 2025, the total cost of UKTC’s expansion is £2.5 million, with the development set to double the fire resistance testing capabilities and add around 20 new jobs, bringing the firm’s number of employees to over 60.   The new development consists of a new building, measuring over 7,000 square feet, which will house a new furnace capable of testing horizontal structures that measure 3 metres wide by 4 metres long, and vertical structures up to 5 metres high.   A site visit in November by SOCOTEC CEO Hervé Montjotin, SOCOTEC UK & Ireland CEO Matthew Marriott and SOCOTEC’s Managing Director of Environmental Science, Jim Clay marked a particular milestone in the construction, with steel works beginning. The 10m eaves height, which enables testing of vertical structures up to 5 metres tall using the proprietary furnace add-on, makes the facility the first of its kind to be commercially available in the UK. UKTC has established itself as a trusted provider of fire resistance testing, reaction to fire testing, and certification services across multiple building materials and systems.   The laboratory’s UKAS-accredited facilities enable a comprehensive assessment of products and materials against British, European, and international standards, supporting manufacturers, specifiers, and building owners in meeting increasingly stringent fire regulations.   UKTC’s East Kilbride site was formerly a Rolls-Royce Aero Testbed facility until 2017, when the historic plant was shut down. Having moved into the site in 2020, UKTC revitalised the area, investing substantial funds to make the facility compliant with regulatory legislation and make it suitable for the specialist equipment required to carry out fire testing.   Andrew Hutchison, Operations Director at UKTC, said: “The need to expand and invest in a new test hall was simply to meet growing demand we are experiencing from the construction industry for fire testing, from both existing and new customers.   “The planned extension will be completed in 2026,and will house a new full-scale fire resistance test furnace. Ultimately, upgrading our facilities will allow us to continue delivering the highest standards of fire testing for our clients across the UK and Europe.”   Matthew Marriott, CEO of SOCOTEC UK and Ireland, said: “The extension of UKTC’s existing facility is incredibly exciting for us. The team in East Kilbride is vastly knowledgeable and talented, so expanding the facilities to meet the increased demand for fire testing services at the site was the logical next step forward to help the continued growth of UKTC, and provide the best service possible to its customers across the UK and Europe.   “We look forward to continued integration of UKTC into the wider SOCOTEC UK and Ireland operations, as there has already been so much interest in the expanded capabilities we can now provide following the acquisition’s completion in July.”

On 14 June 2017, 72 people lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire. Investigations and inquiries that followed revealed widespread shortcomings in product performance, regulatory oversight, and safety assurance. Today, the mandate is clear... Manufacturers must ensure that products are tested and marketed honestly. Certification bodies must provide impartial and transparent assessments. Evidence is needed to make informed decisions. The market is full of products that claim quality and safety with independent verification but without accessible evidence when you need it the most. Try it for yourself ; look at the nearest fire door. Can you immediately identify its performance rating, evidence base and manufacturer? Imagine the position of a building occupant who simple wants to know that they are safe. If the evidence is not clear, the system has failed them, and the golden thread doesn’t exist. Real change is overdue. Change starts with transparent certification and UKTC ensure is leading the change. UKTC Ensure - Third Party Certification UKTC ensure™ is the first third-party product certification scheme designed explicitly around the principles of the golden thread and backed by UKAS accreditation under ISO 17065. It ensures that every performance claim is traceable, every certificate is verifiable, and every stakeholder has access to the data that matters. The market is full of products that claim quality and safety with independent verification but without real, accessible evidence when you need it the most. UKTC ensure™ offers a transparent solution for manufacturers to demonstrate compliance with a third-party certification that has learned from the lessons of the past and is ready for the future. To find out more about UKTC ensure, you can visit our website by clicking here or by downloaded our white paper, A Transparent Future for Construction Product Certification, by clicking here . About UKTC United Kingdom Testing & Certification (UKTC) is a UKAS accredited testing and certification body offering fire resistance and reaction to fire testing to British (BS) and European (EN) standards. UKTC’s offering is also supported by their Technical Services division delivery Extended Field of Application (EXAPs) and Classification Reports.

Fire safety in buildings starts with understanding how materials behave when exposed to heat. Testing external wall materials is crucial to keeping building occupants safe. What tests can help identify high-risk building materials? As outlined in PAS 9980:2022, the methodology for Fire Appraisal of Walls & Cladding of Flats, materials with a calorific value of ≤3 MJ/kg are considered to have a positive influence on fire performance, while those with >35 MJ/kg are flagged as higher risk. The BS EN 13501-1 standard provides a harmonised procedure for classifying the reaction to fire of construction products, including those used within building elements. The standard identifies several test methodologies including the BS EN ISO 1716 “Calorific Value” test. This method plays an important role in cladding remediation works as well as compliance with regulatory requirements for high rise buildings. What role does BS EN ISO 1716 have in the testing of external wall materials? BS EN ISO 1716 testing plays a critical role by calculating the calorific value of the product. The results of the test will allow building stakeholders to determine the: Combustibility Risk Suitability of materials in wall systems Compliance with A1/A2 classifications in accordance with BS EN 13501-1 reaction to fire performance of construction products.   What are the seven classes that materials can achieve under BS EN 13501-1? Reaction to fire testing examines the characteristics, such as combustibility, of building materials to determine their contribution to fire development and spread. Materials can then be classified into one of seven classes under BS EN 13501-1 according to their reaction to fire. Non-combustible materials that do not contribute to the development of a fire will achieve an A1 classification with materials that have a limited combustibility that do not contribute to a fire will achieve an A2 classification. The classification system then continues from B, where combustible materials with a limited contribution to fire will be classified, through to F where materials do not meet the minimum requirements of an E classification. You can discover the full list of definitions and the required test methods by visiting our Reaction to Fire page here . Why Reaction to Fire testing is critical for cladding remediation works The ongoing cladding remediation programmes being carried out across the UK are crucial to the safety of occupants. Landlords of buildings 11m or more in height are required to complete any remediation works by the end of 2029 across England and Wales or face legal consequences. Fire testing laboratories, like our UKAS Accredited Reaction to Fire Laboratory play a key role in allowing building stakeholders to identify risks. Reaction to Fire testing can produce the evidence to support whether materials can remain in place and meet the A1 and A2 classifications under BS EN 13501-1 or whether the materials need to be replaced. If you’re specifying, designing, refurbishing, or assessing external walls, BS EN ISO 1716 testing is essential. Talk to our reaction to fire team about testing your external wall materials by clicking here . Our industry leading report turnaround times ensure that you can make decisions and ultimately contribute to a safer built environment.

Learn more about the team behind delivering fire resistance and reaction to fire testing for passive fire protection product manufacturers. Our Team Andrew Hutchison Operations Director In late 2020, not long after the company's inception, Andrew started in the role of Technical Manager where he led the implementation of UKTC's fire resistance testing operations. Now in the role of Head of Technical Services, Andrew works closely with key stakeholders across all departments to ensure that the business meets key strategic objectives. Meet the team Learn more about the team dedicated to delivering leading fire testing and certification services. Our Team

Learn more about the team behind delivering fire resistance and reaction to fire testing for passive fire protection product manufacturers. Our Team Andrew McGhee Marketing Manager Andrew joined UKTC in September 2024 as Marketing Manager. A member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (MCIM), he brings over a decade of marketing experience from across the manufacturing and construction industries. Meet the team Learn more about the team dedicated to delivering leading fire testing and certification services. Our Team

Learn more about the team behind delivering fire resistance and reaction to fire testing for passive fire protection product manufacturers. Our Team Tom Smith Technical Services Officer Tom joined the team in March 2025 to strengthen our Technical Services department. He will play a pivotal role in ensuring the highest standards of product conformity in our fire safety services. In his new position, Tom’s responsibilities will include: Preparing Engineering Reports: Tom will be responsible for preparing critical reports such as Classification Reports in line with BS EN 13501-2, as well as Extended Field of Application (ExAp) Reports to BS EN 15269-1. Assessing Fire and Smoke Leakage Test Data: Tom will be tasked with analyzing the relevance and impact of both primary and secondary fire and smoke leakage test data to support classification, ExAp assessments, and overall conformity evaluations. Customer Liaison and Coordination: A key part of Tom’s role will involve liaising with customers to understand and define their specific requirements. He will coordinate testing programmes with relevant testing departments or external suppliers to ensure efficient execution. Witnessing External Tests: Tom will witness tests carried out by external suppliers, ensuring that all testing meets the relevant standards or technical specifications. Continuous Development of Knowledge: Tom will remain at the forefront of industry best practices by continuously enhancing his knowledge of National, European, and International Standards related to fire safety. We are confident that Tom’s expertise and dedication will contribute significantly to our ongoing commitment to quality and safety within the fire safety sector. Meet the team Learn more about the team dedicated to delivering leading fire testing and certification services. Our Team