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On the 26th of February 2025, the government issued a response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report. Included in the response is the acceptance of 49 of the report’s recommendations with plans to act on all 58. The recommendations and actions include sweeping reform for construction, building and fire safety – let’s look at how this could impact the testing and certification industry. Significant Deficiencies in Testing & Certification The Inquiry’s report highlights significant deficiencies in the testing and certification of construction products, particularly combustible cladding materials. It criticises the lack of rigorous testing and the failure to identify issues because of bad testing practices. As a result, the government’s response and plans include: Enhanced testing protocols:  Test laboratories will be required to adopt more stringent testing methods to accurately assess product safety.​ Increased accountability:  There will be greater scrutiny of testing processes, with potential civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance or misleading practices.​ Regular audits and oversight:  Test laboratories can expect more frequent inspections to ensure adherence to updated safety standards. Full transparency:  Ensuring that test history of products is easily accessible, honest, and evidenced. To support these actions, the government has committed to establishing a new single construction regulator. The aim is to improve standards in the industry and ensure those responsible, including testing laboratories, are held to the highest of standards. The single regulator will be responsible for the regulation of construction products, building control and the licencing of contractors to work on higher-risk buildings. However, testing and certification of construction products will continue to be the responsibility of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs). Being a part of the solution United Kingdom Testing & Certification was established as part of the response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy in the wake of calls for greater testing and certification availability for construction products in the UK. Our team, working from our UKAS accredited testing laboratory, continues to be committed to ensuring life safety by delivering market-leading testing solutions for passive fire product manufacturers. Our rigorous-approach to testing and industry-leading report times has seen many of the UK’s leading passive fire product manufacturers trust UKTC with their testing programmes. Andrew Hutchison, Head of Technical at United Kingdom Testing & Certification, commented: “Whilst testing and certification bodies like UKTC play a vital role in assessing product performance, our influence is limited to testing and certification. Holding CABs responsible beyond this remit is inaccurate and risks undermining public trust.” “Rather than assigning blame, we urge the government to integrate the insights of CABs into the regulatory framework to strengthen oversight and safety standards.” “UKTC remains committed to working alongside regulators, manufacturers, and industry bodies to help ensure such a tragedy never happens again.” Construction Product’s Green Paper Included in Phase 1 of the government’s plans is the Construction Products Reform Green Paper with a consultation period of 12 weeks. According to the government response, the paper “is the first important step in making sure that we deliver a comprehensive package of measures to reform the construction products sector.” The paper will also look to address key failures highlighted in the Inquiry’s report including the bad testing practices. We encourage individuals and organisations to respond to the Green Paper before the 21st May deadline by completing the online survey form which can be found here . If you want to discuss how the recommendations could impact your testing plans, talk to us today by clicking here .

Whether you're new to the industry or not, the two terms can often be confusing. In our latest blog, we explain some of the important distinctions between the two terms. Reaction to Fire Reaction to fire tests look at how a material behaves when it is exposed to fire. The European standard, BS EN 13501-1, is used to determine the reaction to fire classification of construction materials. BS EN 13501-1 evaluates the fire performance of construction products through a series of tests that assess their reaction to fire, smoke production, and flaming droplets. There are seven classification groups, from A1 which is non-combustible to F which is combustible. The classifications are A1, A2, B, C, D, E, and F. A1 – Non-combustible materials – do not contribute to the development of a fire. A2 – Materials with limited combustibility – do not contribute to the development. B – Combustible – limited contribution to fire. C - Combustible – minor contribution to fire. D – Combustible – contributes to fire. E – Combustible – will only resist a small flame for a few seconds. F – Materials that have not been classified or have not met the minimum requirements of class E. To learn more about UKTC's reaction to fire testing, click here. What is Fire Resistance Testing? The fire resistance of a product refers to a material’s ability to withstand and endure the effects of a fire, including high temperatures and flames, among other fire-related conditions and preventing it from spreading elsewhere. Fire resistance testing involves a product specimen within a supporting construction mounted to a furnace. Loadbearing capacity Integrity Insultation   Loadbearing Capacity This is the support system of the building and its occupants. Loadbearing capacity measures the product’s ability to remain intact and fulfil its intended use without collapsing. Some materials may have a significant loss in strength when exposed to the prolonged effects of fire. Integrity (E) Integrity refers to the time that a component can withstand and prevent fire and smoke from breaching into the compartmentation of the building. Insulation (I) Insulation is a measurement the time it takes for the material to withstand the heat generated from a fire and prevent it from breaching the building’s compartmentation. To learn more about UKTC's fire resistance testing services, click here . Why is it important to understand the difference between fire resistance and reaction to fire? The performance of a material can vary between fire resistance and reaction to fire testing. Therefore, it is crucial for decision makers to review the appropriate fire test evidence to ensure the chosen building material meet the requirements for their intended application.   If you’re looking for fire testing and certification services, contact us today.

Third party certification is one of the most-effective ways, of independently verifying the safety and quality of your passive fire protection products. Achieving certification involves independent regular audits to ensure that the management, manufacturing processes and supporting systems are in place to ensure consistency with the fire doorset that was initially tested. Why is third-party certification important? Third-party certification provides independent verification to support the stated performance of the fire doorset. Certification gives the purchasing party and end-users confidence in the performance of the product and its components. How does third-party certification work? Certification is awarded to a business, or product, that meets the requirements of the individual scheme. The requirements will be clearly set out and will be used to ensure compliance with standards and best practice. There are many third-party schemes that will set their own specific requirements and certification timeline. UKTC have created their own third-party certification scheme with a clear, streamlined process to suit manufacturers of all sizes. What makes UKTC ensure different to other third-party certification schemes? UKTC ensure is the first third-party certification scheme designed around the principles of the golden thread as established by the Building Regulations Advisory Committee. Our streamlined approach helps you get ahead of the competition and respond quickly to market demands. Following the Grenfell Inquiry, UKTC made the decision to create a third-party certification scheme that not only meets the recommendations of the report, but exceeds requirements to offer a robust, future-proof certification scheme. By committing to, and achieving, UKTC ensure certification, you showcase your dedication to a safer future. What is the process for certification? Evaluation The first step in the certification process is to review the relevant fire test data and assessment evidence which will allow us to provide a clearly defined scope for certification of the product. Factory Production Control Audit A Factory Production Control (FPC) audit is performed at each site where the product is produced. This allows the certification team to ensure that the product is manufactured to the relevant standards and management systems. Sampling & Testing During the FPC audit, the product may be sampled for initial type testing for evidence towards the product certification. Certification The certificate is prepared based on the supporting data provided throughout the previous steps. Following the award, the certificate and supporting data would be uploaded to the UKTC ensure vault, an online database of key information relating to the product. Ongoing Surveillance & Audit Testing A surveillance audit and sample testing will be carried out annually to ensure that products and the systems involved continue to satisfy the declared performance. Product Identification Approved manufacturers will be benefit from a labelling system on their doorsets to prove compliance. These labels will feature a QR code that will send the user to a dedicated page of the ensure vault that hosts the manufacturers details and certification to create a single source of truth. Is committing to a third-party certification necessary? Third-party certification schemes are not a legal requirement, but they are recommended by the Government and in Building Regulations. By committing to a third-party certification scheme, a manufacturer shows its commitment to quality and safety which will provide confidence to customers and end users.   If you want to learn more about our third-party certification scheme, UKTC ensure, or discuss joining the scheme, click here to contact us .

United Kingdom Testing & Certification has revealed its plans to create the Fire Test Experience Hub at this year’s Fire Safety Event in Birmingham. Working in partnership with Fire Safety Event, we have committed to dedicating over 50% of our exhibition space to create a presentation area for the Fire Test Experience. This area will play host to a number of immersive presentations designed to give you an insight into the operations of a fire testing laboratory. The presentation area is also available to other organisations looking to share industry insights and experience. If you’re interested in presenting and want to learn more, contact us by clicking here .

This article was first published by Scottish Enterprise on 29/01/25. You can view the original post by clicking here . UKTC has received a grant award from Scottish Enterprise of £835,000 towards an expansion project totalling £2.5 million that will extend its premises and create a new furnace capable of testing structures up to 5m high. In increasing the size of its factory UKTC will create around 20 new jobs taking the team to 38 employees as well as improving its energy efficiency and bringing services in-house that it currently sub-contracts to a European supplier. Employment and Investment Minister Tom Arthur said: “Since 2007, Scotland’s productivity rate has grown by 1.1% a year compared to 0.4% across the UK. “Our draft budget for 2025-26 aims to build a more productive economy, setting out more than £320 million for our enterprise agencies who are tasked with helping businesses to grow, scale and become more productive. “In the last financial year alone, Scottish Enterprise marked its best performance on jobs and capital investment. This included securing and safeguarding more than 16,700 jobs and unlocking £1.9 billion of capital investment spend.” Managing director of productivity and business growth at Scottish Enterprise Rhona Allison said: “UKTC’s expansion highlights what’s possible when a company commits to growth and innovation. “We know that those businesses that focus on investing and expanding through either new equipment or premises by creating room for further growth in turn create higher value jobs, improve sustainability and profitability in the process. “This investment helps increase UKTC’s productivity and brings benefits to the construction sector supply chain as well as supporting a safer built environment. The project also highlights how Scottish Enterprise can work with businesses to boost productivity and the economy.” UKTC provides a vital test lab service to passive fire protection product manufacturers in the construction industry with rigorous analysis of building materials from doors to wall panels and building membranes to determine and certify their suitability for use in different applications.   The company was established as a response to demand for high-quality fire testing services following tragedies such as the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 that was caused by flammable building material and has led to increased scrutiny around the safety of buildings. Andrew Hutchison, Head of Technical at UKTC said: “The construction industry is facing growing demand for fire testing, which is why we are investing in a new test hall to expand our services for both existing and new customers, while also creating new jobs as we grow. "The safety of materials used in homes and buildings is critical, and at UKTC, we remain committed to the protection of lives and assets. "Our planned extension, set to be completed next year, will house a new full-scale fire resistance test furnace. This would not have been possible without the support from Scottish Enterprise. Upgrading our facilities will enable us to continue delivering the highest standards of fire testing in the UK.” The expansion of United Kingdom Testing and Certification during National Productivity Week (27-31 Jan) highlights how companies can invest to improve productivity. National Productivity Week is a campaign organised by The Productivity Institute that aims to raise awareness of, and offer solutions to, addressing productivity challenges. More at www.productivityweek.co.uk

Approved Document B (fire safety) Volume 1 (Dwellings) and Volume 2 (Buildings other than dwellings) has been updated by The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) to incorporate future amendments. The recently issued consolidated document sees the 2019 edition, which incorporates the 2020 and 2022 amendments, now updated to include the forthcoming 2025, 2026, and 2029 amends. The document, which can be viewed here , highlights the forthcoming changes as follows: The 2025 amends, highlighted in blue, will take effect on the 2nd of March 2025 for use in England. These amends include for the removal of national classes for reaction to fire and roofs. The 2026 amends, highlighted in purple, will take effect on the 30th of September 2026 for use in England. The 2029 amends, highlighted in orange, will take effect on the 2nd of September 2029. These amends include the removal of the national classes for fire resistance . These updates to Approved Document B were announced in a parliamentary statement on the 2nd of September 2024, allowing for a transition period of 6 months for reaction to fire and 5 years for fire resistance. The removal of the national classes (BS 476 fire tests) ends “the dual classification system that has operated since the early 2000s in favour of the more rigorous, internationally recognised European standard (BS EN 13501).” as detailed in the 2nd September statement. If you want to know more about the transition to BS EN 13501 and how it will impact your future tests, contact our team by clicking here .

United Kingdom Testing & Certification is celebrating another record year. The East Kilbride based laboratory has seen its headcount double as well as a record number of tests and two award nominations. From its UKAS accredited testing laboratory, UKTC have delivered more than 450 fire resistance tests whilst maintaining an industry-leading 4-week turnaround time for final reports for clients across the UK. The testing and certification business is now looking forward to the new year with plans already underway to increase its capacity for both Fire Resistance and Reaction to Fire testing. United Kingdom Testing & Certification is a leading UKAS accredited testing laboratory offering fire resistance, reaction to fire and certification services for passive fire product manufacturers across the UK.

Next in our ‘Let’s Learn’ series is BS EN 1365-1:2012, a European standard that specifies testing methods for the fire resistance of load bearing walls, including both internal and external walls. What is BS EN 1365-1:2012? BS EN 1365-1:2012 is a European standard that specifies the testing methods for evaluating the fire resistance of load bearing walls, including both internal and external walls. The standard assesses the ability of a wall to withstand fire exposure while maintaining its structural load bearing capacity, which is crucial for ensuring the safety and integrity of a building during a fire. What is the Scope of BS EN 1365-1:2012? The scope of BS EN 1365-1:2012 includes: Applicability: It applies to internal and external load bearing walls. Exclusions: The standard does not cover non-separating load-bearing walls, which are addressed under EN 1365-4 (testing as columns). Testing Conditions: It tests walls without perforations like doors or windows. Effects of any openings or fire-resistant features must be assessed separately. Exposure Conditions: The fire resistance performance can be assessed under conditions simulating either internal or external fire exposure. How do we test for BS EN 1365-1:2012 Compliance? Testing for compliance with BS EN 1365-1:2012 involves several key steps: 1. Preparation: Assemble the wall unit as it would be used in practice, ensuring it is representative of actual construction, including its materials and method of construction. 2. Load Application: Apply a specified load to the wall to simulate real-world stress conditions during a fire. 3. Heating Protocol: Subject the wall to a controlled heating environment that mimics fire conditions as per EN 1363-1:1999 standards. 4. Monitoring: Use thermocouples and other measurement tools to assess the wall's integrity, insulation, and load bearing capacity throughout the test. 5. Documentation: Record all observations regarding the wall's performance in terms of structural integrity and thermal transmission. What test procedures do we use? The test procedures used under BS EN 1365-1:2012 include: Installation: The wall specimen is installed in a test frame designed to replicate its use in a building. Load Simulating: A load is applied to simulate the actual conditions under which the wall would need to perform during a fire. Fire Exposure: The wall is exposed to a specific temperature curve intended to replicate the progression of a fire over time. Data Collection: Data on thermal transfer and structural behaviour (such as deflection and potential failure points) is collected using various sensors and monitoring equipment. What is the Criteria for success? The criteria for success in the BS EN 1365-1:2012 test is: Load bearing Capacity (R): The wall must maintain its required load-bearing capacity throughout the test duration without excessive deflection or collapse. Insulation (I): The wall must prevent the transmission of heat to the unexposed side to such a degree that it does not exceed temperature limits that would cause ignition of materials on the unexposed side. Integrity (E): The wall should not develop openings or cracks large enough to allow the passage of flames or hot gases. Are you looking to find out more information on fire resistance testing? Contact us at info@uktestcert.com or call us on 01355 433122; our experienced team will be happy to help.

Doors, shutters and windows are crucial in everyday life. They play a major role in the safety of your family and yourself. But what if these doors, shutters and windows were not safe? What would happen then? Well, you need to make sure that everything is tested before it's put into use for this very reason. That is why there are fire safety experts who test these items for their resistance against fire and smoke. UK fire safety experts carry out a variety of tests in order to ensure that doors, shutters and windows are able to resist fire and smoke. The most common test is the fire resistance test, which is used to measure how long a door, shutter or window will withstand a fire. Other tests include the smoke leakage test, which measures how much smoke can escape from a closed door or window, and the flaming droplet test, which assesses how well a door or window prevents the spread of fire. In the UK, laws exist in order to ensure that doors, shutters and windows are able to resist fire and smoke such as the Building Regulations 2000. These regulations state that all new buildings must be tested to make sure they adhere to strict safety guidelines and testing standards such as BS 476-22. There are several ways to determine whether an item has successfully passed the fire safety test. One way is to check for the official certification mark. If a product has this certification mark, it means that it has been tested and certified by an accredited laboratory. Another way to tell if a product is fire safe is to see and verify a fire resistance test produced such as the comprehensive and internationally recognised fire resistance test report that is accessible from your online portal with video documentary evidence of the test; this report meets the strictest standards at our own UKAS Accredited Laboratory. Fire safety is critical in any building, whether it’s a residential home or a commercial property. That’s why it’s important to have doors, shutters and windows that can resist fire and smoke. To ensure your safety, these components must be tested by experts to make sure they meet the required standards. To find out more information get in touch with our team of fire safety experts .

United Kingdom Testing and Certification strike a strategic partnership with UKAS accredited laboratory to meet growth in demand for Reaction to Fire testing. This partnership enables UKTC to bring the classification of building materials under BS EN 13501-1 to its technical service provision. This will include the following internationally recognised Reaction to Fire test methods: · Single Burning Item (SBI) – BS EN 13823:2020 · Non-Combustibility – BS EN ISO 1182:2020 · Small Flame – BS EN ISO 11925-2:2020 · Calorific Value – BS EN ISO 1716:2018 Andrew Hutchison, Head of Technical Services at UKTC, said: “We have seen a huge increase in demand for reaction to fire testing, particularly in relation to building envelope products. This is being driven by regulatory changes as well as an increasing understanding from manufacturers of the value that testing adds to their products. “That’s why, despite economic uncertainty, UKTC continues to commit significant investment to position ourselves as the benchmark in fire testing. In turn, enabling our customers to demonstrate compliance, minimise risk and reduce time to market”. For more information about Reaction to Fire testing please visit: https://www.uktestcert.com/reaction-to-fire-testing

Following the United Kingdom's exit from the EU, many things have changed for construction product manufacturers and those who specify products for use in the built environment. The largest of these changes is what product marking is required for certain products being placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Since its advent in 1985, most products are marked using Conformitè Europëenne (CE) marking. CE marking indicates that the manufacturer has assessed a product's characteristics and deemed it to meet the minimum safety, health and environmental protection requirements for that type of product. Over the years, the CE mark has become a familiar sight on many construction products across the United Kingdom and the rest of the European Economic Area (EEA), reducing the barriers associated with selling products across territories. However, following the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum and the United Kingdom's formal exit from the European Union (EU) in 2020, a new product marking scheme came into effect. The United Kingdom Conformity Assessed (UKCA) marking regime was launched on 1st January 2021. This mark will not be recognised in the EEA and products being sold in those territories that require marking will have to be done under the CE marking regime as before. From 1st January 2023, CE Marking will no longer be used in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales), and many products will require UKCA marking instead before being placed on the market. Despite concerns and lobbying from construction product groups and industry bodies, there is a hard push for the 2022 deadline to be met as the deadline has already been extended once. Compounded with the impact of a global pandemic, the introduction of the new UK Building Safety Bill and greater enforcement powers for the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS), manufacturers are feeling the pressure. Thankfully though, the technical requirements of the UKCA marking scheme have been aligned with those in CE marking scheme. This means that the supporting standards, test methods, declarations of performance (DOP) and factory production control requirements are essentially the same. However, despite many are lobbying for continued alignment, this isn't guaranteed to last forever. Indeed, the current UK government has been vocal about the potential benefits of being able to diverge from the EU regulations. United Kingdom Testing and Certification (UKTC) fulfils several roles when it comes to UKCA marking. However, most importantly, UKTC has a 40,000 sq. ft. UKAS accredited testing facility based in the UK. This offers Manufacturers the rare opportunity to demonstrate their products' compliance with regulatory requirements from a single source supplier. In turn, this allows manufacturers to position themselves competitively in the market a reassure customers of the safety of their products. To learn more about how UKTC can assist with UKCA marking of construction products, get in touch with our team of experts.

The fire testing laboratory is the place where a project undergoes the process of being tested in order to check for safety. There are many factors that can influence which one you choose, including location, experience, and cost. It’s important to know what standards will be applied to your project before choosing a lab because not all labs are equipped with knowledge about every standard. The right company should take into account your specific needs in order to provide you with accurate results. Here are some things you may want to consider when deciding on a fire testing laboratory: Experience level of staff members Services offered by the lab (e.g. sampling, installation, certification, etc) Size and capabilities of the lab (e.g. what fire testing equipment they have available) Report quality and turnaround time Lead time for tests Cost of services rendered Working with a laboratory that has experience with the relevant standards will ensure that your project is tested correctly and accurately. We recently wrote on BS 476-20 which covers the scope of Fire Tests on Building materials and structures . It is also important to have a good understanding of the fire testing standards that will be applied to your project before you choose a lab because not all labs are equipped with knowledge about every standard (e.g. BS 476-22, BS EN 1634-1, BS EN 1364-1, etc). The right company should take into account your specific needs in order provide you with results which are accurate and can be used towards your existing third-party certification. United Kingdom Testing and Certification is accredited by UKAS which is the UK's accreditation service and the sole national accreditation body recognised by the British government to assess the competence of organisations that provide testing, certification, calibration and inspection services. Consider if your product or item for testing meets the standards held by your chosen laboratory; for instance, United Kingdom Testing and Certification is accredited by UKAS to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for Fire Resistance Testing of the non-load bearing elements of construction including; door and shutter assemblies, walls and partitions, linear joint seals, glazing and architectural hardware. You can read more about accreditation and how UKTC can help you meet your legal obligations here.