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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.

United Kingdom Testing and Certification invest in U-Value calculation to meet increased demand for sustainable buildings. As energy prices continue to soar and the awareness of sustainable buildings continues to grow, performance measures such as u-values are becoming increasingly important. This has been reflected in the recent revision of Approved Document L which came into force earlier this year. The revised Approved Document L has targeted new-build dwellings with a 30% decrease in carbon emissions, along with a much improved method for the energy modelling of buildings. There is also ‘fabric first’ approach, which has long been called for. This stops new homes being constructed poorly but still meeting the requirements by adding renewables, such as solar panels allowing an 'offset' in emissions rather than a reduction. Most significantly, the supply chain will now have to comply with increases in the ‘backstops’ (the minimum allowable performance for walls, floors, ceilings, windows and doors) in a bid to improve the energy efficiency of new-homes. UKTC can undertake U-Value calculations of doors and windows to the following internationally recognised calculation methods: BS EN ISO 10077-1:2017 BS EN ISO 10077-2:2017 Andrew Hutchison, Head of Technical Services at UKTC, said: “As a result of the recent energy crisis, there is a heightened awareness of importance of the energy efficiency of the building stock in the UK. Couple this with the mandates set out in the recently revised Approved Document L, U-Value calculation is going to be an increasingly important performance characteristic for walls, floors, ceilings, windows and doors going forward. “That’s why, despite economic uncertainty, UKTC continues to commit significant investment to position itself as a benchmark in performance testing of construction products. In turn, enabling our customers to demonstrate compliance, minimise risk and reduce time to market”. For more information about U-Values & Energy Ratings please visit: https://www.uktestcert.com/u-values-and-energy-ratings -

Do you have experience reading and draughting CAD drawings? Do you have a keen eye for detail and take pride in your work? Do you have an interest in your built environment and want to work for a company who deliver critical test services to an industry where #compliance isn't optional? If the answer is yes, United Kingdom Testing and Certification could have a role for you. Apply now: https://lnkd.in/djugaSkA

As part of our expanding testing services, there is now an opening to join our team as an Associate Technician. As an Associate Technician at UKTC you will be responsible for assisting in the setting up and installation of fire resistance tests to a variety of British and European standards, taking instructions from lead technicians and the responsible technical officer in preparing supporting constructions and installation of client’s specimens. - Assisting of the building of supporting constructions in line with the clients requirements and/or the relevant testing standards - Assisting in the installation of fire testing specimens in accordance with instructions - Implementation of instrumentation to specimens in line with the relevant testing standards - Record keeping surrounding instrumentation/ measurement taking - Support in the conducting of fire resistance testing using fire resistance testing furnace - Dismantle and disposal of test specimen and supporting construction post test - Good housekeeping of laboratory and all equipment Skills / Qualifications - Experience within a similar role/in construction or civil environment - Some joinery and partition building skills - Practical problem solving skills - Good written and verbal communication skills - Experience of accurate record keeping - An understanding of health & safety - Highly organised and able to work to tight deadlines - Consistent high quality of work - A fork lift licence would be an advantage To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter detailing why you are the right person for this role. Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Schedule: Monday to Friday Apply Now

British Standard BS476 is a series of test standards for fire testing on building materials and structures. BS476 relates to the British standard for fire testing on building structures and materials; it's split between several parts. For the determination of the fire resistance of elements of construction. Read in conjunction with BS 476 Part 21, BS 476 Part 22 and BS 476 Part 23, together they constitute a complete revision to BS 476 Part 8, which is now withdrawn despite being referenced through building regulations and other legislative documents. Materials that show conformity to BS 476 can provide the added assurance regarding the contributory safety factor in the event of a fire. For the purposes of these parts, elements of construction are categorized into three main groups: Loadbearing elements that have a fire resistance Non-loadbearing elements that have a fire resistance Elements that make a contribution to the fire resistance of a structure The specific requirements for the testing of these groups are described in Parts 21 to 23 respectively. Guidance and background information that will assist the designer and the testing authority to select and evaluate specimens that are more representative of situations in practice are given in appendices to the four Parts. This form of Fire Resistance testing is conducted on vertical and horizontal furnaces on which the elements of construction and supporting via a supporting construction and heated under extremely controlled conditions for the duration that is required. Specimens are tested to destruction and evaluated against specific performance criteria including the specimens ability to maintain it’s separating function by resisting the passage of fire and minimising the temperature rise on the unexposed surface. The UKAS accredited laboratory at United Kingdom Testing and Certification boasts a large 3 x 3 meter vertical furnace with a bespoke data acquisition software package capable of automating the test procedure to ensure high compliance with the BS 476 Part 20. At United Kingdom Testing and Certification, we offer an economical route for research and development testing and also regularly collaborate with Notified Bodies to provide a suite of fire certification. United Kingdom Testing and Certification currently offers fire resistance testing of Doorsets , Glazing Systems , Walls & Partitions and Linear Joint Seals . Our team are on hand to guide you through the Fire Resistance process.

As part of our expanding testing services, there is now an opening to join our team as a Technician. As a Technician at UKTC you will be responsible for the setting up and installation of fire resistance test to a verity of British and European standards, taking the instructions from the responsible technical officer in preparing supporting constructions and installation of client’s specimens. - Building of supporting constructions in line with the clients requirements and/or the relevant testing standards - The installation of fire testing specimens in accordance with instructions - Implementation of instrumentation to specimens in line with the relevant testing standards - Responsible for record keeping surrounding instrumentation/ measurement taking - Support in the conducting of fire resistance testing using fire resistance testing furnace - Dismantle and disposal of test specimen and supporting construction post test - Good housekeeping of laboratory and all equipment - Mentoring the Trainee Technician Skills / Qualifications - Experience within a similar role/in construction or civil environment - Good joinery and partition building skills - Relevant line management experience - Practical problem solving skills - Good written and verbal communication skills - Demonstrable experience of accurate record keeping - An understanding of health & safety - Highly organised and able to work to tight deadlines - Consistent high quality of work - A fork lift licence would be an advantage Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Schedule: Monday to Friday Ability to commute/relocate: GLASGOW: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required) Apply Now

Designated Standards allow businesses to show their products, services or processes comply with essential requirements of the legislation. A designated standard is a standard which is recognised by the Government. This is done by publishing its reference GOV.UK in a formal notice of publication. Designated Standards allow manufacturers to demonstrate that their products, services or processes comply with the essential requirements of the legislation. Depending on the type of product, a designated standard can be a standard which is adopted by any recognised standardisation body: British Standards Institution (BSI) European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC) European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Whilst the quality and technical adequacy of the standards remains the fundamental responsibility of the standardisation body, the UK Government encourages UK stakeholders to shape the content of the standards. This is done via BSI who represent the interest of UK stakeholders in the development of international and regional European standards. If you are a stakeholder, you can get involved in standards development by: viewing and commenting on proposals for new standards viewing and commenting on draft standards apply as a BSI committee member and provide input on the standards-making process The GB regulatory framework, which came into effect on 1st January 2021, gave powers to the relevant Secretary of State to "designate" standards for regulatory conformity purposes. The coordination of this is now led by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) which enables a consistent approach. When deciding if a standard is appropriate for designation, the responsible government department or agency will review the standard and assess how far it covers the essential requirements set out in the relevant GB legislation. The Government may decide to designate a standard in full, designate with restriction, or not to designate. Any such restrictions are published on GOV.UK. Designated standards are prefixed "BS", "EN", "EN ISO" or "EN IEC". The "EN" prefix indicates that the standard has been adopted by a regional European standardising body. Where the designated standard is prefixed "EN", it is acceptable to reference this version in technical documentation, or a version of the standard with the national prefix (e.g. "BS EN"). This is because regional European standards are adopted identically by the 34 national members of CEN and CENELEC. Whilst the essential requirements of GB legislation remain the same as equivalent EU legislation, the informative Annex ZA/ZZ and any references to EU legislation in the designated standards should be read as applying to the legislation for GB in the same way, subject to any restriction or points made in the relevant notice of publication. This will change if and when the essential requirements in GB change. A list of the designated standards relating to construction can be accessed here .

United Kingdom Testing and Certification has accelerated the rollout of its digital service provision through the introduction of thermal imaging. In addition to a 1080p recording of the test procedure, customers can now access a thermal imaging video of the specimen under test. UKTC has invested in the same technology employed by fire fighters in tactical firefighting to enable the real-time recording of temperatures up to 400°C at any location on the product subject to test. In conjunction with raw data recorded at locations prescribed by the standard test methods, observations, and feedback from our expert personnel, customers can harness more information than ever before, enabling critical research and development decisions to be taken at pace. Speak to our team regarding Thermal Heat Imaging on your next test with us.

We're proud to welcome Daniel Fitzsimmons to the team United Kingdom Testing & Certification. I'm excited to join a client focussed accredited laboratory that is a genuine alternative and putting clients needs first. Daniel will be heading up our testing and joins us from Warrington Fire where he managed their testing for the last 8 years. Learn how we can help manage your testing needs with our independent laboratory, fully accredited by UKAS for British & International standards.

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) awards evening is later this month and we’re already celebrating with two nominations. Robert Grant has been nominated for Individual Rising Star of the Year and Nathan Small for Best Customer Service of the Year. The awards ceremony, billed as an evening dedicated to honouring exceptional accomplishments and celebrating the forefront of the passive fire protection industry, will take place at the Athena Events Venue on the 28th of November. Let’s meet UKTC’s nominees. Robert Grant Rising Star of The Year Nominee Robert joined UKTC as a Trainee Technical Surveyor in October 2021 after graduating with a BSc in Building Surveying from Glasgow Caledonian University. Now a Technical Officer, Robert oversees many of our fire resistance tests as well as reaction to fire testing, technical specification and drawings. His rise to Technical Officer over the last few years is testament to his hard work and dedication to continually develop his skill set and contribute to the development of his colleagues. Nathan Small Customer Service of The Year Nathan’s customer-first approach has been at the forefront of UKTC’s growth over the last three years since joining the team in November 2021. Bringing nearly a decade of timber doorset manufacturing experience, Nathan can directly relate to a client’s needs and translate that into a highly efficient testing experience for our customers across the UK. Commenting on both nominees, Dan Fitzsimmons, Head of Testing at UKTC, said: “Both Robert and Nathan are deserving of their nominations. Their positive, proactive approaches to the daily challenges faced in our industry exemplify the standards we set at UKTC. We’re delighted that they are nominated and look forward to a fantastic evening.” If you want to learn more about UKTC and what we do or if you’re interested in a career of the testing and certification of passive fire products, click here to contact us .

Penetration Seals - BS EN 1366-3:2021   BS EN 1366-3:2021 concentrates on penetration seals, essential for ensuring fire resistance in service installations.   Introduction to BS EN 1366-3:2021   BS EN 1366-3:2021 is part of the European standards series (EN) that evaluates the fire resistance of various service installations. Specifically, this standard addresses the performance of penetration seals when exposed to fire conditions. It supersedes the earlier EN 1366-3:2009, which is now withdrawn and no longer valid for current safety standards.   The Importance of Penetration Seals in Fire Safety   Penetration seals are crucial for preventing the spread of fire and smoke through openings made for cables, pipes, and other services in walls, floors, and ceilings. By adhering to BS EN 1366-3:2021, manufacturers and builders can ensure that these seals maintain their integrity during a fire, thereby protecting the building's occupants and assets.   Key Aspects of the Testing Process   This specific part of the EN 1366 series provides a method for determining the fire resistance of penetration seals, taking into account their intended use. The standard outlines several tests designed to assess the performance of these seals under fire exposure conditions:   - No mechanical movement - Mechanical movement   These tests aim to evaluate the general behaviour of penetration seals during a fire, focusing on their ability to maintain a barrier against fire and smoke. The test results are included in a report that provides an overall understanding of the seal's performance rather than precise quantitative data on parameters such as smoke or hot gas leakage rates.   Focus of the Standard   The primary focus of BS EN 1366-3:2021 is on fire resistance and related factors. It does not address the load-bearing capacity of penetration seals or how their inclusion might affect the structural integrity of the building elements. Instead, the standard ensures that penetration seals can withstand extreme fire conditions and continue to provide the necessary protective barrier.   We are currently accredited by UKAS to perform BS EN 1366-3:2021 testing, offering our clients a reliable route to market.   In search of a dedicated partner for your testing and certification needs?  Contact us  at info@uktestcert.com or call us on 01355 433122; our experienced team will be delighted to assist you.