Following expansion of its testing facilities with the addition of two fire resistance test furnaces, in collaboration with UL Solutions, the FPA is now UKAS accredited to perform fire resistance testing. This new capability provides third-party accredited support to manufacturers who require independent fire testing and certification.
With growing scrutiny coming to bear on the UK fire safety and construction product sectors to ensure buildings are robustly built, the increase in testing capacity this accreditation brings will give greater assurance to building owners, occupiers, and residents in the event of a fire.
Chris Miles, Commercial Director at the FPA, described the achievement as “much needed”, saying: “This accreditation is just the end of the beginning for this collaboration between the FPA and UL Solutions. Together we recognised that UK construction needed additional fire resistance testing capability and over the last three years have worked to further support fire testing in the UK by expanding our capacities as a fire testing laboratory to meet the demands of the industry. This should now help deal with the many demands that come with the tighter regulatory framework currently being developed in the UK.”
Daniel Murray, Europe Sales Manager at UL Solutions, commented: “In light of the ‘Testing for a Safer Future’ review published in April, the provision of high-quality product testing facilities in the UK is particularly important. Working together, UL Solutions and the FPA can provide greater confidence to construction product manufacturers and system providers about market access, providing them with the tests and third-party certifications required by UK regulations and also satisfying the requirements of regulators around the world.”
