UKTC opens multi-million-pound state-of-the-art second firehall

Fri 07/10/2026 - 11:49

United Kingdom Testing & Certification (UKTC), A SOCOTEC Company, has officially opened its new advanced fire testing firehall, representing a multi-million-pound investment in its fire safety testing infrastructure.

The new firehall became operational in May, and was formally opened by Dame Judith Hackitt DBE FREng, at an event on 9th July, in which several of UKTC’s clients and special guests invited from across key industry organisations were in attendance.

Dame Judith is a distinguished chemical engineer and former Chair of the UK Health and Safety Executive, and led the landmark Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, fundamentally reshaping building safety standards across the United Kingdom.

The new firehall became operational in early May, following successful initial flame tests and incorporates cutting-edge technology that allows operators to switch between vertical and horizontal testing orientations at the push of a button – a feature that significantly enhances its testing flexibility and efficiency.

The significant investment marks a landmark next step for UKTC, following its acquisition by the SOCOTEC Group in July 2025, as the second firehall hugely increases its potential capabilities.

There was a huge demand for a new laboratory in the UK. This investment will directly contribute to a safer built environment, as well as generate greater availability for the construction market.
As part of our work with the wider teams across SOCOTEC UK & Ireland, this second firehall will allow the entire business to offer another key differentiating service to offer to our customer base.

Andrew Hutchison, Operations Director, UKTC

UKTC can now offer one of the select few combination furnaces in the UK, allowing manufacturers the flexibility to test in either: 3 x 3m vertical furnace configuration, 3 x 4m vertical furnace configuration, 3 x 5m vertical furnace configuration or 3 x 4m horizontal furnace configuration.

This investment represents our commitment to providing the most advanced fire testing capabilities available, we can now provide a massively expanded service to key clients across the construction, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors – helping them achieve their critical fire safety compliance needs.
With building safety regulations continuing the evolve, it is important to continue our investment into cutting-edge technology that helps us stand out from our competitors. This second firehall is a statement from us, that UKTC and the wider SOCOTEC business will continue to remain at the forefront of development and service offering.

Matthew Marriott, CEO, SOCOTEC UK & Ireland

On why test laboratories matter now more than ever...

This is why facilities like this are going to be so much in demand because everything is looking at again in terms of the efficacy and the reliability of the way that we test and assure products in this sector.

Dame Judith Hackett, British engineer and civil servant

Full UKAS accreditation has been awarded to the new testing facility, placing it perfectly to run through all the relevant fire safety assessments clients will require, in order to achieve compliance.

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