Fire resistance testing

Under the Building Safety Act 2022, higher-risk buildings must pass Gateway Two and Three checkpoints before construction and occupation can take place. Fire resistance testing provides the evidence required by the Building Safety Regulator to confirm structural fire safety performance, helping designers and duty holders demonstrate compliance and avoid costly delays at each critical approval stage.

Regulation 38 of the Building Regulations requires fire safety information to be handed over to the responsible person on completion, while Approved Document B sets the baseline performance standards it must evidence. Fire resistance testing closes the gap where documentation is missing or incomplete, later supporting RRFSO compliance and satisfying due diligence during property transactions.

Independent fire resistance testing provides certified evidence of how fire doors, compartmentation, and external walls endure intense heat. This physical performance data is essential for completing the comprehensive risk assessments mandated by the RRFSO, and delivers the objective proof required to satisfy safety case reports for higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act 2022.

Modern buildings often rely on interconnected mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) services passing through fire-rated structures. Specialist fire resistance testing verifies how these multi-service penetrations and firestopping materials perform together under fire conditions, ensuring integrated systems do not compromise compartmentation and protection remains effective across complex building services.

Where service penetrations or construction details fall outside standard firestopping designs and no existing evidence applies, fire resistance testing – supported by expert engineering judgment – determines whether the solution maintains compartment integrity or requires remedial works. This is particularly important within older, refurbished, or architectural complex buildings, such as healthcare and hospitality settings.

Verified fire resistance data reduces risk exposure for developers, landlords, and investors, informing decisions around construction, refurbishment, insurance, and asset value. Beyond streamlining property transactions, this can prove useful in prioritising remediation budgets – helping duty holders identify which fire-resisting elements genuinely need upgrading, rather than committing to costly blanket replacement programmes.