Warringtonfire, a leading provider of fire testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) services, has launched its new state-of-the-art laboratory at Birchwood Park, Warrington, and is set to host a grand opening at the end of January.
Part of the Element Materials Technology group, Warringtonfire’s $30 million (£24 million) fire resistance testing laboratory is one of the largest of its kind in Europe at 101,000 sqft, and officially opened on 2 January 2025. To mark the launch, Warringtonfire is inviting fire safety and construction professionals to the laboratory for a commemorative grand opening event on 31 January 2025.
The event will feature a welcome address by Jo Wetz, CEO of Element Materials Technology, along with other senior leaders of the company. Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear a keynote speech from Paul Morrell OBE, Former Chief Construction Adviser to the UK Government.
The grand opening will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a guided tour of the new fire resistance testing laboratory. 120 guests are expected on the day, and delegates can look forward to lunch and networking opportunities with industry leaders and local dignitaries, to foster connections and hold discussions on the future of fire safety and testing.
Speaking ahead of the grand opening, Leigh Hill, Director of Built Environment, Element, said: “Fire safety continues to be a pressing priority for all stakeholders working in the construction industry. We took the decision many years ago to invest in this new facility to better serve the fire safety industry, knowing that regulations, standards, and legislation would continue to tighten in the built environment, while products and materials would become more sophisticated. Most importantly, we wanted to provide a sustainable and future-proof solution to the well-known capacity issue across the testing, inspection and certification industry.
“It’s with great pride that we can say this facility is one of the best in Europe, if not the world, and represents a significant advancement in fire safety testing, offering cutting-edge technology and enhanced capabilities to better serve our clients and the industry. We have doubled our testing capacity through our new laboratory and expect to treble it by the end of 2026 with more investment in this laboratory on the way.”
Currently, there are five furnaces at the Birchwood Park laboratory. Warringtonfire will continue investing in the site by installing a further two furnaces, one vertical and one horizontal, by the end of 2026. Products that the global TIC provider can test at the site include fire doorsets, intumescent coatings on structural steelwork, fire stopping and passive fire protection products, floor and ceiling materials, glass and glazing systems, and more.
Construction started in July 2023, with principal contractors Tilbury Douglas leading the build. During the construction phase, Warringtonfire and Tilbury Douglas were awarded a Considerate Constructors Scheme Bronze Award for the project’s commitment to sustainability, respect for the community, care for the environment, and value for its workforce.
As part of the expansion, a total of 50 new positions have been filled, with maintenance engineers, technical officers, and technical assistant roles among the job opportunities created.
Meanwhile, Warringtonfire’s Holmesfield Road testing site will become a Centre of Excellence for Resistance to Fire (RtF) testing.
Leigh continued: “We are looking forward to welcoming our colleagues, customers, and industry peers to our official launch ceremony. It is a time not just to celebrate as it’s taken a lot of hard work to get here, but also to look forward. Our core purpose at Element Materials Technology is ‘Making Tomorrow Safer Than Today’, and on the day, we hope to not only show how we fulfil this promise, but to also take everyone’s views and feedback to further improve our own services and offering.”
