Warringtonfire, global leader in the provision of fire testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) services and part of the Element Materials Technology group, is now entering the next phase of development at its Birchwood Park laboratory to add two new furnaces to increase testing capacity.
The additional furnaces take the total investment at Warringtonfire’s state-of-the-art facility to over $35 million. It follows an initial outlay of $30 million to construct one of Europe’s largest fire resistance testing laboratories, which was launched earlier this year.
The new furnaces mark Warringtonfire’s ongoing commitment to supporting the construction industry’s safety needs. The expanded facility will bring the total number of operational furnaces at Birchwood to seven, allowing safety-critical products to be brought to market faster. Meanwhile, the extra capacity supports manufacturers transitioning from the BS 476 suite of standards to EN 13501 standards.
Natasha Bambridge, Divisional Director at Element, said: “We’re proud to be investing in the future of fire resistance testing here at Warringtonfire. The new furnaces will enhance our ability to deliver fast and accurate test results that help keep people and buildings safe. With greater capacity, we can help customers bring essential products to market faster, allowing the industry to comply with ever-changing regulations at the necessary speed.”
To support the new operations, approximately 25 new staff members are being recruited before the end of 2025 and will join Warringtonfire’s existing 200-strong team of fire safety experts. Additions to the team will include Technical Officers, Technical Assistants, CAD specialists, and business support positions. Each new hire will undergo 12 months of training, highlighting the project’s complexity and the business’s long-term investment in technical expertise.
“This investment in new equipment represents our commitment to reducing bottlenecks across the industry and supporting manufacturers as regulations evolve,” said Natasha. “By expanding our capabilities, we’re helping clients achieve compliance faster and more efficiently.”
The installation of the furnaces is set to begin in Q3 2025, with commercial testing scheduled to commence in Q4 2026. As part of the expansion, Warringtonfire is extending the scope of testing it provides, enabling it to support testing programmes that currently require UK-based clients to ship products internationally.
