The Fire Protection Association (FPA) has joined Certek Group in a move the organisation says will support future investment in fire safety research, training and testing across the UK.
Certek, an international provider of testing, inspection, certification and compliance services, will support the FPA as it develops its fire safety research, training and testing services for clients across the UK.
The FPA said the partnership will help secure the organisation’s future while preserving its independence, technical expertise and public benefit role.
FPA says Certek partnership will support growth
Announcing the development, Gavin Dunn, CEO of the Fire Protection Association, described the move as a “transformational moment” for the organisation.
He said: “Our partnership with Certek secures the organisation’s future while preserving everything that makes the FPA unique. It provides the investment and scale to accelerate innovation, expand our services, and strengthen our role as the UK’s leading fire safety organisation.
“Most importantly, it enables us to continue delivering independent expertise, research, and professional development that supports a safer built environment for generations to come.”
RISCAuthority research programme to continue
The FPA said Certek is committed to protecting the future of RISCAuthority, the annually funded research programme administered by the FPA on behalf of UK insurers.
RISCAuthority aims to raise resilience standards within the business community by providing research, guidance and best practice recommendations for managing fire and security risks.
The programme will continue to develop relationships with insurance partners while supporting the FPA’s wider work on risk management and resilience.
Collaboration with PartB to expand testing capabilities
Joining Certek Group will also enable the FPA to work more closely with other businesses in the group, including PartB, with which it already has a relationship through joint fire resistance testing activities.
The FPA and PartB said they will build on their existing work to create closer collaboration across the businesses, with the aim of developing a more comprehensive fire testing operation and strengthened laboratory capabilities.
Jamie Davis, Group Chief Technical Officer at PartB, said: “The FPA has spent decades leading the industry through research, testing, training, and publication of guidance, and together, our strengths complement one another perfectly.
“By working alongside the FPA, we can help drive higher standards, improve competence across the sector and ultimately have greater impact on public safety than either of us could on our own.
“We’re building something that has the potential to transform the fire safety landscape. We’ll do it carefully, thoughtfully and with a clear focus on maintaining the values, integrity and technical excellence that have made both organisations successful.”
Certek welcomes Fire Protection Association
David Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of Certek, said the group was “delighted” to welcome the FPA.
He said: “For over 75 years, the FPA has been the trusted voice of fire safety in the UK, and its reputation for independence, technical excellence, and market-leading research is second to none.
“Our partnership with the FPA will deliver investment into new research and educational projects and also enhanced testing services to better serve client and assessor requirements, all whilst safeguarding the FPA’s vital research into fire safety and the independence, rigour, and commitment to the highest standards that have defined the organisation throughout its history.”
The FPA will continue to provide training and technical services for members and clients from its head office and Training and Education Centre in Oxfordshire, and its Fire Testing Laboratory in Gloucestershire.
Dunn added: “We have secured our future and protected everything that makes this organisation special by maintaining the independence, integrity, and public benefit role that has always defined the FPA.
“With the ability to create opportunities that simply were not available to us before, I genuinely believe today marks the beginning of a very exciting new chapter for the FPA.”