Promat technical director Nigel Morrey concludes 37 year sector career

by Featured NewsPassivePeople

Nigel Morrey to retire in December

Promat Technical Director Nigel Morrey will retire at the end of December after nearly a decade at Etex Building Performance and nearly 37 years in the passive fire protection sector.

Etex Building Performance said he has overseen product performance and development for passive fire protection specialist Promat and dry walling manufacturer Siniat during that period.

The company stated that his work has focused on aligning product development, testing and system design with changing regulatory requirements.

Promat confirmed that he was appointed Technical Director of Promat in 2002 and became Technical Director of Siniat in 2016, with Etex Building Performance incorporated in January 2017.

The manufacturer added that he will step down from his role at the end of December.

Shifting standards at Promat and Siniat

According to Etex Building Performance, Nigel Morrey has led change at both Promat and Siniat to maintain high levels of performance backed by testing in response to a changing regulatory environment.

Siniat was one of the first companies in the UK to secure Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) verification, and introduced classification as standard on its dry wall products to evidence fire performance.

Within Promat, the company said he has driven the move from British Standards (BS) fire test standards to European (EN) standards, supporting a system based approach to passive fire protection.

He has also overseen the development of specialist fire board protection systems designed to meet changing construction demands, including increased use of structural steel.

Etex Building Performance reported that, most recently, he led the decision for the business to take design liability for systems across both the Siniat and Promat brands to reduce the burden of risk on principal designers following the Building Safety Act.

Nigel Morrey, Technical Director at Promat, said: “It has been an honour to be part of the significant achievements of both Promat and Siniat.

“Working within Promat the emphasis is clearly on passive fire protection, and to me it made sense that we applied those same rigorous testing regimes to Siniat dry walling.

“It is the success that we have achieved in creating a genuinely market-leading level of tested systems that has been most rewarding – in particular the move to classifying systems.

“This journey has taken us from historical BS tests to more recently being an early adopter of EN standards, EXAP testing and classification.

“It has taken many years and has seen us carry out over 120 full scale fire tests each year but has allowed us to become technical leaders in the UK.

“This level of test data not only reduces the risk taken by designers, it crucially supports the construction of buildings that are safer for those who occupy them.

“Likewise, it was a bold decision for us to take design liability but it is the right thing to do; to take the risk away from others and enshrine the design of life critical systems in demonstrated competency.

“Most of all though it has been about the people, and it has been great to be part of that team.

“We have created an environment that nurtures technical excellence and embraces learning, with a team that is passionate about their technical development.

“This is what I have loved being a part of and we have built great foundations to move forwards on.”

Industry roles and focus on competency

Etex Building Performance highlighted that Nigel Morrey’s expertise has been recognised through a series of industry roles.

He has served as both Chair and Vice Chair of the Association of Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), and has been a member of its Council and Strategy Groups.

He has also represented ASFP on Expert Panel D, Passive Fire Protection at the Loss Prevention Council Board.

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, he was invited to chair the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) Fire Safety Group, and served as a director of the Finishes and Interiors Sector across what the company described as important years for the industry.

The company said he has consistently promoted the importance of competency for accurate specification, use and installation of passive fire protection.

Etex Building Performance reported that 35 current members of staff have passed the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) Level 3 in Passive Fire Protection, with a further 17 currently working towards the qualification.

Awards and recognition for Nigel Morrey

Promat stated that in 2024, Nigel Morrey received the ASFP Lifetime Achievement award for his work to raise awareness of passive fire protection and his commitment to improving fire safety.

In 2025 he became a lifelong fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers.

The company said these honours reflect his long standing involvement in shaping passive fire protection practice and guidance.

John Sinfield, Country Manager for Etex Building Performance, said: “Nigel is one of a kind and we will miss him immensely.

“His knowledge of passive fire protection, and the passion he has to drive change has left a lasting legacy of high standards – and, in turn, safer buildings.

“The passion he has brought to the role was infectious, and the team at Etex Building Performance look forward to continuing to build on the impressive work he has achieved.”

How testing, classification and design liability affect practice

The decision by Etex Building Performance to take design liability for systems across Siniat and Promat reduces the burden of risk on principal designers after the Building Safety Act.

This approach means fire engineering consultants and architects can work with system designs where responsibility for performance evidence sits with the manufacturer.

The move from BS fire test standards to EN standards at Promat supports a system based view of passive fire protection rather than a focus on individual components.

This is relevant for fire engineering consultants, building services engineers and system installers who need tested system data when specifying fire board protection around structural steel or other elements.

Siniat’s early CCPI verification and the introduction of classification as standard on its dry wall products provide clearer evidence of fire performance for specifiers and risk assessors.

The programme that has seen 35 staff members achieve IFE Level 3 in Passive Fire Protection also affects contractors and designers who interact with Etex Building Performance, as they are more likely to work with teams holding recognised qualifications.

Recognition from ASFP and the Institution of Fire Engineers shows that the technical frameworks established under Nigel Morrey’s leadership are aligned with wider industry bodies that influence passive fire protection practice.

Compliance in modern facade fire protection under spotlight at London Build

by EventsFeatured NewsPassive

FSi Promat to focus on facade fire safety at London Build

FSi Promat will highlight the importance of fire safety compliance in modern facade design during a panel session at this year’s London Build event at London Olympia.

The company confirmed that National Commercial Manager – Facades at FSi Promat, Liam Blears, will join the Building Safety & Security Stage panel at 11am on Wednesday 19 November.

He will speak alongside Head of Façade Engineering at WSP, Rimmy Vij, Technical Officer at the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), Dr Andrew Taylor, Greta Invernizzi from Aecom, Neesha Gopal from Foster and Partners and Zara Edwards from Buro Happold.

The panel is set to take an in-depth look at the role of fire protection and facade design in meeting current building safety requirements.

According to FSi Promat, the discussion will centre on how facade design choices interact with regulations and technical expectations for passive fire protection.

Panel to examine facade fire safety compliance and regulation

The company said the session will address how increasing use of lightweight facades and curtain walling affects the way fire safety is built into projects from early-stage specification.

Panellists will discuss the regulatory demands that must be met when designing facades so that fire safety requirements are embedded before construction begins.

The session will also consider the level of collaboration needed between designers, manufacturers and contractors to deliver compliant passive fire protection solutions.

FSi Promat noted that the panel will look at the role of third-party testing in helping to protect buildings with curtain walling or mixed facades from rapid fire spread.

Liam Blears, National Commercial Manager – Facades at FSi Promat, said: “There continues to be an industry-wide emphasis on the role of compliance and competency around the Building Safety Act to ensure robust building safety.

“The panel discussion at London Build provides a perfect platform to explore the challenges around ensuring the correct, compliant passive fire protection is specified, that products perform as expected in the event of a fire, and that products serve the customers design requirements.

Passive fire protection in modern building envelopes

Blears explained that the panel will look closely at how passive fire protection is used within the building envelope to control the spread of fire.

“Passive fire protection, such as firestops and cavity barriers, are vital in preventing the spread of fire within the building envelope.

“As life critical safety products, ensuring passive fire protection is fully compliant with current regulations and correctly specified at the design stage is essential to protecting occupants from the spread of fire and ensuring the integrity of buildings to allow firefighters time to respond safely.

“Our panel discussion will look at what best practice in fire safety and compliance looks like for modern facades, and will emphasise that the full lifetime of the building should be considered.”

The company indicated that the discussion will address how specification decisions influence performance over the entire service life of a facade system.

FSi Promat added that the session is intended to support clearer understanding of what robust, compliant passive fire protection looks like in practice for facade applications.

Etex group brands represented at London Build

FSi Promat confirmed that sister companies Promat and Siniat will also be represented at London Build.

All three brands are part of the Etex group.

According to the group, Promat specialises in passive fire solutions used across building applications.

Siniat is described as a leading dry walling specialist providing systems for a range of construction projects.

The companies said their presence at London Build is intended to show how their respective products can be combined to support fire safety and facade performance.

Facade design, passive protection and regulatory drivers

Architects, fire engineering consultants and building services engineers involved in facade design can use the London Build panel themes to align specification practice more closely with current regulatory expectations on passive fire protection.

System installers, fire-protection contractors and cavity barrier specialists may find the focus on third-party testing relevant when selecting and installing products for curtain walling or mixed facades.

For facility managers responsible for buildings with lightweight facades, the emphasis on the full lifetime of the building highlights how early specification decisions influence future maintenance and fire safety strategies.

Those working within the framework of the Building Safety Act and related guidance can draw on the discussion’s attention to compliance and competency to review how data collection, product selection and design coordination are handled on their projects.

By centring on passive fire protection within the building envelope, the panel content provides a reference point for teams seeking to check whether their facade designs, product choices and installation practices match the performance expectations described by FSi Promat and its partners.

Collaboration the missing link in Building Safety Act compliance, says Etex

by ConstructionFeatured NewsSafety

Etex to discuss early collaboration for Building Safety Act compliance

Etex Building Performance will use this year’s London Build event to highlight how early collaboration can support compliance with the Building Safety Act.

The company said its Siniat and Promat brands will focus on the role of test data in improving specification accuracy during project design.

Siniat is sponsoring the Fire Safety Stage at the event, which will host industry discussions on façade design, digital tools and balancing fire risk with sustainability.

Panel discussion on early-stage collaboration

Siniat’s Head of Specification, Steve Warriner, will take part in a panel discussion examining how collaboration during early design can help project teams address fire risk and compliance.

According to Etex, the session will bring together manufacturers, engineers, architects and principal designers to explore how joined-up working can help meet Building Safety Act requirements.

The company said the discussion aims to improve understanding of how early engagement between stakeholders can support smoother progress through Gateway 2 and reduce project delays.

Industry experts joining the panel

Warriner will be joined by Gary Neal, Head of Fire Risk Management at Skanska UK; Neal Morgan-Collins, Director and Head of Design Delivery Unit at Scott Brownrigg; Sun-Mee Ban, Principal Design Manager at Wates; and Amy Cooper, Senior Fire Safety Business Partner at Home Group.

Warriner said: “There has been a huge amount of discussion around the implementation of the Building Safety Act, and the impact this will have on building design.

“It is clear that the demands of the gateway system require accessible, accurate data to demonstrate compliance.

“The key to getting a full picture at the start of a project, and to avoid delays down the line, is through collaboration with all key stakeholders.

“This means close involvement of manufacturers to provide up-to-date, classified test data, and also to take responsibility for the details that they issue.

“This is a key shift in approach where specification of construction products has previously been more fluid.

“The spotlight is on specification, and the need for that to be right first time.

“This panel discussion will focus on how that works in practice, what the industry needs to see and what best practice looks like going forward to ensure compliance, especially in life critical safety such as passive fire protection.”

Event details and exhibition presence

London Build will take place at Olympia London on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 November 2025.

The event will bring together contractors, developers, architects, housebuilders, procurement teams, specifiers and engineers from across the construction industry.

Etex confirmed that experts from both Promat and Siniat will be available at Stand O50 to discuss testing requirements for passive fire protection and structural integrity.

Implications for construction design and safety professionals

The discussion led by Etex, Siniat and Promat will be directly relevant to architects, principal designers, fire engineers and specification professionals working under the Building Safety Act framework.

The focus on early collaboration highlights how manufacturers’ classified test data can inform safer and more compliant designs at the planning stage.

For contractors and compliance officers, the insights shared at London Build will demonstrate how early engagement across disciplines could streamline Gateway 2 approval and prevent costly redesigns or project delays.

The participation of fire risk managers and design leaders also positions the event as a forum for practical strategies to meet evolving legal and technical requirements in fire safety design.