UKTC survey reveals trust gaps in certification
United Kingdom Testing & Certification Ltd. (UKTC) has released a whitepaper stating that many UK fire safety professionals are dissatisfied with existing third-party certification schemes and are calling for more transparent processes eight years after the Grenfell Tower fire.
The company reported that 60% of surveyed professionals had experienced issues with their current certification providers.
According to UKTC, 82% of respondents said they wanted greater transparency in certification processes.
The survey, carried out among fire safety event attendees in 2024, captured comments describing some legacy schemes as having “inconsistent positions”, a “lack of transparency” and delivering a “poor value for money service”.
UKTC noted that 75% of respondents said they judge certification body credibility mainly on United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accreditation status and regulatory compliance.
Andrew Hutchison, Operations Director at UKTC, said: “Despite the proliferation of third-party certification schemes, the sector still suffers from dangerous opacity.
“Field of Application reports, classification reports and test data are routinely withheld from the public, forcing specifiers and contractors to make critical safety decisions in the dark.”
UKTC ensure links certification to the Golden Thread
In response to the survey findings, UKTC has introduced UKTC ensure as a new third-party certification scheme.
The company said this scheme has been designed explicitly around the principles of the Golden Thread framework set out in Dame Judith Hackitt’s Building a Safer Future report.
UKTC added that the programme is backed by UKAS accreditation under ISO 17065 so that every performance claim can be traced and each certificate can be verified.
The firm stated that UKTC ensure publishes all supporting documentation, including Field of Application reports and classification reports.
The scheme also provides real-time updates with version control, a secure digital vault that acts as a single source of truth for certification documents and product marking that uses QR codes to give access to performance data.
According to UKTC, the scheme accepts both British (BS) and European (EN) test evidence, as well as Extended Field of Application Reports.
The company said this approach reduces barriers to joining the scheme and creates a more open route to certification and independent verification of product performance.
Industry reports call for honest product claims
The whitepaper states that change in the product and certification market is described as non-negotiable.
It cites the Paul Morrell OBE & Anneliese Day KC Report, which sets expectations for manufacturers and conformity assessment bodies.
The report is quoted as stating: “It is for product manufacturers to develop products that do the job expected of them, and to market them honestly, making no false claims; it is for Conformity Assessment Bodies to test and assess those products against defined specifications, impartially and independently.”
UKTC positioned UKTC ensure as a response to concerns raised after the Grenfell Tower fire about how products are tested, assessed and described.
Hutchison added: “The lessons of Grenfell and subsequent inquiries cannot be ignored.
“Too often, critical voices and concerns were missed or dismissed, which cannot continue.
“Real change is long overdue, and change starts with transparent certification.”
Digital evidence and standards shaping new approach
UKTC explained that it was acquired by the SOCOTEC Group earlier in 2025.
The company said the new scheme reflects a wider move toward digital, accessible and version-controlled evidence frameworks referenced in government reports and British Standards.
The whitepaper links the UKTC ensure model to the approach set out in BS 8644-1:2022 for managing fire safety information across a product’s lifecycle.
According to UKTC, the secure digital vault and real-time updates are intended to keep performance data current for those who specify, install and maintain products.
The firm stated that QR code product marking is aimed at giving users direct access to certification evidence at the point of use.
Matthew Marriott, CEO of SOCOTEC UK and Ireland, said: “The release of this whitepaper highlights several concerning shortcomings in the third-party certification market at present.
“There’s a clear requirement for radical change, and we look forward to seeing UKTC ensure have a real positive change on the sector.”
How transparent certification data affects practice
Fire engineering consultants and risk assessors could use the survey findings and the UKTC ensure model when reviewing the reliability of test evidence that underpins their designs and recommendations.
System installers and fire-protection contractors may treat the full publication of Field of Application and classification reports as a practical way to see the exact scope and limits of tested performance before selecting products.
Architects and building services engineers could draw on the digital vault and version-controlled documentation when assembling and maintaining the Golden Thread of fire safety information across a project lifecycle.
Procurement officers and facility managers may use UKAS-backed certification records, accessible via QR codes, to check that installed products still match their certified performance claims during maintenance or refurbishment work.
Standards and certification bodies can reference the whitepaper’s feedback and its alignment with BS 8644-1:2022 when reviewing how their own schemes handle transparency, data access and the publication of supporting reports.