Warringtonfire Invests In New SBI Testing Equipment To Further Increase Fire Testing Capacity For Construction Products
SBI testing is a key test method for assessing a product’s reaction to fire performance. It measures lateral flame spread, rate of heat release, propensity for the production of flaming droplets, and the rate and amount of smoke production.
The new equipment, which was commissioned in June, can be used to test various construction products, including wall & ceiling coverings and linear pipe insulation, in line with BS EN 13823.
As part of the test, a 30kW propane‑powered sandbox burner is used to simulate a wastepaper basket or small chair fire, with the test specimens mounted on two vertically oriented walls arranged to form a 90° open corner.
Warringtonfire’s Holmesfield Road laboratory is one of a select few UKAS‑accredited sites to offer SBI testing in the UK.
The new testing rig is the latest in a series of major investments by parent company Element Materials Technology in Warrington and follows the announcement of a brand new $30m fire resistance facility at Birchwood Park, which is due to open in January 2025.
Following the opening of the 101k sq. ft Birchwood Park laboratory, which will triple current testing capacity in Warrington, the company’s Holmesfield Road laboratory will become a centre of excellence for reaction to fire testing and continue to operate small‑scale testing for the spread of flame and heat release.
Leigh Hill, Director at Warringtonfire, comments: “Single‑burning item testing is a critical stage in bringing a new construction product to market in a safe and responsible way. It can help stakeholders make informed decisions on fire safety and material selection, safe in the knowledge that the product in question will perform as expected if a fire does occur.
“The additional SBI testing facility at our Holmesfield Road laboratory will provide much‑needed UKAS‑accredited capacity for the manufacturers of construction products, while also proving a key milestone in our long‑term plan to transform the site into a centre of excellence for reaction to fire testing in the UK.”
