Pioneering the enhancement of fire safety services, SOCOTEC UK and Ireland recently announced its acquisition of United Kingdom Testing and Certification (UKTC), a well-respected independent fire testing laboratory located in East Kilbride. This strategic move significantly broadens SOCOTEC's expertise in fire safety, further solidifying its growing influence in Scotland following the purchase of Aspect Land & Hydrographic Surveys last July.
A Strategic Move to Bolster Fire Safety Services
This acquisition is part of SOCOTEC's ongoing efforts to strengthen its capabilities in building safety and compliance, adapting to the changing regulatory environment in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the introduction of the Building Safety Act. UKTC has carved out a reputation as a reliable provider of fire resistance testing, reaction to fire testing, and certification services for a range of building materials and systems.
Expanded Fire Safety Testing Capabilities
With UKTC's UKAS-accredited facilities, SOCOTEC can now offer a more comprehensive assessment of products and materials in line with British, European, and international standards. These services support manufacturers, specifiers, and building owners in meeting increasingly stringent fire regulations. UKTC will be integrated into SOCOTEC’s network of UKAS-accredited laboratories, which specialize in environmental analysis and research and development, thus enhancing SOCOTEC's existing fire and building safety offerings.
Comprehensive Fire Testing and Certification Solutions
Incorporating UKTC's advanced testing capabilities enables SOCOTEC to offer a holistic fire safety solution that assists clients throughout the entire building lifecycle. Beyond traditional desktop analysis, UKTC's facilities allow SOCOTEC to deliver fire testing and certification services that support design, planning, and construction phases, ensuring assets meet safety standards from inception to completion.
Global Expertise in Fire Safety
SOCOTEC CEO Hervé Montjotin remarked, “The move aligns with SOCOTEC Group’s global expertise in fire safety, with over 300 fire safety experts worldwide, allowing the UK operation to leverage internationally held knowledge and skillsets from across the company’s presence in 27 countries.” He highlighted the global fire and building safety portfolio, which includes centers of excellence in Europe, the Middle East, and the USA.
Commitment to Building Safety Enhancement
Matthew Marriott, CEO of SOCOTEC UK and Ireland, stated, “The acquisition of UKTC represents a significant milestone in our growth strategy and commitment to enhancing building safety across the UK.” This acquisition is the second in Scotland within 12 months, underscoring SOCOTEC's commitment to investing in the region and expanding its service capabilities throughout the UK and Ireland.
Continual Growth and Service Expansion
David Brown, Director at UKTC, will maintain leadership of the laboratory's operations under SOCOTEC’s ownership. He expressed enthusiasm about the new partnership, saying, “Joining forces with SOCOTEC UK and Ireland provides an exciting opportunity to invest and expand our testing provisions and deliver enhanced services to our clients.” Brown noted that the East Kilbride facility will continue as a center of excellence for fire testing in the UK, and under SOCOTEC, aims to build upon its legacy while accessing broader resources and expertise.
Globally renowned provider of testing, inspection, and certification services, SOCOTEC UK and Ireland has announced the acquisition of United Kingdom Testing and Certification (UKTC), a renowned independent fire testing laboratory based in East Kilbride.
A strategic acquisition
The strategic acquisition significantly expands SOCOTEC’s capabilities in the critical field of fire safety and compliance, while reinforcing the company’s growing presence in Scotland, with its second acquisition in the country, following the purchase of Aspect Land & Hydrographic Surveys last July.
UKTC has established itself as a trusted provider of fire resistance testing, reaction to fire testing
The acquisition of UKTC marks the latest in a series of strategic investments by SOCOTEC designed to strengthen its building safety and compliance services. This expansion comes in direct response to the evolving regulatory landscape following the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the introduction of the Building Safety Act.
UKTC has established itself as a trusted provider of fire resistance testing, reaction to fire testing, and certification services across multiple building materials and systems.
The laboratory’s UKAS
The laboratory’s UKAS-accredited facilities enable a comprehensive assessment of products and materials against British, European, and international standards, supporting manufacturers, specifiers, and building owners in meeting increasingly stringent fire regulations.
UKTC will join SOCOTEC’s pioneering network of UKAS-accredited laboratories, specialists in environmental analysis, as well as research and development.
The acquisition complements SOCOTEC’s established fire and building safety portfolio, which already includes fire risk assessments, fire engineering and strategy development, façade and structural engineering, building control, building control consultancy, and third-party certification.
Fire testing and certification services
SOCOTEC now offers a truly complete solution supporting clients throughout the entire building lifecycle
By incorporating UKTC’s specialized laboratory testing capabilities, SOCOTEC now offers a truly comprehensive solution supporting clients throughout the entire building lifecycle.
This enhanced offering extends beyond desktop analysis, with UKTC enabling SOCOTEC to provide fire testing and certification services that support the design, planning, and construction phases of an asset.
SOCOTEC Group’s global expertise in fire safety
SOCOTEC CEO, Hervé Montjotin, said: "The move aligns with SOCOTEC Group’s global expertise in fire safety, with over 300 fire safety experts worldwide, allowing the UK operation to leverage internationally held knowledge and skillsets from across the company’s presence in 27 countries."
Hervé Montjotin adds, "SOCOTEC’s global fire and building safety portfolio includes specialized centers of excellence across Europe, the Middle East, and the USA."
Enhancing building safety
Matthew Marriott, CEO of SOCOTEC UK and Ireland, said: "The acquisition of UKTC represents a significant milestone in our growth strategy and commitment to enhancing building safety across the UK."
Matthew Marriott adds, "This marks our second acquisition in Scotland within the last 12 months, demonstrating our intention to continue investing in this important region, as well as developing our capabilities to serve clients throughout the UK and Ireland."
Invest and expand testing provisions
David Brown, Director at UKTC, will continue to lead the laboratory operations under SOCOTEC ownership, and said: "Joining forces with SOCOTEC UK and Ireland provides an exciting opportunity to invest and expand our testing provisions and deliver enhanced services to our clients."
David Brown adds, "Our East Kilbride facility has become the center of excellence for fire testing in UK, and as part of SOCOTEC, we look forward to building on that legacy, while accessing wider resources and expertise."
