Fire protection testing expanded through ift Rosenheim and Patras partnership
Iain Hoey
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Partnership supports local fire protection testing in Greece
ift Rosenheim has announced a new collaboration with the University of Patras in Greece to deliver accredited fire protection testing services from the FireUP laboratory in Patras.
According to ift Rosenheim, the partnership enables system providers and manufacturers in Greece and surrounding regions to complete preliminary and official tests locally to support CE marking and structural verification.
The laboratory, based at the University of Patras, will conduct both initial checks and official tests under CPR Article 46.
ift Rosenheim stated that its role will include accredited testing and calibration, while engineers from its Greek branch, ift Rosenheim Hellas, will support on-site activities.
Inspections at the FireUP site in Patras are scheduled to begin in July 2025.
FireUP laboratory background and test capabilities
The University of Patras launched the FireUP fire testing facility in 2015 to support civil engineering research and student training.
The university approached ift Rosenheim to calibrate the fire kilns and equipment, which initiated the broader collaboration.
ift Rosenheim explained that the FireUP laboratory will now host both informal pre-tests and formal ift tests in line with European fire protection standards.
Tests will be conducted on windows, doors, gates, facades, walls and closures to standards including EN 1634-1, EN 1364-1 and EN 1365-1.
According to the company, the partnership will help reduce delays and support early identification of compliance issues.
Official testing procedures and CE marking support
ift Rosenheim confirmed it will perform tests under Construction Products Regulation Article 46, which is required for CE marking.
The organisation said these accredited procedures will ensure building law recognition for manufacturers seeking market access in Europe.
It added that preliminary tests conducted by FireUP staff will confirm readiness before official testing, which may prevent costly failures or delays.
According to ift Rosenheim, this staged approach provides an efficient path toward certification.
On-site support from Greek inspection team
ift Rosenheim noted that the collaboration benefits from local expertise through its Greek affiliate, ift Rosenheim Hellas.
The organisation said engineers from the Patras site will support on-site testing, allowing faster scheduling and execution.
This model was described as a way to improve flexibility while maintaining consistency with ift Rosenheim’s central standards.
The company added that using local resources reduces travel time and increases availability for Greek and regional manufacturers.
Equipment calibration and test integrity
ift Rosenheim said it is responsible for regular calibration of the FireUP laboratory’s test furnaces and measurement tools.
The organisation stated that its procedures ensure test equipment accuracy and reproducibility, in line with European norms.
The goal, it added, is to uphold high testing standards for all certification processes.
Regular performance assessments will be conducted to maintain reliability of fire resistance measurements at the Patras site.
Fire protection testing expanded through ift Rosenheim and Patras partnership: Summary
ift Rosenheim has partnered with the University of Patras in Greece.
The FireUP laboratory will host both preliminary and official fire protection tests.
ift Rosenheim will conduct accredited tests under CPR Article 46.
FireUP staff will perform initial tests to confirm readiness.
Tests will support CE marking and structural verification for building products.
On-site inspection services will be provided by ift Rosenheim Hellas.
The facility tests windows, doors, walls, gates, facades and closures.
Test methods include EN 1634-1, EN 1364-1 and EN 1365-1.
All test equipment will be regularly calibrated by ift Rosenheim.
Inspections in Patras will begin in July 2025.