Promat technical director Nigel Morrey concludes 37 year sector career

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.