SOCOTEC-backed UKTC expansion to boost UK fire testing capability

UKTC expands East Kilbride fire testing facility

Fire testing specialist United Kingdom Testing and Certification (UKTC) has started construction on a £2.5 million expansion at its East Kilbride facility.

The project will double the company’s fire resistance testing capacity and create around 20 new jobs.

The expansion follows UKTC’s acquisition by SOCOTEC UK and Ireland in July 2025.

The development will add more than 7,000 square feet of new space and include a furnace capable of testing horizontal structures up to 3 metres wide by 4 metres long, and vertical structures up to 5 metres high.

The facility’s 10-metre eaves height allows testing of tall vertical structures using a proprietary furnace add-on, making it the first of its kind commercially available in the UK.

Investment supported by Scottish Enterprise

According to UKTC, the expansion is being part-funded by Scottish Enterprise through an £835,000 grant awarded in 2024.

A visit to the site in November by SOCOTEC CEO Hervé Montjotin, SOCOTEC UK and Ireland CEO Matthew Marriott and Managing Director of Environmental Science Jim Clay marked the start of the steel works phase.

The company said the larger laboratory will improve operational efficiency and enable more testing functions to be brought in-house, reducing reliance on European subcontractors.

The extension is expected to be completed in 2026.

Facility history and industry demand

The East Kilbride site was previously used by Rolls-Royce as an Aero Testbed facility until 2017.

UKTC took over the site in 2020 and invested heavily to bring it in line with regulatory standards and fit it with specialist fire testing equipment.

Andrew Hutchison, Operations Director at UKTC, said: “The need to expand and invest in a new test hall was simply to meet growing demand we are experiencing from the construction industry for fire testing, from both existing and new customers.

“The planned extension will be completed in 2026, and will house a new full-scale fire resistance test furnace.

“Ultimately, upgrading our facilities will allow us to continue delivering the highest standards of fire testing for our clients across the UK and Europe.”

SOCOTEC highlights growth potential

Matthew Marriott, CEO of SOCOTEC UK and Ireland, said: “The extension of UKTC’s existing facility is incredibly exciting for us.

“The team in East Kilbride is vastly knowledgeable and talented, so expanding the facilities to meet the increased demand for fire testing services at the site was the logical next step forward to help the continued growth of UKTC, and provide the best service possible to its customers across the UK and Europe.

“We look forward to continued integration of UKTC into the wider SOCOTEC UK and Ireland operations, as there has already been so much interest in the expanded capabilities we can now provide following the acquisition’s completion in July.”

Expanding capacity for compliance testing

UKTC provides fire resistance testing, reaction to fire testing and certification services for building materials and systems.

Its UKAS-accredited facilities assess products against British, European and international standards, supporting compliance for manufacturers, specifiers and building owners.

The company said the expansion will help it meet growing industry demand for large-scale, high-accuracy fire resistance testing.

Implications for construction and testing sectors

The UKTC expansion will strengthen access to large-scale fire resistance testing within the UK, reducing the need for manufacturers and building system suppliers to use overseas facilities.

For architects, engineers and product developers, the increased capacity at East Kilbride will provide faster turnaround for testing and certification aligned with UKAS standards.

The facility’s ability to test both horizontal and vertical structures up to 5 metres high will also enable more complex assessments of wall and floor assemblies used in commercial and residential construction.

As demand for performance verification continues to rise under UK and European fire safety regulations, the expansion positions UKTC and SOCOTEC to play a larger role in supporting compliance and innovation across the built environment.