The Siderise Innovation Centre, situated in South Wales, has recently achieved the prestigious UKAS ISO 17025 accreditation, marking a significant milestone for the facility. This accreditation serves as a testament to the centre’s technical competence and the reliability of its results, aligning with international standards. Since its inauguration in March 2023 by the First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, the Innovation Centre has been at the forefront of conducting fire tests to ensure the safety and efficacy of various materials.
Advanced Facilities and Capabilities
One of the key features of the Siderise Innovation Centre is its state-of-the-art fire test furnace, which enables the facility to carry out a wide range of fire resistance tests. This advanced equipment, coupled with sophisticated data logging tools, allows the centre to test materials against stringent fire safety standards, ensuring that products meet the necessary requirements to enhance overall safety measures. Since its inception, the Innovation Centre has conducted over 180 fire tests, further solidifying its reputation as a leading facility in the field of fire safety testing.
UKAS Accreditation Process
To obtain the UKAS ISO 17025 accreditation, the Siderise Innovation Centre underwent a rigorous audit process conducted by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). This comprehensive audit involved a thorough review of the centre’s quality management systems, training protocols, and record-keeping practices to ensure compliance with international standards. Additionally, UKAS observed three crucial fire resistance tests during the audit, including the EN 1366-3, EN 1366-4, and prEN 1364-6 tests, to evaluate the centre’s technical proficiency and adherence to industry regulations.
The accreditation process commenced in November 2023, culminating in a final audit in January 2024. Following a successful assessment, Siderise was awarded the UKAS ISO 17025 accreditation in July 2024, underscoring the centre’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of quality and reliability in fire safety testing.
Key Objectives and Mission
Chris Mort, the director of testing at Siderise, shed light on the core objectives of the Innovation Centre, emphasizing its role in meeting the growing demand for testing and data in the industry. Mort stated, “We constructed the Innovation Centre to address the increasing need for testing and data for projects and product development, aiming to bridge the gap in available furnace time and ultimately make fire performance testing more accessible to our industry stakeholders.” The centre’s primary mission is to provide faster access to critical fire performance data, thereby contributing to the advancement of fire safety measures within the industry.
Siderise’s overarching goal is to enhance fire safety standards through efficient and reliable testing services, ensuring that materials and products meet the necessary requirements to mitigate fire risks and safeguard lives and properties.
Team Expertise and Dedication
The successful attainment of the UKAS ISO 17025 accreditation can be attributed to the expertise and dedication of the Siderise testing team, whose unwavering commitment to excellence has been instrumental in establishing robust standard operating procedures (SOPs) at the Innovation Centre. Mort commended the team, stating, “The hard work, skills, knowledge, and experience of our testing team have been invaluable in ensuring the successful accreditation of the centre.” Their collective experience and focus on developing effective SOPs played a pivotal role in streamlining the application and audit processes, ultimately leading to the centre’s accreditation.
The team’s dedication to upholding the highest standards of quality and technical competence underscores Siderise’s commitment to delivering reliable and accurate fire safety testing services, bolstering the industry’s efforts to enhance overall safety standards and practices.
In summary, the accreditation of the Siderise Innovation Centre by UKAS for fire safety testing in South Wales marks a significant achievement in the field of fire safety. The centre’s technical competency, advanced facilities, and dedicated team of experts have played a crucial role in securing this accreditation, reaffirming Siderise’s position as a leading provider of reliable and efficient fire safety testing services in the region.