Element stresses why this is especially pertinent in the Philippines, where there are very few fire testing facilities and a high proportion of fire safety products are imported into the country, which may not comply with the right standards or regulations.
TheBigRedGuide.com
With rising concerns in the Philippines over fire safety and a lack of testing facilities, stakeholders with a role to play in fire safety must choose products that have achieved third-party certification.
The warning comes from Warringtonfire and its parent company, Element Materials Technology, global leaders in fire testing and certification. It follows Element Materials Technology’s presentation at ‘The Future of Passive Fire Protection’ conference, hosted by Promat Asia Pacific with Kent International Trading Co. (KITC) at De La Salle University, Manila, during March – National Fire Prevention Month.
Third-party certification is an independent verification process that ensures fire safety products, systems, and services comply with national and international standards. Element stresses why this is especially pertinent in the Philippines, where there are very few fire testing facilities and a high proportion of fire safety products are imported into the country, which may not comply with the right standards or regulations.
Proper testing and certification of passive fire protection products are essential to protecting buildings and saving lives, ensuring that materials meet prescribed safety criteria before being used in construction projects. We aim to empower architects and local officials in the Philippines to make informed decisions, and to see the merit in third-party certification. By choosing third-party certified products, they can ensure their buildings are safer, meet international standards and ultimately protect lives.
As part of Element Materials Technology, Warringtonfire benefits from the global Element network, allowing it to provide a wide range of critical certifications, including Certifire, a world-renowned, independently accredited third-party certification scheme for passive fire protection products.
With fire testing facilities in China and North America, which can test to ASTM, NFPA or UL standards, Element is positioned to support industry professionals with understanding test reports and certifications. Element also provides Certificates of Conformity (CoC) to fire protection product manufacturers, confirming materials’ safety in an accessible format and simplifying the compliance process.
Certified products undergo continuous factory production control (FPC) visits and audits, ensuring they are manufactured to the highest standards and will perform effectively in the event of a fire. Additionally, third-party certification enhances traceability, enabling architects and local officials to track where products originate and verify compliance with increasing regulatory demands.
As a trusted name in fire performance testing of construction products for over 50 years, Element, through Warringtonfire, has expertise in ASTM, UL, BS, EN, IMO, and ISO standards. Element’s presentation at De La Salle University also provided attendees with valuable insights into the plethora of fire safety standards, including a walkthrough of the fire testing process and how to properly implement the safety standards.
