The Fire Protection Association Joins Certek

We’re delighted to announce that the Fire Protection Association (FPA), the UK’s leading fire safety organisation, providing membership, training, fire testing, research, risk assessment and sprinkler services to clients across the UK and internationally, has joined Certek.

The FPA has been at the heart of UK fire safety for almost 80 years, setting the highest industry standards, influencing policy and supporting a community of over 4,000 members. From its head office in Banbury and its long-established, UKAS-accredited fire testing laboratory in Gloucestershire, the organisation trains around 7,500 individuals and completes some 650 risk assessments every year. Through the RISCAuthority scheme and its wider research programme, the FPA also delivers market-leading research that shapes fire safety practice, guidance and policy across the built environment.

This acquisition will enable the FPA to continue its market-leading research into fire safety, while providing the investment and support needed to expand its services to meet growing client demand.

David Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of Certek, said:

“We are delighted to welcome the Fire Protection Association into the Certek family. The FPA is the trusted voice of fire safety in the UK, and its reputation for independence, technical excellence and market-leading research is second to none. The organisation is an excellent strategic fit for our Built Environment division and augments our fire services capability with a superb testing facility and a highly experienced team joining Certek. For fire TICC services, Certek is now the market leader in the UK, offering the broadest range of capability across research, testing, assessment, certification, training, inspection, expert, engineering and Building Regulation Principal Designer (BRPD).

Our partnership with the FPA will deliver investment into new research and educational projects and also enhanced testing and certification services to better serve client and assessor requirements, all whilst safeguarding the FPA’s vital research into fire safety and the independence, rigour and commitment to the highest standards that have defined the organisation throughout its history.”

Gavin Dunn, CEO of the Fire Protection Association, added:

“This is a transformational moment for the FPA. Our partnership with Certek secures the organisation’s future while preserving everything that makes the FPA unique. It provides the investment and scale to accelerate innovation, expand our services and strengthen our role as the UK’s leading fire safety organisation. Most importantly, it enables us to continue delivering independent expertise, research and professional development that supports a safer built environment for generations to come.”

The Fire Protection Association will continue to operate under its established brand, from its Banbury head office and Gloucestershire laboratory, with no changes to its services, membership offering or client relationships.

About the Fire Protection Association

The Fire Protection Association is the UK’s leading fire safety organisation, committed to setting the highest industry standards, influencing policy and supporting its members with comprehensive fire safety news, advice, training and resources. With over 75 years’ experience and more than 4,000 active members, the FPA offers a full scope of fire safety services to protect businesses, people and assets, including training, fire testing, risk assessment and sprinkler services.

The FPA operates a versatile, UKAS-accredited fire testing laboratory in Gloucestershire, providing experienced, independent and impartial advice, and delivers market-leading fire safety research, including through the RISCAuthority research scheme, that informs guidance, standards and policy across the industry.

About Certek

Certek, headquartered in London, UK, is an independent specialist testing, inspection, certification and compliance (TICC) services company that delivers a range of mission critical compliance services to an international client base. Certek acquires and partners with best-in-class companies in the sector and deploys a low-interruption, technology-led approach to integration and operations. Certek is passionate about growth and realising potential, and group companies are supported according to their specific opportunity set and requirements post joining Certek, with the approach being tailored to the situation at hand.

Founded in 2024, Certek comprises over 1,500 people who have technical expertise across health and materials sciences, built environment, asset integrity and inspection and governance, risk and compliance. Certek offers the combined experience and international reach of a large services company, combined with the structural agility, entrepreneurial drive and creativity you would expect from an employee-owned business.