Technical Assessments for Fire Resistance of Passive Fire Products
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What is a Technical Assessment
Independent, test‑evidence‑based judgement
An Technical Assessment (sometimes called an engineering assessment, engineering judgement or desktop study) is a structured, written opinion on expected fire performance when a specific variation cannot be matched to direct test data. It draws on relevant primary test reports, established rules, and competent analysis.
Typical scenarios: Dimensional changes, alternative fixings or hardware, changes to glazing, substrate changes, modified board specifications, interfaces between systems and modifications/tolerances that deviate from the originally tested arrangement.
Where Technical Assessments Help
- Fire doors & doorsets: dimensional changes, glazing, hardware, frame or leaf variants.
- Penetration seals & service openings: alternative services, sizes, sealant systems and supporting constructions. (Field‑of‑application and technical assessment principles apply.)
- Cavity barriers & compartmentation: adjustments to installation details and interfaces.
- Glazed screens & partitions: configuration changes, alternative glass, alternative boards.
Note: We will recommend additional testing where assessment can not be supported by the test evidence provided.
Deliverables - Documentation Designed for Approval
- A concise Technical Assessment naming the product, proposed variation and supporting evidence
- Assumptions and limits of validity explicitly stated for site and/or factory use
- Referenced standards and evidence trail
Building Safer Spaces Together
Discover how Kiwa Fire Safety Compliance delivers smart, tailored fire safety solutions - now available now as a digital flipbook and downloadable PDF.
Why Partner with Kiwa Fire Safety Compliance?
Trusted Fire Performance Judgement from Independent Specialists
Impartiality as standard
KFS manages testing and assessments but does not run its own laboratories, helping avoid conflicts of interest.Specialist product focus
Our Product Evaluation team combines lab experience and fire engineering insight to produce robust, defensible Technical Assessments.Aligned with UK regulation
Opinions are framed to support Building Regulations compliance pathways and dutyholder assurance under the Building Safety Act context.Transparent method
Assessments cite underlying evidence and logic, so reviewers can follow the reasoning.Our Assessment Process
How We Deliver Robust, Regulator‑Ready Technical Assessments
Evidence gathering:
Technical review:
Determine the Scope:
Documentation:
Business Benefits
Keep projects moving without compromising safety
Compliance confidence:
Programme protection:
Cost control:
Independent assurance:
Supporting the Built Environment
• Product manufacturers and system suppliers
• Fabricators and installers
• Architects and design teams
• Building control and fire authorities
• Main contractors and developers
Standards & Regulations We Work To
At Kiwa Fire Safety Compliance, our Technical Assessments follow the Passive Fire Protection Forum’s Guide to Undertaking Technical Assessments of the Fire Performance of Construction Products Based on Fire Test Evidence (commonly known as the PFPF Guide).
The PFPF Guide is referenced within Approved Document B, which means our approach aligns with the recognised methodology used to demonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations. Several members of the KFS team were directly involved in developing the PFPF Guide, giving us a deeper, first‑hand understanding of its requirements and intent.
Where applicable, we also base our judgements on published standards and technical methods including:
- Extended Field of Application Standards
- Applicable Eurocodes
- Industry Guidance
Where a variation cannot be justified solely through published rules, we apply established engineering principles and specialist experience to substantiate the fire performance. When beneficial, we support assessments with computational methods - such as finite element heat‑transfer modelling - using dedicated engineering software.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do authorities accept technical assessments?
A: When undertaken by competent, impartial assessors and based on suitable evidence per the Passive Fire Protection Forum (PFPF) Guide, Technical Assessments can be an appropriate route to compliance. We make the evidence and logic transparent for review.
Q: Do you run your own fire test labs?
A: No. KFS is an independent consultancy; we manage testing with third‑party laboratories where needed, and we perform assessments in‑house, thus remaining impartial.
Q: How is this different from a Field of Application (FOA) report?
A: A technical assessment provides a specific, evidence‑based judgement for a single or limited number of defined variation, whereas an FOA consolidates multiple tests to define a broader permitted scope od approval. We advise the right route for your circumstance.
Q: What standards underpin the assessment?
A: We reference the relevant EN/BS test standards and supporting guidance and/or engineering analysis to support the assessment.
Q: How do you ensure impartiality and quality?
A: By being manufacturer‑agnostic, not operating a lab, following recognised assessment guidance, and documenting the rationale for third‑party scrutiny. Where appropriate, we recommend further testing.
Q: What information do you need from us to start a Technical Assessment?
A: We typically require a clear description of the variation you need assessed, manufacturer product data, installation details, drawings, any existing fire‑test reports (primary evidence), and the exact site or design context. Technical assessments must be tied to real evidence and transparent reasoning, so supplying complete, accurate inputs is essential to ensuring the opinion is robust and defensible.
Q: How do you decide whether an assessment is suitable, or whether full fire testing is required?
A: We first compare your proposed variation with the scope and limits of existing test evidence. If the change falls within an evidence‑based, technically justified range, a written assessment may be appropriate. Where the variation would exceed what can be justified through established rules or engineering analysis we will recommend appropriate fire testing instead. This is in line with industry practice where assessments interpolate or extrapolate from relevant test data only within credible bounds.
Q: Will your Technical Assessment be accepted by building control or the fire authority?
A: Technical Assessments built on relevant test evidence and recognised guidance are cited as a way to demonstrate fire resistance within Approved Document B (the guidance to the Building Regulations) and hence are normally accepted but ultimately acceptance rests with the authority having jurisdiction.
Q: How is KFS different from a manufacturer‑issued judgement?
A: KFS operates independently — we do not manufacture products and do not run our own test laboratories. This helps eliminate commercial bias and allows us to produce neutral, evidence‑based opinions. There can be potential conflicts when assessments are issued by manufacturers; choosing an independent assessor ensures decision‑makers receive advice focused purely on safety, suitability and compliance.
Need an evidence‑based judgement for your product?
When passive fire products must perform under pressure, rely on KFS for an impartial, technically justified assessment that supports safe specification and approval‑ready documentation.
