Based on service, the fire testing market has been segmented into in-house and outsourced. In-house testing facilities enable companies to perform fire testing services as part of the control and quality assurance. To perform testing activities in-house, a company must build in-house capabilities in terms of technology, test and measurement equipment, and skilled personnel. The majority of fire testing, inspection, and certification are conducted in-house. Several companies have their own in-house capabilities, including full-service laboratories offering fire testing services for different sectors such as consumer goods and retail, building and construction, IT and telecom, agriculture and foods, chemicals, energy & power, industrial and manufacturing, and medical and life sciences.

Consumer goods & retail is the fastest-growing application

As fire safety and fire protection are major concerns in the consumer goods and retail industry, consumer goods must comply with different national and international regulations and requirements as failure to do so could result in unexpected costs, or worse, harm to end-users and irreparable damage. Consumer goods and retail products that require fire testing include hard goods, softlines and accessories, and toys and juvenile products, electrical and electronic products, textiles, apparel, and footwear industries that utilise or undergo fire testing services. Various types of fire testing methods include rate of flame spread, smoke development calorific value, self-ignition temperatures, flash ignition temperatures, non-combustibility, smoke density, flash over characteristics, and carbon monoxide concentration. The market for consumer goods and retail applications is the fastest-growing application as consumer spending is increasing globally.

Testing services to hold largest market share

Fire testing allows manufacturers to understand the behaviour of materials and products. The information on a product’s fire performance, including fire resistance, flammability, and flame/smoke spread characteristics, can help manufacturers design products that are safe. Many fire tests are run by official laboratories for the purpose of product certification. Fire testing service is increasing largely due to the development of oil & gas, consumer goods and retail, construction and infrastructure, industrial, and manufacturing industries. Also, changing laws and codes for fire safety and security equipment is another reason due to which the fire testing market is expected to increase in future

APAC holds the largest regional share

The growth of the fire testing market in APAC is driven mainly by the growth of consumer goods in the region. APAC is expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period as consumer spending is increasing across the region. Also, APAC consumers are increasingly looking to brand identity to boost their social status due to which premium products, such as clothing, shoes, jewellery, and cosmetics, requires fire testing. Thus, an increase in consumer spending on premium products will foster the growth of the said market in the future.

The key market players cited by the researchers as being active in the fire test market include Intertek, TUV SUD, IBM, SGS Group, Bureau Veritas, UL, Dekra, QIMA, Applus+, United Technologies, Element Materials Technology, and International Fire Consultants Group.