Tilbury Douglas delivered a world-class fire resistance testing laboratory for Warringtonfire at Birchwood Park, Europe’s largest facility of its kind.
Completed in 2024, this state-of-the-art lab sets a new benchmark for fire safety testing, innovation, and sustainability. It is fitted out with advanced furnaces and cutting-edge flame detection systems, tripling Warringtonfire’s testing capacity. This enables faster, more rigorous certification of building materials to meet the industry’s stricter fire safety regulations. By expanding testing capabilities, the project directly supports compliance with the Building Safety Act 2022, helping manufacturers and developers ensure safer buildings.
Using Tilbury Douglas’ integrated working model combining construction and MEP expertise we optimised coordination, cost efficiency, and risk mitigation to incorporate all modifications with zero delays, while maintaining quality and budget discipline.
Three Winning Facts:
- Ahead of Schedule & Budget: Delivered in just 69 weeks, six weeks ahead of programme and within the £40 million budget. Despite implementing 72 client instructions, the team maintained momentum with no delays, showcasing outstanding project management and collaborative problem solving.
- Europe’s Largest Fire Testing Facility: Commissioned Europe’s biggest fire resistance testing centre (101,000 sq ft), which tripled Warringtonfire’s testing capacity. Equipped with eight state-of-the-art furnaces and innovative flame detection cameras, it enables faster certification of materials to meet stricter safety regulations, directly supporting industry fire safety reforms
- Sustainability & Social Impact Excellence: Achieved a £9.57 million social value return, including 77% spend in the local supply chain, 50 new jobs, 329 apprenticeship weeks and 53 work placements. Pioneering green construction methods (no diesel plant, using HVO biofuel, and planting 50 trees) delivered a Net Zero aligned facility with advanced smoke scrubbing and hydrogen-ready systems. The site earned a perfect 45/45 Considerate Constructors Scheme score and a CCS Bronze Award for exceptional community, environmental, and workforce care.
