Brief reprieve for fire testing facility

Industry stakeholders voiced concerns when CSIRO announced it would not be renewing the lease on the site of the laboratory, which provides testing services for products such as smoke and fire dampers. Industry bodies and businesses alike noted that the Fire Technology Laboratory has been instrumental in enabling manufacturers to achieve and maintain compliance with relevant Australian standards.

Concerns stem from the lack of alternative testing facilities in Australia. Although there is one other major service, the CSIRO facility is the only independent laboratory.

Director of Riley Air Control Systems, Don Riley, M.AIRAH, says the CSIRO facility is the only facility of its kind in NSW with the specialised equipment and expertise required to undertake the testing required for fire dampers. He says the closure of the Fire Technology Laboratory would have a major impact on his business.

“Any new product, design modification or installation method would require additional fire testing before it could be supplied to the market,” says Riley. “Without access to the CSIRO laboratory, obtaining compliant test evidence would become significantly more difficult, more expensive, and considerably slower.”

Riley says the closure would also have broader implications for the Australian construction and fire protection industries.

“With only one private testing facility remaining, the industry would likely experience increased testing costs, longer waiting periods, reduced competition, and delays in bringing compliant products to market. These delays would affect manufacturers, consultants, builders, contractors, and ultimately project owners.

“The loss of a trusted, independent testing facility would also reduce the industry’s ability to innovate and respond efficiently to changes in construction methods and regulatory requirements. Local manufacturers would be placed at a competitive disadvantage, and the increased costs and delays would inevitably flow through to the construction industry and building owners.”

CSIRO recently extended the planned closure date from December 2026 to June 2027. Although industry bodies have welcome the announcement, they have emphasised the need for a long-term plan.

“Australia cannot afford to lose decades of specialist expertise and nationally significant testing capability without a clear replacement strategy,” says HIA Chief Executive – Industry and Policy, Simon Croft.

“If Australia is serious about building more homes, embracing innovation and improving productivity in construction, we need world-class testing and certification infrastructure. The North Ryde facility has played a vital role in providing exactly that.

“Governments, industry and CSIRO must work together to ensure independent fire-testing capability remains available in Australia and that there is no gap in the infrastructure needed to support housing innovation and research and development.”

CSIRO is seeking feedback on the planned closure of the facility. Have your say here.

Image courtesy of CSIRO.

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