Fire Testing Market Size and Share
Market Overview
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 7.25 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 9.89 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 6.40% CAGR |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market | North America |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0. |
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Fire Testing Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The fire testing market size is currently valued at USD 7.25 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 9.89 billion by 2030, reflecting a 6.40% CAGR driven by rising regulatory scrutiny and technological disruption. Heightened post-Grenfell building-safety codes, the rapid spread of combustible composite materials in electric-vehicle (EV) batteries, and the steady shift toward third-party testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) providers have expanded the addressable customer base of the fire testing market.[1]FSRI, “Know the Hazards Generated by Electric Vehicle Battery Fires,” fsri.org Insurance premium discounts of 5–20% for certified fire protection systems, coupled with mergers such as SGS’s USD 1.325 billion purchase of Applied Technical Services, show how commercial incentives and consolidation simultaneously accelerate capacity expansion across the fire testing market. The growth outlook is bolstered further by long-term investments in lab infrastructure across North America and Asia Pacific, even as shortages of ISO/IEC 17025-accredited facilities in emerging economies remain a structural bottleneck.
Key Report Takeaways
- By service type, Fire Resistance Testing led with 38.3% of the fire testing market share in 2024; Computer Simulation and Modelling is projected to expand at a 6.8% CAGR through 2030.
- By testing method, Full-Scale Furnace Testing accounted for 42.1% share of the fire testing market size in 2024, while Computer Simulation and Modelling is advancing at a 7.1% CAGR to 2030.
- By end-use industry, Building and Construction captured 46.5% of the fire testing market size in 2024; EV Battery Manufacturing is forecast to increase at a 6.6% CAGR through 2030.
- By material type, Structural Components held 31.6% share of the fire testing market in 2024, whereas Fire-Protective Coatings are set to expand at a 6.5% CAGR between 2025–2030.
- By geography, North America retained 33.8% of the fire testing market share in 2024; Asia Pacific is projected to register the fastest regional CAGR at 7.2% through 2030.
Global Fire Testing Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid building-safety code upgrades | +1.8% | Global; early in EU and North America | Medium term (2–4 years) |
| Expanding TIC outsourcing by manufacturers | +1.2% | Global; concentrated in APAC hubs | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Rise of combustible composite materials in EV batteries | +0.9% | China, EU, North America | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Growing demand for façade fire compliance | +0.7% | UK, Australia, EU | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Insurance premium discounts tied to certified testing | +0.5% | North America & EU; expanding APAC | Medium term (2–4 years) |
| AI-enabled predictive fire-testing simulations | +0.4% | North America & EU; gradual APAC | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Rigid Building-Safety Code Upgrades Globally
Regulators worldwide are synchronizing toward stricter European-style standards, forcing manufacturers to retest products across multiple jurisdictions. In the United Kingdom, Approved Document B 2024 amendments abolish legacy BS 476 ratings by 2029, compelling laboratories to migrate entirely to EN 1363-1 protocols.[2]GOV.UK, “Approved Document B 2024 amendments: circular 01/2024,” gov.uk Australia’s National Construction Code 2022 and China’s mandatory GB 55037-2022 follow similar trajectories, creating a global compliance floor that eliminates jurisdiction shopping. Builders sourcing materials from different continents now test to the most rigorous standard in the supply chain, multiplying overall demand within the fire testing market. Early adopters in the EU and North America are already booking capacity years in advance, indicating sustained medium-term volume growth. The cumulative effect adds 1.8 percentage points to forecast CAGR as regulatory lead times shorten and enforcement tightens.
Expanding TIC Outsourcing by Manufacturers
Large manufacturers have converted fire-safety compliance from an in-house function to an outsourced specialist service. External TIC vendors now conduct 40% of all testing activity globally, up from 23% in 2018. The economics favor outsourcing: capital expenditure for a full-scale furnace exceeds USD 30 million, whereas variable cost contracting lowers fixed overhead and transfers liability. Labor shortages in high-skill engineering further tilt the balance toward TIC firms with established accreditation. Over the long term, these structural dynamics add 1.2 percentage points to the fire testing market CAGR, especially in Asia Pacific where export-oriented factories require multi-standard certification to access Western markets.
Rise of Combustible Composite Materials in EV Batteries
EV adoption introduces battery chemistries that release up to 7.25 MW of heat during thermal runaway, dwarfing traditional vehicle fire profiles.[3]FSRI, “Know the Hazards Generated by Electric Vehicle Battery Fires,” fsri.org National highway, aviation, and maritime regulators now draft dedicated battery fire standards, opening brand-new verticals within the fire testing market. Automakers testing built-in suppression systems, exemplified by Hyundai Mobis technology that neutralizes thermal runaway within five minutes, partner with labs capable of both electrical and thermal evaluations. Short-term demand spikes by 0.9 percentage points as automakers rush to certify 2026 model launches.
Growing Demand for Façade Fire Compliance After Skyscraper Fires
Large-scale BS 8414 and NFPA 285 facade tests revealed critical failures in aluminum composite materials with polyethylene cores, triggering mandatory retrofits across high-rise inventories in the UK and Australia. Japan’s JIS A 1310 and Germany’s DIN 4102 now impose similar full-height façade testing, pushing developers to secure laboratory time early in project cycles. As insurance firms refuse coverage without façade compliance evidence, market momentum remains especially strong in short-term timelines, lifting CAGR by 0.7 points.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| High capital cost of full-scale furnaces | -1.1% | Global, most acute in emerging markets | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Lengthy certification lead-times causing market delays | -0.8% | Global, particularly impacting Asia Pacific expansion | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Shortage of accredited labs in emerging markets | -0.6% | Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Difficulty in testing novel bio-composites without standard protocols | -0.4% | Global, with concentration in advanced materials markets | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
High Capital Cost of Full-Scale Furnaces
Building a modern furnace that satisfies ASTM E119 and EN 1363-1 demands USD 30 million in hardware, bespoke instrumentation, and exhaust-cleansing systems. Smaller regional labs struggle to secure financing, leading to supply concentration in mature economies. Although virtual furnace simulations promise cost relief, regulators still require at least one physical test per assembly, keeping capital intensity high and trimming forecast CAGR by 1.1 points over the long term.
Lengthy Certification Lead-Times Causing Market Delays
ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and test scheduling often extend product launches by six months or more. Emerging-market manufacturers routinely ship specimens overseas, adding logistics delays and jeopardizing construction timelines. [4]UNIDO, “Quality test: the inspiring journey of Côte d'Ivoire's testing laboratories,” unido.org Custom protocols for bio-composite materials lack reference standards, stretching validation cycles further. These cumulative inefficiencies subtract 0.8 points from mid-term CAGR in the fire testing market.
Segment Analysis
By Service Type: Physical Tests Dominate but Digital Methods Gain Traction
Fire Resistance Testing continues to underpin the fire testing market, holding 38.3% share thanks to regulatory mainstays such as ASTM E119 and EN 1363-1. Projects involving retrofit assessments for façades or load-bearing assemblies cannot obtain certificates of occupancy without passing these full-scale evaluations, keeping laboratory furnaces booked for up to nine months in advance. Flammability, Smoke, and Toxicity Testing address life-safety concerns in transport interiors and consumer goods, while Fire Detection System Testing grows in tandem with smart-building deployments that integrate AI-driven sensors. Combined, these sub-services keep revenue streams diversified and cushion providers from cyclicality in any single end-market.
Computer Simulation and Modelling, growing at 6.8% CAGR, captures pre-validation workflow earlier in product lifecycles, allowing iterative design before costly destructive tests. Major certifiers now bundle CFD packages with conventional services, creating hybrid offerings that enlarge wallet share. As regulators pilot limited-scope approvals for simulation data, the sub-segment edges toward mainstream compliance pathways, positioning it as an outsized growth lever within the broader fire testing market.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Testing Method: Furnace Capacity Leads, Virtual Labs Accelerate
Full-Scale Furnace Testing commands 42.1% of revenue and remains the final regulatory arbiter of structural-fire performance. Longitudinal temperature uniformity, automated loading frames, and upgraded data-acquisition systems differentiate premium labs and justify higher pricing. Small-Scale and Reaction-to-Fire Testing provide screening efficiency, reducing the number of full-scale trials required per product.
Simulation and Modelling methods, with a projected 7.1% CAGR, now generate revenue not only from software licenses but also from analyst consultancies embedded within TIC firms. Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) and the European VIRGILE virtual-furnace initiative both report convergence with physical-test outcomes within ±10 °C thresholds. Once regulators finalize equivalency criteria, the fire testing market size allocated to purely digital assessments could multiply, although physical validation is expected to remain a legal minimum through 2030.
By End-Use Industry: Construction Still Rules, EVs Redraw Growth Map
Building and Construction absorbs 46.5% of total spending because every new high-rise, data center, or mass-timber structure must document compartmentation integrity and façade resistance. Retrofitting combustible cladding escalates demand further as asset owners comply with insurers across 71 countries. Transportation customers—in automotive, aerospace, marine, and rail—sustain second-tier volumes through seat, cabin, and cargo-compartment tests, supported by regulations such as FAR 25.853 and FMVSS 302.
EV Battery Manufacturing, however, is the fastest riser at 6.6% CAGR. Automakers deploy pack-level and module-level thermal propensity tests, while maritime authorities update SOLAS rules for car-carrier decks transporting EVs. The evolution forces traditional building-materials labs to co-invest in electrical-hazard infrastructure, further broadening the competence footprint of the fire testing industry.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Material Type: Structural Assemblies Lead, Coatings Innovate
Structural Components generate 31.6% of revenue as steel-concrete assemblies, mass-timber beams, and composite decks require direct furnace exposure to earn fire-resistance ratings up to 240 minutes. Cables and Wires, as well as Fabrics and Textiles, form smaller but critical niches in transport and interior fit-outs.
Fire-Protective Coatings grow 6.5% annually, riding on advances in intumescent and nano-ceramic chemistries that can expand 50× under heat to form insulative char layers. Laboratories expand scope to measure both expansion coefficient and adhesion longevity, unlocking new service lines. Bio-composites, advanced polymers, and smart fabrics populate the “Others” bucket, each demanding unique test designs and thus supporting higher-margin custom projects within the fire testing market.
Geography Analysis
North America maintains leadership with 33.8% share due to a mature ecosystem of NFPA, ASTM, and FAA mandates that require routine recertification across construction, aviation, and rail assets. Federal stimulus for infrastructure modernization, coupled with aggressive state-level façade regulations, sustains high test volumes across the United States and Canada. Strategic investments—such as Element Materials Technology’s USD 13 million Toronto laboratory—add capacity and shorten regional lead-times, keeping the fire testing market competitive.
Europe follows closely, underpinned by harmonized Euroclass material classifications and a policy push toward green-building certifications that now incorporate fire-safety scores. Post-Grenfell overhauls in the United Kingdom and façade bans in Germany and France generate unprecedented retest cycles for legacy structures. Combined with CE-mark compliance for exports, the environment anchors steady demand across 27 member states.
Asia Pacific grows at 7.2% CAGR, representing the largest incremental revenue pool between 2025–2030. China’s GB 55037-2022 enforces mandatory fire performance for new buildings, Japan deploys performance-based provisions under the updated Building Standard Law, and India’s NBC Part 4 strengthens life-safety clauses. However, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited capacity remains concentrated in urban coastal hubs, prompting sample exports to North America and Europe for high-rise projects in Tier-2 cities. As regional governments offer tax incentives for domestic lab builds, global TIC majors eye joint ventures to localize large furnaces, signaling further growth for the fire testing market.
Competitive Landscape
The fire testing market shows moderate concentration, with the top five TIC firms accounting for an estimated 48% of global revenue in 2024. Consolidation accelerated when SGS acquired ATS for USD 1.325 billion, instantly boosting North American market presence and expanding multi-discipline lab networks. Bureau Veritas posted record earnings in 2023 on the back of 8.5% organic growth, channeling profits into AI-enabled reporting platforms that reduce client turnaround times.
Intertek’s Risk-Based Quality Assurance service generated 6.1% like-for-like growth in H1 2024, signaling client appetite for continuous, data-driven compliance over periodic spot checks. Element Materials Technology invested USD 13 million to open Canada’s largest independent fire laboratory, highlighting the capital intensity required to maintain technological parity. Jensen Hughes, while smaller, differentiates through niche technical assessments and recently rebranded its Australian unit to leverage global expertise.
Competitive vectors now center on digital modelling, hybrid physical-digital workflows, and regional capacity expansion. Firms deploying IoT sensors for real-time furnace telemetry lower retest rates, while those offering cloud-based simulation platforms lock in design-phase relationships with OEMs. White-space opportunities persist in Africa and selected ASEAN countries, where demand growth outpaces lab construction, making greenfield projects financially attractive for second-tier players eager to climb the fire testing industry ranks.
Fire Testing Industry Leaders
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SGS SA
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Intertek Group plc
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UL LLC
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Bureau Veritas
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Applus+ Laboratories
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Recent Industry Developments
- July 2025: SGS agreed to acquire Applied Technical Services for USD 1.325 billion, adding 26 sites and raising combined annual sales to over USD 1.5 billion.
- June 2025: Warringtonfire inaugurated a USD 30 million, 101,000 sq ft fire-resistance laboratory at Birchwood Park, tripling testing capacity and adding 50 jobs.
- April 2025: Hyundai Mobis unveiled an EV battery with built-in fire suppression that halts thermal runaway within five minutes of ignition.
- March 2025: The UK updated Approved Document B, clarifying information requirements for fire-safety compliance across all new building work.
Global Fire Testing Market Report Scope
| Fire Resistance Testing |
| Flammability Testing |
| Smoke and Toxicity Testing |
| Fire Detection System Testing |
| Others |
| Full-Scale Furnace Testing |
| Small-Scale and Bench Testing |
| Computer Simulation and Modelling |
| Reaction-to-Fire Testing |
| Building and Construction | |
| Transportation | Automotive |
| Aerospace | |
| Rail | |
| Marine | |
| Electrical and Electronics | |
| Industrial Manufacturing | |
| Consumer Goods and Furniture | |
| Oil and Gas and Mining |
| Structural Components |
| Fire-Protective Coatings |
| Cables and Wires |
| Fabrics and Textiles |
| Polymers and Plastics |
| Others |
| North America | United States | |
| Canada | ||
| Mexico | ||
| South America | Brazil | |
| Argentina | ||
| Rest of South America | ||
| Europe | Germany | |
| France | ||
| United Kingdom | ||
| Italy | ||
| Spain | ||
| Russia | ||
| Rest of Europe | ||
| Asia-Pacific | China | |
| Japan | ||
| India | ||
| South Korea | ||
| Australia | ||
| ASEAN | ||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | ||
| Middle East and Africa | Middle East | Saudi Arabia |
| United Arab Emirates | ||
| Turkey | ||
| Rest of Middle East | ||
| Africa | South Africa | |
| Nigeria | ||
| Rest of Africa | ||
| By Service Type | Fire Resistance Testing | ||
| Flammability Testing | |||
| Smoke and Toxicity Testing | |||
| Fire Detection System Testing | |||
| Others | |||
| By Testing Method | Full-Scale Furnace Testing | ||
| Small-Scale and Bench Testing | |||
| Computer Simulation and Modelling | |||
| Reaction-to-Fire Testing | |||
| By End-Use Industry | Building and Construction | ||
| Transportation | Automotive | ||
| Aerospace | |||
| Rail | |||
| Marine | |||
| Electrical and Electronics | |||
| Industrial Manufacturing | |||
| Consumer Goods and Furniture | |||
| Oil and Gas and Mining | |||
| By Material / Sample Type | Structural Components | ||
| Fire-Protective Coatings | |||
| Cables and Wires | |||
| Fabrics and Textiles | |||
| Polymers and Plastics | |||
| Others | |||
| By Geography | North America | United States | |
| Canada | |||
| Mexico | |||
| South America | Brazil | ||
| Argentina | |||
| Rest of South America | |||
| Europe | Germany | ||
| France | |||
| United Kingdom | |||
| Italy | |||
| Spain | |||
| Russia | |||
| Rest of Europe | |||
| Asia-Pacific | China | ||
| Japan | |||
| India | |||
| South Korea | |||
| Australia | |||
| ASEAN | |||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
| Middle East and Africa | Middle East | Saudi Arabia | |
| United Arab Emirates | |||
| Turkey | |||
| Rest of Middle East | |||
| Africa | South Africa | ||
| Nigeria | |||
| Rest of Africa | |||
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current value of the fire testing market in 2025?
The fire testing market size stands at USD 7.25 billion in 2025.
How fast is the global fire testing market expected to grow?
It is forecast to expand at a 6.40% CAGR between 2025 and 2030.
Which service type holds the largest share today?
Fire Resistance Testing leads with 38.3% share of the fire testing market.
Which region is projected to grow the fastest through 2030?
Asia Pacific is anticipated to post the highest CAGR at 7.2%.
Why are EV batteries a key growth area in fire testing?
Thermal-runaway risks in lithium-ion packs require specialized protocols, driving a 6.6% CAGR in the EV Battery Manufacturing segment.
How does outsourcing influence demand for fire testing?
Manufacturers shifting to third-party TIC providers increase overall testing volumes and drive long-term growth.
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