Ignis Fire Testing - Articles by Louise

How to Start a Fire Testing Laboratory: Part 1

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:30:25 +0200

This article is based on the presentation delivered by Dirk Streicher, founder of Ignis Fire Testing, at the 12th Annual Fire Systems Design and Engineering Conference. He offered a candid, technically grounded account of how South Africa’s most advanced independent fire-testing facility emerged and the lessons he has learned along the way.

Part 1 focuses on the origins and development of Ignis Fire Testing, tracing the journey from improvised furnace experiments to collaboration with Stellenbosch University and the eventual establishment of advanced local fire testing capabilities. Subsequent articles in the series will explore the technical, operational, and engineering lessons involved in developing and operating a modern fire testing laboratory in South Africa.

The accidental beginning of Ignis Fire Testing

The origin story of Ignis Fire Testing does not offer a formula for commercial success. There was no business plan involved. Instead, Ignis developed almost unintentionally from witnessing a critical need for fire testing, a willingness to solve difficult problems, and pure curiosity.

Streicher warns that anyone who wants to penetrate the fire testing industry solely to make money should reconsider their decision. Fire laboratories are expensive, consuming capital, time, resources, and energy at a rate few industries can match. Yet, they remain essential.

The laboratory developed as a passion project after recognising South Africa’s need for stronger local fire-testing capability. Streicher views Ignis as a contribution back to engineering and research, built on the experience, technical knowledge, and resources accumulated throughout his career.

Engineering foundations and early curiosity

Streicher describes himself first and foremost as a civil engineer – “because it keeps one civil,” he jokes – but his career path has extended far beyond traditional engineering practice.

After completing a master’s degree in hydraulics, his early career included security risk assessments and design work during national service, followed by a decade in road construction as a resident engineer and in arbitration. Over the years, his work expanded into specialised joinery manufacturing, property development, and eventually the manufacturing of fire doors for Alandel between 2013 and 2015.

Exposure to the fire door industry “ignited” his curiosity about this field of engineering, but also raised important questions about the actual performance and quality of many fire doors on the market.

Streicher acknowledges Johan Swart, his long-standing technical partner who worked with him through the joinery factory and property development ventures, as critical to the evolution of Ignis Fire Testing. According to Streicher, Swart “never leaves a challenge untouched”.

Spurred by curiosity, Streicher and Swart constructed a small furnace capable of testing only half a fire door at a time.

The first full-sized furnace

The initial objective was simple: develop a better fire door core and potentially license or sell it.

What followed was a year of experimentation in 2015, during which Streicher and Swart conducted nearly 100 tests using different core combinations and material selections. They purchased classified fire doors of various ratings, cut them in half, and subjected them to testing in their tiny, self-built furnace. The project ultimately ended without them selling their concept.

In 2017, a joinery manufacturer approached Streicher for assistance with the production of fire doors. Before committing to the project, there was only one logical step: build a furnace capable of properly testing the doors.

The outcome was unexpected. The fire door manufacturing venture never materialised, but the furnace remained. Initially equipped with a single double-stage gas burner, it was later upgraded to modulating diesel burners sponsored by a generous client. During this period, numerous tests were conducted at no cost in order to build practical knowledge and experience in furnace testing.

This became the foundation from which Ignis Fire Testing would eventually develop.

Learning by building

Streicher admits they started out fire testing with limited knowledge beyond practical manufacturing, especially door manufacturing. But moving from making products to testing them under fire required precise measurement and control equipment. Acquiring and implementing this instrumentation marked a pivotal leap, laying the groundwork for the laboratory as it exists today.

To solve this challenge, a contact at Cape Instruments recommended that Streicher reach out to Richard Walls, a promising new professor at Stellenbosch University, who would later launch the university’s Fire Engineering department.

That introduction proved transformative. Streicher and Walls’ first meeting took place during the well-known six-shack fire test in Worcester. From there, collaboration developed rapidly.

Streicher then built the initial testing and control systems with his son, Dr Simon Streicher, a mathematical modelling and software engineer, assisting in writing Python code that communicated with Excel. Remarkably, parts of that original architecture still underpin elements of the laboratory’s testing and control environment today.

Picking up speed with the horizontal furnace challenge

One of the earliest major projects arrived through Stellenbosch University. A postgraduate student of Prof Walls had to test a flooring system, which required a large horizontal furnace measuring approximately 6 m x 4 m.

At the time, the team of two at Ignis had little certainty about how such a system should be built. However, they had enthusiasm for the challenge.

The furnace was constructed on outdoor paving at one of Streicher’s properties using concrete blocks. Primitive by international laboratory standards, but functional.

The result was a successful one-hour test. The student eventually converted the work into a PhD, demonstrating how practical testing capability could directly support academic fire engineering research within South Africa.

The game-changer: The cone calorimeter challenge

The most significant turning point in Ignis Fire Testing’s development came through the growing relationship between the laboratory and Stellenbosch University.

By then, the lab at least had an official name, as well as time and some money. On the other hand, Prof. Walls had students ready to do research, but with meager local testing facilities at their disposal.

It was clear that South Africa urgently needed access to a cone calorimeter for reaction-to-fire testing without relying entirely on expensive overseas facilities.

One of Prof Walls’ PhD students spent time researching cone calorimetry at the University of Edinburgh and returned convinced that a cone calorimeter could be built locally. During the COVID period, Streicher constructed the first cone calorimeter in his garage.

Constructing the cone calorimeter, along with the control and analysis software, proved extremely challenging because Streicher had only the EN 5660 code to guide him, along with incomplete, poorly detailed drawings and undecipherable descriptions. Learning how to measure and calculate the results accurately took several months of dedicated study to fully understand the science behind cone calorimetry.

Another challenge was that Ignis operated largely in isolation, and still does. Whenever he sought information about equipment or laboratory operations, other labs would close off, fearing competition, as if South Africa could somehow outpace the rest of the world.

Yet the effort succeeded.

Soon afterwards, the Thermal Insulation Products & Systems Association of South Africa (TIPSASA) approached Ignis because the South African industry urgently needed local reaction-to-fire testing capability, as testing abroad was too expensive.

Continued collaboration with Stellenbosch University

According to Streicher, one of the defining moments for fire engineering in South Africa occurred in 2016, when Prof Walls established the Fire Engineering Research Unit within the Department of Civil Engineering at Stellenbosch University. It remains the country’s only dedicated university-based fire engineering department.

The collaboration between Ignis Fire Testing and Stellenbosch University continues today through formal agreements focused on science, engineering principles, and research and development.

Ignis has supported numerous of the university's PhD and master’s students over the years, granting them access to their testing environment and expertise. Streicher also co-authored several papers with students and serves as an ad hoc lecturer.

Ignis remains dedicated to helping train fire engineers with a scientific, mathematical, and engineering-based knowledge – a capability that is critically important for the future of fire safety in South Africa.

Building a national testing capability

Today, Ignis Fire Testing operates from a facility of approximately 1,800 square metres, including a substantial free-burning test area with an 18-metre height capability. The total investment in equipment and development is estimated between R25 million and R30 million.

The facility supports a wide range of testing activities, including:

Fire resistance testing and furnace testing
Load-bearing fire testing
Reaction-to-fire testing
Façade testing to EN 8414
Room corner testing
Free-burning testing
Sprinkler and suppression testing
Fire extinguisher testing to SANS 1910
Thermal insulation material property testing
Concrete cube strength testing
Flexural beam testing

Most equipment at Ignis is constructed and maintained internally through direct access to fabrication facilities, skilled technical personnel, and in-house electronic engineering support.

More than a commercial fire-testing laboratory

As is clear, the main drive behind the development of Ignis was never commercial success but rather a response to necessity.

The result is a facility that now contributes not only to industry compliance, but also to research, education, product development, and the advancement of fire engineering within the country.

FireSUN Students Visit Ignis Fire Testing in September 2025

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:46:13 +0200

During two days in September, two separate groups of fire engineering students were hosted at Ignis Fire Testing. The students were given an introduction to the wide variety of fire tests performed at the facility, including live demonstrations of insulation classification testing, fire-through (burn-through) testing, and sprinkler system testing. They also received guidance on interpreting test data and reports.

A Long-Standing Relationship between Academia and Practice

Ignis Fire Testing and Stellenbosch University’s Fire Engineering Research Unit (FireSUN) enjoy a close, mutually beneficial collaboration. Ignis provides access to its state-of-the-art testing laboratories and specialised equipment to FireSUN staff and students for research purposes, while FireSUN contributes academic rigour, theory, and fresh research initiatives into fire safety. Dirk Streicher, founder of Ignis, is also an extraordinary faculty member at Stellenbosch University, bridging the two organisations. Over the years, Ignis Fire Testing staff have co-supervised post-graduate students and co-authored research publications, further pushing the frontier of fire engineering in South Africa. This link ensures that Ignis stays at the cutting edge of academic developments, while students gain direct exposure to real industrial testing environments.

An Educational Eye-Opener

Prof Richard Walls, head of FireSUN, says the following about the recent visit of his student to Ignis Fire Testing: “Testing is a core component of fire engineering. Many consultants do not know how to read and interpret test reports, nor do they know what tests to request. Hence, it is essential for our students to see fire tests being done as part of their master’s degree. Our recent visit to Ignis Testing was a real eye-opener and educational experience for them.”

The experience left a strong impression on the students, giving them both practical insight and a deeper appreciation for the science behind fire safety. Here is what some of them had to say:

“During my visit to Ignis Fire Testing, I had the opportunity to witness several fire tests that most fire engineers don’t often see first-hand. It really highlighted how important this aspect of fire safety engineering is, and how it’s sometimes not fully appreciated. The experience gave me a much better understanding of how to interpret test reports, recognise their limitations, and reinforced the importance of correct specification and tested performance.” – Stephen M.

“Visiting Ignis was a real eye-opener, and seeing firsthand how products are tested reinforced just how critical proper certification and compliance with standards like SANS 1253 are. Watching a non-fire-rated door fail within minutes was a powerful reminder of how dangerous the wrong specification can be when lives depend on it.” – Aslam H.

“I gained valuable insight at Ignis Fire Testing while observing full-scale door and insulation performance tests, as well as exploring the advanced equipment used to evaluate real-world fire performance.” – Promise .M.

"Each test conducted at Ignis Fire Testing emphasised the importance of engineering ethics in the evaluation of fire protection materials and equipment. Observing the live testing procedures, methodologies, and the implications of the resulting data was both insightful and engaging." – Rendani S.

This visit is one of many student engagement opportunities that Ignis Fire Testing offers to FireSUN, showing their commitment to raise the bar of fire engineering in the next generation.

UNDERSTANDING LOAD-BEARING FIRE TESTS: ENSURING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND SAFETY

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 10:04:07 +0200

A critical aspect of building safety is understanding how materials and structural elements perform in the event of a fire, especially when subject to loading. Load-bearing fire tests are essential evaluations that help ensure the load-bearing elements within a building – such as walls, floors, beams, and columns – can withstand fire while maintaining structural stability and integrity.

At Ignis Fire Testing, we specialise in conducting comprehensive load-bearing fire tests that contribute to safer, more resilient structures. According to our extensive research, no other facility on the continent performs these crucial tests.

Here is an in-depth look at what these tests involve, why they are necessary, and the benefits they provide.

What are Load-bearing Fire Tests?

Load-bearing fire tests evaluate how structural elements respond to fire when subject to the self-weight of the structure and imposed loads, also known as live loads. These tests go beyond standard fire resistance tests by simulating the structural capacity of elements at elevated temperatures, representing real-life scenarios in which walls, floors, or beams are exposed to fire while holding up parts of a building.

Prof Richards Walls from Stellenbosch University’s Fire Engineering Research Unit (FireSUN) explains, “During a fire, a loaded structural element distorts, meaning that building components can literally fall apart due to the combination of heat and force. Hence, testing walls and other systems under load helps us understand what would happen in a more realistic situation. Thus, loaded furnace tests give a more accurate assessment of a building’s components.”

During a load-bearing fire test, a test specimen, such as a wall or floor section, is constructed into a furnace (horizontal or vertical) and exposed to elevated temperatures, often reaching over 1000°C depending on the heating curve and test duration. Simultaneously, a load is applied, simulating load-bearing elements in practice, and the specimen is monitored to see how long it can resist the fire without collapsing or allowing fire spread. The results indicate whether the material can retain its structural strength and load-bearing capacity, providing vital insights into its performance during a fire.

Key Objectives of Load-Bearing Fire Tests?

The primary goal of load-bearing fire testing is to verify that structural elements can remain structurally sound under load when exposed to elevated temperatures, reducing the risk of collapse in an actual fire event. This test focuses on:

Stability: The test assesses whether a system or element can resist the loads it is subjected to under extreme heat without buckling, collapsing, or deflecting until exceeding limits.
Insulation: Load-bearing fire tests help determine whether the material can contain the fire by limiting heat transfer to other parts of the structure, reducing the spread of flames and providing additional time for evacuation.
Integrity: Another criterion is the ability of the system to contain the fire in a fire compartment – i.e., the system has no openings that spread flames on its unexposed surface.
Compliance and certification: Most building codes require materials and structures to meet fire safety standards. Load-bearing fire tests provide the necessary data for accreditation, ensuring that construction materials comply with these stringent safety standards.

Why Load-Bearing Fire Tests Are Essential

Fire can have a devastating effect on buildings, compromising structural elements that bear heavy loads. In such scenarios, the collapse of a load-bearing wall or floor could significantly impact safety, particularly if it occurs in multi-story structures. Load-bearing fire tests are a measure of understanding if structural elements can resist a fire under loaded conditions, giving occupants a critical window for evacuation and enabling firefighters to address the blaze safely.

By performing load-bearing fire tests, Ignis Fire Testing provides valuable technical information for engineers to make informed decisions about material selection, reinforcing a building's resilience to fire and improving occupant safety.

Ignis Fire Testing's Load-Bearing Tests

Ignis can perform static and pneumatic load-bearing fire tests in our vertical (3m x 3m) and horizontal (4m x 5m) furnaces.

We started by performing static load tests, such as vertical load-bearing tests on wall panels.

Subsequently, we changed to pneumatic applied loading – a method of applying force or pressure to a structure or material using compressed air rather than static weights. This approach enables more controlled, adjustable, and often higher force loads on the test structure, which is useful in simulating the different loads that might occur in real-life situations. The pressure can be increased or decreased as needed, providing flexibility to simulate different load conditions that may shift or intensify during a fire.

An example of pneumatic load-bearing tests that we performed includes testing of load-bearing flooring systems in our horizontal furnace.

However, this is not where it ends. We are in the process of building a new horizontal furnace to accommodate up to 5m x 4m decks and 5m load-bearing beam testing. This furnace can be adjusted to accommodate various sample sizes.

At Ignis Fire Testing, our commitment to safety is grounded in rigorous testing and high standards.

Our loadbearing fire tests provide several benefits:

Reliable data for informed safety decisions regarding materials and designs
Improved compliance with safety regulations
Reduced risk of catastrophic structural failure leading to loss of life and damage to property
Enhanced market confidence in tested materials

The Future Of Fire Safety Testing

As buildings grow taller and architectural designs become more complex, the importance of fire testing only increases. Ignis Fire Testing is dedicated to staying at the forefront of testing technology, adapting to evolving standards and helping to establish new benchmarks in fire safety. Our commitment to rigorous, accurate load-bearing fire testing ensures that we contribute to a safer future for everyone, especially on a continent where this type of testing is not prioritised.