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.