People Behind the Hangar: Spotlight on Attain RTC
From fire resistance to facade endurance, Attain RTC is helping to shape the future of construction product testing - quite literally. Based at Leeds East Airport, their state-of-the-art 40,000 sq ft facility offers a comprehensive suite of testing services, from acoustic performance to air and water ingress, helping manufacturers meet the highest safety and regulatory standards.
In this edition of The Hangar, we speak to adam, their general manager behind Attain RTC’s mission to deliver world-class testing, materials research, and certification - and why their commitment to Excellence Assured runs through everything they do.
For those unfamiliar, can you give us a quick overview of what Attain RTC does and who you typically work with?
Yes definitely. Attain RTC is a UKAS-accredited testing laboratory specialising in fire resistance, reaction to fire, acoustics and mechanical testing. In simple terms, we put construction products through some of the toughest conditions imaginable to prove how they really perform. That can range from testing a single material to understand how it behaves in a fire, right through to full-scale systems - like 4-metre-high by 3-metre-wide walls or complete door assemblies - to assess how long they can resist fire in real-world scenarios. We work with manufacturers, system designers, and innovators across the construction sector who need robust, independent evidence that their products are safe, compliant, and fit for purpose.
You’re based at Leeds East Airport - what made this the right location for Attain RTC, and how does the space support your operations?
Scale was the deciding factor. Fire testing at our level demands serious space, particularly the high eaves needed to run large vertical furnaces and full-height façade tests. Our facility allows us to test façade systems up to 9 metres high, which immediately ruled out most standard industrial units. Leeds East Airport offered the volume, access, and infrastructure we needed to build a truly modern testing facility. The result is a lab purpose-designed around large-scale, high-intensity testing — not adapted as an afterthought.
With such a wide range of services - from fire resistance to load testing, what’s the most exciting or in-demand area of construction product testing right now?
Right now, fire resistance testing is seeing huge demand. The UK construction industry is in the middle of a major transition from traditional British Standards to updated British European Standards, driven by changes in building regulations. For fire resistance in particular, manufacturers have until 2029 to replace legacy test evidence with data to the BS EN standards. That’s creating significant demand across the board — from partitions and fire doors to complex wall and façade systems — as companies work to ensure their products remain compliant and market-ready.
Tell us a bit about the team and day-to-day life. What makes working at Attain RTC unique?
No two days in a testing laboratory are ever the same. One day we might be building a full wall system; the next, monitoring temperatures in a furnace approaching 1,000°C. Our work is governed by strict, highly controlled procedures, with every step documented and traceable. The level of rigour is comparable to what you’d expect in a medical or food testing laboratory — because the safety implications of construction products demand that same level of discipline. Alongside commercial testing, we’re also heavily involved in research and development, helping to shape new standardised methods for emerging technologies — from solar PV systems to advanced ways of capturing performance data. That constant link between testing and innovation keeps the work challenging and rewarding.
Attain RTC champions ‘Assurance through innovation’. What does that mean to you in practice and how do you bring that standard into every client relationship?
Assurance through innovation, works on two levels for us. Firstly, we’ve invested in cutting-edge equipment to make our testing as accurate and reliable as possible. Some of our measurement systems are adapted from the aerospace industry to track deflection with extreme precision, and our furnaces are built using modern materials that deliver faster response times and tighter temperature control. Innovation is built into the lab itself — and that gives our clients confidence in the quality of the data we produce.
Secondly, we provide assurance for innovation. The construction industry is evolving rapidly, and new products and systems need robust evidence to prove their performance. We help bridge that gap between new ideas and verified, standards-compliant results.
How do you see the future of construction testing evolving? Are there any key trends, technologies, or regulations you’re keeping a close eye on?
Construction testing will continue to evolve alongside materials, design methods, and regulation. A major focus in recent years has been improving the repeatability and reproducibility of results, and modern sensor technology is helping us capture more detailed and reliable data than ever before - from heat transfer on unexposed surfaces to structural movement under load.
We’re also expanding capabilities in areas like roof fire testing, supporting the industry’s move toward more sustainable, better-insulated buildings where managing heat flow is critical.
On the regulatory side, there’s a much stronger emphasis on transparency and traceability - often referred to as the “golden thread” of information. It’s no longer just about passing a test; it’s about clearly demonstrating that what’s installed on site matches what was tested, right down to details like service penetrations or maintenance provisions. Testing evidence is becoming a living part of a building’s safety record.
What advice would you give to someone interested in a career in materials testing or construction research?
Go for it - it’s a fascinating field at a time of real growth and change. Materials testing is a niche area, but that’s part of the appeal. You’ll work with equipment and scenarios most people never get to see, and you’ll be contributing directly to the safety and performance of the built environment.
Being part of a growing, innovation-driven company like Attain RTC also brings huge opportunities to develop specialist skills and shape the future of the industry.
And finally - away from the testing rig and the acoustic lab, what’s your favourite thing about being here in North Yorkshire?
It has to be the scenery. From open countryside to dramatic coastlines, Yorkshire offers some of the best landscapes in the UK — the perfect contrast to the intensity of life inside a fire test laboratory.
For more information on the work Attain do at Leeds East Airport, head over to their website here.
