Long-serving technical director Nigel Morrey has announced his retirement after nearly a decade at Etex Building Performance and nearly 37 years in the passive fire protection sector, where he oversaw product performance and development for both passive fire protection specialist Promat and dry walling manufacturer Siniat. 

A passionate advocate for fire safety and competency, under his direction Nigel has led significant change at both Promat and Siniat to ensure high standards of performance backed by market-leading testing in response to a changing regulatory landscape.

This includes Siniat being one of the first companies in the UK to secure CCPI verification and introducing classification as the standard on its dry wall products to evidence fire performance.

Within Promat, Nigel has driven the shift from BS fire test standards across to EN, which further supports our system-based approach to passive fire protection. 

He has also overseen the development of specialist fire board protection systems designed to meet the changing demands of the construction industry, including the move towards increased use of structural steel.

Most recently he led the decision for Etex Building Performance to take design liability for systems across both the Siniat and Promat brands to reduce the burden of risk on principal designers in the wake of the Building Safety Act.

Appointed as technical director of Promat in 2002, Nigel also became technical director of Siniat in 2016 – with Etex Building Performance being incorporated in January 2017.

Nigel’s wealth of expertise has seen him serve as both Chair and Vice-Chair of the Association of Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), as well as being a member of their Council and Strategy Groups. He has also represented the organisation on Expert Panel D, Passive Fire Protection at the Loss Prevention Council Board (LPCB). 

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, he was invited to chair the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) Fire Safety Group and was a director of the Finishes and Interiors Sector for a number of crucial years in the industry.

He has championed the importance of competency in ensuring accurate use, specification and installation of passive fire protection. This has seen 35 current members of staff pass the IFE Level 3 in Passive Fire Protection across Etex Building Performance, with a further 17 currently working towards the qualification.  

In 2024, Nigel was awarded the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of his work to highlight the need for better awareness around passive fire protection, as well as his commitment to improving fire safety. 

Additionally in 2025 Nigel became a lifelong fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers.

Nigel said: “It has been an honour to be part of the significant achievements of both Promat and Siniat. 

“Working within Promat the emphasis is clearly on passive fire protection, and to me it made sense that we applied those same rigorous testing regimes to Siniat dry walling. 

“It is the success that we have achieved in creating a genuinely market-leading level of tested systems that has been most rewarding – in particular the move to classifying systems. 

“This journey has taken us from historical BS tests to more recently being an early adopter of EN standards, EXAP testing and classification. 

“It has taken many years and has seen us carry out over 120 full scale fire tests each year but has allowed us to become technical leaders in the UK.

“This level of test data not only reduces the risk taken by designers, it crucially supports the construction of buildings that are safer for those who occupy them.

“Likewise, it was a bold decision for us to take design liability but it is the right thing to do; to take the risk away from others and enshrine the design of life critical systems in demonstrated competency. 

“Most of all though it has been about the people, and it has been great to be part of that team. We have created an environment that nurtures technical excellence and embraces learning, with a team that is passionate about their technical development. This is what I have loved being a part of and we have built great foundations to move forwards on.”

John Sinfield, Country Manager for Etex Building Performance, said: “Nigel is one of a kind and we will miss him immensely. His knowledge of passive fire protection, and the passion he has to drive change has left a lasting legacy of high standards – and, in turn, safer buildings.  

“The passion he has brought to the role was infectious, and the team at Etex Building Performance look forward to continuing to build on the impressive work he has achieved.”

Nigel steps down from his role at the end of December.