France-based Efectis is establishing a new business in Northern Ireland, offering fire testing services to UK and Ireland-based manufacturing companies that service the construction sector.

Seven new roles will be created by the new business, which is located at Ulster University’s Fire Safety Engineering Research and Technology Centre (FireSERT) in Jordanstown.

Susan O’Kane, Invest NI regional manager, said: “We are delighted to secure this investment for Northern Ireland, which will generate specialist employment opportunities for graduate and experienced fire engineers.

“Fire in buildings and infrastructure is a complex issue and one that attracts close regulatory scrutiny. There are growing market opportunities in this area; as the only provider of fire testing services to the construction sector in Ireland, Efectis is now strategically positioned to benefit.”

Daniel Joyeux, Efectis’ president, said: “We wanted to extend our network of fire testing and research laboratories in Europe and the Middle East, and the FireSERT facility was the ideal location for us.

“Over the next three years, we plan to recruit experienced engineers who will be responsible for carrying out the UKAS-accredited fire tests to British and European standards.”