PPG announced that Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global safety science organization, has awarded its passive fire protection (PFP) coatings lab in Kunshan, China, a certificate of participation in the UL Witness Test Data Program (WTDP). PPG is now the only coatings manufacturer in Asia Pacific certified to conduct fire-resistance testing compliant with UL1709 on furnaces in its own laboratory, under the supervision of UL personnel, as its physical resources, equipment and qualified personnel have been found equivalent to those of UL's laboratories.

“UL standards are widely recognized as industry standards for fire safety products globally,” said Milton Chen, PPG general manager, protective and marine coatings, Greater China. “We are honored to be certified by the WTDP program, which means the Kunshan technology center will play a more prominent role in supporting our global protective and marine coatings business and developing new PFP coatings to meet local customer demand.”

At a ceremony in Kunshan, Chen received the UL WTDP certificate and certification plaque from Ben Miller, UL senior vice president and president, Commercial & Industrial business unit.

"PPG and UL share a common mission, which is to provide safer living and working environments for people worldwide,” Miller said. “This common goal helped drive our collaboration, and it is bringing more localized service to China’s PFP coatings industry, enabling the industry’s continued health and development.”

The Kunshan passive fire protection coatings center, opened in September 2014, is the first PFP coatings laboratory in Asia. The center is equipped with melting furnaces for a variety of testing, such as simulating hydrocarbon or oil-caused fire, compliant with the UL 1709 standard (Standard for Rapid Rise Fire Tests of Protection Materials for Structural Steel).