Prefabricated buildings supplier Kwikspace has reached a significant technical milestone in modular construction, securing compliance with the recognised European BS EN 1365-1:2012 standard for fire resistance of load-bearing walls.

The certification applies to Kwikspace’s Kwik Fire Wall Panel – an insulated sandwich panel engineered to maintain structural integrity under fire conditions. Meeting this standard means the panel has been rigorously tested to ensure it can withstand fire exposure while continuing to support structural loads – an essential requirement for both safety and regulatory compliance in modern building design.

This certification enables Kwikspace to significantly reduce, and in some cases eliminate, the need for traditional steel portal frames. The reduction in steel components also introduces efficiencies in transport, installation, and overall project timelines.

By reducing reliance on these structural elements, Kwikspace can deliver buildings that are not only more cost-effective, but are also safer and visually cleaner in design, the company says.

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Notably, Kwikspace says this development makes it the only local panel manufacturer to offer an EN 1365-1 certified load-bearing fire-resistant panel, thereby positioning the company ahead in terms of local manufacturing and reinforcing both its engineering credibility and its competitive advantage in the market.

By meeting the stringent critical performance criteria of EN 1365-1 – which includes load-bearing capacity, insulation performance and integrity measures – Kwikspace’s panel demonstrates a balanced performance across structural stability, thermal protection and fire containment.

This combination is particularly relevant for sectors where safety compliance, speed of deployment and lifecycle cost are all critical decision factors.

Kwikspace says this certification signals a broader shift in how modular buildings can be designed and delivered in South Africa, moving toward systems that are not only faster and more efficient to deploy, but also aligned with the highest safety benchmarks.