Forging Safety: A New Alliance to Fireproof Singapore's Skyline

LANGFANG, China – November 25, 2025 – In a move set to reshape safety compliance for Singapore’s booming construction industry, German testing and certification giant TÜV Rheinland has forged a strategic technical alliance with China's National Elevator Inspection and Testing Centre (NETEC). The agreement, formalized in Langfang, creates a streamlined pathway for certifying fire-rated lift landing doors—a critical component in modern high-rise safety—blending Chinese testing prowess with German certification authority to meet Singapore's stringent regulations.

This partnership is more than a corporate handshake; it represents a sophisticated response to the challenges of globalized supply chains and the unwavering demand for safety in one of the world's most dynamic urban landscapes. By coordinating testing and certification processes across borders, the collaboration aims to enhance efficiency for manufacturers while bolstering the integrity of Singapore's fire safety framework.

The Regulatory Gauntlet: Singapore's Uncompromising Stance on Fire Safety

Singapore's skyline is in a state of perpetual transformation. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) projects that between S$32 billion and S$38 billion in construction contracts will be awarded in 2024 alone, with growth expected to continue at a robust pace of over 5% annually through 2030. Mega-projects like the Changi Airport Terminal 5 expansion, the Tuas Mega Port, and extensive public housing developments are driving this surge. With such rapid vertical growth comes a non-negotiable prerequisite: world-class safety standards.

At the heart of this safety ecosystem is the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and its rigorous Product Listing Scheme (PLS). This framework mandates that critical fire safety products be tested and certified by accredited bodies before they can be installed. Fire-rated lift landing doors fall squarely under Table 11A of the SCDF Fire Code, a list of regulated products requiring a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) to prove they meet demanding performance standards like BS 476-22 and EN 81-58. These aren't just bureaucratic hurdles; they are essential safeguards designed to prevent the rapid spread of fire and smoke in densely populated vertical cities, ensuring safe evacuation routes and protecting lives.

For manufacturers, navigating this landscape can be complex and time-consuming. Products must not only pass initial tests but also be subject to ongoing surveillance, with each certified door bearing a unique serial label for traceability. TÜV Rheinland Singapore, accredited under the PLS since April 2025, is one of the key gatekeepers in this process. The new partnership with NETEC is a direct strategy to make this gauntlet more navigable without compromising its integrity.

A Bridge Across Borders: How the Partnership Redefines Compliance

The agreement establishes a clear and efficient division of labor. NETEC's advanced fire prevention laboratory in Langfang, China—a major hub for manufacturing—is now recognized by TÜV Rheinland to conduct the necessary testing activities. This allows manufacturers to test their fire-rated lift landing doors closer to their point of production, using the precise British and European standards required by Singapore.

However, the final authority remains firmly with the German certification body. After NETEC completes the technical testing, TÜV Rheinland independently reviews the results and, if all requirements are met, issues the official Certificate of Compliance under its SCDF-accredited scope. This two-part process is crucial for maintaining impartiality and trust.

"This collaboration reflects our commitment to supporting safe and compliant access to global markets," explained Mr. Sun Guorong of TÜV Rheinland in the official announcement. "Working with NETEC's fire safety laboratory allows us to align testing workflows while maintaining independent certification according to our accredited scope."

The structure ensures that while the logistics of testing are optimized, the integrity of the certification remains uncompromised. For Singapore's regulators and developers, it guarantees that a TÜV Rheinland certificate carries the same weight, regardless of where the initial test was performed. From NETEC's perspective, the alliance is a significant milestone. "This cooperation with TÜV Rheinland is an important step in NETEC's international development," noted Mr. Zhou Chunming of NETEC, highlighting the goal to "provide reliable technical services that help customers understand and meet relevant regulatory requirements in domestic and international markets."

Unlocking the Lion City: A Boon for Global Manufacturers

The most immediate impact of this alliance will be felt by the manufacturers of building components seeking to enter or expand their footprint in Singapore's lucrative market. By localizing the testing phase in China, the partnership directly addresses major pain points in the export process: time and cost. Previously, manufacturers might have faced logistical challenges and delays in shipping massive door assemblies to an accredited lab, waiting for a testing slot, and then navigating the certification process separately.

Now, a more integrated pathway exists. This streamlined model is a significant competitive advantage, potentially reducing a product's journey from factory floor to a Singaporean construction site by weeks or even months. In a market driven by tight project deadlines, such efficiency is invaluable. This approach is becoming a new industry standard, with other TIC providers like SGS also offering localized testing in China to expedite certification for the Singapore market. The TÜV Rheinland-NETEC pact reinforces this trend, offering a robust solution for the vast number of Chinese manufacturers aiming for Southeast Asia.

This newfound efficiency doesn't imply a lowering of standards. On the contrary, it provides manufacturers with clearer guidance and access to the combined expertise of two specialist organizations. The focus remains on strict adherence to technical specifications, ensuring that the products entering Singapore are not just certified faster, but are fundamentally safe and reliable.

The Blueprint for a Globalized Industry

While fire doors are the immediate focus, this partnership offers a glimpse into the future of the entire Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) industry. Both TÜV Rheinland and NETEC have openly stated their intent to explore further cooperation in areas like elevators, machinery components, building construction, and aerial work equipment. This signals a long-term strategic vision far beyond a single product category.

This alliance is a microcosm of a broader industry trend: forming strategic partnerships to manage the complexity of global supply chains and fragmented international regulations. As manufacturing becomes more globally distributed, TIC companies can no longer operate in silos. They must create networks that provide clients with a seamless, end-to-end service for accessing multiple markets. TÜV Rheinland, with its 150-year history and previous collaborations with major Chinese entities in the automotive and tech sectors, is adept at building these bridges.

For the Asia-Pacific region, where the TIC market is expanding rapidly due to industrialization and a growing emphasis on quality, these partnerships are essential. They build trust between economies, facilitate trade, and most importantly, ensure that the products underpinning our daily lives—from the elevators we ride to the doors that protect us—are held to the highest possible standard of safety and quality, no matter where they were made.