LPCB certification means a fire or security product, or an installation company, has been assessed by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB), the approval brand operated by BRE Global, and listed in the Red Book. In a material submittal, an LPCB claim is worth something only once you find the exact model listed and valid on RedBookLive.
Key takeaways
- LPCB is the approval brand BRE Global operates for fire and security products and services; BRE Global is part of the BRE Group, owned by the BRE Trust, a registered charity.
- Product certification covers initial type testing, assessment and surveillance of the factory quality system, regular audit testing, labeling and listing; installer schemes assess the firm’s capability and inspect completed work.
- Loss Prevention Standards (LPS) are LPCB’s own scheme documents and can be downloaded free; LPCB also certifies to international and British standards.
- On RedBookLive, check the company, the model, the standard and certificate validity, and review the suspension, withdrawal and counterfeit notices.
- An LPCB listing does not replace SABER conformity where it applies or Civil Defense acceptance; good practice is for specifications to name the acceptable certification marks for each item.
In this article
- What LPCB is and how it relates to BRE
- How LPCB certification works
- LPS standards: examples in fire protection work
- LPCB, UL and FM: which should you require?
- How to verify an LPCB listing, step by step
- LPCB in Saudi specifications and material submittals
- Common mistakes and what drives cost
- How AZEIDK helps
- FAQ
What LPCB is and how it relates to BRE
The Red Book is the LPCB list of approved fire and security products and services, and LPCB is the approval brand that BRE Global operates. BRE Global and its sister company BRE belong to the BRE Group, owned by the BRE Trust, a registered charity.
LPCB describes the Red Book as a key reference for specifiers, regulators, designers and end users, says its listings are accepted in the UK and around the world, and notes that it has appointed regional representatives in the Middle East and India. Its schemes cover fire detection and alarm, fire suppression, fixed firefighting and passive fire protection products together with their installers, plus cables, security protection systems, management systems and construction products.
How LPCB certification works
LPCB defines third-party certification as a conformity assessment carried out by a body independent of both supplier and customer, confirming that products and services have met, and will continue to meet, the requirements of specified standards. What a certificate covers depends on the scheme:
| Scheme type | What it covers, per LPCB | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Product certification | Initial type testing and technical evaluation, assessment and surveillance of the manufacturer’s quality system and production procedures, regular audit testing, labeling and listing | Approval covers the listed models with their sizes and ratings, not the whole brand |
| Service (installer) certification | Technical assessment of the contractor’s capability, assessment and surveillance of its quality system and procedures, regular inspection of completed installations, and listing | Approval covers the firm and its scope of services, not the equipment it installs |
LPCB describes both types as quality assurance schemes, so certification does not end with the first test: surveillance and regular audits confirm continued conformity. The difference between them is practical: a listed installer does not make the equipment it installs listed, and a listed product does not make its installer approved. Specifications should state which one is required for each item.
LPS standards: examples in fire protection work
LPCB produces Loss Prevention Standards to help ensure a product or service meets users’ needs, or where new, unproven technology is introduced. BRE Global experts draft them with external experts; representatives of trade bodies, regulators, insurers, specifiers and manufacturers peer review them; and the BRE Global Governing Body approves them. LPS documents can be downloaded free, while the international and British standards LPCB also certifies to are not provided for copyright reasons.
| Standard | Subject, as given in the LPCB list |
|---|---|
| LPS 1014 | Requirements for certificated fire detection and alarm systems firms |
| LPS 1039 | Requirements and testing methods for automatic sprinklers |
| LPS 1048 | Approval of installers of sprinkler systems and firefighting mains in the UK and Ireland |
| LPS 1056 | Approval and listing of fire doorsets, lift landing doors and shutters |
| LPS 1181 | Cladding and sandwich panel systems for the external envelope and internal constructions |
| LPS 1204 | Requirements for firms that design, install, commission and service gas extinguishing systems |
| LPS 1240 | Requirements for LPCB approved fire sprinkler pump sets |
Issue numbers change over time, so check the current issue in the LPCB list before citing one in a specification. Note also that some installer schemes are geographic: the title of LPS 1048 limits it to the UK and Ireland, so confirm a scheme applies before requiring it on a project in Saudi Arabia. The list also includes LPS 1148 for sprinkler system design and installation contractors, whose title has no geographic limit.
LPCB, UL and FM: which should you require?
LPCB, UL Solutions (UL) and FM Approvals (FM) are separate certification bodies, each with its own standards and listings, and one product may carry more than one mark. A listing from one is not automatically equivalent to another; the project specification and the consultant decide what is acceptable. Our guide to UL Listed vs FM Approved explains how to check those two directories.
LPCB says its certification is recognized and specified widely around the world and is mandatory in some territories, without naming them. Good practice is for specifications to name the acceptable marks and the required standard for each item, for example approval to the EN 54 series from a recognized body for fire alarm components, instead of a vague “internationally approved”.
How to verify an LPCB listing, step by step
- Ask the supplier for the certificate number, the certificate holder’s name as listed, and the exact model number.
- Search RedBookLive for the product, service or company, and use the search filters to check that the certificate is valid.
- Match the model, sizes, ratings and the standard named in the listing to the datasheet and to the product actually delivered.
- Review the suspension, withdrawal, counterfeit and false-claim notices published on the same site.
- Do not accept wording such as “designed to”, “complies with” or “meets LPS” in place of a listing; LPCB warns that such phrases can suggest an approval that does not exist.
- If in doubt, contact BRE Global through the details published on the site to confirm the certificate or mark.
- Keep a dated copy of the listing page with the material submittal, and check again before delivery.
LPCB warns that forgeries are very common, and that some products are tested, fail and are still sold as “tested to” a standard, so a copy of a certificate or a printed logo is not enough on its own.
LPCB in Saudi specifications and material submittals
An LPCB listing is evidence of product performance, but it is not the regulatory route to market or acceptance. SABER conformity is a separate track set by the technical regulations of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), as our news on SABER and the SALEEM program explains, so do not assume an LPCB listing replaces it. Civil Defense acceptance of systems still follows the Saudi Fire Protection Code (SBC 801) and the approved drawings.
Good practice is for the contractor to attach the dated listing page for each model to the material submittal, for the consultant to review it against the specification, and for the available certificates to go into the final handover file so the facility manager can find them during maintenance or replacement. The consultant should also state whether one listing from an accepted body is enough or more than one is required.
Common mistakes and what drives cost
- Accepting an LPCB logo on a catalog or website as proof of listing.
- Checking the company name but not the specific model, sizes and ratings.
- Accepting “tested to” or “meets LPS” wording instead of a valid certificate.
- Confusing a product listing with an installer listing.
- Relying on an old listing printout without checking again before delivery.
- Requiring an installer scheme that applies only in the UK and Ireland, which local bidders cannot meet.
Cost is driven by the availability of listed models in the sizes and ratings required, specifications that demand more than one mark for the same item, review and verification time for submittals, and the cost of replacement if an item is rejected after delivery.
How AZEIDK helps
Our technical selection of systems and equipment service reviews datasheets and catalogs and verifies equipment specifications against project requirements, and our technical supply of fire safety systems verifies that proposed products comply with project requirements and approved documentation. Our products page shows the brands available within our supply scope, and we recommend checking every model’s approval in its datasheet and in the certifier’s official list.
At handover, our documentation and final handover service compiles inspection and test reports and available equipment certificates into the handover package. For occupational safety during installation, see our ISO 45001 guide.
FAQ
Is LPCB approval mandatory in Saudi Arabia?
We found no Saudi text that requires LPCB specifically. The project specification and the consultant set the acceptable certification marks, Civil Defense acceptance follows the Saudi Fire Protection Code, and SABER conformity is a separate track. LPCB itself says its certification is mandatory in some markets but does not name them.
Is LPCB a substitute for UL or FM?
Only if the specification accepts it. Each certifier has its own standards and listings, a listing from one is not automatically equivalent to another, and an item submitted with a mark the specification does not name may be rejected. The specification should name the acceptable marks and standard for each item, with the official listing page attached to the submittal.
Is company certification enough?
No. Product certification covers specific models with defined sizes and ratings, while installer certification covers a firm’s technical capability and quality system. One manufacturer may sell both listed and unlisted models, so check the exact model number on RedBookLive and match it with the datasheet and the product actually delivered to site.
What are the Red Book and RedBookLive?
The Red Book is the LPCB list of approved fire and security products and services; RedBookLive is its up-to-date online version, and listings can also be downloaded as PDFs. The site lets you search for a product, service or company, check whether a certificate is valid, and contact the certified company for more on its products and services.
What does “meets LPS” on a product mean?
LPCB warns that phrases such as “designed to”, “complies with” and “meets LPS” can suggest an approval that does not exist, and that some products are tested, fail and are still sold as tested to the standard. The real approval is a valid listing on RedBookLive, not wording on the packaging.
Can an LPCB listing be suspended or withdrawn?
Yes. LPCB publishes suspension and withdrawal notices on RedBookLive, as well as counterfeit notices and false claims of approval. It is good practice to check when the material submittal is made and again before delivery, and to keep a dated copy of the listing page in the handover file.
Preparing a material submittal? Send us the model list and the project specification, and our engineers will review the datasheets and each item’s compliance with the specification. Contact the AZEIDK team
