Quantify fire residue to scope restoration cleanly.
Laboratory analysis of fire-residue samples with a primary focus on char and soot microscopy. Extended PAH analysis is available where required — supporting restoration scoping and reoccupation decisions.
- UK-wide since 2013
- Independent assessments
- ISO 9001 accredited
- Practical control advice
What this means for you
Evidence you can act on and defend.
Measured exposure evidence
Data suitable for HSE, insurers and audits.
Independent assessment
Occupational hygiene review of real exposure risk.
Practical control recommendations
Prioritised actions based on risk and operational practicality.
Compliance support
Evidence to support COSHH and internal governance.
Speak with a fire residue testing specialist
0800 433 7914
sales@sysco-env.co.ukMon–Fri · 08:00–18:00 · Independent advice · Fixed-price scope
Typical response: same working day
What happens next
Send the samples; we do the rest.
Standard turnaround is 5–7 working days; rush turnaround is available. Reports are formatted to support insurer-led restoration decisions.
No unnecessary disruption. No generic paperwork. No unnecessary complexity.
Whether exposure is controlled
A clear yes or no, backed by measurement.
Where the highest risks are
Locations, tasks and roles ranked by exposure.
What actions matter most
A prioritised plan you can budget and schedule.
What you get
Four answers. One clear plan.
You need to know what your workforce is exposed to, whether your controls are effective, what actions matter most, and how to demonstrate control confidently.
That is exactly what we deliver.
Char & soot microscopy
Identification of char and soot morphology, particle proportions and combustion residue character — our primary analytical expertise.
PAH speciation
GC/MS analysis for the EPA priority PAH suite from surface and air samples, available as an extended panel.
Deposition mapping
Proportional assessment of residue distribution to support restoration prioritisation.
Insurer-ready reporting
Clear, defensible reports written for loss adjusters, restoration contractors and property managers.
Why clients call
If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place.
- 01
An auditor is asking
HSE, your insurer or a client wants evidence — not assurances
We provide measured fire residue testing data and a clear technical report that resolves the issue quickly.
- 02
Your team is worried
Operatives are reporting concerns or symptoms
We attend site, quantify workforce exposure and provide clear evidence of current risk levels.
- 03
You suspect a problem
You know there's a risk and you want measured data before it becomes a crisis
We quantify exposure, assess it against current limits and provide a prioritised corrective action plan.
What we answer for you
Three questions, settled.
- Where your people are exposed
- We map the tasks, areas and shifts where fire residue testing matters, then sample what your team actually breathes — not a generic site average.
- Whether your controls are working
- An independent review of your LEV, ventilation, PPE and work practices — what is effective and what requires improvement.
- What you need to fix first
- A prioritised, costed action list — the smallest set of changes that gets you compliant and measurably safer.
How we work with you
From your first call to your action plan.
- 1
We listen first — your site, your concerns, your deadline.
- 2
We walk the workplace with your team to see exposure as it actually happens.
- 3
We sample on the people most at risk, using validated occupational hygiene methods for fire residue testing.
- 4
We assess your existing controls honestly — what's working, what isn't.
- 5
You receive a clear technical report suitable for operational, compliance and regulatory readers.
- 6
We hand you a prioritised action plan you can budget, schedule and defend.
Typical survey outputs
What you receive at the end of the engagement.
- Char & soot microscopy report
- PAH speciation results (extended)
- Surface contaminant identification
- Restoration-scope commentary
- Methodology summary
- Chain-of-custody record
- Defensible laboratory report
Client testimony
“Sysco's char and soot microscopy cleanly scoped the restoration — accepted by the insurer first time.”
— Restoration manager
UK fire restoration contractor
Typical environments we assess
Wherever fire residue testing risk affects your people.
- Lab analysis service
- Commercial fire response
- Hospitality response
- Industrial response
- Healthcare estates
- Schools
Background
Fire residue testing, in detail.
What we test
Post-fire residue is a complex mixture dominated by soot and char particles. Our primary expertise is microscopic identification of these combustion residues — revealing where the fire reached, how residue travelled, and what burned. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can also be present and extended GC/MS analysis is available where required.
Methodology
Transmission and reflectance microscopy for char and soot morphology is our core method. Where the extended panel is requested, GC/MS is used for PAH speciation. We accept tape-lift, wipe, bulk and air filter samples.
Using the results
Results inform a restoration scope — surface decontamination, source removal, and post-clean clearance sampling. Reports are routinely used by loss adjusters and insurers to validate restoration decisions.
Related services
Often assessed alongside fire residue testing.
Common questions
Fire Residue Testing — FAQs.
Quick answers to the questions we hear most from operations, HSE and procurement teams.
- What sample types do you accept?
- Tape-lift, wipe, bulk and air filters.
- Turnaround?
- 5–7 working days standard; rush turnaround available.
- What is your primary analysis?
- Char and soot microscopy. PAH speciation by GC/MS is available as an extended panel on request.
- Insurer-acceptable?
- Yes — our reports are routinely accepted by UK loss adjusters and insurers.
- Sampling protocol?
- We can advise on a sampling plan or refer you to our on-site fire residue assessment service.
- Where are you based?
- UK-based laboratory with national post-in service.
Speak with a fire residue testing specialist
Send us the samples. We'll quantify the residue.
Tell us
- sample types and number,
- fire scope and building age,
- turnaround required,
- and your insurer's deadline.
We will provide
- a clear scope,
- fixed quotation,
- proposed attendance strategy,
- and expected reporting timeframe.
Send us a brief
Outline the sites, tasks and timelines of concern — we'll reply with a clear scope and fixed quotation.
Sample lab report
Our report at a glance.
Every Sysco laboratory report is short, hierarchical and actionable. Here is what you'll find on the first page — and you can preview the full PDF below or request the worked example by email.
- 01
Sample & site context
Why we sampled, the locations chosen and the method used — at a glance.
- 02
Headline result table
Total spores per cubic metre by location, with indoor / outdoor ratios.
- 03
Dominant genera
Plain-English call-out of any water-damage indicator organisms found.
- 04
Priority actions
Three-step action plan with owners — what to do next, in order.
Anonymised — based on a real Sysco assessment, signed off by a BOHS-qualified hygienist.
For download
Free laboratory resources for your team.
Print-ready references and forms — no sign-up required. Updated whenever methods or guidance change.
- Field guide
Sampling collection guide
Field-ready instructions for collecting spore traps, tape-lifts, swabs, bulk samples and pumped media for lab analysis.
- Form · A4
Chain-of-custody form
Printable A4 form for sample IDs, custody transfers and dispatch — send with every batch of samples to the lab.
Need a specific method, sampling kit or chain-of-custody tailored to your project? Call 0800 433 7914 or email sales@sysco-env.co.uk.