BB7 CONSULTING JOINS CERTANIA GROUP IN STRATEGIC MOVE TO STRENGTHEN UK BUILDING SAFETY SECTOR
BB7 Consulting, one of the UK and Ireland’s leading fire, façade, and building safety advisory firms, has officially joined the Munich-based CERTANIA Group, marking a major step in strengthening expertise within the built environment and regulatory assurance sector.
Founded in 2009 by Ben Bradford, BB7 has become a trusted name in fire and façade engineering, known for its commitment to sustainable design and social responsibility. The company, which operates ten offices and employs over 150 specialists – including 30 chartered professionals – has been recognised as both a certified B Corporation and an outstanding employer by Best Companies.
The move follows a successful growth journey supported by investment firm BGF, which backed BB7 in 2019. Now part of CERTANIA’s Buildings & Infrastructure Division, BB7 joins a global network of scientific, compliance, and testing experts as CERTANIA accelerates its expansion into the UK and Irish markets.
For CERTANIA, which specialises in Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) as well as laboratory and compliance services, the acquisition marks a cornerstone investment in the UK’s building safety landscape. BB7 will form a joint platform with fellow CERTANIA companies Clarke Banks and Xact, creating one of the most comprehensive consultancy groups serving the built environment across the two nations.
“Joining CERTANIA marks a defining moment for BB7,” said Ben Bradford, Founder and CEO of BB7. “This partnership strengthens our ability to deliver our purpose — adding certainty to life — by shaping safer, more sustainable built environments. With CERTANIA, we gain the scale and support to accelerate our vision, while maintaining the independence and values that define us.”
Karsten Xander, Founder and CEO of CERTANIA, added: “BB7 brings outstanding expertise, leadership, and reputation in building safety and fire engineering. Their entrepreneurial mindset and technical excellence perfectly align with our mission to build a group of specialist companies united by quality, trust, and purpose. Together, we are establishing a strong platform for Buildings & Infrastructure in the UK and Ireland.”
The partnership underlines a shared commitment to sustainability, safety, and design innovation. It positions BB7 and CERTANIA to lead industry transformation through a “designing with purpose, building with care” agenda — delivering sustainable growth while setting new standards in building safety and compliance.
Headquartered in Chatham, BB7 continues to work with leading architects, developers, and contractors across the UK and Ireland, providing end-to-end expertise in designing, verifying, and maintaining safe and compliant structures.
For more information, visit www.bbseven.com or www.certania.com.
