Siderise introduces dedicated fire protection for precast concrete facades

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured NewsPassive

Siderise launches dedicated precast range

Siderise has launched the PC-FS Firestop and PC-CB Cavity Barrier range, described as the UK’s first commercially available passive fire protection package developed specifically for precast concrete cladding systems.

Siderise said it previously supported precast concrete façade applications with its CW-FS Firestop and reapproached the application in response to demand for these external wall systems.

The new range was developed as a dedicated solution for systems with tight tolerances and limited access.

It was also developed to address difficult interfaces and construction sequencing.

Product design and fire test details

The stone wool Lamella core provides built-in compression and uses a bracket-free fix for narrow voids.

Siderise said this contributes to faster installation times when compared with less compressible barriers.

PC-FS Firestop and PC-CB Cavity Barrier can also be fitted from above or below the slab.

The company said this supports projects where topside access is restricted or where sequencing requires a different installation route.

Both products are tested to EN 1366-4 and EN 13501-1 standards.

Siderise also cited supplementary fire test evidence for precast concrete panel bracket penetration and end of flexible wall configuration.

The supplementary evidence also covers firestop bracket securement to the underside of the slab edge.

Fire resistance and technical support

The firestopping products PC-FS60 and PC-FS120 offer third-party certified 1 hour and 2 hours of fire resistance respectively.

The cavity barrier PC-CB30 offers 30 minutes.

Siderise said the range is supported by technical services and specification resources.

These include a specification pack with technical information and guidance on joints and complex details such as blade column interfaces and other challenging geometries.

Restorative remediation: Global HSE Group outlines Injectaclad cavity barrier repair method

by Featured NewsPassive

Global HSE Group examines Injectaclad, its installation process, applications and key benefits for restoring cavity fire barriers

A building with significant defects in its external wall fire safety systems present serious risks to both the structure and the people inside.

For example, a structure with missing or defective cavity barriers can experience rapid fire spread within wall cavities, causing devastating consequences for businesses, property owners and residents, while also posing a serious threat to critical infrastructure and occupant safety.

For the responsible stakeholders, amending buildings to become safe can be both costly and disruptive, with many projects requiring a full-scale removal of the external façade which often leads to disruption.

One solution available that enables non-intrusive works is Injectaclad, a remediation system for missing or defective cavity fire barriers to be retrospectively installed using a pumped system.

How it works

Injectaclad, for which Global HSE Group is a QA-approved installation contractor, is installed through small access openings created along the required compartment lines.

These can run vertically, horizontally, or around features such as windows and doors.

The openings are typically formed at approximately two-metre intervals horizontally and generally at floor levels for vertical installations.

At these locations, 4mm stainless steel InjectaPins are inserted into pre-drilled 6mm holes within the cavity.

A cylindrical acrylic mesh sleeve, known as InjectaMesh, is then positioned on the pins to establish and maintain the required compartment line.

Once the mesh and pins are in place, Injectaclad SS17 is pumped into the InjectaMesh.

The material expands to fill the cavity void, forming a continuous cavity barrier that reinstates the intended fire compartmentation within the external wall system.

The system, which can be used on a variety of buildings, including high-rise, commercial and residential, works by creating a fire-stopping barrier inside hidden wall cavities without removing the external façade.

By filling the cavity at specific compartment lines with a pumped, fire-resistant material, Injectaclad helps prevent the spread of fire and smoke through the building’s external wall system.

Once fitted, it has been tested to have a working life of 50 years, offers up to 120 minutes of fire resistance and is designed in accordance with fire safety regulations such as BS EN 1366-4 and BS 8414-1 &1366 part 4.

Visit www.globalpassivefire.co.uk/our-services/injectaclad-cavity-barrier/ for more information.

This was originally published in the April 2026 Edition of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE copy, click here.

IFE and FIA ask industry to share unpublished BS 8414 test reports

by Featured NewsPassiveResearch

BS 8414 test data publication request

The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) and the Fire Industry Association (FIA) have called on the fire safety community to help make unpublished BS 8414 fire test data publicly accessible.

The organisations stated that a number of BS 8414 fire tests have been carried out on external wall construction systems, with results remaining outside the public domain.

Many of these tests were commissioned in response to issues identified in real buildings.

These included cases involving missing or poorly installed cavity barriers.

The purpose of the testing was to assess whether such shortcomings present a risk of external fire spread.

Access to this wider body of test data would provide fire engineers with additional evidence when assessing similar construction features or defects.

This would support more informed, evidence-based decision-making across projects involving external wall systems.

Test outcomes would be relevant regardless of whether the system achieved a successful result.

Unpublished reports are currently known only to a limited number of individuals, which limits their use in broader engineering assessments.

How the reports could be shared

The IFE and FIA said they would be willing to provide a platform for publishing test reports, most likely through a publicly accessible website, subject to permission from the organisations that commissioned them.

Reports could be anonymised to remove references to specific buildings or organisations.

The primary purpose would be to improve understanding of how different wall constructions perform in fire conditions.

Anyone aware of relevant BS 8414 fire test reports suitable for publication has been invited to contact the organisations.

All contacts will be treated in confidence, and no report will be published without explicit consent from the commissioning organisation.

Enquiries can be sent to technical@ife.org.uk.

FSi Promat launches Paraflam Ultra slab edge fire stop for curtain wall facades

by ConstructionFeatured NewsPassive

Fire stop system launched for curtain wall slab edges

Passive fire protection specialist FSi Promat has launched Paraflam Ultra, a dry-fit slab edge fire stop system for buildings with a curtain walling facade.

The company said Paraflam Ultra is designed to protect the building envelope by preventing the spread of fire around the slab edge for a set period of time in curtain wall facades.

Paraflam Ultra is described as an A1-rated, non-combustible, flexible system.

It is designed to support compartmentation systems by containing the spread of fire from one floor to another.

Testing, movement accommodation and installation details

Paraflam Ultra provides up to 2 hours of fire protection for horizontal slab edges in curtain walling systems.

It is tested to the European standard for curtain walling systems EN1364-4.

Testing also included movement accommodation, with Paraflam Ultra providing up to 6% compression and expansion to maintain the seal between the slab and facade where movement occurs in tall buildings.

As a dry-fit design, the system is compression fitted at the slab edge to reinstate compartmentation and limit fire spread, with the aim of allowing occupants time to escape and fire fighters time to respond.

Range position and specification support

Paraflam Ultra expands FSi Promat’s range of specialist fire stopping and cavity barriers for the building envelope, covering finishes from rainscreen applications to masonry.

Liam Blears, National Commercial Manager for Facades at FSi Promat, said: “Curtain walling is an increasingly popular finish for tall buildings where effective passive fire protection is paramount – and, since façade design is often aesthetic-led, it is vital the fire protection systems used to protect it are kept front of mind during the design stage.

“Through creating a carefully engineered, movement accommodating system, FSi Promat is able to support with this.

“With FSi Promat’s commitment to competent technical support and efficient distribution, Paraflam Ultra can be confidently specified and supports ease of installation.

“It complements the range of cavity barriers FSi Promat already produce to provide fire protection for the building envelope; which now includes mixed façade and curtain wall finishes thanks to the introduction of Paraflam Ultra.

“Alongside the launch, we’re offering specification packs to support in the accurate design of passive fire protection at the earliest stages of a project to ensure best-practice and provide the level of detail needed for curtain wall or hybrid facades.

“Plus, a range of training and extra supporting collateral is in development so watch this space.”

The company said it already offers closed and open state cavity barriers for ventilated and non-ventilated facades, including the Silverliner range.

Specification packs are also available for rainscreen and masonry facades.

ARC secures LDC backing to scale passive fire and thermal solutions

by Featured NewsPassive

ARC and LDC complete investment agreement

ARC Building Solutions has secured investment from LDC to support the growth of its passive fire protection and thermal solutions business in the UK.

The company said the deal backs its management team, led by CEO Neil Weeks, and is intended to fund increased production capacity, improved systems and expanded sales and support operations.

The transaction involves investment from LDC, a private equity investor that is part of Lloyds Banking Group.

Newable, a specialist UK small and medium-sized enterprise investor that has supported ARC since 2019, will reinvest alongside LDC.

ARC is based in Leeds and supplies products and systems for residential and commercial developments.

Passive fire protection focus for growth

According to the company, ARC manufactures certified and tested cavity barriers that provide up to four hours of fire integrity.

Its range also includes thermal insulation products designed to support both fire safety and energy efficiency outcomes.

The business provides technical system solutions that enable residential and commercial property developers to create buildings for people to live and work in.

ARC was founded in 2008 and has recorded long-term growth, supported by demand for safety critical and environmentally focused solutions.

The company plans to use the new investment to expand production capacity and enhance its systems so it can continue to serve its customer base.

Neil Weeks, CEO of ARC, said: “This is an important milestone in our mission to help the built environment to deliver more safe and sustainable buildings.

“We’ve known the LDC team for some time and are confident that with their backing, we will have the firepower and strategic support we need to scale our growth and continue to deliver for our customers.”

Board appointments and investor track record

The investment was led by LDC’s Yorkshire team, including Investment Director Will Scales, Partner and Head of Yorkshire Dan Smith and Investment Executive Connie Smith.

Following the transaction, Will Scales and Dan Smith will join ARC’s board as Non-Executive Directors.

They will sit alongside Kevin Sargeant, who joins as Non-Executive Chair.

The company said Kevin Sargeant brings nearly 30 years of board experience, including roles at Volution, Ventilair Group, Nuaire, Flexicon and Aqualisa.

LDC reported that in the last decade it has invested £660m in 35 industrial businesses with a combined enterprise value of £1.9bn.

Its investments span building products, automotive, aerospace, chemicals, packaging, manufacturing and energy and renewables.

In May 2024, LDC invested in Integrated Doorset Solutions Group, a testing, inspection, certification and compliance business in the fire door sector.

Newable and the ARC management team were advised by Momentum Corporate Finance and CMS.

LDC was advised by RSM, Shoosmiths, Dow Schofield Watts, PMSI and Collinson Grant.

Will Scales, Investment Director at LDC, added: “ARC has built an exceptional reputation for developing innovative, high-performance building safety products that are trusted by customers, and the business has an exciting future ahead.

“As part of Lloyds Banking Group, we have deep heritage in the built environment, and we’re looking forward to working closely with Neil and the team as they turn their ambitions into reality.”

How ARC’s investment plans affect project delivery

The investment in ARC’s passive fire protection and thermal insulation business is relevant for architects, building services engineers and developers involved in specifying products for new-build residential and commercial schemes.

The company manufactures tested cavity barriers with defined fire integrity performance and provides technical system solutions, so changes in its capacity and systems may influence design choices and coordination on future projects.

For system installers, fire-protection contractors and electrical contractors, the planned increase in production capacity and enhancement of support functions could affect product availability, technical assistance and site-level coordination when installing cavity barriers and related fire-safety measures.

Facility managers and risk assessors working with existing or planned ARC installations may also track the company’s investment plans and management changes, given its role in supplying safety critical and energy efficiency focused components for the built environment.