Helping Fa?ade Contractors adopt new solutions

So it's the last Friday before Christmas ??

What a year it has been!

The Facade industry continues to evolve and I am excited to see how far we can go in 2025.

For now, we are signing off the year with another feature from a great partner Siderise Group

For over 50 years Siderise Group has been providing innovative insulation solutions for Fire and Acoustic applications throughout the UK and now supply's customers internationally in Europe, the Middle East and North America.

? Grab a coffee and enjoy this week's feature edition of Facade Focus!

New solutions are constantly arriving on the market, and it can be challenging for contractors to determine whether the new approach they offer is beneficial to the project— both in terms of onsite efficiencies and long-term performance.

As experts in their field, manufacturers can provide significant product-specific support on both new and existing solutions. This should not only cover how their solutions should be used or installed, but also what best practice approaches or new innovations can be employed to resolve common issues or challenges. This teaching should be freely available and delivered through a combination of classroom learning and practical onsite training, which ought to include everything from ‘toolbox talks’ to hands-on training and benchmark installations to explain correct procedures and the expected standards of workmanship.

Engaging with these site services early in the construction process is key, especially for complex designs or those with higher safety standards to meet. This will allow any issues to be resolved more easily before the build progresses. It also ensures continuous support with regular site visits, advice and refresher sessions for any new installation teams coming on the job.

It is also worth noting that, particularly in relation to passive fire protection, this support can sit alongside industry-wide independent schemes that can include third-party certification and professional qualifications. Whilst voluntary, they are good practice and can help ensure a strong foundation of competency.

To illustrate how this support can help yield new efficiencies, enable the adoption of new solutions, and ensure compliance, let’s look at a real-life example:?

Case study: Anchorage Gateway

See full case study on Siderise website

Located in the vibrant Salford Quays district of Greater Manchester, Anchorage Gateway is a 250,640 sq.ft, 29-storey residential high-rise tower constructed with pale-coloured brickwork supported by an SFS System and concrete core works.

As with any masonry construction, moisture management was key and cavity trays had to be fitted to ensure that any rainwater entering the wall cavity through the external brickwork will be directed away from the inner structure, reducing the risk of internal damp and mould. However, on this build-to-rent tall building, it was vital that the chosen solution not only supported an efficient build process for a timely project completion, but that it achieved Euroclass A2, s1-d0 or better.

Main contractor, Domis Construction, and brickwork contractor, Kinlan, had previously been using traditional methods comprising site-formed metal cavity trays. However, in their search for a more efficient method that could improve the speed and cost of delivery without compromising on quality or compliance, they came across Siderise CT Cavity Tray.

This factory-engineered product combines a flexible aluminium tray with non-combustible stone wool insulation, which can be installed using just a cutting knife and sealing tape for joining at details such as corners or windows. It also has been tested as a full composite solution, achieving an A2-s1, d0 reaction to fire classification in accordance with EN 13501-1:2018.

Carrying out their due diligence, the team engaged Siderise Site Services to deliver training onsite, which included a benchmark installation. This helped to demonstrate the huge labour and timesaving benefits that Siderise CT Cavity Tray could offer the project. With support from Siderise Site Services engineers, they then trialled the CT Cavity Tray on a section of another active Salford project and, once they were satisfied it ticked all the boxes, they put it forward to the fire consultants and building control officers for the high-rise Anchorage project.

Over 3,200 units of Siderise CT Cavity Tray were used on the build, enabling an effective and efficient installation process with a reliable and repeatable level of quality across each of the building’s storeys. This enabled the project team to free up mast usage, with an estimated ratio of 70/30 in the bricklayers’ favour. This, along with other key time-saving procedures implemented by the project teams, allowed the Erie Dock Apartments (Eda) development to be completed three months earlier than scheduled.?

Commenting on the project, the Project Manager at Domis Construction said:

“Siderise CT Cavity Tray has been a gamechanger for us. Even though we’d used Siderise Cavity Barriers and Firestops before, we were somewhat unsure about this single-fix tray and insulation combo at first. Nevertheless, we researched the product, confirming that it met regulatory compliance criteria and seeing the potential benefits.?

Working with our brickwork contractor, Kinlan, the Siderise Site Services team came down and delivered an in-person practical training programme before the install and it was during this in-depth session that we started to realise the operational advantages it would have. They have also been supporting us continually on the build, checking how we are installing their product and giving us any advice necessary to ensure a top-class delivery.”

To discuss your project needs with Siderise Group you can contact them below:

+44 1656 730 833

[email protected]