Siderise Group

Products used: CW-FS | Perimeter Barriers and Firestops for Curtain WallingWhen it came to providing a proven range of fire protection solutions for a revitalised building in London highlighted by a sweeping and technically ambitious curved façade, Siderise was able to meet the challenge with its CW-FS curtain wall fire stop system.

The distinctive, semi-elliptical shape of the new 90m high glass and steel office building at 70 St Mary Axe in London required proven passive fire protection and acoustic solutions that could fit with the unique curved frame. Leading manufacturer of fire, acoustic and thermal insulation products, Siderise, met the challenge.

Standing tall in a prime location at the entrance to the Salford Quays – one of Greater Manchester’s most vibrant and prominent media and culture hubs – Anchorage Gateway is here to make a statement. The 250,640 sq ft, 29-storey residential high-rise, completed three months ahead of schedule, is set to be the tallest residential brickwork building in the UK.  Yet, behind this traditional brick façade finish is a design that demanded a modern approach to diverting moisture from the cavity to the outside of the building, using construction methods far more efficient than the conventional. Key information Completion date September 2023 Sector Residential Developer Cole Waterhouse Main Contractor Domis Construction Façade Contractor Kinlan Brickwork Delivery Architect Jon Matthews Architects  Products used Siderise CT Cavity Tray  Design and specification Representing the gateway entry point into Salford Quays, the build-to-rent (BTR) Erie Dock Apartments (Eda) development replaced a vacant four-storey office block of 1990s construction with a building designed to offer a truly contemporary residential experience. Hosting 290 apartments of various sizes and private amenities such as co-working spaces, a fitness studio, a screening room, and more, it was important that the building’s exterior reflected a feeling of home and community, giving it a sense of place in this rapidly developing part of the city.  The building’s L-shaped footprint is emphasised by the use of stepped massing, with the slimmer block extending to the top of the building and external rooftop terraces at the crown of each ‘block’. Each elevation is constructed from pale-coloured brickwork, supported by an SFS System and concrete core works, giving the building a solid and striking, yet clearly domestic feel in an area dominated by glazing and cladding.  Moisture management is a fundamental element of any masonry construction, and cavity trays must be installed to ensure that any rainwater entering the wall cavity through the external brickwork is directed away from the inner structure, reducing the risk of internal damp and mould. Main contractor, Domis Construction, and brickwork contractor, Kinlan, had previously been using the traditional approach comprising 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, they came across Siderise CT Cavity Tray.  After carrying out their due diligence, the team engaged the Siderise Site Services to deliver training onsite, which included a benchmark installation. It was then that Domis Construction and Kinlan realised the huge labour and time-saving benefits Siderise CT Cavity Tray could offer and that ‘it did what it said on the tin’. The factory-engineered system was subsequently trialled on a section of another Salford project before being put forward to the fire consultants and building control officers for the high-rise Anchorage project.  The CT Cavity Tray achieves an A2-s1, d0 reaction to fire classification to EN 13501-1, is BBA certified and can comply with NHBC, LABC and Premier Guarantee warranty requirements.  David Ashworth, Project Manager, Domis Construction: “Siderise CT Cavity Tray has been a gamechanger for us. We’d been using traditional all-metal cavity trays, site-formed and pre-formed. 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 in terms of time saving ability, labour cost reduction, and scaled-down site complexities associated with specialist tools, equipment, and segregated workshop areas for onsite fabrication.”  Installation and inspection Over 3,200 units of Siderise CT Cavity tray were used on the project, helping to realise installation benefits that carried real value for the project. On previous projects where traditional cavity tray solutions were used, the installation teams would need to share masts with the bricklayers on a 50/50 circa ratio. This meant that the bricklayers would take longer to complete their job, due to the time it would take to form and fit the cavity trays, as well as other products, ahead of them.   By using the pre-engineered Siderise CT Cavity Tray, which combines a flexible aluminium tray with non-combustible insulation, the installation team was able to install this lightweight element much faster with just a cutting knife and sealing tape for joining at details such as corners or windows. The requirement for specialist equipment, isolated onsite workshop zones, vast site storage facilities, soldering, sealants and installing insulation as a separate fix and was eliminated, enabling them to free up mast usage, with an estimated ratio of 70/30 in the bricklayers’ favour, speeding up the build programme.   David Ashworth, Project Manager, Domis Construction: “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.”  Summary Anchorage Gateway demonstrates, with tangible evidence, how traditional building methods can be improved using modern products that have been engineered and tested to meet the demands of contemporary construction, allowing the creation of beautiful brickwork buildings without sacrificing on speed or quality of build.  

Purpose-built facilities offering outstanding learning opportunities.DetailsYear2023LocationOxford, UKApplicationCladdingBuilding useEducationOwnerThe Gallery TrustMain contractorGalliford Try Façade/sub-contractorA2O Group Products usedRH Horizontal Open State Cavity Barrier RV Vertical Cavity Barrier SummaryThe project Bloxham Grove Academy is a brand-new, free school in North Oxfordshire designed to meet the need for local school places for students aged 7-18 with special educational needs. The purpose-built facility caters up to 100 students with a range of requirements, offering a mix of general and specialist teaching spaces, as well as the opportunity to learn vocational life skills within its mock-up flat and construction building. The project achieved an 'Outstanding' rating of 47/50 on the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) and won the Gold Award in the CCS National Site Awards 2025, thanks to Galliford Try’s inclusive approach, including having their own assistance dog on site, and using Makaton signs to visually communicate and give support to the children. The project also generated an overall Social and Local Economic Value (SLEV) exceeding £800,000 and contributed over £38,000 to local community projects, facilitating 108 volunteering hours and 60 weeks of apprenticeships across the project delivery team.  Design and specification Located in a rural area, it was important that the school’s design was in keeping with surrounding housing and agricultural buildings. It also needed to be robust, long-lasting, and low maintenance.   A mix of natural iron stone and timber cladding were used across the site’s one-and-two-storey buildings. The masonry was used up to the first-floor windows to provide a solid and robust wall at the base of the buildings and practical teaching areas. On the two-storey elements, A20 installed the timber rainscreen cladding above this, creating a parapet over the flat roof structures and adding a contemporary yet warm edge to the design. The low contrast and reflectance qualities of both materials create a peaceful, natural, and low stimuli environment for the students.  RH Horizontal Open State and RV Vertical Cavity Barriers in a range of sizes were specified across the site to maintain compartmentation within the timber cladding sections. RH Horizontal Open State Cavity Barriers incorporate an integral strip of intumescent material along the leading edge, which allows the cavity to be left open for daily ventilation and drainage— crucial to the longevity and performance of the timber cladding. However, in a fire, the intumescent expands in a matter of minutes until the gap is closed and a robust fire seal is formed, containing the fire to prevent it from spreading.  Siderise technical engineers worked closely with the A2O Façades team to ensure the chosen cavity barriers would perform as expected with the timber-faced façade. This included undertaking project-specific testing for complete assurance.  Installation The cavity barriers were installed by A2O Façades, who are certified by BRE to issue a Passive Fire Protection Certificate for cladding installations to LPCB standard LPS 1531. With support from the Siderise site services team, this certified that these passive fire protection products were installed in line with our recommendations and will therefore ensure the long-term passive fire safety of the school.  

To meet the passive fire protection requirements for a new 27 storey high-rise student accommodation in the centre of the thriving Welsh capital of Cardiff, Siderise, leaders in the development of fire, thermal and acoustics insulation solutions, has provided cavity barriers and firestops as part of the curtain walling system.

For a groundbreaking and prestigious residential building in the very heart of fashionable Knightsbridge, the levels of engineering innovation led to SIDERISE being the obvious choice for developing an acoustic material that could offer exceptional sound transmission performance at one of the noisiest junctions in London.

An architectural masterpiece in Dubai Marina setting a new global benchmark.Standing at 365m, the high-rise development is set to become the world’s tallest hotel, containing 1,042 luxury suites and serviced apartments set across 82 floors.IntroductionThe award-winning, sculpture-like design has been conceived to embrace the benefits of vertical living, with a glass curtain wall façade offering panoramic views across the city, whilst its gently curved form reflects the ever-changing daylight. To ensure this striking design achieved the necessary passive fire safety, specifying a fully tested and certified perimeter fire barrier system solution from an experienced manufacturer was vital.Design and specificationThe skyscraper’s beautifully curved unitised glass façade presented an interesting challenge when it came to specifying suitable passive fire protection. In accordance with the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code, the curtain wall elevations required a perimeter fire containment system, comprising a firestopping system installed continuously between the floor slab edge and spandrel panel at each floor and included protection to the spandrel zone. This solution also needed to have proven its fire resistance performance in achieving a challenging 2 hour minimum (EI 120 or FT 120) fire rating. What’s more, the specification called for the use of perimeter firestopping seals that could maintain their integrity around the curved elements of the design, and that would be able to continue providing the required fire resistance should sections of the façade collapse. It also stated that any firestopping assembly should be procured from a single manufacturer that had a minimum of three years’ experience in the market.With over 50 years’ experience in the development, manufacture, and supply of passive fire protection products, Siderise were ideally placed to meet the project’s strict criterion and its enhanced perimeter fire barrier system was specified from the outset.The chosen system uses CW-FS Curtain Wall Firestops to provide 2 hour fire resistance for floor-to-floor horizontal compartmentation and zone-to-zone vertical compartmentation at each partition and curtain wall interface. This was supported with a single layer of CW-FB Curtain Wall Fireboard to provide the required 2-hour fire resistance to the spandrel and vertical mullions at each building level. The UAE Fire and Life Safety Code compliant system designs for this project was based on two tested and certified systems, one to EN 1364-4: 2014 and the other ASTM E 2307.The EN 1364-4 test included movement cycling of CW-FS Firestop to EAD 350141-00-1106 before fire testing to demonstrate that the perimeter fire barrier will be able to withstand the constant deflection of the façade due to forces such as wind and occupancy loads acting upon it. The product easily accommodates this movement thanks to its unique pre-compressed vertical-fibre stonewool Lamella construction. This also makes it ideal for ensuring integrity within the curved elements of the construction as its compression allows it to fit tightly against the floor slab and curtain wall, even in areas with an inconsistent void gap.Installation and inspectionInstallation quality is fundamental to the performance of passive fire protection products. To ensure this is achieved, our UAE technical team along with GIG’s site services team conducted site installation training. This included constructing a façade mock-up assembly for each fire rated design to clearly illustrate how to properly install the spandrel protection system and demonstrate the expected standard of work to identify the corrective actions that need to be taken before sign-off by the project consultant.

For what is one of the world’s most spectacular and busiest entertainment venues, the £125 million SSE Hydro in Glasgow required an acoustic solution that could deliver consistent high-quality sound for music and sport events within the arena bowl. Leading manufacturer of fire, acoustic and thermal insulation products Siderise met the challenge.

The project A 20-storey tower designed with tomorrow’s technology and sustainability requirements in mind DNR Altitude combines next-generation commercial office opportunities with retail and lifestyle amenities in Bangalore’s emerging Yeshwantpur business corridor.  DetailsYear2025LocationBangalore, India Building useGrade A+ Commercial Office DeveloperHines India Real Estate Pvt., LtdFacade ConsultantFacet Façade Consultancy Pvt. LtdProducts usedSiderise CW-FS120 Firestop SummaryDNR Altitude features modern architecture and a prime location, connected to the central business district and forming part of a rapidly transforming hub in Yeshwantpur. Proud to be a Transit Orientated Development (TOD), it complements and connects Bangalore’s various key landmarks.  The new building has been designed and built with both occupier and planetary health in mind. A key part of this approach was the high-performance glass curtain wall façade that envelopes the entire 20-storey, 768,524 sq.ft structure. This airtight finish not only helps maintain stable air temperatures within, but grants occupants access to an abundance of natural light proven to support health, wellbeing and productivity in office spaces. For the compartmentation provision at the soffit and at the joint between the floor slab and curtain wall, Siderise CW-FS120 Firestop was specified to provide the required fire resistance performance, delivering a code-compliant passive fire protection solution— a key priority for global developer, Hines.  The Siderise Technical Services team supported the specification process by supplying product details, a detailed technical report and certification in regard to UL ratings.The Siderise Site Services team were later appointed to provide comprehensive product installation training to the site operatives and to oversee a benchmark installation. The team will also assist with a thorough inspection after the works are completed to certify that the installation adheres to our recommendations and expected quality standards.  

When the 2012 Olympics design team wanted a third party accredited firestop, with tested high acoustic performance, to close the movement cavity between the rear of the facade and the partitions and floor slabs, SIDERISE was their only choice. For London’s most prestigious event they demanded that performance levels for the Athletes Village not only met, but exceeded the criteria demanded by Building Regulations ‘Approved Document E’.

The project The £1.3 billion transformation of Olympia Exhibition Centre is one of London’s most exciting redevelopments, blending its iconic 140-year-old Victorian halls with modern design to create a dynamic, multi-purpose destination. The new G Gate Building will serve as the primary logistics hub, housing office, exhibition space, and one of the largest theatres built in London since the 1970s. To unite historic and modern elements and reflect its dramatic purpose, the superstructure’s façade features huge triangular fins, echoing pleats of backstage curtains. DetailsYear2025LocationLondon, UK Building useLeisure  Building ownerOlympiaMain contractorLaing O RourkeSub-contractors:Alumet Systems Ltd Products usedBespoke solution using RH Rainscreen Horizontal Open State Cavity BarrierSummarySpecification To achieve the requisite fire safety and compliance criteria for this unique architectural element, building envelope contractor Alumet Systems Ltd, approached Siderise for a tested cavity barrier solution that could provide 30 minutes fire resistance without imposing undue load onto the façade system. This collaborative project required experimentation and innovation from Siderise to develop a solid solution for this peculiar detail that would work within the parameters of the existing design and preserve the aesthetic vision.In addition to the unusual shape, the inner dimensions of the ‘fin’ design aspect were 700mm wide by 1040mm high, presenting a compartmentation challenge due to the unusually large span sizing for a cavity barrier. To address this complexity, the solution was to create a stainless-steel mesh basket that was integrated within the façade panel, and which incorporated an elongated bespoke variant of the RH Rainscreen Horizontal Open State Cavity Barrier installed inside.TestingThe proposed design required test evidence to demonstrate that it would perform effectively in this uniquely shaped system and therefore would comply with the functional requirements of Building Regulations. We tested the configuration to ASFP TGD 19 Nov 2017 / prEN 1364-6 (using the ISO 834-time temperature curve and other furnace conditions required by BS EN 1363-1: 2020). The testing proved that the performance of the bespoke cavity barrier system achieved a minimum of 30 minutes insulation and integrity.The test was stopped at 67 minutes with the following results:Air gap Thermocouples (Tc) 19 to 28, with gap closed at 0 minutes following the requirements of prEN 1364-6 / ASFP TGD19 Nov 2017, max. temp above gap at start 86°C.Insulation criterion maximum temperature rise of 180°CMax temp was not reached for duration of test @ 67 minutes.Max temp at end of test Tc12 144°C, Tc13 183°C, Tc14 179°C.No Integrity failure for the duration of the test.Fire testing was undertaken at our laboratory in our UKAS accredited Siderise Innovation Centre, which not only made the process more efficient for our client, but also allowed us to provide all the required data and information necessary for the entire project team to be satisfied.Alumet engaged with Kiwa (IFC) for independent witnessing of the testing and evaluation of the test data which was presented in the final report, thus offering independence and assurance of results and evaluation of the full façade system.Impact on future projectsThe mesh basket concept has since been successfully adapted and implemented on other projects. It has also opened new ways of thinking for the research, development and testing teams at Siderise, and will be an adaptive innovation that evolves and informs future bespoke solutions for ambitious projects with demanding requirements. Chris Mort, our Director of Testing and Project Engineering, explained the significance of the project: “Our work on the G Gate project and collaboration with Alumet exemplifies exactly what our bespoke solution service is designed to do - create robust passive fire protection systems for projects ready to push the boundaries of what has been done before. This carries huge value to both us in Siderise and the industry as a whole, helping us fuel a virtuous cycle of innovation and improvement as we build a greater collective wisdom through innovation and action in collaboration.In addition, as the winner of the Innovation Project of the Year award at the ASFP Awards 2025, we were absolutely delighted that our pioneering work was recognised as an exemplar of technical ingenuity and collaboratively developed fire safety engineering”. To discuss requirements for your project, speak to our technical team here.

The project Purpose-built student accommodation designed to offer a vibrant living experience in the heart of Birmingham City Centre.Siderise partners with façade manufacture Ash & Lacy to deliver a compliant brick cladding system protected with verified passive fire protection, and worked with Acorn Aluminium to improve the acoustic performance of the curtain walling elements Year2025LocationBirmingham, UK Building useStudent accommodation  Building ownerVita GroupArchitectUrban InnovationsMain contractorMcAleer & Rushe Sub-contractors:Acorn AluminiumPrecision Facades Brick slip system manufacturerAsh & LacyProducts usedSiderise CW-FS120 Firestop Siderise RH25 120/120 Cavity Barrier - specifically tested as part of NaturAL X Brick CladdingSiderise RV25 120/60 Cavity Barrier - specifically tested as part of NaturAL X Brick CladdingSiderise MI5 Mullion and Transom Acoustic InsertSummaryVita Student Gough Street has been constructed to meet the increasing demand for purpose-built student accommodation across Birmingham. In addition to providing 540 high quality apartments set across 10 and 29 storey tower blocks, there is ample community spaces designed to help students relax, study and thrive. These include private dining rooms, co-study spaces, gym and sports facilities, and games rooms. To ensure the new development delivers a safe and stylish student experience truly unique to Birmingham, it was vital its design reflected the city’s heritage whilst meeting modern performance standards.  Design and specification To blend in with the existing historic buildings on the street, the towers' elevations were designed with a masonry brick finish — punctuated with lengths of curtain wall to provide daylighting. The facades also included textured and angled brick details to add visual interest and refer to the architectural details on the neighbouring Grade B Christadelphian Hall and Grade II Synagogue.  However, delivering such complex forms on a large development would be time consuming and costly with a traditional masonry approach. Instead, the project team chose to use the Ash & Lacy NaturAL X Brick Cladding System, a lightweight, mechanically fixed brick cladding solution. This provides the excellent durability and timeless aesthetic appeal of brick whilst delivering the cost-, time-, labour-and space-saving benefits of rainscreen façades.  One of the biggest challenges with brick cladding in terms of compartmentation is the irregular cavity width created by the brick tiles on the system’s outer face. This creates small, indented areas which are difficult to effectively seal with conventional vertical and horizontal cavity barriers. The historical solution has been to cut them onsite to match the profile of the back of the outer facade finish. However, this is not only time consuming to install but relies on a high level of accuracy and cannot be completed as a tested and certified solution.  Siderise was approached to submit proposals for a passive fire protection solution that could demonstrably meet the project requirements for a 2-hour fire integrity rating. Both Siderise RH Horizontal and Siderise RV Vertical have been developed specifically for rainscreen cladding configurations, such as those used with brick slip façades. To confirm compatibility with the NaturAL X Brick Cladding System, Siderise undertook project-specific testing at its Innovation Centre in Maesteg to several relevant standards using a representative build up. The Siderise passive fire protection system achieved E120 I60 fire resistance rating, exceeding competitor product performance, achieving the demands of the specification and creating a new product group dedicated to protecting Ash & Lacy Brick Cladding Systems.  For the curtain wall elements, CW-FS120 Firestop was specified to provide 2-hour fire resistance at the perimeter movement joint and ensure complete compartmentation throughout the building. MI Mullion and Transom Insert was selected for the profiles to reduce flanking sound transmission between adjacent internal spaces. Installation The combination of the NaturAL X Brick Cladding System with Siderise RH25 and RV25 Cavity Barriers helped to achieve a quick, methodical build process for the external façades. One of the key advantages at the installation stage offered by the Lamella core of RV25 Vertical Cavity Barriers is that has been tested to demonstrate that it can be used under increased compression. This means that there is no need to install intumescent pads running vertically between each rail. In addition to saving material costs, this helps to speed up the installation process, thus making the most of brick slip’s efficiency.  Siderise site services provided constant support to the installation teams, delivering product installation training and benchmark installations to demonstrate what compliance looks like. This was followed up with regular on-site inspections to ensure the CW-FS120 Firestop, and RH25 Horizontal and RV25 Vertical Cavity Barriers were installed in line with recommendations and the tested configuration. Result Gough Street is due to be completed in summer 2026, ready for the next intake of new students. However, their new residence is already championing creativity and collaboration. By working with Ash & Lacy and drawing on both companies’ expertise in creating safe and durable façades, Siderise has been able to develop a new suite of tried and third party tested solutions for the NaturAL X Brick Cladding System and create a blueprint for protecting brick cladding systems with tested passive fire protection solutions in the future.  

For what is one of London’s tallest residential towers, Siderise, leaders in the development of fire, thermal and acoustics insulation solutions, has provided cavity barriers and perimeter fire seals as part of the glazed curtain walling system for the Landmark Pinnacle Tower.

One St. Peter’s Square in Manchester provides 268,000 sq ft of office space in the heart of the central business district. The building has been designed to meet the extremely exacting demands of a BREEAM Excellent’, Grade A’ compliance. SIDERISE was instrumental in helping to achieve the required acoustic performance both horizontally and vertically though investigation and treatment of the potential weak points. This included a significant upgrade to the curtain wall mullions.

Twice the height of any other building in Cyprus, the ONE Tower commands the skyline of Limassol. Sitting on the palm tree lined seafront close to both the city’s bustling business district and its quaint old town, the new development offers 83 luxurious residences, leisure and commercial opportunities set across 37 floors. Its award-winning curved design reminiscent of a yacht’s sail, stands at 170 m high which, coupled with its coastal location, presented a unique set of passive fire requirements for its facade. Key informationCompletion dateSummer 2020SectorResidential | Retail | LeisureEnd clientPafilia Property Developers Ltd.Main contractorArabian Construction Company (ACC) | JV Partners | Joannou & Paraskevaides Group (J&P Group)Facade contractorGlassline Industries LtdArchitectWKK ArchitectsDistribution PartnerDPS TechnoIndustrial Ltd Products usedSiderise RH Horizontal Cavity Barriers for Ventilated CladdingSiderise RVG Vertical Cavity Barrier (galvanised mild steel brackets)Siderise OSCI Open State Cassette Insert DesignThe sheer height of the tower meant it was vital to ensure the facade construction contained adequate passive fire protection, complying with local regulations and ensuring ongoing safety throughout the building’s lifetime. After working with our products and our Cypriot distribution partner DPS for a number of years, facade contractors Glassline specified a combination of open state Siderise cavity barriers and cassette inserts. The RV vertical and RH horizontal cavity barriers are designed to allow the facade system to maintain airflow and drain away any moisture within its construction but, in the event of a fire, rapidly close the ventilation gap to create an effective hot smoke and fire seal. Both products achieve Class A1 to EN 13501-1 and provide 120 minutes fire integrity. The barriers are complemented with the use of OSCI Cassette Inserts which are Class A2 rated. All these products have undergone rigorous third party testing to ensure dependable performance. These include single product tests and testing as part of a large-scale system, such as BS 8414 (1&2) and NFPA 285, demonstrating their performance within a complex, high-rise cladding system such as that used on the ONE Tower. For more detail about the standards the products meet, please visit the individual technical data pages. In addition to providing straightforward passive fire protection, the stonewall lamella core of the RVG vertical cavity barriers allows them to accommodate the natural movement associated with rainscreen facades. This is especially important on this exposed seafront project. It is also for this reason that the cavity barrier brackets were specified in robust galvanised steel, protecting them from corrosion caused by the sea air.InstallationAll Siderise products are designed to be easily installed— a key benefit on this large-scale project, enabling it to be finished to a high standard without compromising the project timeline. The RV vertical barriers and then the RH horizontal barriers were cut to the correct size and installed by Glassline using Siderise galvanised steel brackets and foil tape. Where the two products met, they were simply tightly abutted, and the joints sealed with foil tape to ensure continuity of intumescence and therefore fire protection. The OSCI cassette inserts were then fitted as part of the cladding system, installed directly behind the cassette panels and in parallel and centrally aligned to the RVG and RH cavity barriers. This helped to simplify detailing and ensure the ventilation gap met the project requirements. Technical support and site services were provided by our partner DPS throughout the design and installation process, in-keeping with the Siderise ethos of standing by the side of our customers to deliver optimum results.Final CommentsCreated in collaboration with a number of renowned international and local firms and suppliers, ONE Limassol Tower not only stands as a symbol of the city’s exciting future, but also of what can be achieved when diverse skills, expertise and vision are brought together. The selection of tested Siderise products chosen for the project will help to ensure that the building remains a safe and beautiful home and landmark for the people of Limassol for many years to come.Image copyright (C) Pafilia www.pafilia.com 

Edinburgh city centre’s landmark £750m mixed-use Quartermile development is benefitting from a highly effective curtain wall façade sound reduction solution thanks to Siderise.

Luxury residential and hotel units set in two contemporary high-rise towers.Situated in the iconic district of Downtown Dubai, the Vida Dubai Mall development offers a mixture of luxury residential and hotel opportunities set within two strikingly contemporary high-rise towers. IntroductionStanding tall at 55 and 38 storeys, the project makes the most of its prime location with a gleaming curtain wall façade system that allows for floor-to-ceiling views of the surrounding city, including Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain. To protect the buildings and its inhabitants whilst ensuring code compliance, a fully tested and certified perimeter fire barrier system solution was vital.Design and specificationIn line with the stringent requirements of the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code, the unitised curtain wall required a protected spandrel solution comprising a firestopping system installed continuously between the floor slab edge and spandrel panel at each floor, which included protection to the exposed vertical aluminium mullions in the spandrel zone. This solution needed to have proven its fire resistance performance in achieving a challenging 2-hour minimum (EI 120 or FT 120) fire rating. The design and specification set out to find solutions from experienced manufacturers— a requirement that was also part of the of the September 2017 draft of the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code that had not long been released. Whilst exploring several wet-apply two-part systems, which contained components from different manufacturers, it was found that these solutions could not comply with all elements of the Code requirements, nor could they provide a complete and holistically tested protected spandrel solution. To resolve these issues, aluminium façade contractor, Zebian, suggested an enhanced perimeter fire containment solution from Siderise. The specified system featured CW-FS 120 Curtain Wall Firestops for floor-to-floor horizontal compartmentation and single layer of CW-FB Curtain Wall Fireboard countersunk to the reverse of the insulated spandrel panel along with additional strips applied over exposed mullions.Additionally, closed state CH-CB Horizontal Cavity Barriers and RV Rainscreen Vertical Cavity Barriers were selected for the non-ventilated rainscreen façade system used on the rear of the building to ensure this element was appropriately passive fire protected. CW-FS was also used for room-to-room vertical compartmentation, sealing the junctions between the apartment units and for separation between public and non-public spaces to ensure compartmentation was in line with code requirements, whilst also helping to reduce noise transmission.  Installation and inspectionWith installation quality critical to the performance of passive fire safety products, it was vital that the solution was fitted by competent installers who understood the specific requirements of both the project and the products— so much so that this was part of the stipulations of the architect’s specification.To ensure this was achieved, Siderise provided clear detailing and onsite training to its experienced installation partners, General International Group (GIG), on the installation of the full spandrel protection system. This was further supported by onsite inspections by technical service engineers, who produced detailed reports with visual evidence that performance-critical aspects of the installation had been carried out to a high standard and per Siderise recommendations. This included checking the products were installed in the correct direction (vertical fibre orientation), the right level of compression had been achieved, and any joints were tightly abutted and taped. 

The project Located in the heart of Manchester’s city centre, Waterhouse Gardens is an exciting mixed-use development being built on the historic former Boddington Brewery site. Its namesake is homage to the architect Alfred Waterhouse, designer of Manchester Town Hall and the nearby prison with its landmark Grade II listed ventilation tower constructed in brick and sandstone. This vibrant new neighbourhood has been meticulously planned to create a community for residents looking for the modern city centre lifestyle. When finished, the project will provide 556 high quality homes, luxury amenities, and 31,000 sq.ft of commercial and retail opportunities, set across five towers ranging from 10 to 26 storeys.  DetailsYearCompletion Q2 2026LocationManchester, UKBuilding useResidential I MixedDeveloperSalboyMain contractorDomis ConstructionBrickwork contractorKinlan Brickwork LtdRainscreen contractorLDG ContractsProducts usedSiderise CT Cavity Tray Siderise RH25-120/120 Horizontal Cavity Barrier  Siderise EW-CB30 Cavity Barrier and EW-FS120 Firestop  Design and specificationThe elevations of each tower predominantly features a traditional brick finish, echoing the historic red brick brewery buildings that previously occupied the site to create a timeless aesthetic that sets this modern urban development firmly within Manchester’s varied architectural landscape. The towers are joined with decorative rainscreen elements to create a sense of cohesion across the site. Siderise were brought in by Domis early in the design phase to address the passive fire protection and drainage requirements for the masonry wall elements. With a fire performance requirement for 2-hour fire resistance on all towers, we recommended a combination of EW Cavity Barrier and Firestop and CT Cavity Tray, which work together hand in hand.This systemised approach provides continuous fire stopping and effective moisture management sourced from a single supplier to ensure complete compatibility. Additionally, the Lamella insulation core of the EW Cavity Barriers enables them to be friction-fitted within the cavity to wet brickwork without compromising the stability of the wall structure, helping yield significant advantages in build program speed and sequencing. It also allows for the cavity barrier to be fully penetrated by masonry supports, whilst maintaining its fire resistance. Incorporating these into the design from the outset, and having the benefit of full masonry support penetration, helped to save significant money and time, as the team could omit including concrete up- and down-stands from the slab edge. Furthermore, Waterhouse Gardens was the first project to have our newly launched RH25-120/120 Horizontal Cavity Barrier, which was installed by LDG Contracts after the fire performance specification for the rainscreen element was changed from 90-minutes to two-hours by the project team. Throughout the project the Domis design team had been developing their own set of standard details to make life onsite easier on both this and future projects. To ensure that the passive fire protection elements are properly addressed, they have been working closely with Siderise Technical Services, drawing on our own standard details and test data, and asking advice on what is possible. Installation and inspectionDue to the volume of product needed on this large site, the cavity barriers were supplied to site in slab form and then cut to size to fit the specified depth by Kinlan’s expert team in a dedicated workshop on the site. This helped to reduce onsite wastage, maintain quality standards and enabled a continuous supply of product, when and where the bricklayers needed it. Siderise Site Services have provided ongoing support throughout the construction phase. This included delivering Product Information Training and ongoing site visits to provide detailing advice and inspections to check the installation was progressing as intended. This continual correspondence allowed any issues, particularly relating to the interfacing of the products, to be rectified early in the build programme ensuring a consistent quality level across the large development. Additionally, in between visits, the installation team at Kinlan were able to self-audit their work via the Siderise Inspection App. SummaryWaterhouse Gardens is bringing the buzz and energy back to the former brewery site, transforming it into a vibrant community for the next generation of city centre dwellers to thrive. This past-meets-future story is echoed in the relationship between Siderise and the Domis and Kinlan teams. Drawing together our knowledge and experience, we have been able to develop a high level of quality and understanding which can be applied to future projects, from developing standard details to helping to upskill the installation team. This will help to ensure the creation of safe, compliant developments for many years to come. 

Products used:EW | Cavity Barriers and Firestops for Masonry External WallsBB-CB | Balcony Bracket – Cavity Barrier Siderise has provided a proven range of cavity barriers and an innovative new balcony bracket for a residential building located within a new sustainable community in north London.A landmark 64-acre regeneration project taking shape near Finsbury Park, Woodbury Down will feature over 5500 new homes and community facilities whilst maintaining a sustainable approach to development.Working with Berkeley Homes and façade contractor Swift Brickwork on Block B of the development, Siderise provided a range of fire compartmentation solutions including both the EW cavity barrier formasonry walls and the new BB-CB Balcony Bracket – a ready-to-fit cavity barrier solution offering 2 hours fire resistance, which addresses the complex detailing where a balcony interacts with the building envelope,and allows for simple abutting of the EW products to provide continuity of the cavity barriers.The ongoing and long-term collaboration with Berkeley Homes led to Siderise recommending both the EW cavity barrier to seal the gap between the inside of the floor slabs and the exterior brick façade, and also the new BB-CB balcony bracket - cavity barrier, the first time this innovation has been installed in balcony applications.Siderise developed the innovative ready-to-fit BB-CB solution for balcony applications in order to speed-up the installation and provide a tested fire compartmentation solution for an area where high workmanship skills were required.In addition to the bespoke technical support and guidance provided throughout the project, the Siderise Inspection App offered the developer an efficient way to effectively inspect, record and seamlessly audit the quality of their installation work on this residential building throughout the contract. By capturing the relevant information on a standard smartphone or tablet device, Swift Brickwork was able to highlight any issues in need of a resolution and ensure 100% quality assurance on the installation of the cavity barrier system.