Siderise Champions Collaboration To Deliver Passive Fire Solution For New Birmingham Student Accommodation

Siderise has partnered with Ash & Lacy to provide a tested passive fire protection solution for the NaturAL X Brick Cladding System being installed on Vita Student’s latest accommodation development on the historic Gough Street and Suffolk Street intersection in Birmingham.

Vita Student Gough Street has been built to meet the increasing demand for purpose-built student accommodation across Birmingham. Due to complete in summer 2026, it will provide high-quality apartments and community spaces set across 10 and 29-storey tower blocks. To blend the new high-rise towers into the existing architecture in the area, their detailed elevations are completed with a masonry brick finish — punctuated with lengths of curtain wall to provide daylighting.

For the masonry elements, the project team chose to use Ash & Lacy’s NaturAL X Brick Cladding System — a lightweight, mechanically-fixed brick cladding system — over traditional approaches. This allowed for the durability and timeless aesthetic appeal of brick whilst delivering the cost-, time-, labour-, and space-saving benefits of rainscreen façades. To ensure these façades delivered the necessary passive fire protection to both comply with the regulations and deliver a safe building for future occupiers, Siderise was approached to submit proposals for a solution that could demonstrably meet the project requirements for a 2-hour fire integrity rating.

Both Siderise’s RH Horizontal and RV Vertical Cavity Barriers have been re-engineered specifically for mechanically fixed ventilated brick slip cladding system configurations. To confirm compatibility with the NaturAL X System, Siderise undertook project-specific fire resistance testing at its Innovation Centre in Maesteg to several relevant standards using a representative build-up. The Siderise passive fire protection system achieved an E120 and I60 fire resistance rating, which exceeded competitor product performance, achieving the demands of the specification. For the curtain wall elements, Siderise CW-FS120 Firestop was also specified to provide a 2-hour fire resistance at the perimeter movement joint and ensure complete compartmentation throughout the building.  

This combination of the NaturAL X Brick Cladding System with Siderise RH25 and RV25 Brick Slip Cavity Barriers helped to achieve a quick, methodical build process on the project. The Lamella core of RV25 Vertical Cavity Barriers has been tested to demonstrate that it can be used under increased compression— meaning that there has been 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 regular support to the installation teams, delivering product installation training and benchmark installations. This was followed up with regular onsite 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.  

For more information, visit www.siderise.com or follow Siderise on LinkedIn.

Grespania: Design And Sustainability In Perfect Balance

Grespania continues to redefine architectural surfaces with ultra-thin, large-format porcelain tiles that are suitable for both interior and exterior spaces, blending beautiful design with an eco-conscious approach. Designed for contemporary architecture and interior design, Coverlam represents the evolution of porcelain: lighter, stronger, and engineered with respect for the planet.

Large-format technical stone represents the next evolution in architectural surfaces - an engineered material created from a precise blend of natural minerals and advanced compounds. Compacting under 30,000 tons of pressure and firing at over 1,200 °C fuse these components into ultra-dense slabs of exceptional strength and stability. The result is a lightweight, non-porous material that illustrates the natural beauty of stone with the superior performance, and sustainability demanded by future forward architecture and Grespania as a company.

Technical Features include:

• Durability

• Stain Resistance

• UV Resistance

• Heat Resistance

• Hygiene

• Design Versatility

• Environmentally Friendly

Sustainability For The Future

Coverlam was conceived not only as a technical innovation but as a sustainability statement. Produced using more than 90% natural raw materials, and with a manufacturing process powered by renewable energy and closed-loop water recycling, Coverlam, as a product, clearly demonstrates how innovation can lead to meaningful reductions in environmental impact. Its thickness - at just 3.5 mm or 5.6 mm - means up to three times less raw material is required and significantly lower transport emissions are produced compared to traditional porcelain. 

Every square metre of tile reflects reduced energy use, waste and resource extraction - proving that genuine design innovation can go hand in hand with a care for the environment. Grespania’s manufacturing facilities operate under stringent environmental management systems, they provide ceramic solutions that optimise efficiency and comply with the most demanding environmental standard, this is key. The result is a product line that supports LEED, BREEAM, and other sustainable building certifications internationally recognised, giving architects measurable environmental performance data they can trust. 

Facades That Benefit

When used in a ventilated facade system, Coverlam becomes an environmental gain. The ultra-thin slabs, measuring up to 1200 × 3600 mm, form a durable exterior layer that allows air to circulate between the wall and the façade. This natural ventilation reduces thermal bridges, reflects solar radiation and regulates building temperature, cutting energy consumption for both heating and cooling. There is an additional acoustic improvement with noise reduction throughout. 

Even more remarkably, façades finished with the H&C Tiles photocatalytic coating from Grespania actively purify the air. The titanium-dioxide treatment reacts with sunlight to break down nitrogen oxides (NOx) and organic pollutants, effectively transforming building surfaces into self-cleaning, air-purifying membranes. 

According to Grespania’s data, 10,000 m² of treated façade neutralises as much NOx as 740 cars emit daily, equating to the purifying power of nine football pitches of green space. This dual benefit of reduced building energy demand and active air purification—making Coverlam the ideal choice for forward-thinking, sustainable architecture and design.

Technical Excellence

Behind Coverlam’s refined surface aesthetics lies robust engineering. Its porcelain composition achieves water absorption below 0.1%, delivering a high resistance to frost, UV exposure, and pollution. Despite its ultra-thin profile, it offers exceptional flexural strength thanks to its reinforced fibre mesh backing, ensuring durability in both new-build and renovation projects. It is lightweight and easy to install which allows facades and interiors to be transformed without the need for structural reinforcement or demolition, reducing waste and installation time. 

The material is certified under ETA 24/0747, confirming its performance for exterior facades, cladding, and flooring. The large-format slabs allow seamless coverage and minimal joints, creating a calm, continuous surface that highlights the precision of contemporary architecture. The clever combination of proportion, scale, and natural finish gives designers freedom to explore materiality without compromise.

The Concepts Collections: A Unified Vision

Grespania’s Concepts Collections is inspired by a holistic design philosophy - coordinating surfaces, furniture, and architectural elements through a shared material language. Each collection offers multiple finishes, thicknesses, and applications, ensuring design continuity across all spaces. The Imperium series, for example, reflects the beauty and sophistication of marble with fine veining and a luxurious polish; it is available in formats up to 1600 × 3200 mm for large, uninterrupted flowing expanses. Meanwhile, Coverlam Top extends this concept for kitchens and furniture, offering 10 mm and 12 mm thicknesses for countertops, tables, and bespoke joinery allowing for a coherent design flow. Each tile is designed for ease of handling, the mineable side and weight of each tile enables ease of installation. Perfectly suitable for single-person installation allowing for improved efficiency on-site. This integrated approach allows architects and designers to create interiors and exteriors that continuously flow fluently - stone, metal, or cement effects translated across floors, walls, facades, and furnishings.

Design But Make It Lighter

Beyond its visual impact and endless design possibilities, Coverlam’s sustainability credentials are tangible. Its thin profile reduces CO₂ emissions from production and transport, while its long lifespan and low maintenance requirements further cut environmental impact over time. The ventilated facade system improves building performance, acoustic insulation and protects structures from weathering. Simultaneously, the self-cleaning surfaces maintain their aesthetic integrity with minimal upkeep - rainwater naturally washes away dirt and surface pollutants. Through balancing technical performance, ecological advances, and design versatility, Coverlam proves that sustainability does not require an aesthetic compromise. It represents a material evolution aligned with the architectural priorities of our time: durability, lightness, and responsibility.

A Material For The Next Generation Of Architecture

As cities grow denser and environmental regulation grows, the materials we specify matter more than ever. Coverlam’s contribution goes beyond form and function - it plays an active role in the shift toward carbon-conscious design. Each facade or interior finished in Coverlam becomes part of an architectural ecosystem that generates less waste, consumes less energy, and even cleans the air we breathe. Whether creating a serene interior or shaping a landmark facade, Coverlam stands as proof that the future of architecture lies not only in what we build, but in how we build it.

For further information, imagery, or technical data, please contact: Grespania UK | architects@grespania.co.uk |  | +44 0121 457 6900  |  www.grespania.com/en

FP McCann ‘L’ Walls Form Construction Aggregate Stock Bays At Bristol Based Recycling Facility

FP McCann has recently supplied and installed its precast concrete ‘L’ Wall system on behalf  of Heidelberg Materials owned Bristol & Avon Transport and Recycling Ltd, who are extending their Hallen based operation with the formation of a new recycling plant with associated works for the washing and processing of construction, demolition and excavation waste to produce recovered aggregates.

Included in the construction works is the erection of product storage bays and concrete push walls along with perimeter concrete walls. Following a review of the stock bay and push wall options, the construction team at Heidelberg Materials opted for the FP McCann steel reinforced precast concrete ‘L’ Wall system.

This method of walling using an off-site manufactured precast unit, is a simple and fast process, eliminating the need for shuttering, steel foundation formwork and the pouring of wet concrete. FP McCann were approached by Heidelberg Materials to provide a quotation to supply and fix their 3.0 metre high ‘L’ Wall unit, following which an order was placed for the installation of 273 individual sections, comprising 255 straight units and 9 ‘L’ Wall corner (2 piece) units.

The stock bay walling supplied from FP McCann’s Lydney depot in Gloucestershire, has been set out on an in-situ concrete base slab. Each individual ‘L’ Wall unit has been dowelled into the slab using steel dowel rods to secure via the holes cored in their toe sections. A construction strength grout has been pumped into each dowel hole for added stability. The key considerations to the Heidelberg Materials team selecting the ‘L’ Walls, were the ease and speed of installation, accelerating the construction time and the tried and tested load resisting durability this precast walling system offers.

A further added benefit of the ‘L’ Wall system is that no propping is required during construction. Speaking on behalf of Heidelberg Materials, Project and Engineering Manager for Heidelberg Materials Miguel Valdés Menéndez says, “This FP McCann precast concrete walling system designed to withstand high loading forces generated by heavy plant, is ideal for this new materials stock bay project. It was evident that the FP McCann fixing team were well versed in the lifting, levelling and anchoring method and as a result, we are confident that the ‘L’ Walls installed will offer a long-term, low maintenance material holding solution.” Applications for the FP McCann ‘L’ Wall unit include:- Perimeter and Boundary Walls; Earth Retaining Walls; Stock Bays and Push Walls; Dividing Walls. www.fpmccann.co.uk