Siderise Updates Its Masonry Cavity Barrier And Firestop Range With Pioneering Open State Solutions

Siderise has launched three new Masonry open state cavity barrier products for 25 and 50mm air-gaps. The fire resistance performance of the three new additions is IFC certified (IFCC), alongside the existing Siderise EWI Open State Cavity Barrier and Firestops, offering peace of mind that they are suitably tested and independently audited.

 The three new products that have been introduced are:

• EW25-FS60 with a 1-hour fire resistance (E 60 I 60) for air gaps up to 25mm. 

• EW50-CB30 with a 30-minute fire resistance (E 30 I 30) for air gaps up to 50mm. 

• EW50-FS60 with a 1-hour fire resistance (E 60 I 60) for air gaps up to 50mm. 

  
  

The complete range is available with 30-, 60- and 120-minute fire resistance performance ratings for voids up to 400mm and all products have been tested in accordance with the principles of the ASFP Technical Guidance Document TGD 19— the widely accepted standard for testing intumescent cavity barriers. Siderise are proud to have helped pioneer these types of open state cavity barriers as an effective compartmentation measure.

 Siderise open state cavity barrier products feature an integral heat activated intumescent strip that rapidly expands in the event of a fire to seal the cavity, which is particularly beneficial for overcoming the compartmentation challenges presented by inconsistent cavity widths that result from uneven, decorative or stepped brickwork.

 Another distinctive feature of Siderise EWI Open State Cavity Barrier and Firestops is that they are mechanically retained using full penetration brackets with bent tails for secure ‘positive’ retention. This fixing method helps prevent them from shifting forward and slipping off, which could otherwise obstruct ventilation and drainage in the cavity increasing the risk of moisture build-up, and could also result in the formation of unprotected gaps between the substrate and barrier exacerbating fire risk. Furthermore, in recognition of market demand, EWI products can potentially reduce the volume of cavity trays needed.

The Siderise EWI Open State Cavity Barrier and Firestop range is part of a complete suite of engineered Masonry passive fire protection and moisture management solutions for masonry external wall applications. www.siderise.com

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.

Siderise Accelerates Passive Fire Protection Installation With New Made-To-Measure Precision Cut Strip Service

To accelerate installation and enhance precision of its passive fire protection, Siderise has launched a new advanced Cut Strip Service — delivering ready-to-install, digitally sized cavity fire barriers and firestops for building façades. This innovative offering eradicates cutting onsite, reduces waste, and improves safety, helping contractors to achieve faster, more accurate, and more cost-effective installations. This marks a bold step forward in Siderise’s mission to ‘Go Beyond, contributing to safer buildings.’

Cavity barriers and firestops are often supplied in slab form for cutting to size onsite. However, through this new service, contractors can choose to have any Siderise CW, EW, RH and RV products pre-cut on Siderise’s high-speed, automated production line to meet their exacting project requirements. This results in precision-cut products that have been digitally sized and manufactured under strict quality control measures, ensuring consistent quality and mitigating the safety risks and inefficiencies of onsite cutting.

But this isn’t just about convenience. Using this service can save considerable time, effort and labour – therefore associated costs. To ensure contractors and project managers see these benefits in their project’s bottom line, the Cut Strip Service has been carefully and competitively priced so that its cost is negated by the savings made from a more efficient installation process and reduced waste. Siderise has developed the Cut Strip Service in direct response to growing demands for improved quality control in construction products, while also addressing global challenges related to site efficiency, safety, and the implementation of sustainable waste management practices on construction sites.

Gavin Rees, Chief Operating Officer at Siderise explains more:  “The Siderise Cut Strip Service exemplifies our ‘Customer First’ and ‘Strive for Betterment’ values. Pre-cut passive fire protection products offer major advantages on all kind of projects—whether it’s ensuring consistent quality across large projects, reducing site waste to meet ESG goals, or speeding up installation. By automating this process, we’re making it a standard offering across all product ranges, with unmatched lead times, cost efficiency, and confidence in product precision.”

Additionally, using pre-cut strips may help installation teams better demonstrate alignment with project plans and drawings— an important consideration for projects in regions with strict building safety and compliance regimes such as the UK. The Siderise Cut Strip Service is now available for all projects around the world,  alongside standard slab supply. For more information, please contact salesteam@siderise.com  www.siderise.com