Cavity barrier installation: Cavity barriers, installed with the façade
A cavity barrier closes a hidden space, such as the cavity behind cladding, so that fire and smoke cannot spread through it. We install cavity barriers as part of our façade and recladding packages, in the same sequence as the SFS, boards, insulation and cladding, so the barrier line is built by the team that builds the wall.
- Approved installer since 2020
- FIRAS
- Projects with boards and fire barriers in our scope
- 22
- Project capacity
- Up to £50m
Why the façade contractor should fit them
Fire stopping is most easily compromised where one trade hands over to the next. Because we install the SFS, boards, cladding, partitions and ceilings, we can fit cavity barriers and fire stopping in the right sequence as the wall goes up, instead of returning to openings that are already closed.
- One team, one sequence. Frame, boards, insulation, barriers and cladding go on in order, by our own supervised teams.
- One package to price. Strip-out, framing, boards, insulation, cavity barriers and new cladding can all sit in one package with us.
- One answer for the wall. The main contractor deals with one specialist for the external wall rather than separate framing, cladding and barrier trades.
Where we install cavity barriers
- Façade cavities and building voids: in the cavities behind rainscreen and brick-slip cladding, and in building voids.
- New-build façades on SFS: behind brick-slip, rainscreen, fibre cement and render systems. On most of our façade projects the scope reads "cement particle board with fire barriers" or "external board with fire barriers".
- Recladding: when we reclad an existing building, new sheathing boards, insulation and cavity barriers go in as part of the package, with the new cladding. See cladding remediation and recladding.
Cavity barrier or fire stop?
A cavity barrier closes a hidden space, such as the cavity behind cladding, so that fire and smoke cannot spread through it. A fire stop seals the gap where a pipe, cable or duct passes through a fire-resisting wall or floor. We install both as part of our façade, recladding and drylining packages.
Projects with fire barriers in our scope
Every project below lists boards with fire barriers in our scope. Open a project for its full scope and photos.
London
| Project | Place | Main contractor | Our scope | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Nicholas School | Croydon | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, acoustic panels, GeBrik cladding, fire stopping, ceilings and partitions | 2020 | |
| St Dunstan's College | Catford, London | Willmott Dixon | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, aluminium rainscreen cladding, GeBrik, aluminium flashings and copings, ceilings and partitions, acoustic panels, fire stopping | 2020 |
| Twickenham Stadium | Twickenham | Willmott Dixon Interiors | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, Hunter Douglas timber acoustic ceilings, bespoke oak ceiling rafts, GRG ceilings, ceilings and partitions | 2019 |
| REEC, Richmond Education and Enterprise Campus | Richmond | Willmott Dixon | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, GeBrik cladding, Marley cladding, aluminium flashings and cappings, acoustic panels, ceilings and partitions | 2019 |
| Woodmansterne Primary School | Croydon | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, GeBrik cladding, aluminium flashings and cappings, ceilings and partitions, acoustic panels | 2019 | |
| New Addington Leisure Centre | Croydon | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, GeBrik cladding, ceilings and partitions, acoustic panels, fire stopping | 2019 | |
| Eltham Cinema | Eltham | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, aluminium flashings and copings, GeBrik cladding, perforated rainscreen cladding, ceilings and partitions | 2019 | |
| Canterbury Mills Academy | Croydon | Willmott Dixon | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, GeBrik cladding, timber cladding, external render, ceilings and partitions, acoustic panels | 2019 |
| Oasis Academy Arena | South Norwood, Croydon | SFS, Siniat external board with fire barriers, BTS rainscreen cladding, external insulated render, acoustic panels, ceilings and partitions | 2017 | |
| Eltham Community Hospital | Eltham | SFS, Siniat external board with fire barriers, external render, acoustic panels, ceilings and partitions | 2016 |
Kent
| Project | Place | Main contractor | Our scope | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Building, University of Kent | Canterbury | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, aluminium flashings, GeBrik panels, ceilings and partitions, fire stopping, acoustic panels | 2019 | |
| Sevenoaks Grammar School | Sevenoaks | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, external render, aluminium flashings and cappings, Euro cladding, Taylor Maxwell brick slips | 2018 | |
| Christ Church Academy | Dover | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, external render, ceilings and partitions, acoustic panels | 2016 | |
| Fairfield Leisure Centre | Dartford | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, ceilings and partitions, acoustic panels, fire stopping | 2016 | |
| Kent and Medway Medical School | Canterbury | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, GeBrik cladding, Marley cladding, aluminium flashings and cappings, acoustic panels, ceilings and partitions, fire stopping |
Surrey
| Project | Place | Main contractor | Our scope | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobham Free School, Phase 2 | Cobham | Strip-out of existing walls and ceilings, SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, aluminium flashings and cappings, GeBrik cladding, external render, ceilings and partitions, acoustic panels, fire stopping | 2020 | |
| Hoe Valley School | Woking | SFS, Siniat external board with fire barriers, external render, acoustic panels, ceilings and partitions | 2018 | |
| Nescot, Phase 3 | Epsom | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, external render, acoustic panels, ceilings and partitions | 2015 | |
| McCarthy & Stone, Guildford | Guildford | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, Marley cladding |
Sussex
| Project | Place | Main contractor | Our scope | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Brighton Metropolitan College | Brighton | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, aluminium flashings and cappings, cladding, ceilings and partitions, acoustic panels, fire stopping | 2020 | |
| Adur Civic Centre | Shoreham-by-Sea | Willmott Dixon | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, GeBrik cladding, Trespa cladding | 2019 |
| REEF Way | Hailsham | SFS, cement particle board with fire barriers, aluminium flashings and cappings, aluminium cladding, ceilings and partitions, acoustic panels, fire stopping |
Installed by a FIRAS-approved contractor
Express Group has been a FIRAS-approved installer since 2020. FIRAS is third-party certification for installers of passive fire protection, so main contractors can show that fire stopping was installed by a certified contractor.
Tenders and estimates
Pricing a façade with cavity barriers?
Send the drawings, the fire strategy and the façade specification. We will price the frame, boards, insulation, cavity barriers and cladding together.
Cavity barrier questions
Anything else? Call 01708 554777.
What is a cavity barrier?
A cavity barrier closes a hidden space, such as the cavity behind cladding, so that fire and smoke cannot spread through it.
What is the difference between a cavity barrier and a fire stop?
A cavity barrier closes a hidden cavity; a fire stop seals the gap where a pipe, cable or duct passes through a fire-resisting wall or floor. We install both.
Who installs the cavity barriers: the façade contractor or the fire stopping contractor?
On any project the main contractor's package split decides. When the façade is ours, cavity barriers are part of our façade build-up, so the barriers are fitted by the same teams, in the same sequence, as the frame, boards and cladding.
Do you install cavity barriers when you reclad a building?
Yes. Sheathing boards, insulation and cavity barriers are part of our recladding package, with the strip-out and the new cladding.