Specifying the most appropriate firestop and cavity barrier solutions for any façade system can be challenging. With multiple manufacturers offering different kinds of products that have been tested to other standards – and sometimes no clear guidance from the national building code as to which are the most suitable – the onus is often on the building or system designer to conduct their due diligence and ensure that the selected safety measures are not only suitable for their application but also that they can confidently verify any performance claims.
This process often involves reviewing a range of product information, typically spread across numerous documents such as technical datasheets, independent test certificates, third-party listings, standard details, and more. Additionally, acquiring these documents from manufacturers and distributors, or collating them from various websites, can be a time-consuming and laborious task. That is why some manufacturers of life-safety-critical products have developed their own digital Specification Packs for façade consultants and designers, architects, fire engineers, developers, and specifiers-providing quick and convenient access to a single source of up-to-date technical information for straightforward and safer specifications.
What Are Specification Packs?
Specification Packs function almost like an encyclopaedia of product information. Typically centred around a specific façade application type- such as curtain wall or cladding systems – they concisely summarise all the relevant technical information needed for robust and accurate specifications, with live links to key downloadable documents and data sources.
For example, the specification packs are available for curtain walls, external cladding (both ventilated and non-ventilated), and precast and sealed external wall applications. They include:
- Technical datasheets
- Third-party certification
- Standard detail drawings
- BIM objects
- Specification information and clauses
- Installation instructions
- Environmental Performance Declarations
These packs can usually be downloaded free of charge and without a forced sign-up from the manufacturer’s website, ready to be used whenever and wherever project specifications need to be created. Since they are digital documents rather than printed product books or brochures, all information and links can be periodically checked and updated by the manufacturer, ensuring that users always have access to the most up-to-date data and certifications.
This reduces the risks associated with outdated material, such as inadvertently specifying a product whose performance has changed, which could result in failing to meet a project’s performance requirements. At best, this might incur additional costs and time to rectify the issue. At worst, inappropriate product selection could severely compromise a building’s safety, with potentially devastating consequences in the event of a fire.
Furthermore, while they can complement and integrate with digital specification platforms—often containing links to relevant resources – they are also available as standalone PDF documents that do not require designers to have access to any specific software or licenses. This makes them widely accessible and relevant to projects across the globe.
Added Expertise
Of course, accessing all the relevant product or system information is just the beginning. Passive fire protection is a complex yet safety-critical aspect of façade design, and those selecting solutions must have access to technical support from the earliest design stages. Early involvement can help to ensure that the products chosen for the project are suitable for the intended application while also meeting compliance criteria and being appropriately cost factored-reducing the risk of inadequate substitutions later in the construction process.
Specification packs typically include details of the services available from manufacturers themselves. As experts in their products, manufacturers can assist with project-specific specification guidance, ranging from product selection advice and calculations to helping prepare and review drawings.
Some Of The Added-Value Services Include:
- Design feedback
- Technical datasheets and parameter guidance
- Example detail drawings and AR 3D visualisations
- Standard details of example façade arrangements
- Project-specific product suitability advice
- Technical detail drawing reviews and overlays
- Method statements and sequencing information
- Mock-up constructions and product samples
- Project-specific fire testing
Often, Specification Packs also direct specifiers to the most relevant training courses and CPD modules for their specific application. For passive fire protection in particular, understanding how product performance is measured and how a product should function can make it easier to review and compare technical information from different suppliers and ensure that the correct test standards have been used.
Support At Your Fingertips
Ensuring the fire safety of our buildings must be a top priority across India. Specification Packs, like those developed by Siderise, can help designers across the region easily access all the information and support they need to integrate appropriate passive fire safety measures into their designs from the outset, protecting people and property in the long term.
For More Details,
Contact:
Siderise
Website: www.siderise.com
Email: siderisein@siderise.com
Phone: +91 998 700 4611
