Curtain wall fire stopping is designed to maintain the required fire resistance at the interface between the curtain wall and the building structure.
Depending on the construction, interfaces can occur at:
The appropriate arrangement depends on the existing curtain wall construction, surrounding building elements and the applicable fire strategy and design requirements.
Existing construction review – Reviewing available surveys, assessments, drawings and reports to establish the curtain wall construction and identified fire-stopping requirements.
Targeted investigation and opening-up – Investigating concealed interfaces where the existing construction or condition cannot be established from available information.
Defect assessment – Identifying missing, damaged, incomplete or incorrectly installed fire-stopping components and assessing the extent of the affected areas.
Removal of defective materials – Carefully removing defective or unsuitable fire-stopping components where required to prepare the interface for remediation.
Replacement fire stopping – Installing appropriate fire-stopping systems to the required interfaces in accordance with the approved design and system requirements.
Cavity barriers – Installing or reinstating cavity barriers where required within the external wall or curtain wall interface.
Interface sealing – Addressing gaps and openings at relevant junctions to provide the required continuity of the fire-stopping arrangement.
Adjacent façade repairs – Coordinating associated repairs to surrounding façade components where these affect the fire-stopping interface.
Completion and documentation – Completing remedial works and providing relevant project documentation for the completed installation.
Fire-stopping defects are not always visible from the external or internal face of the building. Targeted opening-up may therefore be required to establish the actual construction.
Our dedicated survey team, Trident Facades Surveys, can investigate curtain wall interfaces where required, including:
The junction between the curtain wall and floor slab is a key interface requiring consideration.
The fire-stopping arrangement needs to accommodate the relationship between the curtain wall, floor slab and surrounding construction while maintaining the required fire performance.
Where defects are identified, remedial works should be developed around the actual construction and coordinated with the surrounding façade and compartmentation.
Curtain wall fire stopping can be delivered as a standalone remedial service or as part of a wider façade remediation project.
Where wider defects are identified, the fire-stopping works can be coordinated with curtain wall replacement, external wall remediation and other associated façade works.
Survey → Investigation → Remediation Strategy → Design → Fire-Stopping Remediation → Completion
Experienced in developing curtain wall designs for occupied multi-storey residential buildings, taking account of access, resident safety, existing building constraints and practical installation requirements. We provide the technical information, specifications and cost detail required by block managers, managing agents and surveyors, including for Section 20 consultations.
Supporting landlords, managing agents and facilities teams with curtain wall design for commercial and mixed-use buildings. Designs consider thermal performance, weather resistance, structural requirements, glazing, interfaces and appearance, while taking account of active tenants, public access and wider site constraints.
Curtain wall design requires careful coordination of structural performance, fire safety, thermal performance, weatherproofing, glazing and interfaces with the surrounding façade. We develop practical design solutions, specifications and details in accordance with the applicable project requirements, supporting procurement and installation through to completion.