12th April 2025
As the ‘Golden Thread’ of information becomes increasingly prevalent, the construction industry faces more pressure than ever to create safer buildings.
In a positive step forward, the government is set to proceed with all 58 of the Grenfell inquiry’s recommendations to a varying degree, to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring again, the most significant of which include: the establishment of a super-regulator for construction; new licensing of principal contractors wishing to undertake the construction or refurbishment of higher-risk buildings; improved testing and regulations of construction materials; and the companies named in the public inquiry of Grenfell to be banned from securing public contracts and investigated using tough new procurement powers.
But industry experts caution that real, widespread change may take until 2030 to materialise.
In this article, George Danzey-Smith, Director of Commercial and Technical, outlines how ARC Building Solutions are taking practical steps to enhance fire safety today through industry-first corner testing.
The new Building Safety Act emphasises accountability and competence across the building design process and experience has shown that early involvement from all parties is integral to producing a clear, comprehensive and cohesive design that leads to safer buildings. That’s why we’ve developed a strategic partnership with Leviat, a provider of high-performance steel components for construction, to explore an issue that has been overlooked for too long: how cavity barriers and masonry support systems work together.
We’d identified a need for greater understanding and more robust data regarding the interaction, and so, through this collaboration which leverages over a combined 160 years of expertise, we’re not just testing products. We’re redefining the standards for fire safety and addressing gaps in industry knowledge, working together to improve the guidance available.
We know it’s no longer enough for passive fire protection and structural systems to simply exist side-by-side. If Grenfell has taught us anything, it’s that building components must be carefully integrated to protect the building from both fire and structural stress.
Traditionally, most product testing focuses on individual systems in isolation. But is that really enough? In the real world, building systems coexist, so understanding how different systems interact is paramount. By addressing this gap, we’re offering a fresh perspective on optimising solution performance and buildability.
This collaboration integrates ARC’s cavity barriers with Leviat’s Ancon masonry support systems to create a more seamless and secure approach to fire safety.
Cavity barriers, designed to provide fire integrity, and masonry support brackets, which provide support for the external masonry facade, are both critical components in modern buildings. Ancon masonry support systems are installed in high-rise buildings over 12 metres in height with an external brick facade, making the interaction between them and cavity barriers a key factor in the safety and durability of a significant portion of the nation’s buildings. But when they meet in a confined cavity—like in corners, for example—if they don’t seamlessly integrate, the effectiveness of both systems may be undermined.
This is where our partnership with Leviat comes in. No other manufacturer has undertaken this degree of testing, to this level of scrutiny, despite its clear benefits.
We’ve collaborated with Leviat on a number of physical fire tests using various support system profiles and wall build-ups to improve the amount and quality of data available. The insights we’ve gained—like test reports, third-party certification, and a Field of Application report—have far-reaching benefits, influencing future design standards for the better, and offering a comprehensive industry model.
Together, ARC and Leviat have improved the quantity and quality of cavity barrier and mason support fire test data, which in turn has enhanced the knowledge and understanding of this issue across the sector.
But we’re not done yet…
As interactions between these products can be complex and varied, we have further testing in the pipeline that will provide a greater depth of data and cover more of the scenarios we typically encounter. We will also continue offering installation training and site support, now backed by further verified data, to ensure additional peace of mind.
At ARC Building Solutions, we’re committed to providing complete protection for the built environment. That’s our promise. And this partnership helps us to deliver on that promise, backed by robust data and expertise.
But this is just the beginning. This industry-first corner testing isn’t just a technical milestone – it hopes to bring about real, positive change. We’re proud to be at the coalface of this new era of integrated, collaborative, and trusted solutions that protect people and buildings. We invite the entire industry to join us on this journey as we continue to redefine the standards.
