Cavity barriers can go in at new build stage, as part of the planned build sequence before façades are closed, or be retrofitted into existing buildings where fire risk assessments, façade inspections or external wall surveys identify missing, damaged or non-compliant barriers. New build is the more straightforward scenario, as access to the cavity is unrestricted and the substrate and cavity width are known in advance.
Retrofit is more complex, since barriers often need to go into concealed cavities behind finished façades with limited access. Under the Building Safety Act 2022, accountable persons for higher-risk buildings are legally obliged to act on identified deficiencies. In occupied buildings, installation needs careful sequencing to minimise disruption, and phased programmes are common on larger residential blocks where the whole façade can’t be accessed at once.
In every case, installation must follow the tested configuration for the chosen product and align with the project fire strategy.