Specwall

Innovation overview and development

An overview of the product
Specwall is an advanced interior and exterior wall system with inherent insulation, acoustic and fire ratings in the form of a lightweight solid A1-rated panels which exceed current fire safety regulations with a minimum of 2-hours fire rating, and are ready to decorate.

It is not affected or damaged by water, does not encourage mould growth and can be installed before the building is watertight making it suitable for pre-build, Cat A and Cat B installs. The modular wall system has a single-visit construction process which reduces labour wastage and programme time.

Our factory-manufactured wall partitions are a versatile, precision-engineered product which can be used across all types of building as an alternative to blockwork, plasterboard and SFS internal wall systems.

How the new product was developed, including effective collaboration, knowledge transfer and partnership along the project team
Specwall’s A1-rated panel is completely non-combustible and was developed in response to a need in the market. In the years following the Grenfell Fire disaster the focus on fire safety in construction has been stronger than ever. Likewise, legislation is being updated and new laws are likely in the future which will demand extremely high levels of fire safety.

Funders are already acting to specify that construction materials are used which are futureproofed against possible incoming legislation and de-risk investments by delivering safer buildings. It was in this environment that Specwall proactively researched and developed an A1-rated walling system for the construction industry which uses modern materials and construction practices to provide a solution to an industry-wide problem.

How might this product have an influence on the specification
By choosing Specwall, you can upgrade your building project and enjoy a host of benefits at every stage of construction. The aforementioned A1-rated panel is 3-hour fire rated and has high inherent insulation and acoustic performance. This is delivered in the form of a 100mm panel which will also allow specifiers to reclaim floor space in the developments.

Key technical information about our A1 panel is as follows:
• No flammable material in the panel
• Cannot contribute to a fire at any stage
• Same weight and strength as standard A2-rated panel
• 100m depth, single-layer system
• Simple, integrated, stand-alone
• Price competitive with SFS or blockwork alternatives

This is a true low-waste wall system for use on your development. Less than 0.5% of the product is wasted and sent to landfill, making it far superior to alternative systems in this regard.

Furthermore, Specwall is a flexible system which can be demounted and reconfigured in situ without creating more waste, allowing you to change floor layouts following completion.

How the product improved productivity in the process and/or quality and performance of the interior system
In addition to the aforementioned fire safety benefits, one of the main advantages of using Specwall’s wall system is the ease of installation which simplifies construction programmes and cuts down on building time. Our wall system installation saves time and money, and is incredibly simple.

By choosing Specwall you will fewer wall types and components in your build. Panels are made to measure off-site, then delivered and installed in a single-visit construction process with no breaks.

Specwall panels are also water permeable and more robust than plasterboard and blockwork systems. This means that they can be installed before the building is watertight and unlock the next stage of M&E works substantially earlier than earlier systems can, leading to overall programme time reduction.

Combine that with its attractiveness, the fact it does not promote mould growth and the ability to decorate directly onto the panel and you have a system which improves productivity and quality of the interior system at the same time.