Plasterboard manufacturer Siniat has joined forces with fixings specialist Sympafix to address the often-overlooked challenges of appropriate/ suitable fixings as recommended by fixing manufacturers, which is commonly referenced in most specifications.
Having recently announced it will assume design liability for its systems, Siniat is now driving improved collaboration with third-party suppliers to overcome some common issues seen in UK construction that could pose a risk to system performance.
While design details from manufacturers such as Siniat will quote the use of ‘appropriate’ or ‘suitable’ fixings, the detail of these design elements are often overlooked in practice.
Having been tested in partitions to EN 1364-1, Sympafix C45 and C70 gas fired nails have now been approved for use with Siniat fire-rated partitions up to 120 minutes.
As a result, Sympafix can now offer a 50-year warranty for its gas actuated nails where they are used with Siniat’s drywall systems.
Richard Chick, Technical Sales Director at Sympafix UK, said: “Under the Building Safety Act, liability for building safety defects can extend to 15 years prospectively – and up to 30 years retrospectively in certain cases.
“That liability applies to designers, contractors, sub-contractors and manufacturers. Many drywall system manufacturers offer ‘lifetime of the building’ warranties on their systems — typically covering boards and framing but, crucially, excluding third-party anchors.
“Working together Siniat and Sympafix have tackled this directly by signposting appropriate components that also deliver long-term reassurance on performance. Sympafix now offers a 50-year warranty on gas actuated nails when used in Siniat systems, which is aligned with Siniat’s drywall system lifetime warranty.”
Steve Warriner, Head of Specification at Siniat, added: “Fixings represent a critical interface between the partition system and the supporting substrate, directly influencing stability and performance.
“By working in collaboration with Sympafix, they can provide certified fixings tailored to the right application. Sympafix also offers on‑site testing to ensure that real‑world performance aligns with the design intent.
“This collaboration represents another step forward in best practice, and we’re pleased that our two companies can work closely together to provide enhanced confidence and extended warranties for our customers.”
Part of the Etex group, Siniat is a specialist plasterboard manufacturer committed to providing market leading testing for its systems. This is supported by the company taking design liability for its system details. Sympafix has more than 100 years’ experience in delivering structural anchoring for the construction industry and manufactures a range of specialist fixings.
