--- title: Fire Safety in Facade Design date: 2026-07-17T12:30:00+01:00 author: Lewis Drury canonical_url: "https://www.sbscladding.com/news/fire-safety-in-facade-design" section: News --- ![DSC 8828 SMALL](/uploads/generic/images/_1440x630_crop_center-center_none/DSC_8828-SMALL.jpg) - [ Home ](https://www.sbscladding.com/) - | - [News](https://www.sbscladding.com/news) - | - [ Fire Safety in Facade Design ](https://www.sbscladding.com/news/fire-safety-in-facade-design) Industry 17 July 2026 Share project # Fire Safety in Facade Design The tragic Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 marked a turning point for the construction industry, fundamentally reshaping the approach to building safety and façade design across the UK. Since then, stricter regulations and greater industry awareness have reinforced the need for robust, compliant and thoroughly tested façade solutions. Today, successful façade design must balance architectural ambition with the highest standards of fire safety, ensuring buildings are not only visually striking but also safe for those who live and work within them. At SBS Cladding, we understand that effective façade design is about more than aesthetics. A truly successful façade combines architectural ambition with proven fire performance, robust testing and compliant system design. Through our extensive portfolio of cladding, insulation, fire barriers and framing systems, we help create complete façade solutions that meet the demands of modern building safety. **Why Fire Safety Matters in Façade Design** Modern rainscreen façades are complex systems comprising of cladding panels, insulation, cavity barriers, membranes and supporting structures. While ventilation cavities are essential for moisture management and building performance, they can also create pathways for fire spread if not properly designed and protected. This is why the specification of non-combustible materials and tested systems is crucial. The UK's regulatory landscape increasingly emphasises the use of materials with strong fire classifications, alongside rigorous system testing standards. Fire safety must therefore be considered from the earliest stages of façade design, ensuring every component works together as part of a holistic fire strategy. **The Role of Non-Combustible Cladding** One of the most effective ways to improve façade fire performance is through the specification of non-combustible materials as part of a compliant external wall system. Aluminium rainscreen cladding has become a preferred solution for modern developments, offering a combination of durability, design flexibility and strong fire performance. At SBS Cladding, our Anvil Metal Cladding System provides architects and contractors with a versatile rainscreen façade solution that has extensive CWCT testing and can offer either an A1 or A2 fire rating, depending on the selected material and system specification. Available in aluminium, stainless steel, copper, zinc and Corten steel, Anvil enables project teams to achieve stringent fire safety requirements while maintaining complete design freedom. The Anvil range includes several façade systems designed to suit different architectural requirements, including Interlocking Multi Plane (IMP), Recessed Joint Fix (RJF), Secret Fix Landscape and Portrait (SFL/SFP), and Pressed Plank Secret Fix (PPSF). These systems provide options for both visible and concealed fixing methods, allowing designers to create clean, contemporary façades. Beyond aesthetics, Anvil's systems are available with a wide range of fire-tested materials and finishes, combined with appropriate insulation, cavity barriers and fire stopping measures, these systems form part of a robust façade strategy designed to limit fire spread and support compliance with modern building regulations. ![Walsall Manor Hospital 16 1](/uploads/generic/images/_518x512_crop_center-center_none/WalsallManorHospital-16-1.jpg) Walsall Manor Hospital ![Fusion Student Accommodation 11 1](/uploads/generic/images/_518x512_crop_center-center_none/Fusion-Student-Accommodation-11-1.jpg) Fusion Student Accomodation **Fire Safety that Goes Beyond the Cladding Panel** Effective façade fire safety relies on the interaction of every layer within the external wall build-up. SBS Cladding supplies additional façade packages that help create safer buildings, including: - [**Fire barriers**](https://www.sbscladding.com/fire-barriers/) from leading manufacturers such as FSI, Siderise and Tenmat, designed to compartmentalise cavities and limit fire spread. - [**Fire-rated membranes**](https://www.sbscladding.com/fire-rated-membranes) to enhance external wall protection. - [**Non-combustible rainscreen insulation**](https://www.sbscladding.com/rainscreen-insulation) solutions including mineral wool products such as Rockwool, Knauf and Kingspan K-Roc systems. - [**Framing and fixing systems**](https://www.sbscladding.com/framing-systems-fixings) engineered to support compliant façade assemblies. Research highlights the importance of cavity barriers and non-combustible insulation in preventing external fire spread, helping to maintain compartmentation and reduce risk in ventilated façade systems. **Designing for the Future** The future of façade design lies in balancing creativity with responsibility. As regulations continue to evolve, specifiers increasingly require partners who can deliver not only innovative products but also technical expertise and compliance support. At SBS Cladding, our team works closely with architects, contractors and developers to provide technical guidance, fabrication expertise and a comprehensive product portfolio that supports safe, compliant and visually striking buildings. Through carefully selected materials and system-based thinking, we help create façades that perform as beautifully as they look. In other news Partnerships & Events ![Bedford Academy 1](/uploads/generic/images/_406x280_crop_center-center_none/Bedford-Academy-1.jpg) 07 Jul 2026 Façade Awards UK 2026 Shortlist The Façade Awards UK has officially announced the shortlist for the 2026 awards, celebrating excellence across the façades industry. [ View article ](https://www.sbscladding.com/news/fa%C3%A7ade-awards-uk-2026-shortlist) Company ![Website on Desktop and Phone](/uploads/generic/images/news/_406x280_crop_center-center_none/Website-on-Desktop-and-Phone.jpg) 17 Apr 2024 SBS Cladding Launches New Website SBS Cladding is delighted to launch its brand new website to provide their customers with more information on their full product portfolio. [ View article ](https://www.sbscladding.com/news/sbs-cladding-launches-new-website)