Fire cavity barriers are commonly rectangular in profile and compressed when incorporated between masonry skins of a cavity wall. Penetrating water can pool and reservoir on top of an unprotected barrier, as it effectively acts as a bridge, linking the two skins. A bridge provides a route over which water can track.
An alternative approach is to use a cavity barrier that is shaped. The sloping top ensures water is always directed forward – away from the inner skin. No top surface pooling can take place. The bottom of the barrier also slopes. Adjoining lengths can either be butted together to form long runs, or lapped above or below each other. In so doing the fire integrity, acoustic integrity and the sloping benefit are retained, uninterrupted. No other barrier provides all such advantages.
This building detail solution is produced by Cavity Trays Ltd of Yeovil, the longest-established cavity tray company in the UK and Europe, currently celebrating 100 years of specialism. The name of this particular cavity barrier is Cavi 60 Type SAF. The Cavi 60 indicates a sixty minute fire rating, whilst the SAF stands for sloping + acoustic + fire. It’s all downhill to comply.
Cavity Trays Ltd
www.cavitytrays.co.uk