With Gateway 3 requirements placing greater scrutiny on installation quality and project records, construction managers are under growing pressure to demonstrate that work has been completed correctly and in line with approved designs.
To help meet these demands in relation to the passive fire protection measures in facades, Siderise has launched its new Inspection App. It gives project site teams a means of capturing installation evidence, monitoring workmanship standards, managing subcontractor quality and building a robust audit trail throughout the construction phase.
Reassurance on installation quality
The effectiveness of passive fire protection measures, particularly cavity barriers and firestops, depends on correct installation. Even rigorously tested and specified products may fail to meet the fire safety requirements approved at Gateway 2 if improperly installed. Substandard workmanship can lead to Gateway 3 delays, costly remedial works and repeated defects across a project, as well as lengthy disputes.
More importantly, poor installation can compromise compartmentation, allowing fire and smoke to spread beyond the assumptions of the building’s fire strategy, with potentially serious consequences for life safety.
To verify installations and demonstrate competency, installers of Siderise’s standard passive fire protection and acoustic systems can now use Siderise’s new and improved Inspection App. It enables users to document installations in real-time on their mobile devices by capturing photographs and key project data. The app then converts this into a structured report that can be submitted for remote review by Siderise’s technical team to confirm alignment with their installation recommendations.
This remote approach not only minimises delays associated with arranging site inspections, but also allows potential issues to be identified quickly and before they are repeated across multiple floors or areas, which could result in costly rework or the rescheduling of subsequent trades and site activities
Supporting Gateway 3 application evidence
The app reports can also be incorporated directly into project quality records and the golden thread of information, helping construction managers, especially those acting as principal contractor, compile the evidence required for Gateway 3 applications. Because installation evidence is collected throughout the build rather than retrospectively at project completion, construction teams can significantly reduce the risk of documentation gaps causing delays during Gateway 3 submissions and handover.
“Before developing the Siderise Inspection App, we undertook a comprehensive research programme to better understand the challenges our customers face on site every day,” explained Lee Nichols, technical director at Siderise Group. “Those insights have directly influenced its functionality, creating a truly unique tool that is not only easier to use in busy site environments, but also integrates seamlessly with wider project documentation and workflows.”
“All interactions with Siderise through the new App now feed directly into our wider project management system, enabling us to generate comprehensive reports where required and identify customer-specific trends, such as recurring installation issues. This allows us to not only provide more proactive support to installers, such as targeted training or additional site visits, but also offer construction managers greater visibility into installation quality across their teams and supply chain.”
Inspections made accessible
Available to download for free from Google Play and Apple App stores, the Siderise Inspection App is part of the technical support ‘wrapper’ that surrounds the manufacturers’ highly tested product ranges, including technical advice, in-person installation inspection services, product, application and installation training, benchmark installations and more.
This holistic support makes it easier for all Siderise customers to be able to demonstrate their competence and assist them in delivering high-quality outcomes at every project stage and Gateway.
Learn more at siderise.com or email [email protected]
