Phil Marsh, Production Manager from Speedpanel, discusses how specifiers can now select A2 rated spandrel panels as one comprehensive system via NBS Source.
Based in North Yorkshire, Speedclad is a principal and specialist contractor delivering design, supply and installation of rainscreen cladding, curtain walling and glazed facades. We caught up with Phil Marsh, Production Manager, to find out more about the Speedpanel A2® range of products, which are available to find, select and specify via NBS Source. Here’s what Phil had to say…
Even before the introduction of updated building regulations, there was a clear need for an A2 fire rated spandrel panel that did not compromise on other key requirements such as aesthetics, thermal performance, durability or ease of installation. The challenge was combining all these elements as whilst many manufacturers can achieve an A2 or A1 rating for individual elements of their products, the addition of adhesive – necessary in a composite panel – makes it difficult to achieve this level of performance for the complete product.
We worked in partnership with one of the world’s leading adhesive providers to develop a unique adhesive that enables the Speedpanel suite of aluminum or glass-faced glazed-in spandrel panels to achieve A2-s1, d0, independently tested and certified by WarringtonFire.
We’re particularly proud of our glass-faced spandrel panel, which is currently unique in the market and opens up new design possibilities for curtain walling whilst retaining excellent fire and thermal performance in the spandrel zone.
The integration between Source and NBS Chorus is central to how we work with specifiers, it enables collaboration between us and the specifier to ensure that the specification is created to the highest possible standards.
"Our product information and materials on NBS Source are regularly updated because we want to make sure specifiers have access to the most comprehensive product information possible."
Specify strict fire safety standards for your next project with the Speedpanel A2® range, available now via NBS Source.
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Today, NBS (part of Hubexo), the platform for connected construction information, announces a long-term strategic partnership with BDP, a major global multidisciplinary practice of architects, designers, engineers and urbanists. The partnership recognises BDP's integral role in the development of NBS LCA, a new life-cycle carbon assessment platform providing professionals with high-quality, reliable and easy-to-use carbon data to ensure accurate tracking as construction projects evolve. BDP's primary contribution to NBS LCA has been the development of more than 1,300 pre-calculated generic assemblies, covering the most commonly used building fabric elements alongside key concrete and steel structural elements. These assemblies provide whole-element carbon data, giving designers consistent, UK-relevant carbon benchmarks from the earliest stages of project design. Users can easily and instantly apply carbon rates to a range of pre-configured common building elements, including walls, floors, and roofs. Developed by BDP and NBS, the assemblies remove the need for designers to manually build up material layers or calculate individual components at the concept stage. This saves significant time and effort, enabling proportionate and responsible carbon evaluation early in the design process, when decisions have the greatest impact on a project's overall carbon footprint. BDP also participated in collaborative workshops that directly informed the development of NBS LCA, helping to shape a tool that is practical, accessible and aligned with real-world UK construction workflows. Dr Lee Jones, Head of Sustainability at Hubexo, said: “BDP's contribution to NBS LCA has been invaluable. Their depth of project experience and technical knowledge has directly shaped the generic assemblies at the heart of the platform. These assemblies give designers a reliable, UK-relevant starting point for carbon assessment, without the burden of building everything from scratch. This is exactly the kind of collaboration that moves the industry forward, and we're proud to be working with BDP on a long-term basis.” Julia Yao, Associate, Sustainability Consultant at BDP, said: “Carbon assessment needs to be embedded in design from day one, not bolted on at the end. Working with NBS to develop its LCA product has been a genuine opportunity to put that principle into practice. The generic assemblies we developed draw on real project data and are designed to give designers meaningful, actionable carbon information at the concept stage. We're delighted to see them at the core of a platform that will be used across the industry.” With the UK Government outlining its commitment to responsible carbon reporting through its Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, professionals need reliable, easy-to-use tools to assess and report embodied carbon. NBS LCA addresses this need by integrating carbon calculations with live design work, drawing on structured data from Circular Ecology's ICE Database and more than 12,500 verified, specification-ready construction products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) from NBS Source and ECO Portal. Over the coming months, NBS and BDP will continue to develop their partnership, with a shared commitment to improving the quality and accessibility of carbon data for construction professionals across the UK. NBS LCA is available now, with flexible subscriptions designed for all professionals. For more information, visit the website here.
