Engineering Fire Safety in Complex Façades

Back in June 2026, Camille Destres, Director of Safer Building Design, and Iain Gray, Director of Façades, were invited to speak at the 219th edition of ZAK World of Façades Manchester. Their presentation, “Engineering Fire Safety in Complex Façades”, explored why delivering a safe, compliant and buildable building envelope depends on integrating fire engineering and façade engineering from the earliest stages of design, rather than treating them as separate disciplines.

Using the North East Space Skills and Technology (NESST) Centre at Northumbria University to illustrate these challenges in practice, the presentation examined how a complex unitised curtain walling system, multiple interface conditions and project-specific fire engineering challenges demanded a truly joined-up approach. Rather than viewing the façade in isolation, the project demonstrated how the fire strategy, façade design and interdisciplinary coordination must work together to achieve the intended fire performance of the building as a whole.

The presentation provides a practical example of BB7’s Safer Building Design approach, delivered as part of our Safer Building Service, demonstrating how an interdisciplinary approach to fire and façade engineering from the earliest stages of design enables project teams to interrogate test evidence, engineer beyond standard guidance and coordinate critical decisions long before construction begins.

As modern façades become increasingly complex, the relationship between fire engineering and façade engineering is becoming increasingly interconnected. This presentation explores why that shift matters and what the industry can learn from it.

Watch Camille and Iain’s presentation below, or explore our NESST case study to learn more about how BB7 applied its integrated Façade Engineering and Fire Safety Assurance approach throughout the project’s technical design and delivery.