Etex to preview digital specification tools at London Build

Etex Building Performance will preview digital specification tools from its Siniat and Promat brands at London Build on 25 and 26 November, alongside demonstrations of FSi Promat’s existing fire stopping selection software.

The three brands will exhibit together at Stand E90 at Excel London, presenting tools designed to assist with the selection of construction systems, preparation of project documentation and identification of suitable passive fire protection details.

Siniat will introduce visitors to a new digital specification platform intended to simplify the creation of project packs. Promat will demonstrate its new structural steel fire protection calculator, while FSi Promat will show Version 4 of its Quick Selector, which was launched in July 2026.

The products address different stages of design and specification. Siniat’s platform focuses on organising construction system information, Promat’s calculator addresses the selection of structural steel protection, and FSi Promat’s selector provides access to tested fire stopping arrangements.

Project documentation frequently needs to bring together drawings, specifications, technical datasheets, installation requirements and evidence supporting the proposed construction system. Where several manufacturers and contractors contribute to a project, maintaining consistency between the selected components and their supporting information can require considerable coordination.

Siniat’s new platform is designed to accelerate the preparation of these information packs while giving users greater control over the documents they select. The manufacturer will provide demonstrations and allow visitors to register interest in access to the platform.

The software remains at the preview stage. Etex has not confirmed a date for general availability, published a complete technical specification or established which external building information modelling and project management platforms, if any, will be supported through direct integration.

The organisation of project information has particular importance where construction systems depend on tested combinations of materials. A partition, lining or ceiling may contain framing, boards, fixings, insulation and sealing products whose performance depends on their use together in an appropriate assembly.

Changing one component can require assessment of whether the resulting construction remains within the scope of the relevant technical evidence. A digital project pack can help organise the documentation, but the selection and use of that evidence still require appropriate technical judgement.

Promat’s structural steel calculator will address a different specification process. Its purpose is to assist with identifying suitable passive fire protection systems and preparing project-specific information for steel members requiring a defined period of fire resistance.

Structural steel protection design considers the required fire resistance period, the steel member’s geometry, the exposed surface area and the temperature at which the member’s load-bearing performance must be assessed. The appropriate protection system also depends on the product’s tested application and installation requirements.

A steel member with a greater exposed surface area relative to its volume may respond differently to heating from a member with a lower section factor. Fire protection thickness and system selection must therefore reflect the member and the relevant design conditions rather than applying a single standard arrangement to every beam or column.

Promat supplies passive protection products including board systems for steel encasement. Its technical documentation contains tested applications and installation details covering different member configurations, exposure arrangements and interfaces with surrounding construction.

The proposed calculator is intended to simplify access to suitable specifications and associated supporting material. Its published product information does not yet provide sufficient detail to confirm all calculation inputs, supported configurations or automated validation functions, and these should not be assumed before the software is released.

FSi Promat’s Quick Selector addresses fire stopping around service penetrations. Version 4 is already available and allows users to search the manufacturer’s tested systems by substrate type, service and the required EI fire performance.

Penetration seals are used where pipes, cables and other building services pass through fire-resisting walls or floors. The correct seal arrangement depends on the construction of the separating element and the type, size and configuration of the services passing through it.

The EI classification describes performance against integrity and insulation criteria for the tested application. A seal suitable for one service configuration cannot automatically be assumed to provide the same performance when installed around a different pipe, cable arrangement or supporting substrate.

Quick Selector allows the user to choose the substrate, relevant fire performance and service type before identifying an appropriate seal or fitting arrangement. Supporting system documentation can then be accessed from the selected detail.

Version 4 also includes revised navigation and access to datasheets and certification documents. These functions help locate the relevant manufacturer’s evidence, while the installer and design team must still ensure that the selected detail corresponds with the actual construction and its applicable requirements.

The demonstrations coincide with a wider discussion about building safety responsibilities. Steve Warriner, head of specification at Siniat, will lead a panel examining compliance, accountability and collaboration on 25 November at the exhibition’s Fire Safety Arena.

The scheduled participants include Alasdair Mealey of Laing O’Rourke, Dr Krish Parmar of Elevate Building Safety and Alex Masheder of BDP. Their discussion will consider how building project teams demonstrate compliance and coordinate responsibilities across design and construction.

Technical information needs to remain consistent as designs develop, particularly when alternative products are proposed or construction details change after the original specification has been prepared. Any change affecting a tested assembly may require updated evidence and revised installation instructions before work proceeds.

Early involvement of product manufacturers can help establish the availability and limitations of tested systems, allowing project teams to address potential conflicts before procurement or installation. These arrangements depend on effective communication between the responsible designers, contractors and suppliers rather than software alone.

At London Build, Siniat’s platform and Promat’s new calculator will be shown alongside the existing FSi Promat selector. The demonstrations will allow visitors to examine how each tool handles its own specification requirements before the two previewed products move towards wider availability.