The shifting role of the specifier
In 2025, the role of the specifier is more complex than ever. Specification is no longer a matter of writing performance criteria into a clause and moving on. Architects and consultants are expected to guarantee compliance against tightening Building Regulations, align with sustainability frameworks such as Part L and the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, and keep programmes on track in an industry still facing skills shortages and inflationary pressures.
Traditional walling systems like blockwork and plasterboard were never designed with these demands in mind. They are labour intensive, slow to install, and offer limited sustainability credentials. Crucially, they lack the tested data needed to give Building Control and insurers confidence in their performance. Specifiers are therefore redefining what the “wall” should be, and increasingly moving away from legacy systems.
The limitations of blockwork and plasterboard
Blockwork remains widely used for internal partitions and risers, but it presents significant challenges. It requires extensive wet trades, long curing times, and scaffolding in tight environments. Case studies such as Oxygen and Victoria Riverside show that blockwork would have doubled installation times compared to advanced panel systems.
Plasterboard, often used to supplement or line blockwork, introduces further complications. Multiple layers are often needed to achieve fire resistance, and pattressing is required for fixings. Each stage involves additional trades, inspections and risk of error. Acoustic performance also varies depending on installation quality, making specification outcomes unpredictable.
Neither blockwork nor plasterboard has passed BS EN 1366-8 for shaft construction. For specifiers tasked with designing compliant smoke shafts, this presents a fundamental risk: designing with materials that cannot demonstrate performance under test.
Specwall as a certified alternative
Specwall A1 panels are designed to remove these compromises. Independently tested to BS EN 1364 for walls and 1366 for fire resistance in service ducts and shafts, they deliver E120/I120 performance, achieving both integrity and insulation for a minimum of two hours. Classified as A1 non-combustible under BS EN 13501-1, they meet the highest standard of fire safety in the market.
For specifiers, this test data provides certainty. Every project can be backed with documented evidence, performance certificates, and BIM objects available via NBS Source. Specification clauses can be inserted directly, with no ambiguity about what will be built or how it will perform.
Programme and coordination benefits
The technical benefits extend beyond fire resistance. Panels are manufactured off-site, cut to precise dimensions, and delivered ready to install. Unlike blockwork, there is no need for curing time or additional linings. Unlike plasterboard, there is no requirement for pattressing or multiple board layers.
This has measurable programme impacts. On MAG 318 in Dubai, Specwall replaced blockwork and AAC, reducing installation time significantly and avoiding programme delays. At Minories in London, where water ingress halted traditional works, Specwall’s cementitious composition meant installation could proceed in wet conditions without scaffolding.
For M&E coordination, the panels are service-ready, integrating routes for conduits and risers. This reduces clashes, allows earlier installation of services, and supports a cleaner sequencing process across multiple trades.
Sustainability outcomes
Specifiers in 2025 are under pressure to select materials that contribute to sustainable outcomes. Specwall supports this through:
- Off-site manufacturing with minimal waste.
- Dry installation, eliminating water use and site drying times.
- Panels that are demountable and recyclable at end of life.
- Reduced embodied carbon compared to blockwork, as documented in the BRE Environmental Product Declaration.
Why specifiers are making the shift
Specifiers are no longer satisfied with systems that only provide structural separation. They are seeking:
- Documented compliance with BS EN standards.
- Predictable programme outcomes without trade clashes.
- Demonstrable sustainability credentials.
- Long-term assurance for developers, clients and insurers.
Case studies from Victoria Riverside, Oxygen and Minories all demonstrate why developers, contractors and fire engineers are backing this change. Faster installation, full compliance data, and measurable environmental benefits are why specifiers are now redefining the wall. Read our case studies in full here
Get in Touch 