The Vie Buildings – plain-English guide to common terms used during the remediation works
Why this glossary? Some construction terms are unavoidable. This page explains the words you may see in the Residents’ Portal, programme and project updates without expecting you to have technical knowledge.
| Term | What it means for residents |
| A1 | A European reaction-to-fire classification. In simple terms, it identifies a material with no contribution to fire. |
| Breather membrane | A protective membrane within the external wall. It helps resist external moisture while allowing water vapour within the construction to escape. |
| Cavity | The controlled space behind the external cladding. It forms part of the designed façade system and allows drainage and ventilation where required. |
| Cavity barrier | A fire-safety component installed within cavities to restrict the unseen spread of fire and smoke through the external wall construction. |
| Cladding | The visible outer finish of the building. The replacement façade at The Vie will use dark brown Benx Supertech cementitious cladding panels. |
| Construction Programme | The project schedule showing the planned sequence and timing of work to each building. Residents should refer to the live programme in the Portal for the latest position. |
| CP Board | The non-combustible A2-s1,d0 board installed after the existing cladding is removed. It provides a protective weathering layer while the remaining façade system is installed. |
| Debris netting | Protective netting fitted to the outside of the scaffold to help contain small debris and materials within the working area. |
| Façade / external wall | The outside face and build-up of the building. At The Vie, the remediation works involve removing the existing external cladding and installing a new external wall system. |
| Heras fencing | Temporary metal security fencing used at ground level to create the construction perimeter and keep residents and visitors separated from active site areas. |
| Inspection / close-up | Before a completed layer or detail is covered by the next part of the façade, it is inspected and recorded as part of the project quality-assurance process. |
| Making good | Repairing or reinstating an area affected by the construction works so that it is left appropriately finished when the relevant work is complete. |
| Remediation works | The work being carried out to remove elements of the existing external wall and replace them with the new, improved façade construction. |
| Resident Liaison | The communication link between residents and the project team. Questions and non-urgent concerns can be raised using Contact Us within the Residents’ Portal. |
| Scaffold lift | A horizontal working level or platform within the scaffolding. The word “lift” in this context does not mean a passenger lift. |
| Scaffolding | The temporary working platform erected around the building so workers can safely reach the external façade. Residents and visitors must not access the scaffold. |
| Sheathing board | A board fixed over the building structure which forms part of the external wall build-up and provides a suitable layer for the subsequent façade components. |
| Site compound | The controlled construction area used by SCF for carrying out and managing the works. Areas inside the construction perimeter are not accessible to residents. |
| Substructure / rails | The supporting rails and associated components fixed to the building to provide the structure onto which the new external cladding is installed. |
| Window / door restrictor | A temporary safety and security device used to limit opening or prevent access from an apartment, balcony or terrace onto the scaffold or construction area. |