Brick Slip System
The Barracuda brick slip system is a mechanically fixed brick slip support system developed to provide an alternative to traditional masonry while preserving the appearance of real brickwork.
A mechanically fixed brick slip system
The Barracuda rails are manufactured from stainless steel and support simple 40mm thick cut brick slips. This thickness allows an adequately deep mortar depth, unlike many other systems where the mortar depth is insufficient.
The system is designed as a fully mechanical methodology and is suitable for supporting and securing brick slips to form the visible outer layer of the building façade. The Barracuda system can be used on structures constructed with reinforced concrete frames, steel frames and timber frames with backing walls formed from masonry, concrete and lightweight metal studwork.
How the Barracuda Brick Slip System works
Step 1
Substructure and rails fixed
Barracuda stainless steel rails are fixed to an aluminium substructure with integral gauge tabs to support accurate setting out.
Step 2
Brick slips push-fitted
Step 3
Mortar injected into joints
Mortar is injected into the bed and perpend joints to complete the façade and securely retain the system.
Compatible with virtually all brick types
The Barracuda brick slip support system is compatible with virtually all bricks of any shape or size, from all manufacturers. This includes bricks with large frogs, large or small core holes, and solid bricks.
Many other brick slip systems are limited to bricks that are extruded in a purpose-made profile, severely restricting aesthetic choice, or they can only use bricks with very tight face height tolerances. Barracuda was developed to avoid those limitations.
Because the Barracuda system uses cut slips, stock bricks and handmade bricks can often be cut so that each brick produces two slips, helping to reduce brick slip cost significantly.
Key System Benefits
Any type of brick
Compatible with virtually all bricks of any shape or size, from all manufacturers.
Automatic levelling
Designed to look like traditional brickwork
There is currently nothing like the Barracuda brick slip cladding system on the façade market.
Very importantly, the system aligns the top of each brick slip, as is the case with traditional brickwork, and incorporates proper corner and reveal bricks that are not cut and bonded. The variable length teeth within the Barracuda rails force the brick slips upwards, aligning the top surfaces so as to be indistinguishable from traditional brickwork. Most other systems align the bottom surfaces of the brick slips and therefore never have the appearance of real brickwork.
Mortar retention and secure slip retention
The Barracuda brick slip support system is compatible with virtually all bricks of any shape or size, from all manufacturers. This includes bricks with large frogs, large or small core holes, and solid bricks.
Many other brick slip systems are limited to bricks that are extruded in a purpose-made profile, severely restricting aesthetic choice, or they can only use bricks with very tight face height tolerances. Barracuda was developed to avoid those limitations.
Because the Barracuda system uses cut slips, stock bricks and handmade bricks can often be cut so that each brick produces two slips, helping to reduce brick slip cost significantly.
Designed around real-world installation
The idea behind Barracuda came from a long wish list targeted at solving problems considered inherent in many other brick slip systems.
The aim was to develop an alternative to traditional masonry that negates the need for costly and time-consuming scaffolding while incorporating rainscreen cladding principles and achieving more than other systems available at that time.
Barracuda is therefore designed not just for appearance, but for practical installation, real brick tolerances and long-term performance.
Where the system can be used
The Barracuda brick slip system is suitable for attachment to structures constructed with reinforced concrete frames, steel frames and timber frames, with backing walls constructed from masonry, concrete and lightweight metal studwork. It is suitable for use above DPC level.
This makes it suitable for a wide range of façade applications where the appearance of brickwork is required within a modern cladding build-up.
Supporting specification and technical review
- Specification documents
- Testing and performance information
- Installation guidance
- System drawings
- Supporting downloads
These resources are intended to help specifiers, contractors and project teams review the system in a clear and structured way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a mechanically fixed brick slip system?
A brick slip system allows the appearance of traditional brickwork to be achieved using brick slips fixed to a supporting structure rather than laid as full masonry.
The Barracuda brick slip system uses stainless steel rails and brick slips cut to 40mm thickness. These slips are inserted into the rail system and then mortared, forming the visible outer layer of the façade.
Can the Barracuda system use real bricks?
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What types of brick are compatible with Barracuda?
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How does Barracuda achieve the appearance of traditional brickwork?
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Where can the Barracuda system be used?
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Where can I download the Barracuda specification?
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