For Responsible Persons and Accountable Persons overseeing higher-risk residential buildings — including housing associations, managing agents, freeholders and local authorities — understanding how Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) and Building Safety Case Reports work together is essential. Under the Building Safety Act 2022, higher-risk residential buildings must demonstrate that building safety risks are identified, assessed and Read more »
A Retrospective Fire Strategy is a comprehensive, expert-led assessment that reviews and documents the fire safety design and provisions for an existing building — particularly where original fire strategy documentation required under Regulation 38 of the Building Regulations is missing, outdated, or no longer aligned with current UK fire safety standards. At Fire Risk Assessment Read more »
BS 8414 is the British Standard fire test method used to assess the fire performance of complete external wall and cladding systems on buildings. It is a large-scale, real-world fire test that evaluates how fire spreads vertically and laterally on a facade rather than just small material samples. Since the introduction of PAS 9980, which Read more »
A Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW) carried out in accordance with PAS 9980:2022 is a structured, risk-based assessment of the fire performance of a building’s external wall systems. One of the most common concerns building owners and Responsible Persons have is: What happens if the FRAEW identifies a high or elevated fire risk? Read more »
A common question from building owners, managing agents and Responsible Persons is: How long does a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW) actually take? A FRAEW is a structured, PAS 9980:2022-aligned appraisal used to assess whether a building’s external wall systems — including cladding, insulation, balconies and façade details — present a life safety Read more »
One of the biggest questions building owners and Responsible Persons ask when considering a fire risk appraisal of external walls is: how much will this actually cost? A Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW) is a specialist, technical assessment carried out in accordance with PAS 9980:2022 to evaluate whether a building’s external wall systems Read more »
PAS 9980:2022 is the UK’s recognised methodology for assessing fire risk in the external wall construction of existing multi-occupied residential buildings. Since the Grenfell Tower fire and subsequent legislative change, it has become central to how duty holders evaluate façade fire risk in a life-safety context. This article explains what PAS 9980 is, what it’s Read more »
A FRAEW (Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls) is a risk-based fire safety appraisal of a building’s external wall system carried out in accordance with PAS 9980:2022. It is used to determine whether cladding, insulation or other façade components present a life safety risk and whether proportionate remediation or interim measures are required. Understanding when Read more »
A FRAEW (Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls) is a PAS 9980-aligned fire safety appraisal of a building’s external wall system to assess whether cladding, insulation or façade construction presents a life safety risk. It is used primarily in multi-occupied residential buildings to determine whether remedial or interim measures are required. It is used to Read more »
Fire safety assessments of external wall systems have become a central issue in the UK property sector in recent years. Two terms that are frequently used — and often confused — are: FRAEW — Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls EWS1 — External Wall System Form Although both relate to external wall construction and fire Read more »
