EWS1: Is your building compliant & safe?
The EWS1 process is an important part of ensuring that residential buildings are safe and compliant with current fire safety standards.
Brooker Diamond can help you make sure your building's external wall meets the necessary requirements by providing an assessment of the external wall components.
If you have any questions or need some advice please don't hesitate to contact us to learn more about how we can help.
You can call our cladding helpline on 0333 242 2194.
Contents: Everything you need to know about EWS1
- Overview of the EWS1 Process
- What is an External Wall System (EWS)?
- What is AN EWS1 survey
- Who provides EWS1s?
- What are the different EWS1 ratings and what do they mean?
- How Does the EWS1 Process Work and Who's Involved?
- Benefits of Completing the EWS1 Process
- Common Mistakes During the EWS1 Process and How to Avoid Them
- Tips for Successfully Completing the EWS1 Process
- How Brooker Diamond Can Help
Overview of the EWS1 Process
The EWS1 process is essential under the Building Safety Act in ensuring that buildings are compliant with current fire safety regulations.
The survey form has two options:
- Option A for where materials used in the external wall would be unlikely to support combustion or
- Option B is for buildings requiring a more detailed review as combustible materials are present in an external wall.
Our chartered professionals will look at cladding, insulation and fire break systems to confirm how they will react in the event of a fire.
An EWS1 certificate can only be issued where a PAS 9980 assessment has already been undertaken.
What is an external wall system?
The external wall system is the materials that make up the outside wall of a building such as the outside wall of a residential building, including cladding, insulation, fire break systems, etc.
What is an EWS1 survey?
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has developed the EWS1 process as a way for property owners to confirm to valuers and lenders that an external wall system has been assessed by a chartered professional and is in compliance with fire safety standards, or to identify any necessary improvements.
The EWS1 (External Wall System) survey is intended for residential properties such as apartment buildings.
Who provides an EWS1 Survey?
Brooker Diamond's chartered fire engineers and chartered building surveyors can provide EWS1s.
If you think that your building may require an EWS1, please contact us and we can provide further guidance.
What are the different EWS1 ratings & what do they mean?
A1 (favourable) – There are no attachments whose construction includes significant quantities of combustible materials
A2 (favourable) – There is an appropriate risk assessment of the attachments confirming that no remedial works are required
A3 (unfavourable) – Where neither of the above two options apply, there may be potential costs of remedial works to attachments
B1 (favourable) – The engineer’s view is that the fire risk is sufficiently low that no remedial works are required
B2 (unfavourable) – The engineer’s view is that an adequate standard of building safety is not achieved, and the building requires remedial and interim measures
How Does the EWS1 Process Work & Who's Involved?
The EWS1 process typically involves a survey of the external wall system by a chartered professional.
This survey is conducted to assess the materials used in the system, such as cladding and insulation, as well as any fire breaks that may be present.
The fire safety assessment is then compared against current fire safety standards and regulations to ensure the building meets all required criteria.
The EWS1 process involves input from various parties, including property owners, lenders, surveyors and valuers. Property owners must ensure they provide accurate information regarding the external wall system to both lenders and surveyors so that an appropriate assessment can be conducted.
Lenders may also require certain paperwork to be submitted prior to or during the EWS1 process in order for funds to be released for necessary works if needed.
Surveyors will carry out assessments with due diligence and consideration of relevant standards, while valuers are responsible for providing independent opinions on the value of a property taking into account its compliance with fire safety regulations.
Benefits of Completing the EWS1 Process
The EWS1 process provides numerous benefits to property owners and lenders alike. Completing the process ensures that buildings are in compliance with fire safety regulations, which can help reduce the risk of fires as well as prevent costly damages.
Property owners who have completed the EWS1 process will have peace of mind knowing that their building meets all necessary safety standards, and lenders will be more likely to provide loans for these properties.
Additionally, completing the EWS1 process can increase a building’s value and speed up its sale or lease, resulting in a better financial return for property owners.
Furthermore, having an EWS1 certificate on file may also be beneficial if there is ever an insurance claim or dispute related to fire safety regulations.
All in all, completing the EWS1 process is essential for ensuring that buildings are safe and compliant with current regulations—a benefit that both property owners and lenders can enjoy.
How to prepare for an EWS1 survey
The EWS1 process can present certain challenges for property owners and lenders alike.
Property owners should ensure that all relevant information about their residential building’s external wall system is accurately provided to both lenders and surveyors. They should also ensure that any requested paperwork from lenders is obtained prior to or during the EWS1 process so that funds can be released for any needed works if required.
Surveyors are responsible for confirming that a building meets all current fire safety standards and regulations. They will carry out due diligence when assessing materials such as cladding and insulation, as well as any fire breaks present in the system. Valuers must also provide an independent opinion on a property's compliance with fire safety regulations in order to accurately reflect its value.
By following these steps, property owners and lenders can rest assured that their building complies with all necessary safety regulations while still achieving any desired financial returns from its sale or lease.
Tips for Successfully Completing the EWS1 Process
The EWS1 process can be complicated, but there are certain steps that property owners and lenders can take to ensure its successful completion.
First, property owners should provide accurate information regarding the external wall system to both lenders and surveyors so that an appropriate assessment can be conducted.
Additionally, lenders may require certain paperwork to be submitted prior to or during the EWS1 process in order for funds to be released for necessary works if needed.
Surveyors will carry out due diligence when assessing a building’s external wall system and materials such as cladding and insulation in order to confirm its compliance with current fire safety regulations.
Valuers must also provide an independent opinion on a property's value taking into account its compliance with these regulations.
Property owners can also contact their local authority or fire department for additional advice on how best to complete the EWS1 process. Additionally, they may wish to consult with a qualified fire risk assessor who is familiar with fire safety legislation building regulations and standards applicable in their area.
By following these steps, property owners and lenders can rest assured that their building meets all relevant safety standards while still achieving any desired financial returns from its sale or lease.
How Brooker Diamond Can Help
Our multi-disciplinary team has all the skills and qualifications needed to deliver all your compliance and safety needs.
Crucially, we have the relevant professional body experience, qualifications and indemnity insurance to satisfy the criteria set out by Homes for England and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
With offices in Glasgow, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, and London, Brooker Diamond is a leading fire engineering consultancy that offers a full range of services.
Our team of experts includes:
- Chartered fire engineers
- Chartered building surveyors
- Fire risk assessors
- Facade engineers
- Technicians
Our end-to-end service is designed to simplify the complex procedure of building and fire risk assessment offering a range of fire engineering services such as:
- fire safety audits
- fire risk assessments
- fire safety design
- external wall construction, and
- fire safety management.
Our services are tailored to your specific needs, ensuring that your building is compliant and safe and you can trust Brooker Diamond to provide an authoritative and comprehensive solution to your fire engineering needs.
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