PAS9980 Services London
The UK government has reopened the Building Safety Fund to accept applications from responsible entities for residential buildings over 18 metres in height that are identified as being at high risk from external fire spread. The re-opening of the Fund is in line with the recommendation made by PAS 9980:2022, which was published in January 2022 and in part replaced the UK’s 2020 Consolidated Advice Note (CAN) on the subject.
This new document lays out recommendations and guidance PAS9980 Services London on undertaking a Fire Risk Appraisal and Assessment of the external wall construction and cladding of existing multistorey, multi-occupied residential buildings. Its FRAA approach is intended to support the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2021, and it takes a risk-based approach.
In addition to providing a clear set of standards and directives, the PAS9980 also encourages responsible persons to act proportionately in their assessment process. This is in contrast to the prescriptive approaches used by CAN and the current EWS1 form. It is hoped that the risk-based nature of the FRAA will help to reduce the need for mortgage lenders, surveyors and valuers to request EWS1 forms, which can add significant cost to a project.
EWS1 is currently required for fewer than 1 in 10 mortgage valuations for blocks of flats, with many mortgage lenders preferring to use PAS9980:2022 in their assessments. This is in keeping with the UK’s new approach to building safety, which favours a risk-based approach over a prescriptive one.
PAS9980:2022 is not an alternative to EWS1. It is designed to be a useful additional source of more detailed information, which will aid in the production of a more comprehensive and accurate FRAA report. It is particularly helpful when dealing with complex buildings, or those whose external walls comprise a mix of different cladding materials.
A FRAA carried out by an accredited assessor against PAS9980:2022 will identify the underlying risks in a particular building, and will then evaluate these against the standard success criteria to provide an overall risk rating. It will also indicate if there are any other precautions that might be in place, which may in turn improve the original EWS1 rating.
If you require a fire risk assessment of an existing building over 18 metres in height, contact us to discuss your requirements and arrange for a survey. We are able to conduct PAS9980 surveys throughout London, and can advise you of the best course of action to take. We can also assist with other types of fire inspections, such as smoke and heat detection tests. Our team is highly skilled, and our experience means that we can help you to comply with the latest legislation. We pride ourselves on being a friendly, professional and efficient service. For more details, please visit our website. Alternatively, you can email us or call our office directly. We look forward to hearing from you.