Click here for FRAEW and PAS 9980 information   

Hundreds and Thousands

Ever since the EWS1 process was introduced Harris Associates have steered hundreds of clients and thousands of third parties through the EWS1 assessment process. To enable an EWS1 form to be issued, a detailed in-depth specialist assessment of the external wall system(s) of the building first needs to be undertaken and the findings reviewed holistically. The investigations must be thorough and comprehensive and will require a degree of intrusive opening up.

The purpose of the intrusive site investigations is to identify the compositions of the materials used in the construction of the external wall systems. The EWS1 process also requires an assessment of any attachments such as balconies.

PAS 9980

The fire engineer then uses these findings to assess the risk of external fire spread and considers the overall situation against advice issued by DLUHC, which since February 2022 primarily comprises the new assessment framework – PAS 9980 (link to new publication).  

The previous government guidance comprising of the MHCLG Consolidated Advice Note issued in January 2020 and the Supplementary Note issued in November 2020 are often used by assessors and engineers for reference purposes.  Once the fire engineer has completed the assessment, an EWS1 form / certificate is issued.

Our services include:

Co-ordinating and undertaking intrusive site investigations

Coordinating contractors and specialist access equipment

Coordinating inspection by a fire engineer

Quality checking the fire engineering output including façade assessment and EWS1

Preparing Executive Summary to support findings and setting out a road map of next steps

Assisting clients with MHCLG / DLUHC BSF fund applications and appeals

In-depth reporting and assessment to determine compliance with Building Regulations

Procurement & project management of remediation schemes