EWS1

Since the Grenfell disaster and the issue of the Hackitt report the safety of high-rise buildings, particularly residential blocks, has come under increasing scrutiny and there has been a drive to confirm their safety or to remediate the buildings. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) developed the EWS1 Form, and this came in to use in December 2019.

EWS stands for ‘external wall survey’. The external wall consists of the outside wall of a residential building, this includes cladding, insulation and fire break systems.

The EWS1 Form records in a consistent manner the assessments that have been conducted on the external wall construction of residential buildings 18 metres or more above ground level or lower buildings where specific concerns exist.

What happens after the EWS1 is completed?

There are five possible results from an EWS assessment.

• Category A applies where buildings have external wall materials that are unlikely to be combustible. RICS states that A1 and A2 findings “are not likely to lead to any further action.” An A3 finding means that remedial work may be needed on attachments to the external wall, such as balconies.
• Category B applies where combustible materials are clearly present. A B1 rating means the engineer has decided that the fire risk is low, and no remedial work is required. A B2 finding means that there isn’t an adequate standard of fire safety and remedial work/interim measures are required.

London and Kent construction Ltd are providing services to confirm if existing developments meet the requirements for the EWS1 form.

We offer an inclusive package of facilitating works, access equipment, reinstatement, inspection by a chartered fire inspector and report/ certification. Alternatively, we can offer facilitating works, opening up and reinstatement for your own appointed engineer to undertake the inspection.

Our services offer an invasive survey of the building, to confirm the make up of the external wall and evidence of fire break systems. We do not undertake desk top studies.