Understanding FRAEW: Fire Risk Assessment of External Wall System
In this article we are going to delve a bit deeper in the Building Safety Act, specifically the 'FRAEW'. The Fire Risk Assessment of External Wall System is a key feature of the Building Safety Act 2022. This blog post aims to clarify the FRAEW’s role and significance.
Cladding Remediation - Which buildings does FRAEW cover?
For the 18m+ Building Safety Fund, it's important to follow FRAEW/PAS 9980 rules. This means checking your building's walls and structure carefully. If you're applying for the Cladding Safety Scheme for buildings between 11-18m, you'll need to stick to the PAS 9980 guidelines too.
Delving into the Details
To conduct this assessment, a qualified fire risk assessor will utilise the safety legislation known as PAS 9980, which was introduced by The British Standards Institute in January 2022. They will examine the building in accordance with the safety regulations outlined in PAS 9980.
Prior to PAS 9980, the need to remediate an external wall system was assessed primarily on the presence of combustible material in the wall system, but FRAEW shifted the gaze to a broader more holistic view, focusing on the entire risk profile. And this broader look is what will tell you if any changes or remediation is needed.
The Full FRAEW Report
Your FRAEW report will lay out:
A breakdown of different wall types and their effects on the building.
Whether any works are required to the wall types, all in the name of safety.
Please be aware: the rules in PAS 9980 and FRAEW have overtaken the older guidance from the Department of Housing, Levelling Up and Communities, which used to rely on an EWS1 (External Wall System) and Consolidated Advice Note review.
However, if you were quick off the mark and applied to the Building Safety Fund before September 2022, you could still rely on an EWS1.
A fire risk assessor can give your building a comprehensive Fire Risk Assessment and help you decide if a full FRAEW report is required for your building.
How Inside the Box Advisory Can Guide You
Our knowledgeable team at Inside the Box Advisory will guide you through the complex provisions of the 18m+ Building Safety Fund and the 11-18m Cladding Safety Scheme.
We pride ourselves on helping our clients to assemble a highly skilled team of experts to make sure your cladding application or Building Safety Act investigations deliver what the legislation requires Our longstanding experience of submitting applications to the cladding remediation funds means we understand what the government bodies require, making sure your applications are up to DHLUC's standards and deliver the information the funds require to help ensure the building is remediated as quickly as possible.
Eager to learn more? We'd love to chat. Drop a line to Kiara at kiara@itboxadvisory.co.uk.
