FAQs

For buildings over six storeys an EWS1 form should be required where: There is cladding or curtain wall glazing on the building or there are balconies which stack vertically above each other and either both the balustrades and decking are constructed with combustible materials (e.g. timber) or the decking is constructed with combustible materials and the balconies are directly linked by combustible material. For buildings of five or six storeys an EWS1 form should be required where: There is a significant amount of cladding on the building (for the purpose of this guidance, approximately one quarter of the whole elevation estimated …

There are only a small number of suitably qualified Fire Engineers who can carry out EWS1 forms for every building. The Scottish Government is currently formulating a list of engineers who have suitable credentials. In the mean time, we are happy to provide you with details of Fire Safety Engineers who other clients have worked with.

In the first instance we advise approaching your Residents Committee and/or your Factor to find out if there are any cladding reports already on file (these will not be EWS1 Forms). These may provide some vital information before you commit. We are happy to talk you through this process. Alternatively there are details suitably qualified fire engineers that you can find online.

EWS1 surveys do vary in price, dependent on how in-depth they need to be. An EWS1 survey can range from £800+VAT up to £3000.

In Scotland it is the ‘owner’ of individual flats. So, if you wish to sell – this is you. This is due to the differing method of ownership in England and Scotland. In England and Wales, EWS1 form applies to the whole building. In England the ‘owner’ is the freeholder – they never fully own their property.

After Grenfell tragedy many lenders (UK Finance) grew fearful of lending on high rise developments and surveyors were hesitant to give values without full documentation of entire fire risk assessments. This lead to many property having a £nil value on their Home Report. This stalled the housing market throughout the UK – Due to this the MHCLG created the EWS1 (EXTERNAL WALL SYSTEM SURVEY) to try and reignite the market. This sadly didn’t take into account homeownership in Scotland versus the rest of the UK. (Freehold versus leasehold).

It is very likely that if your building is over 6 storeys, yes, you will need an EWS1 form. Examples wall systems deemed as cladding: Render Wood ACM (Aluminum Composite Material) HPL (High Pressure Laminate) Brick Slips (Faux Brick look) Metal cladding (ACM, zinc, ) Terracotta tile Balconies are also included

If you live in a flatted development which is over 6 storeys and isn’t a tenement, you are most likely going to need an EWS1 form. You may be able to sell to a cash buyer, but only if their solicitor is happy with the purchase.

Lenders appear to accept B1 so long as the fire engineer has CEng post-nominals. It’s unlikely that lender will provide mortgage for B2 rating without a fully costed plan and timescales for remediation. Selling to a cash buyer is also an option, but there can be complications with this and potential reduced values or retentions held.

Yes. As long as your EWS1 form is signed off by a suitably qualified Fire engineer.

A1 – Best you can get. Construction doesn’t have combustible materials A2 – There’s some materials but they aren’t combustible – a risk assessment has been carried out and its deemed safe A3  – Remedial works may be needed B1 – There’s Combustible materials but they are deemed safe B2 – Combustible materials and you need remediation

Your suitably qualified engineer will have looked at plans and will have physically inspected the wall system of your building (they may have done this for a few other neighbours before). The EWS1 form will give the lenders an idea of the risk of your building.

An EWS1 form is a two part document produced by RICS which must be carried out by a suitably qualified fire engineer. It was designed to give lenders peace of mind that buildings over 6 storeys (previously was 18m) were built safely and in accordance with regulations at the time of construction.

Cladding is now defined as EXTERNAL WALL SYSTEM – the make up of the outside wall of your building. Examples of this can be: Render Wood ACM (Aluminum Composite Material) HPL (High Pressure Laminate) Brick Slips (Faux Brick look) Metal cladding (ACM, zinc, ) Terracota tile Balconies