Navigate the complex landscape of external wall fire safety — from EWS1 form requirements to PAS 9980 risk appraisal methodology and government funding.. The Cladding Crisis Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017, it became clear that a significant number of UK buildings had external wall systems that posed unacceptable fire risks. The resulting 'cladding crisis' has affected hundreds of thousands of residents, with buildings requiring costly remediation and homeowners unable to sell or remortgage their properties. EWS1 Form The External Wall Fire Review (EWS1) form was introduced by RICS, UK Finance, and BSA in 2019: Form Options Option A1 — External wall materials unlikely to support combustion (no further assessment needed) Option A2 — Combustible materials present but risk is sufficiently low Option A3 — Combustible materials present and risk is NOT sufficiently low (remediation required) Option B1 — Where attachment types are present but risk is sufficiently low Option B2 — Attachment types present and risk is NOT sufficiently low Who Can Sign? Only fire engineers listed on the EWS1 register maintained by RICS (registered valuers scheme). Engineers must have relevant competence and professional indemnity insurance. PAS 9980:2022 PAS 9980 'Fire risk appraisal of external wall construction and cladding of existing blocks of flats' provides a systematic methodology: Assessment Process 1. Desktop review — building drawings, specifications, and historical records 2. Visual inspection — external and internal examination where accessible 3. Intrusive investigation — opening up to identify concealed materials and construction details 4. Fire risk appraisal — systematic assessment of fire scenarios 5. Risk rating — categorisation of risk level and recommended actions Fire Scenarios Considered Internal fire breaking out through window External fire at base of building (arson, bins, vehicles) Balcony fire spreading to facade Fire within the external wall system itself Fire in an adjacent building affecting the external wall Risk Factors Height of the building Type and combustibility of external wall materials Presence and condition of cavity barriers Fire stopping at floor/wall junctions Proximity and type of fire sources Sprinkler protection in the building Fire service access and intervention capability Government Funding Building Safety Fund Available for buildings 18m+ with unsafe cladding Covers remediation costs for qualifying buildings Application process through DLUHC Strict eligibility criteria and timelines Cladding Safety Scheme For buildings 11 18m with unsafe cladding Developer funded remediation where responsible parties can be identified Government funding as last resort Leaseholder protection under Building Safety Act 2022 Developer Pledges Major developers signed pledges to remediate their buildings Self financing remediation commitments Building Safety Levy on new developments Remediation Options Not all buildings require full cladding removal: Full removal and replacement — replacing with non combustible materials Over cladding — adding non combustible layer over existing system Cavity barrier retrofit — improving compartmentation within existing system Sprinkler retrofit — internal suppression as compensating measure Enhanced management — waking watch or alarm system as interim measure Fire engineering assessment — demonstrating acceptable risk without physical works Our Cladding Services Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD provides comprehensive external wall fire safety services, including EWS1 assessments, PAS 9980 fire risk appraisals, remediation specification, and ongoing monitoring. Our fire engineers are registered on the EWS1 scheme and have assessed hundreds of buildings across the UK. Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD — UK's Leading Fire Safety & Fire Engineering Consultancy 🌐 magnus opifex.co.uk 📞 +44 7486 691724 ✉️ office@magnus opifex.co.uk Founders: Nicoleta Vasile, Baroness of Brattleby — CEO, Lawyer and Barrister, Legal & Administrative Director Alina — Technical Director & Expert Fire Engineer (BEng) Head Office: Ealing Cross, 85 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5BW Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD delivers engineering led fire engineering, fire risk assessments, CFD modelling, and building safety consultancy across the United Kingdom and internationally. With over 20 years of combined experience and a UK portfolio spanning healthcare, residential and infrastructure, we bring truly engineered solutions with a personal touch. © 2026 Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD. All rights reserved.