Who Needs an EWS1 ?

Comprehensive EWS1 Surveys for Fire Safety Compliance & Certification, Provided Across the UK by Fully Qualified and Accredited Professionals

Whether your building needs an EWS1 depends mainly on its height and external wall materials, and the responsibility for arranging one sits with the freeholder or building owner, not individual leaseholders.

As a general guide: buildings 18m and over almost always need one if there’s cladding, render or another external wall system that could affect fire spread; buildings 11–18m are likely to need one if combustible materials or timber/composite balconies are present; buildings under 11m aren’t usually asked, though some lenders and insurers request one on a case-by-case basis.

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Does Your Building Need an EWS1?

18m and over.

Almost always needed if there’s any cladding, render or external wall system that could affect fire spread — this is the threshold where lenders, insurers and the wider regulatory environment treat the risk as material by default.

11–18m.

Likely needed if combustible materials, cladding, or timber or composite balconies are present. Buildings in this range with straightforward brick, block or render construction are less likely to be asked for one.

Under 11m.

Not usually expected, but some lenders and insurers still request one on a case-by-case basis — particularly where combustible elements are present or a prior fire safety concern has been flagged on the building.

Mixed-use buildings.

Where residential units sit above commercial space, the same height and materials criteria apply to the building as a whole — the presence of shops or offices on lower floors doesn’t exempt a building from needing one if the wall construction above warrants it.

If you’re unsure which applies to your building, tell us the height, wall materials and any known issues and we’ll confirm exactly what’s needed.

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Who is Responsible for Obtaining an EWS1?

Freeholders and building owners.

Legal responsibility for arranging and paying for an EWS1 generally sits with the freeholder or building owner, who commissions the assessment and covers the initial cost.

Property management companies.

Where a management company runs the building day to day, they’re often the ones who actually organise the assessment, acting on the freeholder’s behalf.

Leaseholders.

Individual leaseholders can’t commission an EWS1 themselves, but they can push the freeholder or managing agent to arrange one — particularly where it’s holding up a sale or remortgage. Costs may be passed on through service charges, though the Building Safety Act 2022 significantly restricts what can be recharged to qualifying leaseholders.

Mortgage lenders.

Lenders don’t arrange EWS1 assessments themselves, but they’re usually the reason one’s needed — without a valid certificate, many lenders won’t approve a mortgage on an affected building.

Government schemes and developers.

Funding schemes including the Building Safety Fund and Cladding Safety Scheme can cover assessment and remediation costs for eligible buildings, and some developers have pledged to fund work on buildings they built.

Trusted EWS1 Survey Assessments

We support a diverse client base, including major developers, housing providers, and consulting firms. We deliver a consistent, compliant, and well-coordinated process that aligns with broader building safety and regulatory goals.

Where Building Safety Fund (BSF) or Cladding Safety Scheme (CSS) funding is required, our reports are produced to Homes England standards, ensuring full acceptance and avoiding the costly delays and repeat surveys that can arise from non-compliant documentation.

Ready to Start Your EWS1?

We manage the complete EWS1 process from initial review to final fire engineer sign-off. We coordinate the desktop assessment, site access, permits, equipment and any required opening-up investigation, then arrange the independent fire engineer assessment and EWS1 sign-off. You deal with one point of contact throughout, rather than having to coordinate multiple contractors and specialists yourself.

You deal with one point of contact throughout, rather than having to coordinate multiple contractors and specialists yourself.

Tell us about your building and we’ll coordinate the rest.

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