EWS1 Fire Engineers

A fire engineer’s role in the EWS1 process is to assess the evidence for your building’s external wall construction and sign off the resulting rating.

Most fire engineers work independently of the physical investigation — they’ll review drawings and opening-up findings, but won’t arrange the opening-up itself, source access equipment, or apply for permits. In practice, that means most people getting an EWS1 have to find and manage a separate contractor for the physical works before a fire engineer can even start their assessment.

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Who Does What in the EWS1 Process?

Role	What they actually do
Fire engineer	Reviews evidence, assesses the wall construction, reaches a rating, signs the EWS1
Opening-up contractor	Physically accesses and investigates the wall — cladding, insulation, cavities, fire-stopping
Access provider	Supplies scaffold, MEWPs or rope access to reach the investigation points
Permits	Liaises with the local authority or building management for any permissions needed
Project coordinator	Schedules and manages everyone above so the project runs as one timeline

Most fire engineers only cover the first row. We cover the other four, and bring in an independent fire engineer for the assessment itself.

When Opening-Up Is Required

Going directly to a fire engineer can work well for straightforward buildings where the available evidence is sufficient for a desktop assessment. Where the existing information is incomplete or the wall construction needs to be physically verified, however, opening-up may be required before the fire engineer can complete their assessment.

That means arranging a separate contractor, access equipment, permits and the physical investigation — all before the fire engineer can assess the findings.

We coordinate all of this for you. We arrange the opening-up investigation, access and permits, then bring in an independent, accredited fire engineer to assess the evidence and complete the required assessment and sign-off.

You have one point of contact and one coordinated project, rather than having to manage a fire engineer, investigation contractor, access provider and permits separately.

A Full Due Diligence Pack, As Standard

Alongside the certificate, you’re given a due diligence pack covering everyone who worked on your building — the fire engineer’s accreditation, the opening-up team’s qualifications, and proof of professional indemnity, public liability and any other relevant insurance for each party involved. It’s the paperwork a managing agent, freeholder or lender due diligence check will eventually ask for, provided upfront rather than chased after the fact.

Fully Certified and Insured EWS1 Professionals

Every EWS1 survey is assessed and signed off by fully accredited professionals, including IFE (Institution of Fire Engineers) and Chartered Surveyors (RICS, CABE, CIOB), with full professional indemnity cover.

Assessments are delivered in line with RICS, UK Finance, and PAS 9980:2022 standards, providing compliant, recognised and defensible reporting.

Regular building surveyors or chartered RICS surveyors can sign the form only if they have the specific expertise needed to identify external wall materials and fire-stopping installations. All signatories must understand how to evaluate risk in line with standards like PAS 9980 and typically hold specialised credentials or have completed the RICS Training Course. Furthermore, for taller buildings (typically over 18 meters) or high-risk complex structures, Option B assessments must be signed off by a specialist fire engineer—such as CEng or IEng MRICS/IFE members—rather than a general surveyor.

Chartered Sign-Off

CEng, RICS, IFE, CABE, CIOB

PAS 9980:2022

Fully Compliant Assessments

Lender Recognised

Defensible Valuation Reports

Full Professional Indemnity

Comprehensive Building Cover

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EWS1 Fire Engineer FAQs

Do fire engineers arrange the opening-up works themselves?

Generally not. Most fire engineers assess evidence and sign off the rating — the physical investigation is typically arranged separately, either by the client or by a company like us that manages both.

Can I use my own fire engineer?

Yes. If you already have a fire engineer you want to use, we can carry out the opening-up investigation and hand over the evidence directly to them.

Is it a conflict of interest if you coordinate both the investigation and the fire engineer?

No — the fire engineer we bring in is independent and reaches their own conclusion based on the evidence. Our role is the physical investigation and project management; the assessment and sign-off are entirely theirs.

How do I find an accredited EWS1 fire engineer?

Look for chartered status through the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) or equivalent CEng accreditation — a fire engineer signing an EWS1 will be able to show this on request.

Do you provide proof of everyone’s qualifications and insurance?

Yes. Every project comes with a due diligence pack covering the accreditations of everyone involved and their professional indemnity, public liability and other relevant insurance — useful for your own compliance records, and often requested during a sale or refinance.