The FRAEW is produced by an independent fire engineer, working to PAS 9980:2022 methodology, using the evidence from our investigation. Our survey establishes the wall construction; see our PAS 9980 Surveys guide for what that investigation actually covers.
A FRAEW isn’t the same as an EWS1 — it’s the detailed evidence that can feed into one. See our EWS1 Certificate guide for what the certificate itself covers, or our EWS1 Ratings Explained guide for what the resulting rating means.
Every EWS1 / FRAEW survey is assessed and signed off by fully accredited professionals, including Chartered Fire Engineers (IFE, CEng) 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.
CEng, RICS, IFE, CABE, CIOB
Fully Compliant Assessments
Defensible Valuation Reports
Comprehensive Building Cover
We manage every stage of the FRAEW / EWS1 process — so you don’t have to deal with multiple contractors or third parties.
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.
We coordinate the complete FRAEW process from the initial enquiry through to the final fire engineering assessment. Here is what to expect at each stage.
Tell us about the building, including its height, external wall construction, location and any existing drawings, reports or previous surveys.
We review the available information to understand the building and determine what further evidence may be required for the FRAEW.
Where required, we arrange and carry out targeted opening-up investigations to establish the actual wall construction, including cladding, insulation, cavities, cavity barriers and fire-stopping.
The investigation findings, photographs and supporting documentation are provided to an independent, appropriately qualified fire engineer for detailed assessment in accordance with PAS 9980:2022.
The fire engineer completes the FRAEW and provides the required assessment and recommendations. Where an EWS1 is required, the fire engineer can use the findings and appraisal to support the appropriate EWS1 assessment and rating.
We provide professional EWS1 survey services across the UK, delivering fast, fully compliant assessments no matter where your building is located.
Our EWS1 Surveyors operate in all major UK cities with high-rise residential and mixed-use buildings, including:
England: Birmingham - Bradford - Bristol - Coventry - Derby - Exeter - Hull - Leeds - Leicester - Liverpool - London - Manchester - Newcastle - Nottingham - Plymouth - Sheffield - Southampton - Stoke-on-Trent - Cambridge - Oxford - Brighton - Milton Keynes - Portsmouth - Salford - Southend - Preston - Chelmsford - York - Chester - Wolverhampton - Sunderland
Northern Ireland : Belfast
London
We have extensive experience working in London and provide services across all boroughs and neighbourhoods.
Home Counties
We have a dedicated team based across the Home Counties, giving us local knowledge of building types, councils, and access requirements throughout the region.
Does every building need a FRAEW?
No. Straightforward buildings with clear existing records can often go straight to an EWS1 following a desktop review. A FRAEW is generally needed where the wall construction is more complex, records are incomplete, or a more detailed risk-based assessment is required to avoid unnecessary remediation.
How long does a FRAEW take?
Most projects run a few weeks from initial review to a completed report, though tall or complex buildings needing scaffold access can take longer to schedule.
How much does a FRAEW cost?
It varies by building height and complexity, similar in range to a full EWS1 project — see our EWS1 Survey Cost guide for pricing by building height.
Who carries out a FRAEW?
An independent, accredited fire engineer — typically chartered through the IFE or holding equivalent CEng status, and separate from our investigation team — carries out the assessment and produces the report, using the evidence our survey provides.