You’ve undoubtedly heard about the fire risk assessment draft if you’re reading this. It evaluates fire risk and external wall structure and cladding of existing units.
The 183-page draft is extensive. This guide explains the document’s major themes and how they’ll affect fire evaluations.
Why Is PAS 9980 Important?
Due to its important subject, the paper is lengthy. Fire incident case studies and fire safety standards history are in the draft. The glossary is vital for industry professionals.
Many notable owners of multi-occupancy residential structures have been waiting for PAS 9980 to determine if their external walls are safe or need renovation.
The standard shows that external walls comply with Building Regulations and other laws. As many believed when the standard was announced, it did not replace the EWS1 form. Thus, mortgage providers should not seek EWS1 forms for structures with external walls assessed as low or acceptable fire hazards by PAS9980.
EWS1 Certificate
EWS1 is an exterior wall system fire review certificate. It is utilised when a leaseholder buys, sells, or remortgages an apartment in a multistory residential structure.
EWS1 is neither required nor a safety certificate. EWS1 was released in December 2019 by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and mortgage lenders. It evaluates the external wall safety of 18-metre-tall structures. However, they have been utilised for structures beneath this height, reflecting the Government’s January 2020 Building Safety Guidance, which applies to all buildings. EWS1 helps decide whether to mortgage an apartment in multistory, multi-occupied residential complexes.
Main Objectives—What Is A PAS 9980 Risk Assessment?
PAS 9980 goals:
- To standardise fire spread risk assessment for external wall evaluations.
- To help assess and comprehend results and dangers.
The standard also incorporates a fire risk appraisal and assessment of exterior walls (FRAEW) that feeds into the Fire Safety Order evaluation and maybe the future safety case for higher structures. You must know that the requirement applies to all multi-occupancy residential structures, not simply those exceeding 18m. Student housing and specialised housing can also use it.
Pas 9980 Defines Risk?
Risk in PAS 9980 includes external fire spread, secondary flames, tenable escape situations, and effective fire service action. Risk levels include low, medium, and high.
A medium risk may be manageable yet require repair or fire safety measures.
High-risk buildings need more investigation.
The fire engineering study may need exterior wall remediation.
Free: What Should I Know?
FRAEW considers the exterior wall structure, spandrel panels, and any attachments like balconies. Other fire threats include escape routes, fire service access, and building surrounds. Assessors must perform a thorough assessment. The document describes competency expectations and evaluation methods.
PAS 9980 fire risk assessment ensures more extensive external wall evaluations, notwithstanding its subjectivity. Take advice from FR Consulting.
Pas 9980 Covers Which Building Types?
We must examine PAS-covered structures to answer the “what is a PAS 9980 fire risk assessment?” The structures must be equivalent to a purpose-built block of flats in fire strategy and escape design. Student housing, sheltered and other specialised housing, and flat structures may also be included in PAS.
Wall Build-Ups—Pas 9980
PAS 9980 addresses fire spread across the external walls of multistory units regardless of height. PAS handles single-wall or mixed-wall scenarios. It also covers flammable building cladding.
PAS wall build-ups include exterior walls with rainscreen covering, regardless of insulation. External thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS)—especially rendered insulation—are also included. PAS wall build-ups include insulated core panels, glass facades with infill/spread panels, and curtain walling.
PAS 9980 Fire Risk Assessment
The PAS 9980 fire risk assessment is mainly for fire engineers and other building professionals who need to advise on the fire danger of exterior wall construction of existing blocks of flats.
However, other building professionals, such as those receiving assessments and those making choices based on FRAEW results, can utilise it. These include:
- Surveyors
- Architects
- Facade Consultants
- Cladding contractors
- Supervisors
- Owners/landlords
- Housing authorities
- Facility managers
- Firefighters
Conclusion
PAS 9980 Risk Assessments—what are they? PAS 9980 addresses FRAEW report requirements and fire and standard safety norms. It has a glossary and fire event case studies. Fire engineers, building specialists, surveyors, and architects can use the document to make judgments based on FRAEW results.
PAS 9980 addresses fire spread across the external walls of multistory units regardless of height. PAS 9980 covers student housing, specialised housing, and apartments.
PAS 9980’s primary goals are to standardise fire spread risk assessments for exterior wall evaluations and help recipients comprehend the results.