Fire risk assessments and FRAEW?

Hello everyone, I am keen for readers’ views relating to the fire risk assessments and Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW).

I’m just wondering how other professional landlords are faring with this – the Act is unclear about how we are to progress or what we can to do help the situation – with the latest being that service charges cannot be used to deal with the issues according to the Fire safety Act ’22.

As a right-to-manage company, we are ‘happy’ to use leaseholder’s money (we’ve had a vote) to allow the building to be safe and avoid waking watch but the advice is not to use the ‘service charge’ – is money raised by the RTM ‘service charge’ or can we use the Residents’ Association?

We are spending a fortune on legal advice that appears to be holding up the process.

Thank you.

Harlequin Garden

Editor’s Note:

From the Leasehold Advisory Service >> https://www.lease-advice.org/faq/what-is-a-fire-risk-appraisal-of-external-walls-fraew/

What is a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW)?

All BSF funding decisions for new applications now involve applicants providing an assessment of the risks posed by fire spread over external walls to identify what, if any work, is needed. This is called a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW) and is undertaken by competent professionals. It uses the new PAS 9980:2022 code of practice, with professionals using their expert judgement to assess risk and appropriate mitigations.

The PAS 9980;2022 methodology has been developed by the British Standards Institution. It contains guidance, tailored to the risks posed by fire spread over external walls, and provides tools for a competent professional to carry out a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Wall construction (FRAEW).

More information you might find useful:

• What is the Building Safety Fund?
• Which applicants to the Building Safety Fund need to commission a Fire Risk Appraisal for External Walls now?
• Why not just remove the cladding?
• What are the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act 2022?
• More Frequently Asked Questions on Fire safety