The most recent piece of direction that the government has distributed in conjunction with the British Standards Institute is known as the PAS (publicly accessible standard) 9980:2022. This code of practice provides guidelines for the appraisal and assessment of fire risks associated with the erection of exterior walls and cladding on existing apartment buildings. This has been developed to clear up any misunderstandings that may have been caused by the Consolidated Advice Note, Which stated that multi-occupancy buildings of any height are required to have an EWS1 evaluation.
What Are The Goals That The PAS 9980 Is Trying To Accomplish?
The PAS9980 identifies the following nine goals as those that should be pursued to meet the guidance’s requirements:
- A) To provide fire engineers and other competent building professionals with a methodology for appraising and assessing the scope for, and risk from, the fire spread via external wall construction and cladding, such that the outcome can be used to inform a building’s FRA (Fire Risk Assessment);
- to provide fire engineers and other competent building professionals with a methodology for appraising and assessing the risk from the fire spread via internal wall construction and cladding;
- to provide fire engineers and other
- B) To ensure that those who get the FRAA (Fire Risk Appraisal and Assessment) can comprehend the procedure and technique that was utilised as well as interprets the results;
- C) To assist those who are not trained in firefighting in the process of analysing an FRAA and gaining an understanding of the danger of an exterior fire spreading within the context of the building’s fire strategy and fire safety systems;
- D) To encourage a better knowledge of the fire dangers connected with exterior walls as well as the constraints of what can and cannot be achieved in any FRAA while ensuring that newly constructed structures meet the requirements for newly built buildings;
- E) To make it possible for those who conduct FRAAS to use a relevant language that is standard;
- F) To encourage uniformity across FRAAS and to provide a methodology that is both risk-sensitive and grounded on practical considerations;
- G) To create an adequate foundation for the documentation of FRAAS;
- H) To make it possible to provide uniform training in the process of carrying out an FRAA and, as a result, to encourage more people to enter the field of carrying out FRAAS;
To appease professional indemnity (PI) insurers, carrying out FRAAs by a nationwide standard ensures uniformity with the help of FR Consulting
Who Should Be Following The Recommendations Provided In PAS 9980?
Fire engineers and other competent building experts qualified to perform fire risk evaluations and assessments use these most recent guidelines. Additionally, the code of practice specifies various suggestions to ensure that the professional doing the FRAEW (Fire Risk Assessments of External Walls) has the appropriate credentials to carry out assessments of this nature. In addition, it offers crystal-clear direction to the competent experts who will complete the evaluations and seeks to encourage uniformity throughout the sector.
Regarding Balconies, What Kind Of Recommendations Does The PAS 9980 Provide?
According to the PAS 9980, balconies can be divided into three primary categories:
- Those that are constructed totally inside the confines of the building structure’s curtilage;
- Those that extend beyond the primary framework of the building but do so on an extension of the floor slab;
- Those that extend beyond the primary building structure and are attached to the exterior surface of the building.
In addition, it stipulates that an inspection must be carried out on any balcony components, irrespective of the category they fall under. When performing the FRAEW, their part in the fire’s exterior propagation needs to be considered. A significant quantity of flammable materials in the building’s balconies will be a significant element in determining whether the structure is classified as having a low risk, a medium risk, or a high risk.
It goes on to instruct that any flammable material in the decking systems of balconies, such as composite decking or timber, will need to be replaced with non-combustible materials.
What Course Of Action Does The PAS Advise The FRAA To Take?
PAS 9980 includes a five-step risk-based strategy that aids experienced workers in identifying and assessing the numerous fire dangers found in structures that fall within the scope of the standard. Additionally, PAS 9980 includes guidelines for increasing a building’s risk rating. The danger of fire in the building will determine whether it receives a low, medium, or high rating in the classification system. Facade Consultants can provide you with all the information.
When A Building Receives A FRAEW Rating That Places It In The High-Risk Category, What Happens Next?
Buildings designated as high risk will be given a list of necessary steps to take to enhance the fire resistance of their exterior wall systems.
What Does The Introduction Of PAS 9980 Entail For The Current State Of The Building Safety Crisis?
The PAS 9980 was established to serve as an industry reference and cut down on the number of structures subject to the EWS1 form. The revised document does not specify a minimum height requirement even though it states that “multi-story, multi-occupancy structures fall within the scope.” Because of this, mortgage lenders and professional indemnity insurance providers may revert to the techniques they used in the past, entrapping leaseholders and building owners who have no way out of their predicament.
