Independent expertise
Our services range from façade surveys to fire risk assessments, providing thorough, reliable services tailored to your needs.
Advice you can trust
As an independent consultancy, our recommendations are always focused on your building’s safety – never sales.
Confidence in compliance
Our reports align with the latest fire safety legislation, helping you meet regulatory duties with clarity and assurance.
What we do
Please see below information on our services.
We assess façade and cladding systems for safety, compliance, and defects.
We inspect external wall systems and cladding for fire risks to ensure compliance and safety.
We carry out EWS1 assessments to identify fire risks and ensure your building meets current safety standards.
We conduct fire door and compartmentation surveys to ensure compliance and enhance fire protection.
We deliver Fire Risk Assessments to identify hazards, ensure compliance, and protect your building and its occupants.
We provide pre- and post-tender estimates to support accurate budgeting and informed project decisions.
We manage façade remediation and provide Clerk of Works services to ensure quality, compliance, and fire safety.
We help maintain Golden Thread compliance with accurate, up-to-date fire safety information.
We perform pull testing to verify the strength, safety, and compliance of fixings and safety devices.
We deliver accurate survey data to support design, compliance, and project planning for consultancies and engineers.
Other services
More than what’s listed
Our expertise goes beyond the services shown here. If you need something more specialised, just ask – we’re here to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I require an FRAEW?
A Fire Risk Appraisal of External Wall construction (FRAEW) is not automatically required for every building. Whether one is needed depends on factors such as building height, occupancy type, and the materials used in the external wall system.
Generally, FRAEWs are more likely to be required for:
– Buildings over 11 metres in height (typically 5 storeys or more);
– Residential buildings, particularly where cladding, render, or other combustible materials are present;
– Buildings with uncertain or mixed construction types, such as rainscreen systems, timber framing, or composite panels.
If the external walls are of traditional masonry construction with no combustible materials, a FRAEW may not be necessary. To help determine this, we offer initial façade investigations – a proportionate first step that can avoid unnecessary reports and costs where the risk is low.
What is involved in façade and cladding investigations?
Façade and cladding investigations involve examining the construction and materials used in a building’s external wall system to assess fire safety, durability, and regulatory compliance. These investigations typically include:
– Visual and intrusive inspections, often carried out using a mobile access platform (MEWP) to reach multiple levels of the façade;
– Targeted removal of cladding, render, or panel sections to inspect the underlying build-up
Identification of key materials such as insulation types, fire barriers, sheathing boards, fixings, and structural elements;
– Measuring cavity depths, reviewing barrier placement, and assessing fire spread potential
Capturing photographic evidence and documenting each location in detail;
– Providing a summary report outlining construction findings, risks, defects, and whether a full Fire Risk Appraisal (FRAEW) is required.
These investigations form the foundation for understanding external wall risk and are often the first step toward compliance with PAS 9980 and Golden Thread requirements.
Do you inspect internal fire safety features?
Yes, we conduct fire door surveys and compartmentation assessments to ensure internal fire protection measures meet current regulations.
What is an EWS1 form and when is it needed?
An EWS1 form (External Wall System Form) is a standardised certificate used to confirm the fire safety of a building’s external wall system, including cladding, insulation, and any attachments such as balconies. It was introduced by the RICS, UK Finance, and the Building Societies Association to help mortgage lenders assess fire risk during property sales or re-mortgages.
An EWS1 form is typically needed when:
– The building is over 18 metres in height (or over 11 metres where combustible materials are present);
– There is cladding, render, or other materials on the external walls that could affect fire safety;
– A mortgage lender or valuer requests it to support lending decisions;
– The form must be completed by a suitably qualified professional, such as a fire engineer or chartered surveyor, following a site inspection or a Fire Risk Appraisal of the External Wall (FRAEW). While it is not a legal requirement, many lenders will not proceed without it in relevant cases.
We offer both the assessment and the EWS1 form completion where required.
How do you support compliance with the Golden Thread?
We help maintain accurate building safety records throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring transparency and compliance with new building safety laws.
Can you manage remedial works and safety upgrades?
Yes, we provide end-to-end support – from strategy planning and specification to Clerk of Works oversight during remedial works.
Do you help with tendering and cost estimates?
Absolutely. We prepare pre-and post-tender estimates, design documentation, and full tender packages for accurate and efficient procurement.
Interested in working with us?
Contact us now for a free with no obligation estimate.
Buildtech Consultancy Ltd
Registered Office: 7 Bournemouth Road, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, SO53 3DA
Companies House Number: 11670730