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Post-Grenfell · RICS-aligned · Lender-ready

EWS1 Form — External Wall System fire safety, mortgage-ready

The lender-required EWS1 certificate for buildings with external cladding or attachments. Six classifications (A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3), full risk assessment, professional indemnity statement, lender-acceptable PDF.

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What's in the form

RICS EWS1 v2 (March 2022) — mortgage lender accepted format.

  1. 1Building detailsAddress, postcode, height (storeys + metres), number of dwellings, year built, cladding present, building owner / managing agent.
  2. 2Assessor detailsName, qualifications, professional body (RICS, IFE, CABE, IStructE), registration number, PII cover statement, employer.
  3. 3External wall classificationA1 / A2 / A3 / B1 / B2 / B3 with full reasoning. Insulation type, fillers, attachments (balconies, soffits, vents), cavity barriers.
  4. 4Inspection methodologyVisual inspection scope, intrusive opening-up, drawings reviewed, fire test data sourced, areas not accessed.
  5. 5Findings & risksCombustible materials identified, deviation from approved drawings, fire-stopping defects, balcony combustibility.
  6. 6Remediation requirementRequired works (if B2), interim measures (waking watch, alarm), priority and timescale.
  7. 7Statement & signatureRICS EWS1 v2 statement, assessor signature, date, validity period (typically 5 years if no material change).

EWS1 process — from instruction to lender

Four stages, average 4–12 weeks depending on access and intrusive works.

Stage 1
Pre-instruction triage

Confirm building height (in scope > 11m), confirm cladding presence, check for existing EWS1 (validity 5 years), confirm assessor PII cover for EWS1 work. Decline if out of scope or PII inadequate.

Stage 2
Documentation review

Architect drawings, building regs sign-off, fire engineer reports, manufacturer specs for insulation/cladding/fixings. Often the bottleneck — original developer may be liquidated, drawings missing.

Stage 3
Inspection (visual + intrusive)

External visual survey from cherry-picker / abseil. Intrusive openings to verify insulation type and cavity barriers. Photo evidence per inspection point. Lab testing of samples where required.

Stage 4
Classification & sign-off

Classify A1–A3 (no remediation) or B1–B2 (remediation required). Sign EWS1 v2 form. PDF lender-ready — HSBC, Nationwide, Santander, Lloyds and most building societies accept the standard format.

EWS1 FAQs

Who can complete an EWS1 form?
A "suitably qualified person" with PII cover for EWS1 work. Typically a fire engineer (IFE), chartered building surveyor (RICS) with fire-safety competency, structural engineer (IStructE), or chartered architect (CABE) with relevant experience. The assessor's professional body, registration number, and PII statement are mandatory fields.
Which buildings need an EWS1?
Originally any building over 18m, then over 11m post-Grenfell, with external cladding or combustible attachments. Lender requirements vary — some require EWS1 for buildings >18m, others >11m, others by attached materials regardless of height. Check the lender's current policy before instructing.
What's the difference between A1, A2, A3 and B1, B2, B3?
A1: limited combustible materials only, no further action. A2: combustible materials in use but assessment shows fire risk sufficiently low. A3: not enough combustibles to be a real risk, no remediation. B1: combustible materials present, fire risk is sufficiently low. B2: combustible materials present and remediation required (with interim measures pending). B3: retired in EWS1 v2 (March 2022).
How long is an EWS1 form valid?
Typically 5 years from sign-off date, provided there is no material change to the external wall system. A re-classification is needed if remediation works are completed (to record the new state) or if new combustible material is added.
Will the AI draft the classification?
No. EWS1 classifications are a regulated professional judgement carrying PI consequence — the AI does not propose A1–B2 classifications. AI assists with the descriptive narrative around inspection methodology, findings, and remediation recommendations, but the named assessor selects the classification.

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Last reviewed: · Updated as RICS EWS1 guidance changes.