In January of 2022, the British Standards Institution (BSI) released PAS9980, a new code of conduct for assessing the potential for fire caused by existing blocks of flats’ external wall structure and cladding.

The new PAS will partially replace the 2020 Consolidated Advice Note (CAN) on building safety that the UK government issued. Following widespread and widespread criticism that its handling of risk in safe buildings was disproportionate, the CAN was eventually removed.

Building safety is approached in a manner that is more equitable under PAS 9980. It went into effect on January 31 after being established expressly for competent fire engineers and other construction professionals that do a fire risk appraisal of exterior walls (FRAEW).

Instructions On How To Recognize Potential Dangers

The attitude that guided the creation of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the inspiration for the risk-based approach that PAS 9980 takes. The Fire Risk Assessment in Existing Buildings (FRAEW) is a new regulation that came into effect due to the Fire Safety Act 2021. It is intended to assist in a structure’s overall fire risk assessment. This is accomplished by calculating the severity of the danger created by the building of exterior walls and determining the preventative steps that may be taken to fulfil the criteria of the order with the help of  FR Consulting.

In its capacity as a code of practice, the PAS addresses the threat posed by fire that spreads over the outside walls of multistory apartment buildings of any height, not simply those taller than 18 metres. It does this by drawing on the knowledge from past fires in which an unanticipated and considerable fire spread to the outside.

This will assist in determining the aspects that impact the overall risk assessment of a structure, as well as the activities that may be taken to enhance it. The PAS identifies reasonable and practical measures to improve the citizens’ safety and reduce excessive restoration expenditures.

Taking A Comprehensive Approach To Risk Reduction

The text accepts the typical method of reducing risk, which is addressing the threat by eliminating the flaws in the system. Nevertheless, this is frequently challenging, disruptive, and expensive. The PAS states that as this is also a possibility, it may be able to reduce shortcomings by looking into alternate possibilities.

PAS 9980 provides a method for evaluating the expected fire performance of exterior walls in buildings. It also makes it possible to analyse the hazards associated with an exterior fire spreading within the context of the building’s usage, occupancy, and fire safety procedures; this ensures that the building as a whole is taken into consideration.

Because of the risk-based approach, any established FRAEW will undoubtedly be susceptible to interpretation, and it will be necessary for competent individuals to use their professional judgement. The idea of proportionality is essential. Contact Facade Consultants for more information.

A Focus On The Capabilities Of The Evaluators

Additionally, a discussion on the qualifications of exterior wall assessors is included in PAS 9980. In particular, it focuses on how to behave professionally and ethically in situations when clients may have strong economic, financial, or legal pressure to behave differently than they would typically do.

Assessors are required to maintain objectivity and fairness by the PAS. They are also obligated to go beyond determining what materials, components, and systems are employed in the exterior walls and interpret this information to deliver an opinion on the fire risk they pose. This obligation comes as a result of the NFPA 70E standard.

Verifying that assessors have the requisite competence for the required level of assessment is another thing that people commission FRAEWs need to ensure they do. The PAS is essential in that it lays out the abilities usually anticipated of exterior wall assessors for various jobs or levels of assessment.

It is essential to keep in mind that a report that the PAS has created is not meant to serve as a replacement for the EWS1 form, which is used solely for valuation. On the other hand, it can offer evidence to substantiate the selected choice in the form of this kind.

In the future, the government of the UK anticipates that construction professionals will adhere to the code of practice outlined in all FRAEWs and publish a report demonstrating the use of the PAS approach.