In collaboration with the British Standards Institute, the government released the most recent guidance, PAS 9980:2022. This code of conduct guides fire risk assessments and assesses external wall construction. It was established to address the confusion caused by the Consolidated Advice Note, which mentioned that multi-occupancy buildings of any height would require an EWS1 analysis.
What Objectives Does The PAS 9980 Have?
The following nine objectives are listed in the PAS9980 Guidebook:
This guide by FR Consulting is designed to assist fire engineers and other building professionals in assessing and appraising the potential for fire spread via external wall construction and cladding. It can also be used as a basis for a building’s FRA.
- It is to allow recipients of FRAA (Fire Risk Appraisal & Analysis) to understand the process, methodology, and how to interpret the results;
- This document is for non-firefighters who need assistance in reviewing an FRAA to understand the risks of external fire spreading in the context of the building’s fire safety plans;
- This document promotes a better understanding of fire hazards associated with external walls and the limitations of what is possible in any FRAA and ensures conformity of new construction to standards for buildings;
- For common terminology to be adopted in frames;
- To promote consistency within fraas and to provide a pragmatic but risk-proportionate strategy in an FRAA;
- For a foundation of documentation on FRAAs;
- To provide consistent training for the FRAA and facilitate more entrants to the profession of FRAAs;
- To satisfy professional indemnity (PI) insurances, a standard national standard supports consistency in carrying out FRAAs.
Who Are The Guidelines In PAS9980 for?
This new guidance is intended for fire engineers and other qualified building professionals to conduct fire risk assessments. The code of practices also includes recommendations to ensure that the person performing the FRAEW, Fire Risk Assessments of External Walls, has the necessary qualifications. It also gives clear guidance to the qualified professionals conducting the assessments and strives to promote uniformity in the sector.
What Guidance Is The PAS9980 Giving For Balconies?
The PAS 9980 class balconies are divided into three main categories.
- The ones that are entirely built within the curtilage of the building structure;
- They extend beyond the main building structures by using an extension of the floor plan;
- Those extend beyond the main building structure and are secured to its outside face.
It is also clear that all materials used in building a balcony should be examined regardless of their category. During the FRAEW, it is necessary to consider their role in external fire spread. A balcony constructed from combustible materials will affect the building’s rating as high-risk, medium-risk, or low-risk.
It also specifies that any combustible material (e.g., composite decking or timber used in decking systems for balconies) will have to be replaced with non-combustible substances.
How Does The PAS Suggest The FRAA Approach?
The PAS 9980 introduces a 5-step risk-based approach. This guides qualified personnel in identifying and rating the various fire dangers within buildings. Also, it guides for improving risk ratings. The building will be classified as medium, high, or low based on fire risk.
What Happens If A High-Risk Building Is Rated With FRAEW After Being Rated?
The list of actions required to improve the fire performance and efficiency of external wall systems in buildings classified as high-risk will be provided.
What Is PAS9980 Going To Mean For The Building Security Crisis?
The PAS 9980 was created to assist the industry and reduce buildings within the EWS1 scope. Although it states that multi-story, multi-occupancy buildings fall within the scope, the document doesn’t specify the minimum height. This can mean that mortgage lenders and professional indemnity coverage providers may resort to the same practices, trapping leaseholders and building owners. Facade Consultants is here to help you out.