The British Standards Institution (BSI) has published a revised edition of the code of practice for fire risk appraisals of external walls (FRAEWs), the PAS 9980 . The revisions to PAS 9980 are designed to introduce more structure to assessments, improve clarity and support greater consistency in how the methodology is applied. The changes to PAS 9980 are not intended to materially alter its purpose or the way risk is assessed. FRAEW reports competently produced in accordance with PAS 9980:2022 remain valid and can continue to be relied upon.
To support responsible persons and residents, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has also published FRAEW supporting guidance which aims to help non-technical users understand the appraisals of their external walls, what to consider when commissioning an FRAEW and how to interpret the report findings.
The supporting materials from MHCLG include:
- Understanding fire risk appraisals of external walls on residential blocks of flats – a guide which provides an overview of the process of carrying out FRAEWs and understanding the findings of the FRAEW report.
- Residents guide to fire safety in blocks of flats
- Step-by-step guide for commissioners of FRAEWs
- What to expect to see in an FRAEW report executive summary
- Recognising quality in an FRAEW: A practical guide for understanding what good looks like – which sets out what to look for in a completed FRAEW report.
This guidance sits alongside PAS 9980; it does not replace it or remove the need for professional judgement for those carrying out FRAEWs.
