FRAEW · PAS 9980 · Chester
FRAEW & EWS1 assessments in Chester.
Director-led Fire Risk Appraisals of External Walls for apartment developments, student housing and mixed-use buildings across Chester, Cheshire and North Wales.
We carry out FRAEWs to PAS 9980:2026 and EWS1 assessments across Chester, Cheshire and North Wales. Our base is in Cheshire, so Chester instructions are local to us, and our in-house contracting team carries out any opening-up.
Chester's external wall risks
Chester's historic centre is ringed by newer residential development, from 2000s apartment schemes to student housing, much of it with mixed wall types added over the years.
- 2000s apartment developments, often in connected blocks, combining brick, render and lightweight cladding to the top floors.
- Student accommodation serving the University of Chester.
- Canal-side and riverside apartments with balconies and mixed façades.
- Conversions of older buildings, where historic walls sit behind newer additions.
- Mixed-use buildings with commercial space below and flats above.
Our FRAEW work in and around Chester
The Quarter shows our approach on a large, connected development: every block and wall type was opened up in a single three-day survey, so the appraisal rested on evidence rather than limited drawings.
Planning a FRAEW in Chester
Chester is close to our northern office, which keeps travel and mobilisation simple, but the city and the area around it bring their own considerations.
- Historic setting. Much of the centre is a conservation area, with narrow streets inside and around the city walls, so access equipment and openings are planned to suit the setting and avoid visible damage.
- Connected developments. Larger schemes are often several linked blocks of different heights and wall types, which need a clear plan of which elevations are inspected and opened up, as at The Quarter.
- Across the Welsh border. In North Wales, building safety funding is run by the Welsh Government rather than through the Cladding Safety Scheme, and fire safety is enforced by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service. A FRAEW to PAS 9980 is used on both sides of the border.
- Local enforcement. In Cheshire, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service enforces fire safety in blocks of flats, and highway licences for access equipment come from Cheshire West and Chester Council.
How a FRAEW works with us
We review the records, inspect every elevation and, where the records are missing or unreliable, our in-house contracting team makes intrusive openings and makes them good. Each wall type is appraised to PAS 9980:2026, and the report, with its risk rating and any EWS1, is reviewed before issue, typically about four weeks after instruction (see how long does a FRAEW take?).
For a quote, send the address, height, number of blocks and flats, the fire risk assessment and any drawings or previous reports (our EWS1 readiness checklist lists what helps) to enquiries@mtconsult.co.uk, through our contact form or on 0800 048 5229. We typically respond within one working day.
We don't publish prices: the fee depends on the building's height and size, the wall types, the type of powered access, the days on site and the opening-up needed (see what does a FRAEW cost?). Our directors have been involved in fire and façades for 20 years, we are CHAS Elite accredited, and with our own contracting team you have one point of contact. We also have the capacity to take on portfolios of 50+ properties.
Where we work around Chester
We carry out FRAEWs across Chester, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire West and Chester, the Wirral and North Wales, including Wrexham and Deeside. See our pages for Chester, FRAEWs in Liverpool and FRAEWs in Manchester.
FRAEWs in other cities
We work for housing associations and local authorities, managing agents and freeholders, and investors and developers, from single blocks to portfolios of 50+ properties.
Frequently asked questions
Do you carry out FRAEWs in Chester?
Yes. Our base is in Cheshire, so we carry out FRAEWs to PAS 9980:2026 and EWS1 assessments across Chester, Cheshire and North Wales, each led by a Director.
Can you survey a large development with several blocks?
Yes. At The Quarter we surveyed seven connected blocks and four wall types in a three-day intrusive survey, with our own team providing the access and openings.
Do you work in North Wales?
Yes. We carry out FRAEWs in North Wales, including Wrexham and Deeside, from our Cheshire base.
How much does a FRAEW cost in Chester?
We don't publish fixed prices. The fee depends on the building's height and size, the wall types, the powered access needed, the days on site and the opening-up required, and we confirm it in writing before you instruct. See what does a FRAEW cost?
Can you carry out FRAEWs across several buildings in Chester?
Yes. We have the capacity to undertake portfolios of 50+ properties, with a desktop triage, risk-ranked inspections and consistent reports. See portfolio FRAEW programmes.
Related reading
Talk to us
Need a FRAEW in Chester?
We are Homes England approved Cladding Safety Scheme assessors, carrying out PAS 9980 FRAEWs and EWS1 assessments across Chester, Cheshire, North Wales and the North West.