FRAEW & EWS1 assessments in Liverpool.

Liverpool's external wall risks

Liverpool has seen a large wave of city-centre living since the late 1990s, much of it in converted commercial buildings and new apartment blocks, alongside a big student population.

• Converted warehouses and commercial buildings, where historic masonry meets modern insulated linings, additions and roof-top storeys.
• 2000s apartment blocks with render, rainscreen cladding and balconies.
• Purpose-built student accommodation close to the universities.
• Mixed-use buildings with shops or offices below and homes above.
• Buildings with little or no records, where the walls have to be proven on site.

Our FRAEW work in and around Liverpool

Our work in and around Liverpool shows how a FRAEW can reach a clear answer even when no records exist: the walls are opened up and proven, and the outcome follows the evidence.

Planning a FRAEW in Liverpool

Liverpool's residential growth has been concentrated in the city centre and around the universities, and that shapes how a FRAEW is planned.

• Conversions with missing records. Many city-centre apartments are in converted offices and warehouses where drawings were never kept or were lost with the original developer. Opening-up is usually the only way to prove the wall build-up, as at The Pavilion.
• Student accommodation. The city has a large number of purpose-built student blocks, where the survey is often programmed around term dates and occupied rooms.
• City-centre access. Narrow streets in areas such as the Ropewalks and the commercial district can limit where a MEWP can stand, so we confirm access and any highway licence from Liverpool City Council before the survey date.
• Enforcement. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service enforces fire safety in the common parts of blocks of flats, and a FRAEW recommendation in the fire risk assessment is one of the most common reasons we are instructed.

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 Liverpool

We carry out FRAEWs across Liverpool city centre, the waterfront, Wavertree and the wider city, and across the Wirral, Merseyside and the North West. See our pages for Liverpool, FRAEWs in Chester 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 Liverpool?

Yes. We carry out FRAEWs to PAS 9980:2026 and EWS1 assessments across Liverpool and Merseyside, each led by a Director, from our nearby Cheshire base.

Can you appraise a building with no drawings?

Yes. At The Pavilion in Wavertree no drawings, fire strategy or O&M information existed, so every wall build-up was established by opening up. The outcome was EWS1 B1 with no remedial works to the walls.

Can you help with a Cladding Safety Scheme application?

Yes. We are Homes England approved Cladding Safety Scheme assessors, so our FRAEWs can support an application for eligible buildings.

How much does a FRAEW cost in Liverpool?

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 Liverpool?

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.

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