FRAEW · PAS 9980 · Oxford
FRAEW & EWS1 assessments in Oxford.
Director-led Fire Risk Appraisals of External Walls for riverside developments, apartment blocks, student housing and mixed-use buildings across Oxford and Oxfordshire.
We carry out FRAEWs to PAS 9980:2026 and EWS1 assessments across Oxford, Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley. Our in-house contracting team provides the powered access and opening-up, so the evidence is gathered in one visit and you have one point of contact.
Oxford's external wall risks
Oxford's residential stock ranges from low-rise riverside developments to new apartment and student buildings, and height alone does not decide whether a FRAEW is needed.
- Low-rise riverside developments, often with timber balconies and few as-built records.
- Student accommodation serving the universities.
- Apartment blocks from the 1980s onwards with brick, render and lightweight cladding.
- City-centre mixed-use buildings in a historic setting.
- Newer residential schemes on the edge of the city.
Our FRAEW work in and around Oxford
At Watermans Reach, a low-rise riverside development, we acted as façade advisor on a PAS 9980 appraisal, leading a three-day intrusive survey across three blocks from boom-lift access.
Planning a FRAEW in Oxford
Many Oxford FRAEWs are on buildings that are lower than people expect but still have features that need a closer look.
- Riverside sites. Developments beside the Thames and the Cherwell can have soft or restricted ground, so the type and position of powered access is planned in advance, as at Watermans Reach.
- Balconies and attachments. Timber balconies, walkways and other attachments are common on low and mid-rise blocks, and a PAS 9980 appraisal considers them alongside the walls.
- Student and college buildings. University and college accommodation often has to be surveyed outside term time, so we agree dates early.
- Enforcement and access. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service enforces fire safety in blocks of flats, and highway licences for access equipment come from Oxfordshire County 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 Oxford
We carry out FRAEWs across Oxford, Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley. See our pages for Oxford, FRAEWs in Cambridge and FRAEWs in London.
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 Oxford?
Yes. We carry out FRAEWs to PAS 9980:2026 and EWS1 assessments across Oxford, Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley, each led by a Director.
Do low-rise buildings need a FRAEW?
Height alone does not decide it. Low-rise blocks with balconies, mixed wall types or missing records can still need one, for example when the fire risk assessment recommends it. At Watermans Reach the tallest block is about 6 metres.
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 Oxford?
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 Oxford?
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 Oxford?
We are Homes England approved Cladding Safety Scheme assessors, carrying out PAS 9980 FRAEWs and EWS1 assessments across Oxford, Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley.