FRAEW · PAS 9980 · Portsmouth
FRAEW & EWS1 assessments in Portsmouth.
Director-led Fire Risk Appraisals of External Walls for post-war blocks, mixed-use buildings, seafront apartments and student housing across Portsmouth and the south coast.
We carry out FRAEWs to PAS 9980:2026 and EWS1 assessments across Portsmouth, Southampton and the south coast. Our in-house contracting team carries out any opening-up, so buildings with no records can still be appraised on evidence.
Portsmouth's external wall risks
Portsmouth is a dense island city with a large post-war building stock, a busy waterfront and a big student population, and many of its blocks have been altered or over-clad over the years.
- 1960s and 1970s concrete-framed blocks, often with curtain walling or later cladding and few surviving records.
- City-centre mixed-use buildings with shops below and flats above.
- Waterfront and seafront apartments exposed to wind and salt.
- Purpose-built student accommodation close to the university.
- Conversions of older buildings, where historic walls sit behind newer additions.
Our FRAEW work in and around Portsmouth
At Avalon House, a 1970s block with no drawings or records, every one of four wall types was established in a one-day intrusive survey, giving lenders the reassurance they needed.
Planning a FRAEW in Portsmouth
Portsmouth's coastal position and dense island layout affect how a FRAEW is carried out.
- Wind and weather. MEWPs and mast climbers have wind-speed limits, and exposed seafront and harbourside blocks are more likely to lose time to high winds, so we build contingency into the site programme.
- Salt exposure. Sea air speeds up corrosion of fixings, brackets and metal cladding, so where the client needs it we record the condition of the façade as well as its fire performance.
- Older blocks with no records. Many 1960s and 1970s buildings have no surviving drawings, as at Avalon House, so the wall types are established by opening up.
- Enforcement and access. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service enforces fire safety in blocks of flats in Portsmouth and Southampton, and Portsmouth City Council licenses access equipment on the highway.
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 Portsmouth
We carry out FRAEWs across Portsmouth, Southsea, Gosport, Havant, Southampton and the wider south coast. See our pages for Portsmouth, Southampton, Brighton and FRAEWs in London and the South East.
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 Portsmouth?
Yes. We carry out FRAEWs to PAS 9980:2026 and EWS1 assessments across Portsmouth, Southampton and the south coast, each led by a Director.
Can you appraise an older block with no records?
Yes. At Avalon House, a 1970s block with no drawings, we established all four wall types by intrusive investigation in a single day on site.
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 Portsmouth?
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 Portsmouth?
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 Portsmouth?
We are Homes England approved Cladding Safety Scheme assessors, carrying out PAS 9980 FRAEWs and EWS1 assessments across Portsmouth, Southampton and the south coast.