Guide · EWS1
EWS1 readiness checklist: how to prepare your building.
What to gather, arrange and decide before an EWS1 or FRAEW survey, so it runs quickly and relies on evidence rather than assumptions.
In short: an EWS1 form is normally signed on the strength of a FRAEW. The more you prepare before the survey, the more of the appraisal can rely on records, and the quicker it runs. Use this checklist to get the paperwork, access and building information ready.
Before you instruct
- Confirm why the EWS1 is being asked for. From 1 November 2026, the RICS standard says valuers should only request one where there is a clear reason, and in some cases a FRAEW summary can be relied on instead. See what is an EWS1 form?
- Check whether an EWS1 or FRAEW already exists. An EWS1 form is valid for five years.
- Confirm who is responsible for the external walls and who will instruct: the freeholder, the RMC or the managing agent.
Records to gather
- The current fire risk assessment and any fire strategy.
- Drawings, specifications and O&M or as-built records.
- Details of any refurbishment, over-cladding or balcony works.
- Product details or fire test evidence for the cladding and insulation, if held.
- Any previous FRAEW, EWS1, façade or intrusive survey reports.
- Correspondence about the Cladding Safety Scheme or the Building Safety Fund, if applicable.
Information about the building
- Height and number of storeys, and the number of blocks.
- Number of flats and how the building is used.
- The evacuation strategy, and whether there are sprinklers or a fire alarm system.
- Balconies, and what they are made of.
Access to arrange
- Access to flats and balconies where inspections or openings are needed, with notice to residents.
- Space to set up powered access, such as a MEWP or cherry picker, and any permits needed.
- Roof and communal area access, and keys or fobs.
- Existing scaffold, if any is already up.
Our own contracting team provides the powered access, opening-up and making good, so you only have one firm to arrange things with.
After the survey
The FRAEW gives a risk rating and recommendations, and the EWS1 form records the outcome as one of five ratings, A1 to B2. Read EWS1 ratings explained. If works are needed, the Cladding Safety Scheme may fund them for eligible buildings.
Frequently asked questions
How long is an EWS1 form valid?
An EWS1 form is valid for five years, unless the building's external walls change significantly in that time.
Do we need an EWS1 for every flat?
No. An EWS1 covers the whole building, so one form serves every flat in it.
What if we have no drawings or records?
We can still carry out the FRAEW. We scope targeted openings to confirm what the walls are made of, and our in-house contracting team carries them out.
Related reading
Talk to us
Ready to book your EWS1 survey?
McKay Turner Consulting are Homes England approved Cladding Safety Scheme assessors, carrying out PAS 9980 FRAEWs and EWS1 assessments across the UK.