FRAEW risk ratings explained: low, tolerable, medium and high.

What the rating is a judgement of

The rating is the assessor's overall judgement of the risk to the people in the building from fire spreading over the external walls. It is not a rating of a single material. The same cladding can lead to different outcomes on different buildings depending on how much of it there is, where it is, whether cavity barriers are present, how tall the building is, how it is evacuated and whether it has sprinklers.

The four ratings

Rating	What it usually means for you
Low	The risk from the external walls is low. No remediation of the walls is needed, though routine recommendations may still be made.
Tolerable	The risk is acceptable as it is. The assessor may recommend proportionate measures, such as management actions or monitoring, but remediation of the walls is not needed.
Medium	The risk is not acceptable without further action. The assessor will recommend proportionate measures, which may include partial remediation, mitigation or interim measures.
High	The risk is high and action is needed. Remediation is likely, and interim measures may be needed until the work is done.

What drives the rating

• The materials in each wall type, and how combustible they are.
• How much combustible material there is, and where it is on the building.
• Cavity barriers and fire-stopping, and whether they are present and correctly fitted.
• Attachments such as balconies.
• Height and layout, including how far fire could travel before it is dealt with.
• The fire strategy: simultaneous evacuation or stay put, sprinklers and alarm systems.
• The occupants, including anyone who would need help to escape.

Because so much depends on how the walls were actually built, confirming the construction on site often makes the difference between a cautious rating and an accurate one. Our One Vesta Street FRAEW proved the as-built rainscreen on site and concluded Low risk, with no remediation needed.

What happens next

The rating is only half the answer. Read the recommendations. A good FRAEW sets out specific, proportionate actions for that building, not a generic instruction to replace the cladding. If remediation is recommended, the Cladding Safety Scheme may fund eligible work on residential buildings over 11 metres, and some under 11 metres.

How FRAEW ratings relate to EWS1 ratings

An EWS1 form uses its own ratings: A1, A2 and A3 where the walls are unlikely to support combustion, and B1 and B2 where combustible materials are present. The EWS1 is normally signed on the strength of a FRAEW, so a Low or Tolerable FRAEW on a building with combustible materials will often lead to a B1, and an outcome that requires remediation to a B2. See EWS1 ratings explained.

Frequently asked questions

What are the FRAEW risk ratings?

Under PAS 9980:2026 the risk of external fire spread is rated low, tolerable, medium or high, with recommendations to match.

Does a medium FRAEW rating mean the cladding has to be replaced?

Not necessarily. Medium means further action is needed, but the recommendations should be proportionate. They may include mitigation, interim measures or partial remediation rather than full replacement.

Can a FRAEW rating change?

Yes. A new appraisal after remedial works, or one based on better evidence from opening up the walls, can lead to a different rating.

Is a FRAEW rating the same as an EWS1 rating?

No. They are different scales. The EWS1 is normally signed using the findings of the FRAEW, so the two are linked but not the same.

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