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This page was last updated 24 May 2022
On this page, where we refer to the 18m height demarcation, it is important to note that we are referring to the government's definition of "high-rise residential multi-occupied buildings of 18 metres or more in height, or more than 6 storeys (whichever is reached first)."
Across the country there are thousands of buildings that need these forms, and a limited number of qualified people who can do the work so it will take some time before our programme is complete.
Due to the Covid 19 outbreak this work was paused but started again in the summer of 2020. Please note that some services are affected by the pandemic response and the need to work in a Covid-safe way. More information on our response to the pandemic is here.
This form was developed by experts to help building owners record what assessment of the external wall construction of buildings over 18 metres tall has been carried out and the outcomes. Getting the information required to complete this form can often require significant intrusive testing of the fabric of the building. This is because, to comply with current government safety guidelines, building owners cannot rely on the fact a building received Building Control sign off at the time it was built.
For buildings over 18m or six storeys, an EWS1 form will be required where:
• There is cladding or curtain wall glazing on the building or
• there are balconies which stack vertically above each other and either both the balustrades and decking are constructed with combustible materials (e.g. timber) or the decking is constructed with combustible materials and the balconies are directly linked by combustible material.
For buildings of five or six storeys, an EWS1 form should be required where:
• There is a significant amount of cladding on the building (deemed as approximately one quarter of the whole elevation estimated from what is visible standing at ground level is a significant amount) or
• there are ACM, MCM or HPL panels on the building or
• there are balconies which stack vertically above each other and either both the balustrades and decking are constructed with combustible materials (e.g.timber), or the decking is constructed with combustible materials and the balconies are directly linked by combustible materials.
We are happy to provide a copy of the EWS1 form for our buildings over 18m. Please email Sales Services.