“20/04/2021
B2 rating= raise in insurance premium”
That's the first thing I jotted down in my notebook when I was being introduced to the EWS1. The last time I had heard so many A’s and B’s being thrown around was on A-LEVEL results day, I was essentially clueless.
Over the last 6 months I’ve been immersed into the world of the cladding crisis and have found myself becoming somewhat a ‘specialist’ on the EWS1 and more specifically MHCLG’s Building Safety Fund.
I aim to use this blog to document my learning and share answers to those FAQ's once I've found them. A bit of back story on me, I'm Kameka; 23 years old, budding artist, Jamaican born, North London raised. I graduated in 2019 from the University of the Creative Arts with a RIBA/ ARB recognised Part 1 BA(Hons) Architecture degree. I joined the Ever Present team in May and have primarily been managing Union Wharf's Building Safety Fund application.
Now to answer that all important question. A EWS1 (External Wall System) form serves as proof to certify that your building’s safety standards have been assessed by a competent professional and meet the government’s latest requirements. The form covers all flats in the building and is valid for 5 years. Since the Grenfell tragedy, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) have been conducting fire safety tests for buildings over 18 metres tall on a range of materials commonly found within external wall systems such as: EPS cladding, which is currently present at one of our properties, and ACM cladding, which was on Grenfell Tower.
“9 out of 10 flat owners who had an EWS1 got the lowest rating of B2 on which banks will not lend”
Buyers, sellers and lenders are all now desperate for a EWS1 to assure your building is safe to sell and most importantly, inhabit. A recent Leasehold Knowledge Partnership (LKP) survey has found “9 out of 10 flat owners who had an EWS1 got the lowest rating of B2 on which banks will not lend”.
A little bit of detail about the ratings:
A1- No balconies/ cladding with combustible materials. Remediation not necessary.
A2- No combustible cladding but balconies have some flammable materials. If the fire risk is acceptable, remediation is not necessary.
A3- No combustible cladding. Balconies have flammable materials. If the fire risk is not acceptable, remediation is needed. 6-12 months to complete repairs.
B1- Building has combustible cladding. Fire risk is deemed sufficiently low. No remediation needed.
B2- Building has combustible cladding. Fire engineer appointed. Adequate standard of safety is not achieved. Remediation needed.
My advice would be:
Be aware providing an EWS1 is not a legal requirement
If you find yourself with a B2 rating, get organised and get in touch
Don't be a stranger, leave a comment or drop us an email if you have any thoughts or questions!
Share of the week:
Big Easy has just opened a new restaurant in Stratford. You know what that means? Soft launch baby! They're giving 50% off their à la carte menu until the 11th Oct. Seafood boil me!!
Kam
thanks. very informative