Architecture details Modern Building Glass facade Exterior

External Wall Construction + Cladding

Jensen Hughes has extensive expertise in assessing a wide range of external wall systems across diverse building types.

Experts in External Walls

Our specialised team of Façade engineers, who are MSc-qualified SFE members with deep experience in facades and fire safety, collaborate with IFE chartered fire engineers to conduct comprehensive assessments. This integrated team specialises in evaluating the fire safety of external wall construction, from inception to on-site verification.

Leaders in External Wall Systems

Our assessment services include:

Risk-based assessments of existing buildings in line with code of practice PAS 9980, Fire Risk Appraisal of External Wall Construction and Cladding of Existing Blocks of Flats – Code of Practice (FRAEW)
Compliance-based assessment of existing buildings against Building Regulations, Approved Document B and initial design documents
Risk mitigation and remedial works design review to improve fire safety for existing buildings, with a current PAS 9980 assessment conclusion of non-tolerable or high-risk
Design compliance and advice for new buildings, including the development of performance-based solutions for compliance with Building Regulations alternative to Approved Document B guidance
Construction inspections and monitoring for new buildings and remedial works
Forming conclusions of fire safety risk for the production of EWS1 forms

Insulation of walls of apartment building under construction

External Walls + Building Regulations

With the enactment of multiple new legislation documents since 2018, a stronger emphasis has been placed on the responsibility of building owners, developers, contractors, and designers to prove their buildings meet safety standards. Recent legislation changes within England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have included the introduction of the Building Safety Act, Fire Safety Act 2021, and Building Regulations Amendments 2018 and 2022. Within these changes, there has been a significant focus on the risk of fire spread over external walls. Jensen Hughes assists our clients in meeting these legislative responsibilities by keeping up to date with current requirements in this ever-changing field.

PAS 9980 – External Wall Appraisals for Existing Buildings

The current government guidance for undertaking external wall construction assessments on existing buildings is found within PAS 9980, Fire Risk Appraisal of External Wall Construction and Cladding of Existing Blocks of Flats – Code of Practice. Our team of experts uses this methodology to undertake external wall assessments for existing buildings, with the primary intent to aid the building’s fire risk assessment. This approach enables our team to complete an EWS1 form for our clients if requested.

New Buildings

We develop fire strategies for all types of buildings – high rise residential to commercial office, hospitals to data centers. A key part of this is the design of the external walls, with a focus on the accuracy of design details, product certification documents, and recorded quality assurance during construction. We offer advice from the inception of a project to completion on site.

Technical Due Diligence

We conduct Technical Due Diligence (TDD) for buyers and sellers of existing and planned buildings, including large property portfolios, to assist with sales negotiations and mitigate acquisition risks by focusing extensively on external walls.

Litigation + Expert Witness Support

Our team undertakes compliance assessments for the external wall construction of existing building construction and designs. We have experience assessing the various iterations of the ABD guidance to determine compliance with the applicable requirements at the time of construction. These compliance reports have assisted our clients in legal disputes regarding the non-compliance of existing buildings. During this work, we undertake intrusive surveys to determine the contents of the wall and review workmanship; during these investigations, the team of Façade engineers will also help to identify other issues, such as water ingress through the façade.