When a second opinion pays off
Fire safety reports drive expensive decisions – remediation budgets, lending, purchase prices, insurance and legal claims. A report that is generic, poorly evidenced or written outside the author's competence can lead to the wrong decision. An independent peer review tells you whether a report can be relied on, and what to do if it can't.
Typical reasons clients ask for a review:
- An FRAEW recommends extensive remediation and the freeholder or funder wants to check the scope is proportionate
- A lender, valuer or buyer questions an EWS1 form or the FRAEW behind it
- A fire strategy needs checking before a Gateway 2 application or after design changes
- A safety case report needs checking before it goes to the Building Safety Regulator
- Two reports on the same building disagree
- A dispute turns on whether fire safety work or advice was adequate
How we review an FRAEW
In September 2026 the government published guidance on recognising quality in an FRAEW report, with 18 checks grouped around understanding the assessment, competence and evidence, the risk assessment itself, and the recommendations. We review against those checks and against PAS 9980:2026, and tell you plainly whether the conclusions follow from the evidence – and, where they don't, what further investigation or analysis is needed.
Fire strategies, EWS1 forms and safety cases
For fire strategies we check that the guidance applied fits the building, that departures are justified, and that the strategy matches the drawings. For EWS1 forms we check the option selected against the evidence and that the signatory's competence suits the building. For safety case reports we look at whether the report demonstrates how fire spread and structural risks are actually managed – the issue behind most refusals.
Expert witness (Part 35)
Where fire safety is in dispute, we can provide experts able to act under Part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules. A Part 35 expert's overriding duty is to the court, not the party paying them, so reports must be independent, evidence-based and clear about the limits of the expert's opinion. We support early advice on merits, single joint expert appointments, expert reports and joint statements.
What's included
- Review against PAS 9980 or the relevant guidance
- Check of evidence behind each conclusion
- Competence and scope check
- Proportionality of recommendations
- Gaps and further investigation needed
- Plain-English summary of findings
- Call to talk through the results
- Optional review of revised reports
- Part 35 expert reports
- Joint statements and expert meetings
Fees
Most desktop reviews are fixed-fee, based on the length and type of report. Expert witness work is usually charged on a time basis with an estimate agreed up front. See the cost guide.
Where we work
Reviews are carried out for buildings and portfolios across the UK.
Guides on this topic
- PAS 9980:2026: what's changed, and is your FRAEW still valid?
- When do you still need an EWS1 form? The RICS update explained
- The Remediation of Unsafe Cladding Bill and the medium-rise register (11–18m)
- BS 9994 (draft): the first British Standard for fire strategies
- Fire safety due diligence: what RICS technical due diligence does and doesn't cover
- Gateway 2 rejections: getting your fire strategy approved first time
Related services
- FRAEW Assessments (PAS 9980) – external wall fire risk appraisals to PAS 9980:2026
- Fire Strategy Reports – for new builds, refurbishments and changes of use
- Fire Safety Due Diligence – for acquisitions, disposals and refinancing