The British Standards Institution (BSI) has published PAS 9980:2026, its revised code of practice for fire risk appraisals of external walls (FRAEWs).
Designed to provide greater clarity by reducing uncertainty and streamlining aspects of existing content, PAS 9980:2026 replaces the 2022 edition. It supports more consistent assessments and reflects current good practice when assessing the risk of fire spreading through a building’s external wall system.
PAS 9980:2026 provides recommendations for determining whether an existing block of flats requires an FRAEW and how the appraisal should be undertaken. Its findings are intended to inform the building’s wider fire risk assessment and support decisions about proportionate remediation or mitigation. The updated code continues to focus on assessing the risk to occupants from fire spreading over or within external walls, evaluating the possible consequences for means of escape, and deciding whether remediation or mitigating measures are necessary in specific circumstances.
Applying predominantly to multi-storey blocks of flats of any height, the standard can also be used for buildings with comparable fire strategies and evacuation arrangements, including student accommodation, sheltered housing, and buildings converted into flats. The methodology enables assessors to determine risk-proportionate measures to protect occupants and others who could be affected by a fire involving an external wall. BSI notes that it is not intended to address property protection, business interruption, or firefighter safety.
Read more about the updated document on The FPA website here: https://www.thefpa.co.uk/fire-and-risk-management-journal/news/bsi-publishes-revised-pas-9980