How Much Does a FRAEW Cost?

As a property manager or building owner, you are navigating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, with new legal and safety obligations under the Building Safety Act 2022. A critical component of meeting these duties is a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW). One of the first questions you will inevitably ask is, “How much does it cost?”

This guide is designed to provide you with a comprehensive breakdown of FRAEW costs. We will move beyond simple figures to explain the factors that influence the price, what a professional quote should include, and how to ensure you are getting a robust and compliant assessment—an investment in the safety of your building and its residents.

What is a FRAEW and Why is it Your Responsibility?

A Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW) is a detailed, on-site, and intrusive assessment of a building’s external wall system. It is conducted by a competent fire engineer and uses the standardised methodology set out in PAS 9980.

The purpose of an FRAEW is to provide a comprehensive, risk-based analysis of the potential for fire to spread over or within the external walls. This goes far beyond a simple visual inspection; it involves a rigorous five-step process that often includes opening up the facade to inspect what is concealed behind.

As the “Accountable Person” under the Building Safety Act or the “Responsible Person” under the Fire Safety Order, you have a legal duty to assess and manage fire risks in your building. Where the general fire risk assessment flags a concern with the external walls, you are required to commission a FRAEW. This assessment is the cornerstone of your building’s fire safety strategy and is vital for:

Legal Compliance: Demonstrating that you are actively managing fire risks in line with your statutory obligations.
Building Safety Case: Providing the key evidence needed for the “Golden Thread” of information and your Building Safety Case.
Lender and Insurer Confidence: Generating the professional evidence that underpins an EWS1 form, which is often required for residents to sell, remortgage, or for the building to secure insurance.

Proportionate Remediation: Giving you a clear, expert-led path forward for any necessary works, preventing unnecessary and costly remediation.

Typical Cost Range for a FRAEW

It is impossible to provide a single, fixed price for an FRAEW. The cost is highly bespoke to each building, reflecting its unique characteristics. However, as a general guide, a professional FRAEW can range from £1,500 for a simple, low-rise block to over £20,000 for a large, complex high-rise building.

This significant price variation is due to a number of crucial factors that we will now explore in detail.

Key Factors That Influence the Cost of a FRAEW

Building Height, Age, and Design Complexity

Height: This is often the most significant cost driver. Buildings over 18 metres in height require more complex and expensive access solutions (e.g., Mobile Elevating Work Platforms or rope access teams). Taller buildings also carry a higher inherent risk and therefore require a more in-depth analysis.
Age and Construction: Older buildings may have more varied and undocumented external wall systems, requiring a greater number of intrusive investigations to verify what materials are present and how they are installed.
Architectural Features: Complex facades with multiple types of cladding, extensive balconies, and varying design features will demand more time and professional judgement to assess.

The Level of Investigation Required

The primary function of a FRAEW is to gather robust, on-site evidence. This means a desktop review of plans is rarely sufficient.

Intrusive Surveys: The cost will increase with the number of “opening-up” surveys needed. This involves a surveyor carefully cutting into the facade at multiple points to inspect fire barriers, insulation, and the material composition of the external wall.
Laboratory Testing: If there is any doubt about the combustibility of materials found, samples will need to be sent to a UKAS-accredited lab for testing. This is an additional cost, which can range from a few hundred to over a thousand pounds.

Access Arrangements and Associated Costs

Gaining safe and comprehensive access to the building’s facade is a logistical and financial challenge that often falls to the building owner.

Equipment Rental: The cost of hiring specialist equipment like a MEWP (cherry picker), or even erecting scaffolding, can add thousands of pounds to the total cost. This will vary depending on the rental period and the complexity of the site.
Rope Access Teams: For very tall buildings or those with difficult access, a specialist rope access team may be required. While this can sometimes be more cost-effective than scaffolding, it is still a highly skilled and expensive service.
Permits: You may need to secure permits for road closures or for placing equipment on public land, which can add to the overall cost and timeframe.

Professional Fees and Competence

The most critical element of a FRAEW is the competence of the professional undertaking it.

Accredited Professionals: The price reflects the expertise and indemnity insurance of the fire engineer. It is essential to choose a professional who is appropriately qualified and accredited by a recognised body such as the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) or the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Report Writing: The FRAEW report is a substantial document that requires significant professional time to compile. This includes a detailed analysis of findings, a risk-based rating in line with PAS 9980, and clear, actionable recommendations. The professional fee for this time is a major part of the overall cost.

Why You Cannot Afford to Choose the Cheapest Option

When facing significant and often unbudgeted costs, it can be tempting to choose the lowest quote. However, this is a dangerous approach for a FRAEW.

An assessment conducted by an unqualified professional may:

Lack Authority: Be rejected by lenders, insurers, and the Building Safety Regulator, meaning you will have to pay for another assessment.
Provide False Reassurance: Miss critical safety defects, leading to a false “safe” rating and putting residents at risk.
Result in Legal Action: Fail to meet your statutory duties, leaving you and the building exposed to legal and financial penalties.

A valid FRAEW is not just a form; it is a legally defensible expert opinion that protects you and the building. The cost of a professional assessment is a wise investment that prevents far greater expenses and liabilities down the line.

Our service includes compliance checks on all quotes and provides you with a due diligence pack on top, so you can easily compare credentials and ensure you’re working with the right expert for your building.

Fill out the form below to connect with qualified and insured fire engineers who can provide a transparent and competitive quote for your building’s FRAEW assessment.

Start Your FRAEW Quote

Accredited Fire Engineers — Nationwide Coverage

Fully Compliant with the Building Safety Act

Trusted by Property Managers Across the UK

Fast Turnaround — No Hidden Costs

Insurance-Approved EWS1 Reports

This step-by-step form takes just a few minutes. We’ll ask for your building’s key details and any existing reports or drawings. The more information you provide, the faster our accredited specialists can give you an accurate, fixed-scope quote.

Step 1 of 5

Building Details

Building Name/Numbe(Required)

Building Postcode(Required)

Building Height / Number of Floors(Required)

Year of Construction (if known)

Only Accredited FRAEW Experts. No Exceptions. We only work with fully accredited fire engineers and chartered professionals who are qualified to carry out Fire Risk Appraisals of External Walls (FRAEW) under PAS 9980:2022.

Our experts hold the same high-level accreditations required for EWS1 forms — including IFE, RICS, CABE, and CEng — but with additional proven competency in conducting PAS 9980 assessments.

Every professional is fully vetted, with memberships, qualifications, and insurance verified. All surveys and reports follow PAS 9980:2022 methodology, and we provide a due diligence pack with every quote so you can check each specialist’s credentials with confidence.

How Much Does a FRAEW Cost?

What is a FRAEW and Why is it Your Responsibility?

Typical Cost Range for a FRAEW

Key Factors That Influence the Cost of a FRAEW

Building Height, Age, and Design Complexity

The Level of Investigation Required

Access Arrangements and Associated Costs

Professional Fees and Competence

Why You Cannot Afford to Choose the Cheapest Option

Start Your FRAEW Quote

Accredited Fire Engineers — Nationwide Coverage

Fully Compliant with the Building Safety Act

Trusted by Property Managers Across the UK

Fast Turnaround — No Hidden Costs

Insurance-Approved EWS1 Reports

Accredited Fire Engineers — Nationwide Coverage

Fully Compliant with the Building Safety Act

Trusted by Property Managers Across the UK

Fast Turnaround — No Hidden Costs

Insurance-Approved EWS1 Reports

Building Details

External Walls.(Cladding)

Previous Reorts

Step 5: Extra Details

Compliance Assured

Building Safety Compliance

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