BCS are often requested to manage the full planning and design process. Initially this will involve engaging with the Local Planning Authority and lead to a full submission and subsequent approval for specified products. This will in turn lead to a full design proposal that is subject to approval from both the appointed Fire Risk Assessors and the Building Safety Regulator.

If required, this is perhaps the most complicated part of the process following the change in legislation in October 2023 (Managing building control approval applications for higher-risk buildings – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)). As the Health and Safety Executive now take responsibility for monitoring and inspecting works that relate to EWS1 matters for buildings over 18m the process of liaising with them and obtaining their approval is very complicated with numerous layers of submission required. BCS are now experienced at managing this process and have obtained approval from the BSR to undertake removal and reinstatement works.

Once approval from the BSR and the relevant assessors has been obtained then the removal of combustible materials can begin. The process of the removal and disposal of combustible materials is a carefully considered process and appropriate guidance needs to followed during the works. The product’s storage and removal from site by an appropriate waste management company is all part of the service that BCS provide.

The installation of all required framing, cavity barriers and replacement façade materials is the most important component of the physical process. There is no tolerance for error upon installation given the previous risk that the building has been exposed to. The approved products are installed stringently in line with manufacturers guidelines and tailored to the specific site scenario following design approval. At BCS we manage this installation robustly whilst ensuring that we adhere to the construction program.

On most BCS schemes there are four parties that are required to inspect the installation of new façade. There is an EWS1 surveyor for the building owner and one the lessees. There is Employers Agent and the Building Safety Regulator Inspection team. The management of these bodies and the programming of their visits and approval stages is complex and something that we at BCS have experienced on every scheme we have installed. The sequencing of this process whilst not impacting programme is a difficult process to manage but something that we continually aware of. There are also other interested parties such as property management and lessees that we are also required to engage with and manage.

The final part of the process is the issuing of an EWS1 certificate which ensure that the building is ‘safe’ and that lessees can sell or remortgage their properties. BCS assist the surveyors with this process whilst also ensuring that the recording process is logged for all parties for future reference.