A Building Safety Case is not simply a compliance exercise. It is a clear, evidence-based explanation of the specific fire and structural risks within a higher-risk residential building (HRB), demonstrating how those risks are being managed today and how they will continue to be controlled in the future, in order to avoid serious incidents.

A Building Safety Case is mandatory for all occupied Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) as defined in the Building Safety Act.  This definition includes taller buildings with a residential use, even if only a limited part of the building is dedicated to this.  A Building Safety Case also sets the standard for good practice  for other building types  which fall outside the definition of a Higher-Risk Building.

A well-prepared Safety Case Report provides a clear picture of the fire safety measures and structural condition, and explains how these aspects continue to be checked and managed.

The Principal Accountable Person (PAP) is responsible for ensuring that this is carried out and submitted to the regulator.  For larger and more complex buildings, this involves appointing engineering consultancies to carry out the necessary checks and report back on findings.  The outcome of these surveys may require changes to the way the buildings are managed to ensure the building remains safe.

Our teams are dedicated to supporting PAPs through the Safety Case process, offering an integrated service covering structural checks, fire risk assessments, compartmentation surveys and fire risk assessments for external walls (FRAEWs).

Where required, our in-house multi-disciplinary expertise can help address any structural or fire related issues that may be identified in the process, providing continuity and reducing timescales for resolution, all in an integrated approach.

Beyond surveying and risk assessments, our team can provide remedial strategies ranging from retrospective fire strategies, to support for remediation of structure, façades, and building services.

If you are preparing a Building Safety Case Report, or reviewing the robustness of your existing fire and structural information, Wintech can assist with this process. Follow the link if you wish to enquire further.

One common challenge, particularly for older buildings, is the absence of consistent historical structural records. Developing a reliable understanding of the building requires professional engineering judgement, a structured methodology, and targeted investigation to validate existing information.

The extent of any structural survey will depend on various factors, such as the type of structure, quality of information available, its age, performance and known issues.

Our approach is tailored for every situation to fit the needs of the client and the building, and may vary from a straightforward visual survey, to a more intrusive approach supported by material testing where necessary.

There are a multitude of different survey types requiring specific expertise and training.  Our Fire Engineering team can support with a range of surveys that may be necessary to compliment existing information already available for the building.  These are recorded in clear and transparent reports that can be used to support the production of a Building Safety case. 

Fire Risk Assessments – Required to provide a holistic assessment of the building, considering all aspects from the construction methods, passive and active fire protection measures, and how they are maintained. 

Fire Risk Assessment for External Wall Systems (FRAEWs) – Specialist surveys for the external envelope, crucial in assessing the risk of external fire spread across the façade.  These surveys are carried out by specialist surveyors with a background in façade technology, fire safety, and working at height. Involving intrusive inspections to all façade types on the building, these surveys aim to assess the façade build-up to determine its likely contribution to fire, as well as identify any potential routes for unseen fire spread through the building envelope.

Compartmentation Surveys – Specialist surveys focused on assessing the condition of the internal compartmentation in a building, which is crucial for containing fires and limiting fire spread inside the building.  These surveys focus on the wall construction method, as well as the detailing around penetrations for services, and the ability of non-load bearing compartment walls to accommodate movements in a fire.

Retrospective Fire Strategies – Where the assessments and surveys indicate specific risks that need addressing, we can assist with this process in various ways.  A strategy is put together which is specific and bespoke to the building and its fire safety systems, providing a clear pathway to addressing any issues which may have been identified, combining practical on-site expertise with a fire engineering approach.

If you are preparing a Building Safety Case Report, or reviewing the robustness of your existing fire and structural information, our teams can assist with this process. Speak to our experts about your Safety Case, Structural, and Fire Survey requirements.

Discuss your Building Safety Case Requirements with our experts (all fields required):