EWS Assessment Training Programme Completers
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11 April 2024
RICS congratulates all participants who completed the Ofqual Level 6 qualification in EWS Assessment Training Programme. The list will be constantly updated with new completers. Successful course completers should be capable of completing an FRAEW and Option A or Option B of the EWS1 form for buildings below 18m but should self-assess their own competence and if the building is very complex or high risk, should consult an IEng or CEng fire engineer for advice on Option B if in any doubt. For high-risk residential buildings above 18m, it is still expected that this will be carried out by an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or a Chartered Engineer (CEng) registered with the Engineering Council by the IFE (or other professional body if demonstrable fire engineering competence), although a survey report of the wall by course completers may be instructed for a fire engineer to make the overall assessment.
The Government backed External Wall System (EWS1) Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) Scheme, which launched in September 2022, closed on 30 October 2023.
The Scheme was intended to be a short-term solution for assessors who were unable to purchase suitable professional indemnity insurance to conduct EWS1 surveys. The lack of appropriate insurance cover meant that EWS1 forms were difficult to obtain, and leaseholders in turn could not re-mortgage, buy, or sell their homes without an EWS1 form.
Government action has helped to address this market failure. The relevance of EWS1 forms is declining as wider Government interventions have taken effect that support lenders to use other forms of documentation to support commercial lending decisions. Govt research shows insurers are offering professional indemnity insurance for EWS1 work and that assessors can access suitable insurance from the open market at a competitive premium and with a wider scope of coverage. The market has responded to the protection gap the Government was looking to address, which removes the requirement for the Government backed Scheme and so providing it is no longer a good use of public funds.
Policies sold under the Scheme to date will continue to be insured under the original terms.
For more information, please contact MGAM at EWS1help@MGAMutual.com.
Published date: 05 April 2024
