Guidance

What to expect in an FRAEW executive summary

Published 14 September 2026

Applies to England

The executive summary is an important part of a fire risk appraisal of external walls (FRAEW) report. It should give a clear and simple overview of the building’s fire risk and any actions needed to reduce or manage that risk.

It should be written in plain language that people without specialist building or fire safety knowledge can understand.

This guide explains what you should expect to see in an FRAEW executive summary, based on PAS 9980:2026 guidance. It is mainly for people who commission FRAEWs, but it may also help residents and anyone else with an interest in the building.

This is not a complete list. Your FRAEW executive summary may include other information relevant to the building.

If any of the information listed in this document is missing from an FRAEW executive summary or seems incorrect, raise it with the person who carried out the FRAEW.

This applies to buildings in England only.

Assessor credentials

The executive summary should clearly identify the person who carried out the assessment.

You should see:

• the assessor’s name, qualifications and organisation
• their membership of a relevant professional body and registration number
• confirmation that they have professional indemnity insurance
• any declarations of conflict of interest

Scope, limitations and uncertainty

The summary should explain:

• what was assessed and any significant exclusions
• any inspection or access limitations
• key assumptions made
• important uncertainties affecting the assessment
• whether further investigation may be required

For more information on scope, assumptions, investigative work and limitations, see PAS 9980:2026 Clauses 4 and 6.

What should be included in the executive summary

1. Building information

The summary should describe the building, including:

• its location, basic dimensions, height in metres, and number of storeys
• when it was built and how it was constructed, including details of any cladding system
• its main use, such as residential or mixed-use
• the building’s fire strategy, including evacuation arrangements and whether there are residents with specific evacuation or support needs

2. Evidence and investigations

The summary should explain the main evidence relied upon, such as:

• inspections and surveys
• drawings and specifications
• product information
• intrusive investigations, where undertaken
• specialist advice or technical assessments

The summary should explain how this evidence supports the conclusions reached.

3. Fire risk overview

The summary should explain:

• the overall risk outcome rating: low, tolerable, medium or high
• why that risk outcome rating was given
• whether mitigation or remediation measures may be needed to manage or reduce the risk
• any significant fire safety risks related to the external wall if not already mentioned in the fire risk assessment.

4. External wall features

The summary should include:

• details of the main materials used in the external wall system, including cladding and insulation
• the manufacturers and types of materials, where known
• other elements that may affect fire safety, such as balconies or attachments
• a brief explanation of how the external wall construction influences fire risk
• any significant features relevant to fire spread
• any known limitations in the information available

5. Interim fire safety measures

The summary should explain:

• whether the building’s evacuation strategy needs to change, either temporarily or permanently. If so, what conditions must be met before returning to the original evacuation strategy
• any temporary measures in place, such as a waking watch or fire alarm system
• any issues affecting fire and rescue service access, including information about stairwells

6. Previous works and assessments

The summary should include:

• details of any previous remediation work
• whether there is an up-to-date fire risk assessment (FRA) for the building

7. Recommendations

Recommendations should be considered alongside the building’s fire risk assessment and not on their own.

The summary should clearly explain what action is recommended.

For example:

• if the risk outcome rating is low, it should confirm that existing measures are adequate
• if the risk outcome rating is tolerable, it should explain that no immediate action is needed, although it may suggest ways to reduce risk in the future
• if the risk outcome rating is medium or high, it should set out suitable options for reducing the risk, such as removing or replacing some or all of the cladding

The executive summary should also:

• identify specific details of any cladding or external wall materials that need remedial work
• describe the recommended work in proportion to the level of risk

It may outline the type and scale of work needed, but detailed cost estimates are usually provided separately.

8. Expected outcome

The summary should explain:

• how the recommendations are expected to improve fire safety
• the anticipated risk outcome following implementation
• any significant assumptions, dependencies or residual risks