Commercial Cladding & Facade RAMS: What EWS1 Buildings Require in 2026

Table of Contents

• Why Cladding RAMS Matter in 2026
• EWS1 and the Building Safety Act 2022
• Key Hazards in Commercial Cladding Works
• Facade Access Systems and Risk Controls
• Fire Compliance Requirements in Cladding RAMS
• What Your Cladding RAMS Must Cover
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Next Steps

Why Cladding RAMS Matter in 2026

Commercial cladding and facade installation is one of the most complex and highly scrutinised activities in UK construction. In the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire and the subsequent reforms introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022, principal contractors and building owners apply far greater scrutiny to cladding RAMS than almost any other trade document. An incomplete RAMS for facade works is not simply a paperwork failure — it is a statutory compliance risk.

Under CDM 2015, every cladding contractor must produce Risk Assessments and Method Statements before work begins. For higher-risk buildings (HRBs) — defined as residential buildings over 18 metres or 7 storeys — the Building Safety Act introduces additional obligations on the Principal Designer and the Accountable Person. Your RAMS forms part of the Golden Thread of information that must be maintained throughout a building's life.

This guide explains what your cladding RAMS must include in 2026, how EWS1 interacts with your documentation obligations, and how to produce documents that principal contractors and building safety managers will accept.

Browse all trade RAMS templates on the RAMS AI trade hub — covering 22 specialist construction trades.

EWS1 and the Building Safety Act 2022

The External Wall System 1 (EWS1) form was introduced after Grenfell as a means of certifying the fire safety of external wall systems on residential buildings. While EWS1 itself is a surveyor's form completed post-construction, it has significant implications for how cladding RAMS are written during the construction phase. Your RAMS must demonstrate that the specified system — and the way it is being installed — will support a subsequent EWS1 sign-off.

Key considerations include:

• Non-combustible materials — Buildings over 11 metres (residential) must use Class A2-s1,d0 or better cladding materials in accordance with Approved Document B. Your RAMS should confirm material specifications and link to UKCA/CE fire test certificates.
• Cavity closers and fire barriers — Cavity barriers must be installed at every floor level and around all openings. Your method statement should sequence this installation and identify who is responsible for inspection before the next cladding course is fixed.
• Golden Thread documentation — For HRBs, all design documentation, material certificates, and inspection records become part of the building's safety case. Your RAMS should specify how records will be kept and handed over to the Accountable Person.

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has published guidance on what constitutes adequate documentation for HRBs. Principal contractors working on higher-risk buildings should review HSE's Building Safety Act guidance before finalising their documentation regime.

Key Hazards in Commercial Cladding Works

Your risk assessment must identify all significant hazards. For commercial cladding, these typically include:

• Working at height — Facade installation on commercial buildings routinely involves working at significant heights. Edge protection, collective fall arrest, and personal fall protection must be specified and their selection justified under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 hierarchy.
• Dropped objects — Panels, fixings, tools, and sealant cartridges dropped from height can be fatal. Exclusion zones must be established and maintained below all work areas. Tool lanyards are required for all hand tools used at height.
• Panel handling and manual handling — Large cladding panels are heavy and awkward. Manual handling risk assessments must consider weight, grip, working posture, and team lift requirements. Mechanical handling (vacuum lifters, crane lifts) should be specified wherever feasible.
• COSHH substances — Sealants, adhesives, and surface treatments on facade projects frequently contain isocyanates, solvents, and skin sensitisers. COSHH assessments are required for each hazardous substance. Respiratory protection may be required for solvent-based products.
• Wind loading during installation — Partially installed panels act as sails in high winds and can become uncontrolled. Your RAMS must specify maximum wind speed limits for each installation activity and the arrangements for securing partially installed systems.
• Electrical hazards — Proximity to electrical services, particularly in occupied buildings where live circuits remain energised near the facade, creates shock and arc flash risks that must be assessed.

Facade Access Systems and Risk Controls

The access method chosen for facade installation is one of the most significant risk factors in the entire project. Your RAMS must identify the specific access system and provide detailed risk controls for its use. Common systems include:

• Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) — Scissor lifts, boom lifts, and spider platforms are widely used for lower commercial buildings. Your RAMS should specify maximum working heights, ground condition requirements, exclusion zones, and emergency lowering procedures. Operators must hold valid IPAF certification.
• Mast-climbing work platforms (MCWPs) — Preferred for tall commercial facades, MCWPs provide a large working deck at height. Your RAMS should cover erection and dismantling (which carries significant risk), load limits, anchor point design, wind speed limits, and emergency evacuation procedures.
• Suspended access equipment (SAE) — BMUs, cradles, and IRATA rope access are used on complex and high-rise facades. For rope access, all operatives must hold IRATA certification at the appropriate level.
• Scaffolding — Traditional tube and fitting or system scaffolding is still used on many projects. Where scaffolding is used, it should have its own RAMS from the scaffolding contractor, and your cladding RAMS should cross-reference it.

For all access systems, your RAMS must confirm that rescue plans are in place, emergency procedures have been briefed to all operatives, and competent first aiders are available on site.

Fire Compliance Requirements in Cladding RAMS

Fire compliance in facade works goes beyond material selection. Your RAMS should address:

• Hot works controls — Grinding, cutting, and welding near combustible substrates or cavity insulation requires hot works permits. Your method statement should specify the minimum exclusion radius for hot works near insulation and the fire watch period after hot works.
• Insulation handling — PIR, mineral wool, and phenolic insulation boards may release irritant fibres or fumes during cutting. COSHH controls and dust suppression measures should be specified.
• Fire barrier installation sequence — Your method statement should include hold points that require inspection and sign-off of fire barriers before work proceeds. This is a critical quality and compliance control.
• Temporary weatherproofing — Where the facade is partially open at the end of a work shift, temporary weatherproofing must be installed to prevent fire spread through open cavities.

What Your Cladding RAMS Must Cover

A compliant commercial cladding RAMS should include all of the following elements:

• Project details: site address, contract number, Principal Contractor, Principal Designer
• Scope of works: panel system, fixing specification, access method, approximate building height
• Risk assessment: all identified hazards, likelihood and severity ratings, control measures
• Method statement: step-by-step sequence of works including access setup, panel delivery, installation, and seal application
• Facade access plan: specific access system with risk controls and emergency procedures
• COSHH references: list of hazardous substances with reference to individual COSHH assessments
• Lifting plan reference: for any panel crane lifts
• Fire compliance confirmation: material certificates, fire barrier sequence, hot works controls
• Competency requirements: IPAF, IRATA, CSCS, SSSTS/SMSTS as applicable
• PPE schedule: full PPE matrix for each task
• Emergency arrangements: first aid, emergency contacts, evacuation procedure
• Sign-off: supervisor and operatives signature

For AI-generated cladding RAMS that include all of the above, use the Commercial Cladding & Facades RAMS generator on RAMS AI.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does my cladding RAMS need to address EWS1 requirements?
A: Your RAMS should confirm that the installation method and materials align with the designed facade system. While the EWS1 form itself is completed post-construction by a qualified assessor, the RAMS should include material certificate references, fire barrier installation sequences, and quality inspection hold points that will support subsequent EWS1 sign-off.

Q: Who reviews cladding RAMS on higher-risk buildings?
A: On HRBs, the Principal Designer is required to review and coordinate RAMS from specialist subcontractors. The Building Safety Regulator may also scrutinise documentation as part of its oversight of the building's safety case. Your RAMS should be detailed enough to satisfy both audiences.

Q: What wind speed should we stop cladding installation?
A: Wind speed limits depend on the access system and panel weight. As a general guide, most MEWP operations should cease at Beaufort Force 6 (around 25 mph) or as per the manufacturer's limit. Large-panel crane lifts may need to stop at lower wind speeds. Your RAMS should specify the stop-work threshold for each activity.

Next Steps

If you are preparing RAMS for a commercial cladding project, the Commercial Cladding & Facades RAMS generator on RAMS AI provides a structured, CDM 2015 compliant starting point. The AI-generated document includes pre-built hazards for facade access, panel handling, COSHH substances, and fire compliance — saving you hours of writing time while ensuring nothing critical is missed.