Structural Risk Assessments

Our Structural Risk Assessments (SRA) provide clear, proportionate insight into the condition and performance of a building’s structure, supporting dutyholders in meeting the requirements of the Building Safety Regime.

Each assessment is tailored to existing building and aligned with regulatory expectations for higher-risk residential buildings.

Our Approach

A Structural Risk Assessment is a visual, non-intrusive assessment of the observable condition, stability and robustness of a building’s primary structural elements. It is undertaken in line with the expectations of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and supports the Principal Accountable Person (PAP) in demonstrating that structural risks are understood, managed and appropriately controlled within the Building Safety Case.

The assessment does not involve intrusive works, opening-up, removal of finishes or material testing. All observations are limited to areas safely accessible at the time of inspection, combined with a review of available structural information where provided.

Our focus is on the visible performance of the structure,
identifying credible structural hazards and assessing whether the building’s primary load-bearing elements are performing as intended.

What the Assessment Covers

The scope of an SRA typically includes:

Foundations and substructure Evidence of settlement, movement or subsidence where visible or indicated by building behaviour.

Load-bearing and stability-providing elements Reinforced concrete, steelwork, masonry and other primary elements, including cracking, spalling, corrosion or deterioration.

Floors and floor slabs Load paths, deflection, cracking and signs of stress.

Roof structure Trusses, beams and supporting elements, including water ingress or structural decay.

Beams, columns and structural supports Signs of overstress, corrosion, rot or loss of structural integrity.

Balconies, cantilevers and projections Structural soundness, connections and visible deterioration.

External envelope (structural relevance only) Movement cracks, distortion or displacement affecting structural performance.

Impact of external factors Drainage, ground conditions, adjacent structures and retaining walls influencing stability.

Signs of structural movement Crack patterns, misalignment of windows or doors, and other deformation indicators.

Damp, moisture and water ingress (structural impact only) Where moisture affects structural elements or reinforcement durability.

Desktop review Review of available structural drawings, calculations and construction records to assess whether the structure is sufficiently understood.

Purpose of the Assessment

The Structural Risk Assessment is intended to:

Support compliance with the Building Safety Act
Demonstrate that structural hazards are identified, understood and managed
Provide evidence-based justification of structural integrity within the Building Safety Case
Respond to or pre-empt BSR queries during the Building Assessment Certificate (BAC) process

Each assessment is led, undertaken or formally assured by a UK Chartered Structural Engineer with appropriate experience of higher-risk residential buildings.

Reports may include risk-based recommendations.

The report may highlight necessity for more detailed (intrusive) investigations and remedial works where further assurance is required.

Unsure whether your existing reports are sufficient for BAC?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who requires a Structural Risk Assessment?

An SRA is required from the Principal Accountable Person (PAP)

For most blocks of flats: This is typically the Freeholder.
For resident-led buildings: It could be a Resident Management Company (RMC) or a Right to Manage (RTM) company.
For social housing: It is usually the Local Authority or the Housing Association.

What is the difference between a Structural Risk Assessment and a Structural Survey / Condition Survey?

A Structural or Condition Survey identifies defects such as cracks, dampness, subsidence, and peeling paint.

It helps determine necessary maintenance, estimate costs, and set priorities. It helps with asset management. This survey does not evaluate building safety against collapse or damage to the main structure; it simply reports the building’s condition and recommends maintenance to preserve it and prevent further damage.

A Structural Risk Assessment examines the main load-bearing structural system.

An SRA verifies the primary load path and stability system and assesses structural failure risks thoroughly to ensure the evaluation is suitable and adequate. The assessment identifies potential hazards that could cause structural failure or collapse of the entire building and explains the strategies used to manage those risks.

This process follows the Institution of Structural Engineers’ guidance, which is organised into four steps:

Step 1 – Desktop Study (Collation of all available drawing, specifications, calculations)
Step 2 – Desktop Study (Review of the available existing documents)
Step 3 – Visual Assessment (non-intrusive visual inspection)
Step 4 – Structural Risk Assessment

Current government and BSR guidance are clear that assessments of structural failure risk for higher-risk buildings should be led, undertaken, or formally assured by a competent Chartered Structural Engineer with appropriate experience and not by the Building Chartered Engineer.

Put simply: Condition Survey is asset-focused and non-regulatory. An SRA is risk-based and regulatory.

What is involved in a Structural Risk Assessment from a methodology perspective?

As described above – the SRA is a non-intrusive visual inspection combined with the assessment of the available archive of record drawings, specifications, and calculation reports. It is divided onto 4 main steps:

Step 1 – Desktop Study (collation of all available drawing, specifications, calculations)
Step 2 – Desktop Study (review of the available existing documents)
Step 3 – Visual Assessment (non-intrusive visual inspection)
Step 4 – Structural Risk Assessment

Our Clients

We support Property Managers, Property Owners, Compliance and Engineering Firms