Building safety and sustainability in London
Fire safety, building safety and sustainability input, including low-carbon structural options.
About these services
This group brings together two concerns that are increasingly part of owning and developing buildings in London. The first is safety in existing buildings: structural reviews of blocks of flats and mixed-use buildings up to 15 metres and five storeys, identification of RAAC, and inspections of balconies and walkways. The second is carbon: estimating the embodied carbon in a new structure, and working out how much of an existing building can be reused.
Freeholders, managing agents, residents' management companies and lenders commission safety reviews when they need an independent view of a block's structure, often before refinancing, insurance renewal or major works. Owners of buildings from the post-war decades ask about RAAC. Developers and architects use our carbon and reuse appraisals to support planning applications and client sustainability targets, and to compare demolition with retaining and extending an existing frame.
Across London's older low-rise housing stock, in places like Greenwich, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton, balconies and access walkways are often decades old, with corroded steel, spalling concrete or tired fixings. Retrofit schemes frequently find that an existing frame can take more than expected. We assess what is there honestly, recommend what is needed, and avoid replacing sound structure without good reason.
Services in this group
- Structural safety review for blocks of flats and mixed-use buildingsGCE-BS-001from £600
- RAAC identification and assessmentGCE-IN-016from £600
- Balcony and walkway safety inspectionGCE-IN-017from £500
- Embodied carbon assessment of structureGCE-CS-001from £1,500
- Structural reuse and retrofit appraisalGCE-CS-002from £1,500
Is your concern safety, RAAC or carbon?
For an overall view of an existing block's structure, a structural safety review for blocks of flats and mixed-use buildings covers the frame, walls, floors, roofs and external elements, with priorities for action. If the building dates from the 1950s to the 1990s and has flat roofs or lightweight concrete panels, a RAAC identification and assessment confirms whether RAAC is present and how it should be managed.
Where residents use balconies or open walkways, a balcony and walkway safety inspection checks their condition and capacity specifically. For projects at design stage, a structural reuse and retrofit appraisal shows how much of the existing structure can be kept, and an embodied carbon assessment compares the carbon cost of each structural option. Our RAAC guide covers the warning signs owners should know.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my building has RAAC?
RAAC was used mainly in flat roofs, and sometimes in floors and walls, in buildings constructed between the 1950s and the 1990s. Panels can look like ordinary concrete from below but are lighter, with a bubbly texture and no visible coarse stone. Records can help, but an inspection by an engineer, sometimes with limited opening up, is the reliable way to confirm it.
What are the warning signs of a failing balcony?
Look for cracked or spalling concrete, rust staining, exposed reinforcement, loose or corroded railings, water ponding, and any sag or tilt towards the edge. Cracks where the balcony meets the wall are particularly important. If you see these signs, restrict use until an engineer has inspected it. Balcony failures are rare but can be serious.
Why does embodied carbon matter for a small building?
The structure is often the largest single source of embodied carbon in a building, mostly from concrete and steel. Choosing a lighter frame, reusing existing elements or reducing foundation depth can make a real difference, even on modest schemes. Many London councils now ask for carbon information with planning applications, and clients increasingly set their own targets.
Is it better to retrofit or demolish and rebuild?
It depends on the condition and capacity of the existing structure and on what the new scheme needs. Retaining a sound frame usually saves carbon and time, and can reduce planning risk, but not every building is suitable. A reuse appraisal checks condition, capacity for new loads and adaptability, so the decision rests on evidence rather than assumption.