The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has urged flat owners to check assessors’ credentials after a fire engineer was sanctioned by the Institution of Fire Engineers for unprofessional conduct.

Lib Dem MP Al Pinkerton plans to ask the housing minister about EWS1 forms relating to Adam Kiziak and his consultancy firm Tri Fire which Pinkerton says has signed thousands of these forms, “often filled in inappropriately and incorrectly”. Kiziak has had his membership suspended while the fire body investigates further.

The RICS explains that EWS1 forms must be completed by a “fully qualified competent member of a relevant professional body within the construction industry with sufficient expertise to identify and assess the relevant materials within the external wall cladding and attachments, including whether fire resisting cavity barriers and fire stopping have been installed correctly in accordance with PAS 9980”.

It adds that UK banks and building societies have robust measures in place to protect people against fraud, which would pick up any EWS1 form that is suspicious, but encourages everyone to check the signatory on a form with the professional concerned and with the professional’s institution.

Made aware

In its guidance, RICS says it has been made aware that unqualified people may be signing off EWS1 forms and condemns anyone using the current situation for their own personal gain, with potentially dangerous consequences for residents. It has urged that any further information related to this should be made available to trading standards and RICS if appropriate.

It also suggests that anyone with concerns should contact the IFE and where appropriate appoint an independent professional for advice on their EWS1 forms. If an RICS member is completing a EWS1 form, landlords can check their membership on its website.

Kiziak has previously responded to the claims, saying that he does not accept them or agree with the outcome of the panel.