Everything You Need to Know About Intrusive Façade Investigations

Henry Greensmith, Divisional Leader at Façade IQ, answers the questions building owners, managing agents and developers are asking about façade investigations, building safety and the changing regulatory landscape.

Everything You Need to Know About Intrusive Façade Investigations

Building safety has never been under greater scrutiny. With evolving legislation, increased accountability and a greater focus on understanding the construction of existing buildings, intrusive façade investigations have become an essential part of the building safety process.

As A&S Group's specialist façade investigations division, Façade IQ works with building owners, developers, housing providers and managing agents across the UK, delivering evidence-based investigations that provide the clarity needed to make informed decisions.

To find out more, we spoke to Henry Greensmith, Divisional Leader at Façade IQ, about his background, why the division was launched and the challenges facing the industry today.

Meet Henry Greensmith

Firstly Henry, can you tell us a little about yourself, your background, and what led you into façade investigations and building safety?

I grew up on the Wirral and I'm still based there today. I went to school in Birkenhead before completing an undergraduate degree in Business Management at Liverpool John Moores University, followed by a postgraduate degree in Sports Management at Loughborough University.

Sport has always been a huge part of my life outside of work. I'm a keen golfer and have been a member at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake for the past 20 years. After spending more than 25 years chasing the elusive hole-in-one, I somehow managed to get two in just over a year, proving the old saying about London buses really is true. I also spent five years coaching a local grassroots football team, which was something I found incredibly rewarding.

Professionally, I started my career in the construction and health and safety sector before moving into project management, delivering façade investigation and remediation projects. Over the last four to five years, the industry has evolved rapidly and, with it, my experience and knowledge have grown significantly. As building safety has become an increasing priority, I've had the opportunity to work on a wide range of complex projects, helping clients understand risks, navigate regulations and deliver safer buildings. It's been a challenging but hugely rewarding journey, and it's a sector I'm passionate about continuing to develop in.

What is Façade IQ, and why did A&S Group decide to launch this new division?

A&S Group has always been a progressive, forward-thinking business. Under the leadership team's direction, the company has evolved significantly from its roots as an aftercare and maintenance company into an organisation with six dedicated business units, each focused on its own specialist discipline.

The Group already has two well-established divisions operating within the fire safety sector, delivering passive fire protection and remediation services. With that expertise already in place, launching Façade IQ was a natural progression and a complementary addition to the business.

Façade IQ is a specialist division focused on delivering intrusive façade investigations and Fire Risk Appraisals of External Walls (FRAEWs) for medium and high-rise residential buildings across the UK. Our role is to provide clients with clear, evidence-based assessments of external wall systems, helping them understand potential risks, meet regulatory requirements and make informed decisions about building safety and any remedial works that may be required.

Building safety has changed dramatically in recent years. What challenges are you seeing building owners, developers and managing agents face today?

The building safety landscape has changed significantly over the last few years, and with that has come several new challenges for building owners, developers and managing agents.

One of the biggest challenges is navigating an increasingly complex regulatory environment. There is now a much greater focus on accountability, compliance and demonstrating that buildings are safe, particularly following the introduction of new legislation and guidance. Keeping up with those changes while managing existing portfolios can be difficult.

We're also seeing increasing pressure around obtaining accurate information about existing buildings. Many older residential developments simply don't have complete records of how they were constructed, which means intrusive investigations are often essential to fully understand the external wall system and identify any fire safety risks.

Alongside that, there's the challenge of balancing resident safety with cost, programme and disruption. Building owners want to do the right thing, but investigations and any subsequent remediation require careful planning, clear communication and specialist expertise.

Ultimately, clients are looking for trusted partners who can provide clear, evidence-based advice, helping them make informed decisions and navigate what is a complex and constantly evolving sector.

For those unfamiliar with the process, what is an intrusive façade investigation and when is one typically required?

An intrusive façade investigation involves carefully opening up sections of a building's external wall to inspect the materials, construction and fire safety of the façade. It allows us to understand exactly how the external wall system has been built and identify any potential risks that aren't visible from the outside.

These investigations are typically required where construction records are incomplete, to support Fire Risk Appraisals of External Walls (FRAEWs), or to inform remediation works. The findings provide building owners and managing agents with the evidence they need to make informed decisions and demonstrate compliance with building safety requirements.

What are some of the most common issues you uncover when opening up a building? Have any findings surprised you?

Every building is different, but some of the most common issues we uncover include missing or incorrectly installed cavity barriers, combustible materials where they weren't expected, poor workmanship and differences between what was designed and what was actually built.

One thing that continues to surprise us is how often construction differs from the original drawings or available documentation. That's why intrusive investigations are so important. They provide the evidence needed to fully understand a building's external wall system rather than relying on assumptions. In many cases, the findings give clients the clarity they need to make informed decisions about the next steps.

Coming Up in Part Two

In the second part of our conversation, Henry explains how Façade IQ minimises disruption during investigations, works alongside fire engineers and project teams, what clients should look for when appointing a specialist contractor, and how the façade and building safety sector is continuing to evolve. Keep your eyes peeled for our next installment