RAMS for Cladding Installation (UK)
By the Riskora Editorial Team · Reviewed against our editorial standards · Last reviewed
Generate cladding RAMS that withstand post-Grenfell scrutiny — covering BS 8579 facade design, panel wind loading, MEWP and mast climber access, fire performance verification (A1/A2-s1,d0), and the golden thread evidence required under the Building Safety Act 2022.
UK (RAMS) example document — Two-Storey Rear Extension — 14 Birchwood Lane, Reading. Client: Mr & Mrs A. Whitfield (Private Client). Site: 14 Birchwood Lane, Reading, RG1 5JT. Scope: Construction of a two-storey rear extension (6.4m × 4.2m) to an existing semi-detached dwelling. Works comprise breaking out of existing rear elevation, trench-fill foundations to 1.0m, traditional cavity blockwork to first floor, pre-stressed concrete lintels, timber roof structure with natural slate finish, plus alterations to existing rear wall to form structural opening with rolled steel joist (RSJ 203×102 UB23). Works programmed over 9 weeks with a peak site team of 6 operatives. Hazards assessed: Manual handling — blocks, lintels, plasterboard, Working at height — independent scaffold & roof structure, Buried services strike during excavation, Collapse of excavation / trench wall, Hand-arm vibration (HAVS) — breaking out, drilling, Silica dust — cutting blocks, brick, concrete, Vehicle/pedestrian segregation — narrow domestic street.
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What should cladding installation RAMS include?
A cladding RAMS must cover the system specification (rainscreen, curtain wall, ACM/MCM, terracotta, brickslip), the European fire classification of every layer (A1/A2-s1,d0 expected for HRBs over 18m), Building Safety Act 2022 / Approved Document B compliance reference, BS 8579:2020 design guidance, panel weights and lifting plan, mechanical or vacuum lift methodology, MEWP/mast climber/scaffold access plan with wind shut-down thresholds (typically 17–25 mph depending on panel size), fixing torque and pull-out test records, fire-stopping at compartment lines, and the golden thread documentation pack handed over to the Accountable Person.
Cladding Is the Most Scrutinised Trade in UK Construction
Since Grenfell, cladding installation operates under a regulatory regime no other facade trade faces. The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced gateways, the Accountable Person duty, and a 'golden thread' of digital evidence that must be maintained for the life of the building. Approved Document B restricts combustible materials in external walls of buildings over 18m (11m in Wales), and the new BSR (Building Safety Regulator) actively reviews documentation on higher-risk buildings. On top of all this, your operatives are still working at height, handling 80–200 kg panels in wind, and interfacing with multiple facade trades. A generic 'working at height' RAMS will be rejected on any HRB. Many contractors aren't sure what the law actually requires of their risk assessments.
How Riskora Helps
Riskora generates cladding RAMS structured for post-BSA scrutiny. The builder prompts for system classification (Reaction to Fire to BS EN 13501-1), HRB status, BS 8579 design reference, panel-by-panel lifting plan, wind shut-down thresholds, and golden thread evidence outputs. Method steps cover bracket setting, breather membrane installation, insulation (mineral wool A1 expected), cavity barriers and fire-stopping, panel hanging sequence, and post-installation pull-out testing. For more complex projects, you may also need a standalone risk assessment or method statement.
Who it's for
- Specialist cladding contractors installing rainscreen on HRBs over 18 m
- Curtain wall installers on commercial new-builds requiring BSR sign-off
- Composite panel installers on industrial and retail buildings
- Remediation contractors replacing non-compliant ACM and HPL cladding under government schemes
- Facade subcontractors coordinating with glazing, masonry and roofing trades
Understand the Fundamentals
Before you generate your document, these guides cover the knowledge that underpins every good RAMS, risk assessment, and method statement.
What Is a RAMS Document?
Understand the two components of a RAMS and why they're required before work begins on site.
How to Write a RAMS Document
A step-by-step guide to structuring your RAMS from project details through to sign-off.
UK Legal Requirements for Risk Assessments
What the law requires under MHSWR 1999 and CDM 2015, and what 'suitable and sufficient' means.
Who Needs a RAMS?
Find out whether your work requires a RAMS and who is responsible for producing one.
RAMS vs Risk Assessment — Key Differences
When you need a full RAMS versus a standalone risk assessment, and how the two documents work together.
Construction Safety Documents Explained
An overview of the key safety documents required on UK construction sites and how they relate to each other.
Key Risks and Considerations
- •Falls from height — installation from MEWP, mast climber or scaffold, often above 18 m on HRBs
- •Panel handling in wind — large rainscreen panels act as sails; loss of control above 17 mph for 1.2 m panels, lower for larger formats
- •Dropped objects — panels, fixings and tools falling into public realm or onto trades below
- •Fire performance non-compliance — wrong insulation grade, missing cavity barriers, or substituted materials breaching ADB
- •Compartmentation breaches — failure to reinstate fire-stopping at floor and compartment lines
- •Crush injuries — panels swinging during mechanical lift or vacuum-cup release
- •Mast climber and MEWP overload — exceeding SWL with panel and operative weight
- •Interface incidents — glazing, brickwork and roofing trades operating in same facade zone
Key Features
- BS EN 13501-1 fire classification prompts for every facade layer
- Building Safety Act 2022 / ADB compliance statement template
- Panel-by-panel lifting plan with wind shut-down matrix
- Cavity barrier and fire-stopping method steps
- Pull-out test record templates
- Golden thread evidence checklist
- Download to PDF for BSR / Accountable Person
Example Structure (UK Standard)
- Project details, building height, HRB/non-HRB status
- System specification with BS EN 13501-1 classifications for every layer
- BS 8579:2020 design reference and Approved Document B compliance statement
- Building Safety Act 2022 — Accountable Person and golden thread arrangements
- Lifting plan — panel weights, lifting equipment, exclusion zones
- Access strategy — MEWP, mast climber, scaffold (TG20:21 reference)
- Wind management plan — anemometer location, shut-down thresholds per panel size
- Installation sequence — brackets, breather membrane, insulation, cavity barriers, panels
- Fire-stopping and compartmentation reinstatement
- Pull-out and torque testing records
- Hazard register with risk ratings
- PPE schedule (impact gloves, eye protection, fall arrest, hi-vis)
- Emergency procedures including MEWP rescue and panel runaway
- Golden thread evidence pack to Accountable Person
Common Questions Before Getting Started
Will this take long?
Under 5 minutes. Select your trade, pick hazards, download.
Is it complicated?
No training needed. The guided builder walks you through every step.
Do I need experience?
If you know what work you're doing, you can use Riskora.
Is it free to try?
Yes. The Free plan needs no card — generate, review and download one free PDF. Upgrade any time for branding, DOCX, sign-off and higher limits.
Create your RAMS in under 5 minutes
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All documents generated by Riskora should be reviewed by a competent person before use on site. Riskora provides structured templates — professional judgement is always required.
"The Building Safety Act 2022 changed cladding from a normal facade trade into a duty-holder activity. If your RAMS doesn't reference Approved Document B classifications, BS 8579 design, and the golden thread, it isn't a cladding RAMS — it's a working at height document with cladding in the title."
What your RAMS actually contains
Riskora builds a structured, client-facing document — not a generic AI paragraph. Every section is shaped around your job, your site and your team.
Hazards
Task-specific hazards for the job, captured row by row — not a generic list pulled from an old RAMS.
Controls
Control measures mapped to each hazard with residual risk scoring after controls are applied.
PPE
PPE requirements tied to the activity and site, ready to brief to the team.
Method steps
Step-by-step method statement structured around how the work is actually sequenced on site.
Emergency arrangements
First aid, rescue plan, emergency contacts and site-specific escalation routes.
COSHH prompts
Substance prompts when the work involves chemicals, dusts, fumes or sealants — flagged early, not missed at review.
Sign-off
Operative sign-off captured against the document — names, dates and acknowledgement of the brief.
Version history
Every change tracked so you can show what was issued, when, and which version the team signed.
Approval status
Clear approval state on every document — draft, in review, approved, issued — visible across the team.
Audit trail
Who created it, who reviewed it, who signed it. A complete trail you can hand to a principal contractor or auditor.
From copied-and-pasted to site-specific
The reason RAMS get rejected is rarely the format — it's that the document is obviously generic. Riskora rebuilds it around this job, this site and this task.
Generic template copied from an old job.
- • Hazards and controls that don't match this site or task.
- • Method steps written for a different sequence of work.
- • No emergency arrangements specific to the location.
- • Client flags it as generic and asks for a rewrite.
Site-specific document structured around this job, site and task.
- • Hazards captured from the actual scope you pasted in.
- • Method steps sequenced for how the work runs on site.
- • Emergency arrangements and rescue plan tied to the location.
- • Approved internally, briefed to the team, signed off and stored.
From job details to signed-off document
A four-step workflow used by contractors, consultants and safety teams to turn informal job details into client-ready safety paperwork.
- 1Paste job details
Drop in a client email, a WhatsApp from the site manager, a scope of works or a tender note. Anything that describes the job.
- 2Riskora structures the document
Riskora turns your brief into hazards, controls, method steps, PPE, emergency arrangements and COSHH prompts.
- 3Review, edit and download
You stay in control of every section. Tweak anything, then download a clean PDF or share a link.
- 4Brief the team and record sign-off
Brief operatives, capture their sign-off and keep a full audit trail of who signed which version.
Built by people who've written this paperwork on real sites
Riskora is built by a founder with hands-on site and document experience — designed for contractors, consultants and safety teams who need to issue, brief and prove safety paperwork without losing a day to admin.
- Built for contractors, consultants and teams
Solo trades, principal contractors and in-house safety teams all run on the same workflow. - Supports multiple countries
UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, US and Canada — wording and document types match the local standard. - Not just documents
Sign-off, approvals, version history and an audit trail — the management workflow around the paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
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References & Further Reading
Primary UK sources covering the legal and practical framework behind RAMS, risk assessments and method statements.
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Final RAMS must be reviewed and approved by a competent person before use.
Riskora is an assistive document preparation tool. All documents generated must be reviewed, verified, and approved by a competent person before use on site. Riskora does not replace professional safety judgment, and no output should be treated as a legal compliance guarantee.