The grade scale
A: as new. B: sound, operationally safe and exhibiting only minor deterioration. C: showing major defects and/or not operating as intended. D: life expired and/or serious risk of imminent failure.
Why only C and D
CIF is a condition-led fund. The rationale for restricting eligibility to C and D is that A and B elements have remaining serviceable life and should not consume a competitive grant when condition-failed elements remain unfunded.
Who can grade
The grade should be assigned by a FRICS-qualified building surveyor working to the DfE Condition Data Collection methodology. Self-grading by trust estates staff is not accepted as primary evidence.
What a C-grade roof looks like
Active water ingress to occupied teaching space, failed flashings on more than one elevation, lifted or missing tiles over more than a small localised area, or a flat-roof covering past its design life with documented patch-repair history.