Lea Hough has completed a series of inspections for Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) on behalf of Hyndburn Borough Council. Our Chartered Surveyors were commissioned to undertake inspections across a portfolio of the council’s public buildings after the dangers of RAAC have come to light. RAAC is understood to be weaker and more prone to failure/collapse than traditional concrete and public bodies are therefore being asked to carry out investigations to look for the presence of the material.
Several of the buildings we were asked to inspect were constructed during the period when RAAC was used – between the 1950’s and 1990’s. Some of the buildings are older, but have had extensions added at various stages, so these needed inspecting too.
During the commission, each building underwent an inspection from one of Lea Hough’s Chartered Surveyors during which investigations to the main roof and to the floors of the building were carried out. A digital inspection camera (borescope) was used to check some roof voids, to mitigate damage to ceilings. A report was then subsequently produced for each building.
An inspection for the presence of RAAC can give peace of mind to a client and if no RAAC is found, building owners can continue to welcome the public to use them without the risk posed by RAAC.
RAAC in schools was initially identified as a particular issue, and schools and academies were therefore asked by the government to report on the presence (or lack of) RAAC in school buildings. The media attention on RAAC has led many councils and public bodies to follow suit and instruct RAAC surveys across their properties.
Government guidance states that all RAAC Surveys / Reports are required be done by an MRICS Chartered Building Surveyor or qualified Structural Engineer. Lea Hough are therefore ideally placed to assist with RAAC Inspections.
For further help or advice regarding RAAC or to instruct our surveying team to carry out an RAAC Report, please get in touch.
