Lea Hough have been appointed by a number of schools to inspect their properties for the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). Lea Hough are assisting schools across the North West after an alert was issued by the Department for Education (DfE) concerning the potential hazard posed by the presence of the material in school buildings.
RAAC is a form of concrete that was often used in school building and alterations during the late 1950s to 1990s. As the material is weaker than traditional concrete, it has been identified that there is a potential risk to the structural integrity of buildings where it has been used. Schools are therefore being asked to report whether they have RAAC on their premises, so that they can be assessed for concrete failure.
Due to the locations where RAAC is most prevalent – largely obscured from view above ceilings and in roof voids – those responsible for school buildings are often unaware whether the material was used in their property’s construction. As such, Lea Hough are able to help by visiting schools and undertaking an initial inspection to identify any RAAC present on a school’s estate. From here, we are able to advise schools on whether further advice/action is necessary – in line with the current guidance from the DfE.
Whilst there has been some disagreement as to the level of threat posed by RAAC, there is little doubt that it has moved up the priority list of the Department for Education and schools consequently need to ensure they are fully informed as to the presence – or not – of the material on their site.
For further assistance from our team of specialist School Building Consultants, please contact us. Our team are happy to have an initial chat to offer advice and guidance on a free of charge basis.
To view the guidance from the Government on RAAC, click here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-estates-guidance
