Guidance on RAAC in Schools

What is RAAC?

It is a lightweight form of concrete that was used in floor, cladding, wall and roof construction in the UK between the 1950’s and mid 1990’s. It was particularly popular in the construction of public sector buildings for its lightweight thermal properties, due to being more aerated, porous and having a bubbly appearance.

The lightweight nature of the concrete did come at the cost of structural strength, and the seriousness of the issue gained public attention when the roof of an operational school in Kent collapsed in 2018.

How to identify RAAC?

The DfE guidance provides a detailed walk through of the steps to identify RAAC in your school building so please ensure you’re familiar with this document as a priority.

In brief the government introduced a 5 stage approach:

• Data & Information Collection
• Initial Assessment
• Appoint a Specialist Engineer
• Detailed Assessment
• Remediation and Management

What to do if your building has RAAC?

If you detect RAAC within your school buildings or are unsure and want peace of mind then you should arrange an inspection from a professional as you may require remedial works.

Eddisons team of qualified chartered building surveyors are already working with a number of schools to help make their buildings more structurally secure.

We can coordinate in depth surveys to verify the presence of RAAC and produce detailed reports with our findings and recommendations. From here we will talk you through the risks highlighted and continue to advise, support and manage the remediation projects to ultimately ensure your buildings are safe.

To find out more please contact us today for a no obligation consultation.