Safety Concerns over RAAC Forces Closures of Schools Nationwide

Schools nationwide are facing safety concerns arising from the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), with more than 100 schools forced to close buildings at risk of structural collapse from crumbling RAAC.

RAAC is an aerated or ‘bubbly’ material which gained popularity between the 1950s and 1990s for use in buildings, including schools, for its cost-effectiveness and quick installation. However, unlike traditional reinforced concrete, it lacks durability, with a lifespan of only around 30 years and is susceptible to structural failure and collapse when exposed to moisture.

The Government has long been aware of the risks associated with RAAC, with a 1996 government funded report by the Building Research Establishment revealing cracks in RAAC panels in housing development and deformations in school panels. A subsequent 2002 report raised further concerns, including the likely degradation of coating materials in panels older than 20 years and inadequate panels that did not meet installation regulations. However, the seriousness of the issue only recently came to the forefront after a RAAC beam previously considered low risk collapsed without warning at a school during the summer. This prompted widespread closures or partial closures of schools using RAAC beams. The government has faced criticism for its delayed response, as similar RAAC-related roof collapses in British schools in 2017 and 2018 failed to trigger immediate action.

In an effort to address the crisis, new guidelines were issued in 2021 and 2022 on managing RAAC, and the Department of Education (DfE) initiated a survey to gather information about RAAC usage in schools. As of September 14th, the DfE’s updated list reveals that 174 educational settings have RAAC present. Most of these schools continue to offer in-person education, but 24 schools in England have had to provide some sort of remote learning due to RAAC-related issues.

The situation is ongoing, with Education Secretory Gillian Keegan pledging government funding for “emergency mitigation work needed to make buildings safe”. This includes the installation of “alternative classroom spaces where necessary”, as well as support for “longer-term refurbishment or rebuilding projects to rectify the RAAC issues”. However, the issue extends beyond schools, with RAAC also used in hospitals, airports and other public sector buildings. This has prompted discussion as to why a building material designed to last just 30 years was used in buildings that form part of the nation’s vital infrastructure in the first place. The government has faced allegations of exacerbating the problem through cuts to local authority budgets leading up to the crisis.

Radhika Lalit, a cement and concrete expert at US think-tank Rocky Mountain Institute, has emphasized that the RAAC issue is not unique to the UK, noting that “RAAC was widely used in Germany and other parts of Europe, in Japan and across Asia and even in North America”. Britain’s handling of this problem serves as a wake-up call for other nations grappling with RAAC-related concerns, highlighting the need for proactive measures to ensure building safety and infrastructure longevity.