Events have unfolded rapidly ever since the Health and Safety Executive’s announcement last Thursday that Raac concrete has reached the end of its life span and is now “liable to collapse with little or no notice.” As a result, the Department for Education (DfE) has taken steps to close down over 100 schools that contain this material due to safety concerns for the current academic year. There is now a growing demand from politicians, the public, and the media for answers as to how such a severe safety issue could have arisen seemingly out of nowhere.
As a professor of construction engineering and materials at Loughborough University, I have been extensively researching Raac in buildings throughout Britain, particularly in the NHS, for several years now. It has been a point of concern for many. Unfortunately, over the past few days, there have been exaggerated claims about the dangers of Raac circulating, such as it being fundamentally flawed, having a lifespan of only a few decades, or being as weak as an “Aero bar.” These claims should be questioned. However, it is important to acknowledge the legitimate risks associated with poorly constructed, deteriorated, or inadequately maintained Raac buildings. Additionally, the current discussion has often downplayed the prevalence of buildings containing Raac throughout the UK.
Furthermore, Raac was not exclusively used in the public sector. Many privately owned buildings, such as 1960s and 1970s-era industrial structures with flat roofs commonly found in business parks, may also contain this material. Identifying and cataloging privately owned structures is more challenging compared to public buildings like schools, which has resulted in difficulties in record-keeping and establishing ownership.
Although the failure to catalog and repair potentially hazardous Raac in schools is seen as a unique failure in the UK, our country can now be considered a global leader in understanding the long-term effects of Raac as a structural material. Our research group at Loughborough University, along with the Institute of Structural Engineers (IStructE) Raac Study Group, are among the few actively researching and publishing on the long-term issues associated with this material. It is likely that other countries will be closely observing the situation in the UK and will soon launch their own investigations, potentially generating significant news coverage on Raac.
Despite the widespread use of Raac in the UK and elsewhere, the actual dangers of the material have occasionally been exaggerated. Our research has not indicated that Raac immediately fails after 30 years or that it is an exceptionally hazardous substance. Videos showing Raac pieces being easily broken in half are unhelpful. No material or building lasts forever, and the lifespan of Raac depends on factors such as manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and usage. Our findings suggest that well-maintained Raac can last up to 50 years and potentially several decades beyond that.
However, Raac that has been improperly installed, damaged, or lacks sufficient waterproofing can pose risks. Flat roofs often contain Raac, and water damage may occur if waterproofing is not adequately maintained. This is a common issue when funding is limited, and building management only reacts to leaks rather than preventing them proactively.
This is not an insurmountable challenge. The NHS has taken the lead in the UK, and possibly worldwide, in dealing with this issue. Over the past few years, the NHS has worked tirelessly with experts and industry professionals to identify Raac-containing hospital buildings and replace or reinforce them as necessary. The NHS has certain advantages in this regard, as hospitals are large structures with maintenance staff available around the clock who are intimately familiar with the buildings.
On the other hand, the DfE encountered difficulties when asking schools to self-report on Raac. Communicating with 22,000 schools is a challenging task, and expecting a small school to find a trusted engineer to conduct an evaluation is a significant demand. A more coordinated effort is needed as we tackle this issue on a broader scale. Moreover, there may be a capacity constraint, as there is a limited number of surveyors, engineers, and builders with the necessary experience in working with Raac.
Nonetheless, this situation also presents an opportunity. Raac has become an integral part of our environment, and we will have to live with it for a long time. If we can respond to this crisis by effectively and promptly addressing Raac across the country, we can become a model that the rest of the world can learn from in terms of expertise and efficiency.
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