![]() “The construction sector is used to dealing with the presence of asbestos in buildings, particularly those that were built around the same time as the proliferation of RAAC. Specialist construction and real estate law firm Ridgemont managing director John Wallace said: “The prevalence of asbestos in schools presents a significant complicating factor in remediating issues relating to RAAC. NCE has learned that the potential for the presence of asbestos in RAAC planks risks complicating the remediation process. ![]() “In hospitals, decommissioning certain services while the work is conducted will be at a great expense.”Ī further issue has been brought to light where remediating instances of RAAC is concerned. The value for money and life cycle will be assessed before any decisions is made. He said: “There will be some cases where whole roofs will have to be replaced. While Goodier said most instances of RAAC presence could be left untreated, he added that wherever the concrete is found, what happens next will be judged on a “case by case basis”. Another method, concrete patchwork, is also ineffective. While these different strategies are the ones being advised on by organisations such as the Institution of Structural Engineers, there are a number of methods that do not work, according to Goodier.Īmong the potential solutions, Goodier said that wrapping the beams typically fails due to the “compression strength being too low”. This can encroach on vital health services.” He continued: “This is particularly the case in hospitals where you need an empty room for the work to take place. ![]() Goodier noted that although attaching supports at bearings could be done in a timely manner, the full replacement of a roof can be “quite intrusive”. This can include allocating an end bearing structural support with an L-shaped angle, such as a steel or timber angle bracket, bolted to the supporting wall and to the underside of the RAAC panel, as well as other load bearing techniques. The second option, according to Goodier, is to implement some form of structural strengthening. It will apply to the majority of cases where RAAC is present, something which the media is misrepresenting at the moment.” Most instances where RAAC is found, this option will be okay. He said: “The first option is to do nothing. Speaking to NCE, University of Loughborough professor of construction engineering and materials Chris Goodier outlined the three main strategies available when RAAC planks are detected in a building. There is a high volume of air within RAAC, making it vulnerable to moisture ingress and it is now known to lose tensile strength in situ. ![]() ![]() It speeds up the manufacturing turnaround of precast concrete units. This form of concrete is a building material made from a combination of cement, lime, water and an aeration agent. As many schools across the UK have had to close just as term time begins again and a number of hospitals are operating with mitigation measures in place, NCE looks at the options available for sites where Reinforced Autoclave Aerated Concrete (RAAC) is present.Īfter the Department for Education (DfE) updated its guidance on mitigating the potential impacts of RAAC last week, at least 156 schools and 34 hospitals are now known to have the "weaker" form of concrete present. ![]()
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