Earlier this year, more than 100 schools were forced to close due to grave risks associated with Reinforced Autoclaved Concrete (RACC) used in their construction. With schools already grappling with the immense challenge of accommodating growing student populations, there is simply no room for avoidable disruptions.
Experts from Lyon Tec believe that AI-driven solutions could have mitigated or even prevented this catastrophe.
Leading the charge, forward-thinking construction firms are now harnessing the power of AI tools to conduct precise and efficient analyses of building materials. These cutting-edge tools act as guardians of quality, ensuring the selection of optimal materials tailored to specific needs. In doing so, they not only prevent disasters like the RAAC crisis but also save invaluable time and resources.
AI-driven risk management software also offers real-time analysis, alerting authorities and construction firms about potential dangers before disasters strike. By effectively analysing material longevity, weather conditions, and historical failure data, these tools can forecast and prevent catastrophic events like the collapse of RAAC ceilings.
Artificial intelligence will have a huge impact on architecture in the future, and Lyon Tech is championing the use of this technology in the construction of new schools to ensure the highest level of safety, while minimising the risk of future disruption to education due to poorly chosen building decisions.
https://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FOC-LYON.jpg320800Lynhttps://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screenshot-2019-06-10-at-11.25.53.pngLyn2023-11-15 10:56:192023-11-15 10:56:19Ensuring School Building Safety: The Role of AI-Driven Solutions
Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia is committed to providing healthy indoor air while driving a low-carbon future. The company is therefore paving the way in the ventilation sector when it comes to its decarbonisation. To illustrate its commitment Vent-Axia has set clear sustainability targets including increasing its sales of its low carbon products and increasing the use of recycled material in its manufacturing. Currently the carbon avoided by Vent-Axia’s group products is around four times its operational carbon footprint. Vent-Axia aims to be net zero by 2040, ten years before the Government’s 2050 net-zero target.
As part of its sustainability strategy Vent-Axia has developed three pillars that orientate and deliver its long-term objectives which are: Product – Engineer Sustainable Solutions; Planet – Improve environmental performance; and People – Connect people together. These focus areas have driven a number of targets including Vent-Axia setting a target of 70% of its sales revenue to be from low carbon products by end of FY2025. The company has successfully reached this milestone ahead of the target date. Vent-Axia has also set a target for 90% of the plastic it uses in its own manufacturing to be from recycled sources by the end of FY2025. Currently this figure is already at 83% and is on track to hit the 90% figure.
Vent-Axia recognises the importance of cutting carbon emissions in the built environment since buildings account for 40% of energy use in Europe and approximately 35% of emissions. To meet the Government’s 2050 net-zero target, buildings need to decarbonise which will involve the wide-scale electrification of heating, a move away from fossil fuels, as well as significant improvements to air tightness and building insulation. Heat recovery ventilation will be a key technology to help deliver the final piece of the carbon avoidance by preventing heat loss, so as a technology it is set for significant growth.
“At Vent-Axia we have been leading the ventilation industry since 1936 and continue to do with our aim to become net zero by 2040.At Vent-Axia we are committed to a low-carbon future with the health and wellbeing of people and the planet at its core”, said Joseph Brawn, Product and Marketing Director at Vent-Axia. “Carbon avoidance is the only way forthe UK to reach Net Zero with the decarbonisation of buildings an essential part of this. We aim to provide our customers with the products to help them on their decarbonisation journey while also continuing our commitment to providing effective ventilation to improve indoor air quality and comfort for inhabitants – since 70% of the air we breathe in our lifetime is air inside buildings.”
To meet the necessary carbon reductions buildings are becoming more thermally efficient as they are insulated, and their air tightness is increased to avoid heat loss. However, without considering ventilation alongside these measures a building can end up with condensation, mould and poor IAQ. Energy efficient heat recovery ventilation therefore supplies a solution that provides healthy filtered air while recovering heat that would be otherwise lost.
Vent-Axia is a solutions provider and collaborates closely with its customer base to ensure it develops the products customers need to decarbonise. For that reason, the company is constantly improving the efficiency of its products and reducing their carbon intensity. For the company’s latest heat recovery ventilation products, the Sentinel Apex commercial heat recovery system and the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq residential Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR), it can provide TM65 data to help customers understand their wider life cycle assessment.
The Sentinel Apex and the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq have specifically been designed to meet the challenges of decarbonisation. Both systems feature market-leading heat recovery efficiencies of up to 93%. This level of efficiency means that the heating and cooling energy lost through ventilation can be reduced by up to 25% when compared to a 73% efficient heat exchanger in both heating and cooling seasons. Both heat recovery systems also contain energy efficient EC/DC motors with market-leading extremely low Specific Fan Power, these types of motors typically mean a third less energy is lost to heat compared to a conventional AC motor, with motor efficiencies better than IE5.
With overheating an issue in thermally efficient buildings the Apex and Econiq have been designed with an automatic summer bypass which is sized to eliminate performance loss. Ventilation on demand is also available as standard so no wasted energy and indoor IAQ is improved. The systems also both contain high levels of filtration to ensure the air supplied is fresh and healthy for improved and better indoor air quality.
https://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/vent-axia.jpg320800Lynhttps://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screenshot-2019-06-10-at-11.25.53.pngLyn2023-11-13 14:41:372023-11-13 14:41:37Vent-Axia Shows Commitment to a Low Carbon Future
TWO Bradford schools have been able to return to classrooms where Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) was found.
Christ Church Academy, located on Wrose Brow Road in Windhill, and Baildon CE Primary School, on Coverdale Way, adopted alternative learning provisions for pupils after RAAC was identified in parts of the schools’ buildings in September.
Both schools are part of the Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust (BDAT) which fast-tracked inspections and funded structural surveys to mitigate the impact of the crumbling concrete and ensure the buildings were safe so pupils could return to learning as quickly as possible.
The trust took measures to ensure pupils could continue in-person lessons whilst the building work took place.
Some were able to carry out their education in safe parts of their school building or in marquees on the school grounds, while others were taught at local community hubs and schools, including sister BDAT school, Shipley CofE Primary, St John’s Church and Nell Bank.
Following successful and rapid remedial work by specialist contractors, both schools are now safe and secure for pupils and staff to return to.
Over the next few months, further long-term solutions will be undertaken to future-proof the buildings for years to come.
This work will be carried out during the school holidays to minimise any disruption to children’s learning.
Katie Savage, Headteacher of Baildon CE Primary School, said:
“It has been an absolute pleasure to welcome our whole school family back into our school building this week.
“We are so grateful to our children and staff for the incredible resilience they have shown over the past two months.”
Philippa Foster, Headteacher of Christ Church Academy, added:
“It has been fantastic to welcome all our children back into our building this week.
“We had a very moving collective Worship on Monday with everyone gathered together in our own school hall for the first time this year.
“One of our youngest pupils expressed it perfectly when he said very simply and very sincerely, ‘Mrs Foster, I love our school!’”
Carol Dewhurst, CEO of Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust, said:
“The safety and wellbeing of our pupils and staff is our top priority and that is why we funded inspections to ensure we knew as early as possible if our schools were affected.
“Thanks to the fantastic work of our contractors, we are delighted that all pupils have returned to their schools and will be taught inside and face-to-face from this week.”
Hundreds of excited primary school pupils started life at a new state-of-the-art school in Chryston this week.
The new Chryston Community Hub features 17 bright and spacious classrooms for up to 509 pupils and replaces the existing Chryston Primary School building.
The new hub will also offer significant benefits to the broader community in Chryston for local groups and organisations to use.
Jilly Moffat, Head Teacher of Chryston Primary School, said:
“It was wonderful to see the look of joy on the faces of so many children this morning as they entered our wonderful new home.
“It’s the beginning of a whole new chapter for the school and such an exciting time for us and the wider community as we look forward to benefiting from all the wonderful new facilities that the hub has to offer.
“My special thanks go to all the pupils, staff and parents who have made these first few days so enjoyable, and I look forward to many more great days together in our fantastic new hub building.
“Children and young people, staff, parents and the local community worked closely with the design team to ensure the design of the campus reflects the educational aspirations of the council, while also taking into account the requirements of the local community and the natural heritage and architecture of the area.”
Hannah, a House Captain at Chryston Primary School, added: “I was completely stunned to see our new school – it’s amazing. We love the new classrooms and the outdoor areas.”
The £ 22 million facility also includes a new Community Health Clinic for NHS Lanarkshire, replacing the Muirhead clinic, which will open later next month.
Professor Jann Gardner, Chief Executive, NHS Lanarkshire, said:
“This entire development is an outstanding local facility. People in and around Chryston will now have access to a wonderful modern health and care clinic that delivers key services in the heart of their community.
“The purpose of this new centre has always been to enable and facilitate fundamental positive change, not simply replace the previous health centre building and services. This state-of-the-art centre will provide an opportunity to further tackle health inequalities by improving the delivery of services – shaping them around the needs of patients.
“This will build stronger co-operation between patients, their carers and families, NHS staff and all partner agencies.”
The new facilities at the Lanrig Park site boast impressive outdoor and indoor sports facilities with a bike ability track, a multi-use games area, an outdoor amphitheatre, covered outdoor teaching areas and various outdoor play equipment and both indoor and outdoor chutes.
Some of the community benefits in developing the Workforce for the Future included:
Four apprentices started during the construction of the hub.
70 days of work experience/placements on site.
11 Educational activities, which included: design, cost and build of bug hotels with the pupils of Chryston Primary School. Design and build of viewing platform with the construction class students at Chryston High School.
Robertson Construction pledged a community fund of £15,000 Five groups have been awarded a share to enable them to fulfil their requirements such as an outdoor forestry education programme, health and wellbeing project, and community garden.
There are extensive landscaped playground areas for the school including growing areas and sandpits, healthcare gardens and community greenspaces and new paths have been designed encourage active travel to and from the new hub.
The new Chryston Community Hub also features:
Electric vehicle charging spaces
Changing places and breastfeeding friendly facilities
Drama box/stage area with ballet bars and mirrors
Digital learning area and multi-purpose room
Demonstration kitchen for children
Meeting rooms
Shared staff zone
Chryston’s new school and health clinic is being delivered by council development partner Hub South West, lead designer Ryder Architects, with the build being carried out by Robertson Construction.
The new Chryston Community Hub was jointly funded by North Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire.
The new facility is a core part of North Lanarkshire Council’s plan for the area, which prioritises investment in education, skills development, and employment opportunities to ensure residents have access to the resources they need to thrive.
https://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SB-29.10.23.jpg320800Lynhttps://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screenshot-2019-06-10-at-11.25.53.pngLyn2023-10-29 09:23:522023-10-29 11:19:20Community hub opens its doors to pupils
One of the buildings created for other schools by Losberger De Boer
Temporary building plan is major step to getting children back to school at St Clere’s in wake of RAAC crisis
ONE of the borough schools most affected by the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) crisis is St Clere’s secondary in Stanford-le-Hope, where headteacher Jon Purkiss has just announced plans for a new, large temporary building.
The school, on Butts Lane, has a significant amount of RAAC across its complex of buildings, meaning students have been on a rota system and had to have home learning.
Mr Purkiss believe it is vital students return all students to full-time face-to-face learning as soon as possible and now the school, run by the Osborne Trust, has had its solution approved by the Department for Education (DfE) – which will also fund the temporary building to be sited upon the school field, which will create 30 teaching spaces.
Mr Purkiss has told parents:
“We welcomed Baroness Barran (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for the School System and Student Finance) and representatives from the DfE to our school for the final sign off for the project.
“Losberger De Boer are constructing our temporary facility and work will begin immediately.
“This company is providing similar solutions at other RAAC affected schools across the country. The temporary classrooms will be positioned on the school field in the space between the Pavilion and 3G pitch.
“We await a final timeline for handover for this project, however, it remains our aspiration to have this solution available for use shortly after the half-term break in November.
“The conversion of the sports hall in the main building continues to progress as scheduled, and we expect this project to be completed during half term. This will provide four classrooms and a further three smaller areas that can be used for smaller teaching groups.
“Presently, the corridors to this sports hall are affected by RAAC. However, work has started to install approved mitigations to open them, as a result will allow safe access to the new classrooms. The mitigations
“In the main building work will continue into the New Year to allow safe access to teaching spaces which are currently closed. The suggested completion date for all mitigations in the main building is Spring 2024. Due to the complexity of this work, I must stress this is an aspirational completion date.
“In the long term the roof of the main building will need to be replaced. This is a decision for the future however, we hope this will lead to St Clere’s School being added to the new build programme.
“The support and patience from our school community during this period has been warmly welcomed by the staff at St Clere’s, enabling us to focus on learning after having to close 40 teaching spaces on 31 August.
“We understand the impact remote learning has for our students and families, but this initial phase is thankfully coming to an end. The return to full-time face-to-face learning for all our students is in sight.
“I will write to you again before the half-term break with an update on progress and to outline the plans for our return to school on Monday, 6 November.”
https://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SB-16.10.23.jpg320800Lynhttps://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screenshot-2019-06-10-at-11.25.53.pngLyn2023-10-16 11:27:072023-10-16 11:28:31Major step to getting children back to school in wake of RAAC crisis
ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland is highlighting new guidance recently published within the updated Building Safety Act, which has outlined educational establishments in the higher-risk buildings category.
To be classified as higher-risk, buildings must be at least 18 metres in height or at least 7 storeys, contain at least two residential units, and meet certain use criteria – with educational usage such as university halls of residence and boarding schools included.
Buildings within this category are subject to the requirements of the new higher-risk regime directly overseen by the Building Safety Regulator.
Paul Thompson, BIM Manager for ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions, comments:
“Enabling the ‘golden thread’ of information is crucial to the Building Safety Act. Buildings need to be constructed and managed as holistic systems, enabling people to use information to design, construct and operate them safely and effectively.
“It comes as no surprise that educational buildings have been highlighted as meeting the criteria for higher-risk, and it’s critical that those involved in the construction and management of these premises uphold their duty to keep the building’s safety and standard under review.
“This includes facilitating improvement in the competence of industry and building inspectors, and a duty to establish a system for the giving of building safety information.”
Those responsible for higher-risk buildings must be registered and have their building safety regime in place by October 2023, or face investigation and potential prosecution.
Paul adds:
“Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the ideal platform to enable the ‘golden thread’ of information and create an effective safety regime. It can create greater transparency and allow building elements such as doorsets to be managed through a single platform – from specification to installation and ongoing inspection.”
For example, ASSA ABLOY’s Openings Studio™ BIM application integrates with design software to create and visualise openings for complete door, frame and hardware schedules and specifications.
This enables seamless extraction of door design intent and all relevant interfaces to assist fabricators to develop complete door requirements that meet building regulations. Product information, performance data and budget information are captured within the BIM design environment.
Through real time, collaborative working, these designs can be validated for compliance, functional performance, and aesthetics plus presented as 3D views that can be fully re-integrated into the overall project design.
With linked internal systems, ASSA ABLOY use this final schedule of information to manufacture the complete doorset solution including the leaf, frame and all specified hardware.
The Openings Studio™ mobile app can also directly access this data for use during the door installation process, ensuring full validity of the finished product prior to project completion. The app also offers an easy to use ‘check box’ system to carry out and capture detailed inspections based on the specific details of each door included in the schedule.
This report validates if a door has remained compliant, or identifies what elements need to be corrected or replaced to return the product to the standard required, providing full traceability and ownership of all changes at all stages.
Paul concludes:
“Openings Studio is a unique collaborative tool for all project stakeholders, helping to minimise costs and streamline the data sharing process throughout the entire project lifecycle – from the initial design, right through to construction, delivery, asset management and beyond.
“For those managing a higher-risk educational building, this can be used as a tool to create an effective safety regime, which can be managed easily to comply with the Building Safety Act and ensure life safety of the occupants.”
For advice on Openings Studio and to speak to a design consultant:
https://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/assa1.jpg320800Lynhttps://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screenshot-2019-06-10-at-11.25.53.pngLyn2023-09-22 12:46:442023-09-22 12:46:44Educational premises outlined in new Building Safety Act ‘higher-risk’ criteria
The conservation of our natural environment has become ever more important to developers, consultants and contractors, whose clients want to see more sustainable products being used in homes and business premises. As a result, West Fraser’s particleboard products – including CaberFloor P5 – are specified in preference to more traditional flooring for eco-conscious projects.
90% of the wood used in West Fraser’s particleboard is recycled while, being a fully engineered product, CaberFloor helps to minimise waste through accurate usage and pinpoint specification. Meanwhile, specifying CaberFloor saves time on site as fewer intermediate supports or noggins are required during installation.
As well as laying floors across conventional timber joists, CaberFloor is ideal for use on engineered timber and metal web joists, as well as fixing across wooden battens laid over concrete or other substrates. The product can also be fixed directly across existing wood floors, though care needs to be taken regarding the level and soundness of the retained boarding. As well as ground and upper storey applications, CaberFloor is often used in loft conversions, garden rooms and other modular type buildings.
West Fraser recommends securing the panels to joists, battens or across existing timber floors by fixing them at 200 – 300mm centres along the edges and 300mm elsewhere along the supports. Fixings should be at least 9mm from the edge of the panel, while nails should be 10 gauge. In practice, this equates to three fixings on short ends and two fixings at intermediate joist positions. Where tongue and groove (T&G) boards are chosen, it is common to employ hidden nails or screws fixed through the profiled edge.
When gluing boards with CaberFix Joint&Joist, only five fixings per board are required, one at each joist position – so again saving labour costs. This adhesive should be applied to the edges to virtually guarantee the risk of squeaks and creaks truly become a problem of the past. In fact, it is five times stronger than nails while, alternatively, West Fraser’s one-bottle solution, CaberFix D4, can be used for all panel fixing and sealing jobs.
The boards are available in standard thicknesses of 18 or 22mm, in both square-edged or T&G options – the latter being profiled on all four edges to offer greater stability and flexibility of use. All CaberFloor panels measure 2400 x 600mm, their precision-engineered edges ensuring accurate and speedy installation, as well as tight-fitting joints to eliminate unsightly ridges. It should, though, be remembered to leave a 2mm gap per metre run, at the perimeter, to allow for expansion/contraction. This will not affect their high load-carrying capacity.
It is not recommended to use CaberFloor outside, although it is moisture resistant and can stand limited exposure to rain and moisture during the build process and will retain a high percentage of its original strength.
CaberFloor P5 carries BBA Agrement certification while FSC approval underlines its environmental credentials and, being a RIBA-approved BIM Object, it can be specified for use on projects involving the latest CAD programmes and computer aided machining. The boards are also suitable for use with underfloor heating (UFH) systems and beneath all types of carpet, vinyl and tiles.
Saniflo UK – part of the SFA Group, a leading designer and manufacturer of macerators, pumps and lifting stations – is providing two 610 Sanifos lifting stations and a Sanivite grey water pump to a new, state-of-the-art dental school in Bristol with numerous clinics and 119 dental chairs that will open in September 2023 enabling students to put theory into practice using the most modern equipment available in a renovated building in the heart of the city.
The first of the Sanifos 610 lifting stations takes the water from a 20,000-litre booster tank in an adjacent plant room during routine maintenance and cleaning. It also provides an overflow for excess water. This is pumped up to street-level drainage directly above the unit.
The second Sanifos 610 is situated directly beneath the clinical rooms and takes waste from compressed air and suction drainage tools used by trainee dentists. The condensate waste from several air handling units installed in the same basement section, but on a higher elevation, is also discharged into this Sanifos, which again pumps the waste up to the mains drains.
A third unit, a compact Sanivite+ grey water lifting station, was specified to take wastewater samples once per week from side stream filters that monitor the heating and chilling systems throughout the whole building. Water is frequently tested, and the resulting wastewater is pumped out through the Sanivite+ to mains drains. This automatic operation is designed to ensure there is no rust contamination in the pipework to maintain the optimum efficiency of the temperature controls.
Nathan Thomas, Senior Mechanical Engineer at Briggs and Forrester Engineering Services – the company appointed by Kier Construction to complete the fit-out of the building – oversaw the units’ installation. He says:
“Saniflo products are robust and durable and we know we can rely on them to do a good job. The support from the Saniflo team is always exceptional, whether it’s a site visit or a technical phone call, and the units are easy to install and maintain. They solved our drainage challenges at the dental school with ease.”
https://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SANIFLO1.jpg320800Lynhttps://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screenshot-2019-06-10-at-11.25.53.pngLyn2023-09-22 07:22:442023-09-22 07:22:44University of Bristol Dental School relies on Saniflo
Natural finish Barestone prefinished cladding complements school surrounds
Located in Sydney’s west, Denham Court Public School is one of three new public schools in NSW that have been built rapidly using innovative modular construction methods as part of NSW’s major schools building program.
Sam Rigoli, partner at Pedavoli Architects led the project and his inspired design was driven by the idea of creating a school with modern learning spaces that fostered a flexible and collaborative environment. As Sam describes, “our goal is ultimately for the end-users, the students, to enjoy their school and create inviting spaces where they can share their ideas and learning experiences.”
Built using Volumetric Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA), also known as Modern Methods of Construction (MMoC) building techniques, this approach enabled rapid construction, ensuring the school was delivered within condensed timeframes. Searching for materials that suited this methodology was critical to the project’s success, and Sam went straight to Cemintel®, knowing it could help him deliver within the required timeframe. “With Cemintel’s Barestone, you get prefinished cladding, which means no surprises and your design plan is not compromised by material shortages or labour issues.” Sam also added that the durability and high-quality finish of Barestone made it perfectly suited to the demanding environment of a school.
Natural connection
Central to this was a unique design that would reflect and complement its surrounds. To achieve this, Cemintel’s Barestone prefinished cladding provided a natural finish in a range of grey hues across the buildings to weave a sense of cohesion throughout the design. As Sam describes, “the range of shades available for Barestone naturally complement each other, so it makes it easier when you are selecting the cladding to mix the palette without it being too jarring.”
Playful detail
With the Barestone base in place, Sam’s attention turned to how he was going to add a layer of fun and creativity to the exteriors. He found the solution with Cemintel’s sophisticated Surround colour range, which helped create a playful aesthetic that provided the school with its own identity that the children engaged in.
The Surround Collection includes five neutral colours in five finishes and features 16 colours in a range of trending palettes; Sam describes how he selected shades of blue, green and red to reflect the beautiful artwork that was so popular among the students. “There’s a beautiful large format illustration by Erica Halse with vibrant colours that everyone loves. It depicts an imaginary landscape with local references that relate back to the connection to country and I wanted to carry this joyous connection through each building exterior. That’s one of the best features of the Surround Collection, it gives you the creative license to enhance your design with colour accents.”
Durable design
Sam’s architectural philosophy includes a special focus on connection to land and incorporating natural elements in his design. This is no more evident than in the innovative built form of the school, which creates a boundary along the east, south, and west sides, shaping a ‘U’ formation that encloses a private courtyard shielded from the street.
This layout enables ample penetration of winter sunlight into the classrooms while the shifting shadows on the facades establish a visual link for students, providing a sense of the passing time. The durability of the Barestone panels adds to the longevity of this design, due to their superior weather resistance and strength compared to other fibre cement panels of similar thickness.
https://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SB-18.09.23.jpg320800Lynhttps://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screenshot-2019-06-10-at-11.25.53.pngLyn2023-09-18 14:20:452023-09-18 14:21:24AUSTRALIA: School Building Design
The Royal Institute of British Architects has called for an investigation into the condition of public buildings in light of the ongoing RAAC crisis that is impacting schools across England.
The institute said that public buildings must urgently be assessed for the presence of ageing RAAC – reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete – due to safety concerns around the material.
It follows the closure of parts of 147 schools in England this week after they were found to have structures made with ageing RAAC, putting them at risk of collapse.
Known for its bubbly texture, RAAC was once commonly used as a lightweight and cheaper alternative to traditional concrete. It was used to construct thousands of public buildings such as schools and hospitals between the 1950s and 1990s in England.
However, the material is understood to have a lifespan of about 30 years and is susceptible to collapsing with little to no notice.
“RAAC failure goes beyond schools”
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has called for an industry-led task force to be established to deal with RAAC in schools, while simultaneously examining other public architecture in England to uncover the extent of buildings made with the material.
“Alongside funding the mitigation of immediate safety risks through an industry-led task force, the government must publish the Condition of Schools Survey without delay, to expose the full scale of this problem,” said RIBA chair of board Jack Pringle.
“It’s also clear however that RAAC failure goes beyond schools, and that’s why the government must undertake an urgent audit of public buildings to identify how widespread it really is.”
It comes as a team of experts from Loughborough University also warned the government that thousands of government and privately-owned buildings must be checked for RAAC.
RAAC is typically found in buildings’ roofs, but occasionally in walls and floors too.
The use of the material in schools came into the spotlight in 2018 following the roof collapse at a primary school in Kent just 24 hours after it began showing signs of structural stress.
However, it is only in the last week that it has dominated the headlines, due to the sudden closure of schools just as the new school year was about to begin.
“RIBA has long voiced serious concerns”
Many of the schools that have faced closure had been set for renewal under a Labour scheme named Building Schools for the Future (BSF), but this was later scrapped by the Conservative-led coalition government in 2010.
Currently, the number of schools requiring repair works outstrips the available government funds.
RIBA said it has issued “repeated warnings about the dangerous condition of England’s school estate”, including in a study it launched in 2016 that explored “how good design can help ensure that capital funding for schools stretches as far as possible”.
“RIBA has long voiced serious concerns about the condition of school buildings,” said Pringle.
“Our 2016 study – Better Spaces for Learning – highlighted that pupils and teachers are struggling to learn and teach in conditions damaging to their health and education.”
Former RIBA president Simon Allford also shared his concerns in a statement.
Allford described the closures as “shocking” and said that the “government has failed” in its duty to ensure the safety of schools.
“All young people and staff deserve to learn and work without fearing for their safety,” Allford said.
“We have repeatedly raised concerns about the dangerous state of some school buildings – and the government has failed to fund desperately needed repairs,” he continued.
“The government must now make it an immediate priority to identify the extent of remediations necessary and fund them without delay.”
In recent years, the UK government has also come under fire from the RIBA in light of its response to the removal of flammable cladding on housing following the deadly Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017.
RIBA said the British government was “naive” to only fund the removal of Grenfell-style cladding on housing over a certain height.
“Whilst additional funding to speed-up cladding remediation on residential buildings above 18 metres must be welcomed, I am frankly shocked by the Government’s continued underestimation of the scale of our building safety crisis,” said Jane Duncan.
https://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SB-11.09.23-2.jpg320688Lynhttps://schoolbuilding.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screenshot-2019-06-10-at-11.25.53.pngLyn2023-09-11 06:46:402023-09-11 06:49:23RAAC – RIBA Calls for Investigation
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We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
Privacy Policy
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.
