RAAC concrete discovered at each Gatwick and Heathrow airports
T
he UK’s two busiest airports Heathrow and Gatwick have each discovered the concrete which has pressured lots of of faculties to shut on their premises, in accordance with stories.
Both airports mentioned they have been conscious of getting strengthened autoclaved aerated concrete a while in the past and mentioned that steps have been taken to treatment it.
Concerns have been raised about RAAC as a result of it has an aerated, bubbly texture which is cheaper to provide than conventional concrete, but it surely solely has an anticipated lifespan of round 30 years and will be susceptible to collapse after that.
It was used from the mid Fifties to the mid Nineteen Nineties in lots of public buildings, together with many colleges.
The concrete was first discovered at Heathrow’s Terminal Three final 12 months, prompting non permanent treatments.
Schools have been pressured to shut over the presence of RAAC
/ PA WireIn a press release, the airport mentioned: “Industry has been aware and acting on the remedial steps that should be taken in buildings that contain this material.
“We, like many others, have been assessing our estate and will continue to mitigate the risk where this material is found.
“Passenger and colleague safety will always be our first priority, and we will continue to update stakeholders across the sector as our plans for permanent solutions progress.”
A Gatwick spokesperson also confirmed that RAAC was found on its premises, but stressed there was no risk to passengers.
“We have a register of locations containing RAAC on the airport campus, which are closely monitored through a regular comprehensive structural inspection regime,” mentioned the spokesperson.
“Our most recent inspection in June 2023 did not present any concerns, and we will continue to monitor on a regular basis.”
The issue was catapulted to the top of the political agenda last week after more than 100 schools, colleges, and nurseries across England were ordered to close buildings over the material.
The Department for Education has revealed that a total of 147 schools have been affected by the crumbling concrete, including more than 10 London schools.
Schools minister Nick Gibb said the collapse of a beam that had been considered safe over the summer sparked an urgent rethink on whether buildings with the concrete could remain open.
Further controversy was sparked after Education Secretary Gillian Keegan was criticised for questioning why no-one says “you’ve done a f****** good job” whereas “everyone else has sat on their arse and done nothing” over the concrete.