Heathrow and Gatwick airports verify they’ve RAAC

Heathrow and Gatwick airports have confirmed they’ve places containing the collapse-prone concrete RAAC.

Thousands of pupils in England have faced disruption at the start of term this week after RAAC was recognized at greater than 100 colleges.

A variety of different public buildings have additionally been recognized as having the concrete, comparable to courts, hospitals and theatres.

A Heathrow spokesperson 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 property and can proceed to mitigate the chance the place this materials is discovered.

“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.”

The concrete was found in Terminal 3 of the airport, and mitigations are already in place, forward of a extra everlasting answer being made.

A London Gatwick spokesperson mentioned: “We have a register of locations containing RAAC on the airport campus, which are closely monitored through a regular comprehensive structural inspection regime.

“Our most up-to-date inspection in June 2023 didn’t current any issues, and we’ll proceed to watch frequently.”

RAAC has triggered political complications for the federal government, with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan accused of opening “Pandora’s Box” by setting requirements for colleges that different sectors are being pressured to comply with.