You will be aware from recent news reports that the government has announced a change in their approach to managing a building material found in some school buildings and other education settings, known as Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).
Here’s everything you need to know about RAAC, and how the government is supporting schools, colleges and nurseries across the country to manage it safely.
What is RAAC?
RAAC is a lightweight form of concrete. The Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS) has noted that: "Although called “concrete”, (RAAC) is very different from traditional concrete and, because of the way in which it was made, much weaker".
RAAC was used in schools, colleges and other building construction from the 1950s until the mid-1990s. It may therefore be found in any school and college building (educational and ancillary) that was either built or modified in this time period.
How has the way the government deal with RAAC changed?
The government has been helping schools and responsible bodies (such as local authorities and multi-academy trusts) to manage the potential risks of RAAC since 2018 by providing guidance and funding.
Recent cases and risk assessments have resulted in the government changing their approach and advising education settings to close any spaces or buildings that are known to contain RAAC to allow them to put mitigations in place. This is a precautionary step, but the safety of young people and staff is always the priority.
You can access the full DfE guidance for schools here.
For those settings with confirmed RAAC you can access further information here.
We will keep our website updated with developments.
