RAAC and Asbestos: Don’t let solving one problem, lead to another
Overview
The Office of Government Property has recently sent out a safety briefing note to all property owners stating Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) is now life-expired and liable to collapse.
Widely used in schools, hospitals and other buildings from the late 1950's to mid 1990's and often in conjunction with asbestos, the presence of RAAC means urgent action must be taken. However, identifying both substances requires a wholly different approach to mitigate risk and ensure compliance.
Our experts Paul Phillips, Asbestos Technical Director at RPS and Richard Lowenthal, Structural Engineering Technical Director at Tetra Tech break down what property owners are required to do to ensure safety and compliance, as well as practical solutions for managing both hazards effectively.
Watch webinar: RAAC & Asbestos
This webinar covers:
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Identifying RAAC in your buildings
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Understanding the RAAC-asbestos connection
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Essential compliance requirements
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Practical steps for risk assessment
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Expert guidance on necessary actions
Our top tips
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If your building was constructed before or during 1999 consider an immediate assessment if you’re planning renovation or demolition works, and you don’t have current asbestos management plans.
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If Asbestos Refurbishment survey is required only employ a UKAS accredited surveying company to carry it out.
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Always deal with asbestos in the first instance, except for where there are immediate concerns about potential failure due to RAAC.
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Asbestos training is not a substitute for an asbestos survey.
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An asbestos refurbishment survey is always needed when carrying out any invasive works on a pre- 2000 building. Your management survey is not a sufficient assessment.
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You will most commonly find RAAC in flat roofs of Local Authority / Government buildings eg. schools/universities, hospitals, council housing, government offices and MoD.
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RAAC usage most prevalent in buildings between late-1950's to early 1990's (although examples before and after do exist).
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Water ingress has a major impact on RAAC panels strength and deflection.
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Any cracking to the soffit of RAAC panels (particularly close to bearings) should be investigated immediately.
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Follow the regulations & stick to the process.
RAAC and Asbestos: A critical guide to building safety
Meet our speakers
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Paul has spent over 20 years in the asbestos industry. Paul has worked in all sectors of the asbestos industry and has specialised in the petrochemical environment with 5 years managing asbestos at a busy UK refinery in Essex. Currently working in the commercial, utilities and pharma sectors Paul leads a UK based team delivering all aspects of asbestos management to major blue-chip businesses throughout the UK and abroad. “Providing my clients with practical solutions, centring around the UK’s challenging asbestos regulations is a part of the day to day challenge”
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Richard has over 35 years’ experience, leading on a wide variety of multi-disciplinary, new build and refurbishment projects in public and private sectors. He has been active with the IStructE for 20 years as a Chartered Professional Review Interviewer, and more recently, a 2 year stint as Chairman of his local Regional Group and member of Council.
