The British government says at least 156 schools have been built using RAAC, which is around 30 years old. Last week, the UK’s national regulator for workplace health and safety issued… He said RAAC “has now expired. It could collapse with little or no warning.”
Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan on Monday told British media that 1,500 schools had yet to respond to a survey on whether they had a form of concrete in their buildings, raising concerns that the total number of affected schools could rise. Here’s what you should know.
What is RAAC concrete and how is it manufactured?
The material, called reinforced aerated concrete or RAAC, was widely used in public building construction during the 1950s through the mid-1990s. The material, which is lighter than traditional concrete, has been used to build roofs but has also been found in walls and floors. RAAC slabs and slabs have a bubbly appearance and are softer than standard concrete.
The RAAC becomes weaker and more susceptible to breakdown with age. It usually has a gray or pale white appearance. These materials were also used to build hospitals, courts, and police stations.
RAAC consists of lime, water and aeration agent.
Buildings made from these materials carry risks and can collapse suddenly, warns the Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS), an independent body that identifies areas that could pose structural safety risks. “Without clear warning.”
The committee notes that although RAAC is often called concrete, it is “quite different from conventional concrete and, because of the way it is manufactured, much weaker.”
How long will schools remain closed and how much will repairs cost?
It is not yet clear how long the affected schools will be closed. Some will only have to seal certain areas of the building, depending on where the material is located.
Schools Minister Nick Gibb told British media on Tuesday that the total cost of repairs at this stage was also unclear, adding that it was difficult to give an exact figure because the buildings were likely built using different amounts of materials. “In some schools, it will just be a room or a closet,” he added. he said, according to The Guardian. “In other cases it will be prevalent all the time.”
Some schools will have to close completely, while others will operate without entering the affected areas.
As the crisis rocks schools in England, risk assessments are also underway in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
What are the political ramifications of Rishi Sunak’s government?
The British government said in a permit She said on Monday that she had been aware of the materials used in public sector buildings since 1994, and many people, including parents and opposition lawmakers, say the government did not act sooner to repair the damaged schools.
The government said in its statement that it has been monitoring the issue since 2018 and is helping schools manage risks through guidance and funding, noting that concerns increased over the summer.
“The new cases make us less confident that buildings containing RAAC should remain open without additional safety measures,” the statement said, adding that the partial or complete closure of more than 100 schools is a “precautionary measure.”
Sunak said on Monday he understood the anxiety felt by families but wanted to stress that “the vast majority of schools have not been affected”. He also said it was “completely and completely wrong” to blame him for the crisis.
Schools Minister Gibb also downplayed the extent of the problem. “We’re talking about a small number of schools out of 22,500 schools,” Gibb said. “We have been conducting surveys since March last year, so that we know where the RAAC is, and we are sending surveyors to identify the RAAC.”
But Sunak’s critics say the Prime Minister and his government are not being transparent about the scale of the problem. Gibb said the full list of schools affected by the RAAC would be published by Friday. “Children are not in school today because of the measures the government has failed to take in relation to schools. This is inexcusable,” opposition Labor leader Keir Starmer said on Tuesday.
What do teachers, parents and others say about concrete issues?
Signs saying “Please do not enter” are already appearing inside schools where RAAC poses a risk, forcing pupils to teach their lessons elsewhere. Some parents are concerned about the possibility of their children returning to remote learning, which is what they experienced during the coronavirus pandemic.
In Essex, England, One school wrote To parents to inform them that at least 22 classrooms have been found to have RAAC and are currently unusable. Another school in West Yorkshire may not be able to operate at full capacity until September 2025, with just one headteacher He saidAdding that more than half of the building contains RAAC.
“[My daughter] “She actually went through the whole epidemic in high school, and her sister did as well, and it’s not good for their education, and it’s not good for their mental health or their social skills,” one mum from London said. Tell BBC.
The National Teaching Union, a British union for teachers and learning support staff, It’s called a crisis “It is absolutely disgraceful” for him to write that closing dozens of schools “just days before the start of term” is “a sign of the government’s gross incompetence.”
The organization also expressed concern that several buildings may be found containing RAAC. “There are 156 schools where RAAC has been confirmed, but how many more have yet to be identified?” He Said.
Parents and pupils have been advised that they will be contacted directly if they are affected by this issue.