Has your progress been disrupted by the discovery of RAAC concrete? RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) is a material which has led to significant building deterioration all over the country. Not only residential buildings have been affected; RAAC has been used across public buildings like schools and hospitals too.

If you have had to face emergency disruption due to the detrimental effects of RAAC, get in touch with us for temporary toilet and shower hire to minimise disruption.

What is RAAC?

RAAC is a lightweight material which was used across walls, roofing, and flooring, right from the 50s through to 1990. This popular material was both simple and cheap to make. 

Made from combined lime, cement, and aeration agent, it was cheaper than universal concrete. It was also easy to install and quicker to produce. The aeration leads to a bubbly texture - and makes for the problems with durability and strength which have plagued it in recent years. Its structure, being so aerated, is compromised in a way that traditional concrete is not - and so its lifespan is so much shorter, at only three decades, before it requires replacement.

What's the problem with RAAC?

As hinted at above, it is the makeup of RAAC that makes it problematic. When exposed to water, it is susceptible to structural failure. The bubbles which allow water to enter the material, can then allow water to access any reinforcing rebar - which is then prone to decay, rust, and structural weakness. This BBC article highlighted revelations disclosed by Loughborough University - that there are “tens of thousands of these structural panels already in use and ‘many are showing signs of wear and tear and deterioration’. The Health and Safety Executive says RAAC is now beyond its lifespan and may ‘collapse with little or no notice’.” The clear danger posed by such a material is becoming more and more obvious, most desperately in need of action for change in public spaces such as schools and hospitals. 

In the UK, RAAC hit the news when the government proclaimed that 231 schools were unsafe due to the usage of RAAC in their buildings - just days before they were due to reopen after the summer holidays. 

RAAC Risks with Safety

As the BBC article mentioned above outlined, the structure of RAAC can become drastically unsafe quickly. RAAC was often used in flat roofing. In this instance, it was often layered with other materials, such as roofing felt. When the roofing felt finally fails, the RAAC is then exposed to water, quickly accessing the steel reinforcement within and causing potentially very dangerous structural corrosion. 

Many of the buildings in which RAAC was used are now many years past the understood thirty-year life expectancy of the material - so must be treated with caution, and actioned as soon as possible to avoid dangerous outcomes. Without proper maintenance, these buildings are liable to collapse with very little warning. In abandoned or unmonitored buildings, the threat of RAAC is overwhelming.

Actions when faced with RAAC

As mentioned, these units are now long past their usable life. These units are now in need of removal, and replacement, taking out the RAAC and replacing it with stronger, more durable and reliable materials. 

There are some short-term repairs which you can undertake in the meantime:

Structural steel reinforcement

Introducing new steel beams between existing columns and beams helps to take the load off of the RAAC, when the units are undamaged and therefore permanently likely to be dry.

Carbon fibre plating reinforcement

Introducing additional carbon fibre plating reinforces the concrete and therefore the structure. This lightweight and easy-to-install halfway house is resistant to corrosion and provides a reasonably cost-effective act for the medium term to help you work towards a more prolific solution.

Additional toilets as supplementary facilities during renovations

Undertaking prolific works to shore up and make safe existing buildings is probably a job (and expense) that you were not prepared for. Such undertaking can be vastly disruptive - even more so if your buildings are your livelihood. Should you be hiring out your facilities, or making use of them for the public in any way, a great option to help out during this transitional period is to hire supplementary toilet and washing facilities. Instead of rushing through the works, take your time to consider your options and plan for the redevelopment. 

Instead of quickly investing in a cheap set of bathroom facilities in the meantime, why not invest in temporary facilities? Here at WEThire, we are experts in providing portable toilets and showers. Offering an option to suit every situation, from economy to luxury toilet and shower hire, as well as waste emptying services, our team can install the best facilities for you, as a stopgap solution whilst you deal with your RAAC problems. 

You don’t even need mains water, or huge power cables. All WEThire portable toilets are fully self-contained. They just have to be settled on a flat pitch. They just require access to a household electricity socket - or 16 amp power cable. If you need a shower unit, you’ll simply need a 13 amp or 16 amp power supply and a water supply - a garden hose pipe or 15mm/25mm pipe will do. Site the unit over a drain or soakaway to deal with the wastewater, and everything else can be taken care of.

The dedicated WEThire team are available day and night seven days a week to answer all of your concerns and queries. If you’re facing the difficulties posed by RAAC, get in touch with us today to see if we can provide you with the perfect stopgap solution.