RAAC to the future

RAAC - Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete - has come under the spotlight in the past year with a series of failures of the material in public buildings such as schools and hospitals. RAAC is an aerated lightweight cementitious material containing steel reinforcing bars. It was used widely in the 1960s and 70s in commercial building construction. It remained prevalent up until the 1990s due to its innovative lightweight structural properties. Being much lighter than traditional concrete means however that the material properties and structural behaviour differs significantly from 'traditional' reinforced concrete. RAAC has a life expectancy of 30 years if it is built correctly and maintained. The concern is that any building constructed during the 1960s and 70s when the material was used extensively, is at least 45 years old by now.

The webinar assessed the scale of the problems relating to RAAC, especially in public sector buildings of which there has been extensive reporting. The session also covered: the government's approach to dealing with RAAC, insurance claims relating to RAAC, a brief legal overview of the position in relation to RAAC.

Learning objectives:

• Establishing the scale of the existing problem in relation to RAAC
• The impact on building owners, public authorities, and insurers
• To provide an overview of the latest developments and legal implications associated with RAAC