How To Solve The RAAC Concrete Crisis In Schools & Public Sector Buildings

It began in 1950 when RAAC concrete was selected as a building material in British classrooms and has been a ticking timebomb ever since. As specialist modular building contractors to educational institutes across the UK, this topic resonates with us. It has led us to explore what has led the nation’s schools to the brink of mass closure and what solutions are available to combat it. Here, our directors comment and reflect.

Already several schools across the Yorkshire area have been affected by this RAAC Concrete Crisis and we are mobilising our existing stock, manufacturing teams and installation teams to be available to respond. Both here, in Yorkshire, and across the UK

Sean Broughan, MPH Building Systems

What is the RAAC Concrete Crisis

The concrete crisis in schools and other public sector buildings is a tragic consequence of the decision to use the cheaper Swedish RAAC concrete alternative between the 1950s-1990s. Known also as aerobar or aircrete the RAAC concrete, with an estimated 30-year lifespan, is now crumbling and bubbling. Public sector buildings that have used this cheaper alternative concrete are now at collapse risk.

The RAAC Concrete Crisis In Schools And Public Sector

Due to its estimated 30-year lifespan, experts have been concerned about the 1950’s builds since 1980. The real concern started in 2018 when the first roof collapsed in a Kent school. Then in 2019 SCOSS alerted the Government and public sector officials of the significant risk that RAAC constructions were failing, As reported by the Guardian.

Sight must not be lost of the fact that the 2018 collapse was sudden with very little noticeable warning,” it said. An Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) study group was tasked with investigating.

However it’s taken until August 2023 for the UK Health and Safety Executive to announce: “Raac is now life-expired. It is liable to collapse with little or no notice.

The RAAC concrete crisis is something we shall be dealing with for the foreseeable future. Not just in schools and the public sector, but other 1950s-1980s buildings will require urgent replacement. Fortunately, we have portable buildings across the UK that can quickly be adapted and mobilised. With modular buildings’ advanced sustainability and cost-savings, I can see prefabs becoming a permanent construction solution to this emergency.

Sean Broughan, Director - MPH Building Systems

How Can Schools Tackle The Crumbling Concrete Crisis

The government has sworn to “spend what it takes” to tackle the concrete crisis in schools, as quoted in the Guardian.

But the solution needs to be fast, eco efficient and flexible to suit the needs of each school. It must minimise any closures and disruptions to teaching yet be safe, cost-effective and responsive. A solution that meets all of these requirements is modular construction – temporary classrooms and modular buildings.

Modular school construction and portable classrooms provide an immediate, sustainable and affordable solution. Due to their fast manufacture and installation process they answer an immediate need to fix the classroom crisis. Something that we at MPH Building Systems have been UK-leaders in with educational institutions for decades.

It will be the engineers and surveyors who act as first responders. However, we expect the coming months, and even years, to see a dramatic increase in the need for rapid-response, eco-friendly and safe renovation projects across schools and the public sector. Modular construction and portable temporary buildings are the ideal solution. Engineers and architects will explicitly design many replacement buildings for their placement, but we expect many schools, and indeed other public sector areas, will need to find a more immediate solution. Luckily, we have modular temporary units in stock and access to many more across the UK.

Jonathan Hunt, Director - MPH Building Systems

Are Temporary Classrooms A Solution To The RAAC Concrete Crisis?

Beyond permanent modular schools and classroom extensions, temporary classrooms can be provided using stock units from existing modular contractors. For instance, we have a stock-list of single and multi-storey classroom buildings available for immediate installation. Some of which you can see on our website, but we have access to many other repurposed classrooms of varying sizes, ready to be relocated across the UK.

Temporary prefabricated classroom units answer the immediate solution to classroom closures. Many of which can be modified on short notice to suit the requirements of any school.

Modular buildings make the perfect solution to this crisis. Not only are they multi-functional and durable, but the expeditious installation minimises costs and safety risks.

Sean Broughan, Director - MPH Building Systems
Wood Clad Modular Classroom Building At Heymann Primary And Nursery School

Temporary Classroom Building Installed In Northern England

1 - 8 Week Onsite Construction Process

How Quickly Can Temporary Classrooms Be Ready?

The fastest solution is repurposing readily available temporary classrooms, or other used modular buildings modified for the school’s requirements. These portable buildings can be installed within days, depending on workforce and site suitability. Not only is it a sustainable option, but if schools can be flexible on exact design specifics, thousands of prefabricated buildings are ready for fast relocation and installation across the UK. Our nation of portable building contractors will work together to deliver this solution. A solution that can be in place within days, permitting the ground is suitable. However, should groundwork or foundations be required, this process can extend further weeks.

Another consideration is for bespoke classrooms or whole school remodels. Modular construction can be done on a colossal scale, including an entire secondary school or sports facility. However, this process will require professional assessment and design before manufacture and installation, which, on average, takes six months. Luckily, with UK-based manufacturing, it is an expedited process once construction is underway. Once onsite, installation can be completed within eight weeks.

The only time factor is whether a temporary building will suffice. Should a bespoke modular build be required, several months may be required. Still, modular is faster and more cost-effective than a traditional construction project

Sean Broughan, Director, MPH Building Systems

A Call For Action For Used Portable Buildings To Be Repurposed For Schools

One time-pressing call to action is for all large companies and industries with inactive portable buildings to make themselves known. These units could be quickly modified and repurposed as a temporary solution to this crisis. For this very reason, we have a team dedicated to buying and remodelling used prefabricated buildings.

Jonathan Hunt, Director, MPH Building Systems