Some schools with crumbling concrete may have to be demolished, experts warn
The Independent Some of the English schools found to have the crumbling concrete may have to be demolished if repairs become too expensive, experts have told The Independent.
Rishi Sunaks government under fire over years of underinvestment in school repair work has been told it could be more cost effective to write off some of the older affected schools and build new ones.
Asbestos problems in some of the 147 schools identified as having reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) the problem material compared to an Aerobar could complicate remedial work, said building specialists.
Adrian Tagg, associate professor of building surveying at Reading University, said trying to make some older schools safe could become prohibitively expensive if asbestos was found.
The expert said: If you have building from the 1970s thats 50 years old the cost-benefit analysis is, Do we demolish and put a new structure in place with a 50-year life or do we try to extend by 20 years?
Experts have warned that trying to remove or bolster Raac in ceilings or floors can increase the danger of exposure to asbestos. If Asbestos is disturbed it can release fibres which can cause mesothelioma and lung cancer.
