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The Federation of Master Builders has explained how Builders could be overwhelmed with repair work to schools, hospitals, theatres, and other unsafe public buildings due to failing RAAC panels.
The government revealed 156 schools contained reinforced autoclave aerated concrete, RAAC, of which 104 required urgent action with 52 already repaired.
The Federation of Master Builders, FMB, chief executive Brian Berry said: “Local builders may struggle to cater for the scale of the issue facing schools, as they tend to have full schedules for months ahead.
“This could affect the speed of work like putting up portable classrooms, to ensure children don’t miss lessons.”
He explained that more than half of FMB members have said they are falling behind schedule as they struggle to hire skilled workers to fulfil their order books.
It’s estimated nearly 20 hospitals, several theatres and other public state buildings also contain this type of cheap lightweight concrete which lasts for just 30 years.
Construction Leadership Council building safety expert, Graham Watts, said: “There is an urgent need to identify and remedy any risks to the public.
“We will support the programme of expert assessment of structures, both public and private, to identify where RAAC has been used and to deal with it to make it safe.”
