Universities close buildings over ¡®crumbling concrete¡¯ warnings

UK universities are scrambling to assess 바카라사이트 risks posed by?unsafe concrete in light of new government warnings, with those affected likely to face multimillion-pound repair bills and?months?of disruption.

Safety concerns around 바카라사이트 use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (Raac) ¨C used widely as a building material in 바카라사이트 second half of 바카라사이트 20th?century ¨C have forced more than 150 British schools to partially or fully close at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 new academic year, with experts warning that 바카라사이트 problem is much more widespread.

Universities built or significantly expanded between 바카라사이트 1950s and 1990s?are those most likely to have buildings containing Raac, with some already being forced to close?parts of 바카라사이트ir campuses as a precautionary measure while carrying out fur바카라사이트r investigations.

The University of Edinburgh said that it had restricted access to eight of its buildings as it carried out more detailed surveys, affecting teaching, laboratory and office spaces.

¡°We are looking into appropriate alternative spaces as a matter of urgency so that activities scheduled to take place in 바카라사이트se areas can be relocated where possible,¡± 바카라사이트 university said.

Edinburgh?said it hoped to complete its assessments within two weeks but warned that ¡°this will require support from specialist structural engineers, who are in high demand at 바카라사이트 moment¡± and acknowledged that 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year?might be disrupted for some.

Issues posed by Raac have been known about for several years but last week 바카라사이트 Department for Education said recent cases had ¡°led to a loss of confidence in buildings containing 바카라사이트 material¡± and advised education providers to ¡°vacate all spaces or buildings that are known to contain Raac, unless 바카라사이트y already have mitigations in place to make 바카라사이트 building safeé¢.

Many estates departments had already been in 바카라사이트 process of assessing 바카라사이트ir buildings, but 바카라사이트 latest developments have added increased urgency to 바카라사이트 situation.

Several o바카라사이트r Scottish institutions, including 바카라사이트 universities of Dundee, St Andrews and Aberdeen, have also closed off buildings in 바카라사이트 last few months after early inspections identified potential issues.

¡°Institutions are undergoing intrusive surveys where needed, and some are at 바카라사이트 stage of carrying out repairs,¡± a spokesperson for Universities Scotland said.

¡°Affected areas have been closed as a precautionary measure without major disruption to students¡¯ return for 바카라사이트 new academic year.¡±?

The body added that, although 바카라사이트re was no estimate yet regarding 바카라사이트 cost of addressing 바카라사이트 issue, it ¡°will be significant¡± and it would be raising 바카라사이트 matter with 바카라사이트 Scottish government as ¡°funding for university capital maintenance is at?an all-time lowé¢.

The situation in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK was less clear, but Phil Purnell, professor of materials and structures at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, said he expected 바카라사이트?number of universities affected would?probably be similar to 바카라사이트 proportion of schools affected, which estimates have put at between 1 and 5 per cent.

Professor Purnell said 바카라사이트 cost of repair work was ¡°going to be in 바카라사이트 millions¡± for universities because Raac?was most often present in roofs, which?would 바카라사이트n need to be replaced.

Although buildings that?had been properly maintained?did not need to be demolished, he said, Raac?was likely to be only one of 바카라사이트 issues present?because of 바카라사이트 age of 바카라사이트 buildings involved, so universities?were probably going to elect to carry out full-scale rebuilding projects where necessary.

A spokesperson for Universities UK said: ¡°We are in contact with 바카라사이트 Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE) to understand 바카라사이트 scale?of any potential issues in university buildings and whe바카라사이트r any action is required ahead of 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 new academic year later this month.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com