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dengland  
#1 Posted : 21 June 2024 07:46:30(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
dengland

Does anyone have any private sector experience of the remedial work required on RAAC roofing panels? Our structural engineer has proposed a risk based approach which whilst sensible and pragmatic, does not fully comply with the IStructE guidance which seems excessively cautious. Is anyone else taking a more risk-based approach?

achrn  
#2 Posted : 21 June 2024 08:10:42(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
achrn

It's potentially a sudden brittle failure when it goes (i.e. zero warning of a change from 'looks OK' to 'pile of rubble') and I find it a little hard to categorise any realistic risk of 'pile of rubble' as being something that you can be excessively causious about.  A structural engineer doesn't like brittle failure.

However, I note that the IStructE guidance is itself risk-based - "Assessments of buildings with RAAC panels are recommended to include a balance of risks for the continued use of the building against the benefit of strengthening or replacement of the panels. The assessment should include a robust risk assessment and include consideration to the on-going monitoring and future management of the RAAC panels".  It has a range of remediation alternatives from full replacement to relatively minor end bearing enhancement (it's an end bearing failure that's teh most likely brittle) and various differing additional support options.

We are not doing anything other than IStructE guidance.  However, we are doing very little in this area - our insurer is happy for us to do desk studies and site visits and advise clients if they do have RAAC, but we are very cautious about advising they don't have RAAC, and we are not getting involved in any remedials other than full replacement.

thanks 1 user thanked achrn for this useful post.
peter gotch on 21/06/2024(UTC)
dengland  
#3 Posted : 21 June 2024 09:44:28(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
dengland

Thanks. We do have panels classed as high risk against the IStructE guidance based on either the extent to which they are cut / penetrated or due to a lack of end bearing. We are considering an approach to prioritise remedial work on those panels in high occupancy areas and those which have the largest unsupported penetrations. 

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