UK universities are scrambling to assess the 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 the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (Raac) – used widely as a building material in the second half of the 20th century – have forced more than 150 British schools to partially or fully close at the start of the new academic year, with experts warning that the problem is much more widespread.
Universities built or significantly expanded between the 1950s and 1990s are those most likely to have buildings containing Raac, with some already being forced to close parts of their campuses as a precautionary measure while carrying out further 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.
