Find out how we are replacing Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete panels in our buildings.
About Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
Like many other public buildings built in the 1960s and 70s, some of our original campus buildings were constructed with a material called Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). While widely used at the time, it is now presenting problems to buildings of this era that are still in use.
Find out how we are working to remedy the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) panels in some of our University buildings.
What is RAAC?
RAAC is a material that was commonly used in the construction industry from the 1960s to 1980s. It is a slab of concrete with air holes making it both lighter and with better insulation properties when compared to dense concrete slabs – the difference has been likened to an Aero chocolate bar vs a Dairy Milk bar. RAAC has a lifespan of around 30 years, but can still be found in some UK buildings, particularly in public buildings built in that era.
The impact on our campus
The University of Sussex has RAAC panels in seven of its buildings:
- Arts A
- Arundel
- Bramber House
- Chichester I
- Chichester II
- Falmer House
- John Maynard Smith (JMS)
Taking action
In 2022, we commissioned an initial desktop survey of twenty-seven buildings which identified the use of RAAC in five University buildings. Immediate action was taken to ensure that those buildings were secure and safe to use, with safety measures in place where necessary, such as the use of scaffolding and propping, or reduced access to some areas of the building. Our RAAC safety measures are regularly reviewed to ensure that they continue to be effective.
All buildings impacted by RAAC remain open and safe to use, with some restrictions to access where essential, and we will continue to survey all buildings on campus as part of our RAAC replacement programme.
RAAC replacement
The maintenance, improvement and upgrade of our campus is a continual process. Where possible, the replacement of our building RAAC panels will be integrated into existing campus improvement projects that have already started, or will soon start, rather than being delivered as a single project. This approach will ensure that the best solution is found for each building, and that value for money improvements are achieved.
The first RAAC replacement project on campus was completed in April 2024. Bramber House, a multi-purpose student hub, had RAAC roof panels removed and replaced with timber and ply insulated roofing.