October 2023 – August 2024
The WCHT RAAC Concrete Surveys project was commissioned by the Watford Community Housing Trust to assess the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) across various council housing properties in Watford. With the increasing concern over the structural integrity of RAAC concrete, the project aimed to survey potentially affected sites and provide actionable recommendations.
The project’s primary goal was to carry out intrusive surveys at various WCHT properties to detect RAAC concrete and assess its condition. Specialist RAAC survey engineers were assigned to undertake the on-site inspections, while a Chartered Civil/Structural Engineer reviewed the findings and provided detailed analysis.
The scope also included preparing a clear set of recommendations for each site, which would allow Watford Community Housing Trust to take the necessary remedial actions, if required. The surveys were conducted efficiently, with multiple locations assessed over the course of several days to optimise time and resources.
The delivery of the project was strategically planned to prioritise high-risk locations based on the assumed presence of RAAC concrete. This approach enabled the project team to allocate resources efficiently while ensuring that the most vulnerable areas were thoroughly inspected. By scheduling site visits in batches, SRC maximised the number of surveys completed each day, increasing overall project efficiency.
SRC surveyed all identified locations across the WCHT portfolio, and sites with a higher risk of RAAC presence were subjected to more intrusive inspections, providing a greater level of clarity and assurance to the client.