Government
The World Has a Concrete Problem. It Just Doesn’t Seem to Care
British schools are crumbling due to an aerated material that was popular after World War II. But the crisis may stretch beyond its shores.
A taped off area affected by sub-standard Raac at a school in Leicester, UK.
Photographer: Jacob King/PABritain’s public services are crumbling — that’s the view of opposition leaders and other critics who accuse the Conservative government of presiding over an era of decline.
In one case, at least, there’s an unfortunately literal meaning to the charge. The government said on Tuesday that 174 schools contain concrete at risk of collapse, up from its previous estimate of 147. The issue centers around “reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete,” a material known more widely as Raac, which can become dangerous if exposed to water.