Several public structures in the United Kingdom have been impacted by RAAC, or reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Closure of Cardiff’s St David’s Hall
A Cardiff concert hall will remain closed until 2025 due to concerns regarding disintegrating concrete.
According to Cardiff Council, St David’s Hall will require a complete roof replacement; this work could result in the venue being suspended for approximately 18 months.
Many UK schools and hospitals have been affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in recent months.
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The HSE says the construction material has past its service life and may collapse abruptly.
Tests have been conducted by specialists at St. David’s Hall in the weeks following the identification of RAAC panels.
A portion of the roof’s over 900 panels is categorised as “red-high risk” or “red-critical,” per a report from the council.
Concerns and Safety Measures
Engineers advise that the venue remains closed until emergency temporary mitigations are implemented or the entire roof is replaced.
Mitigation measures, according to the council, would require “at least six months to install” and “several million” to complete.
Despite this, it is still necessary to replace the roof, and the administration of Cardiff Council now advises repairing it in a single pass.
Challenges for Upcoming Events
In the coming months, the venue was also scheduled to welcome several notable artists and musicians, including Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec of Strictly Come Dancing, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Grayson Perry, and Wet Wet Wet and Go West.
AMG and the council were in the midst of negotiating a lease agreement.
