We are actively supporting NHS hospitals and construction contractors with dust, noise and other health hazard control solutions as works start on RAAC buildings.
15th September 2023
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) is a lightweight form of precast concrete, frequently used in the construction of public sector buildings in the UK from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s. RAAC’s initial popularity stemmed from its lightweight properties, ease of installation and affordability. However, RAAC is now taking over the headlines, as this weaker form of concrete is putting people’s lives at risk, due to the material causing infrastructures to collapse. In most cases RAAC buildings only have a lifespan of about 30 years, and as a result, more than 150 schools have been forced to shut and over 30 hospitals have been affected.
To check if buildings have a safe infrastructure, they are first being assessed to see if it was constructed using RAAC, which will allow any potential risks to be identified. If RAAC is present, secondary support/ beams are being installed to provide stability to the building, preventing it from collapsing. However, this does not solve the issue, as the secondary support/ beams are not a permanent solution. If RAAC is identified in the infrastructure this means that structural work is required which may include removal of individual planks, entire roof replacement or even complete restoration of the entire building.
With some buildings needing to be completely demolished, it is essential that dust, noise and vibrations created from site activities are properly controlled; without suitable controls in place, people and the environment could be put at risk. The same risks need to be managed when partially replacing parts of a hospital or school, especially if other areas of the building remain live. For this specific challenge, contractors need to ensure that health hazards such as dust cannot migrate throughout the building where staff, students and patients could be put at risk.
It is therefore essential to install specialist health hazard control equipment that will properly capture, contain and control hazardous dust and other airborne contaminants whilst tackling the RAAC building crisis. This is especially vital in sensitive environments such as hospitals as these facilities have a zero-tolerance policy on dust due to the risk of patients breathing in airborne aspergillus spores. Also, patients who have a weaker immune system or an existing lung condition will be put at significant risk if the correct measures are not implemented. In addition to this, contractors must assess noise levels and ensure that noise control barriers are installed where required.
RVT Group are a specialist hire company with a unique consultative approach; we work with you to understand the full scope of your project and the challenges you are facing before recomming a fully compliant solution. We have over 30 years experience in dust & noise control, and have already supported a number of RAAC projects. Whether you are reinforcing structures with secondary support beams or completely demolishing the structures, we can offer a tailored dust control solution. Some of our most popular products are featured below:
These include the following:
DUSTEX® Hydramist 35GT - A 2000 litre dust suppression unit, with a jet range of 25-30m, ideal for controlling dense dust in demolition projects.
DUSTEX® Raptor – A multi-purpose, portable, HEPA filtration unit, primarily designed to capture and filter dust from a wide range of construction activities, but can also be used to provide negative/ positive pressure ventilation.
DUSTEX® DustMaster Pro – A self-contained mobile dust extraction unit designed to capture and filter dust from a wide range of applications. This HEPA filtration unit is ideal for capturing Aspergillus Spores, Respirable Crystaline Silica and other hazardous dusts.
DUSTEX® Aire Guardian Rigid Containment Unit – Ideal for containing temporary construction and renovation projects in healthcare facilities. When used with a negative pressure extraction system, it will provide an air lock with either positive or negative pressure, therefore ensuring zero dust migration.
SOUNDEX® Acoustic Curtain – Certified to reduce noise by up to 32.9dB and achieve up to 98% noise absorption, making it the ideal noise control solution for RAAC projects.
MONITEX Area Dust Monitor – Provides real-time measurements of airborne dust, with data being reviewed via a cloud-based platform. This is the ideal solution for hospitals, as this device will ensure that the work taking place is below the Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) for dust exposure, and it will also provide peace of mind that dust will not migrate into sensitive live areas of the hospital.
MONITEX Differential Pressure Gauge – Provides clear visual confirmation that safety critical pressure differentials are being maintained; whilst giving customers peace of mind that dust cannot migrate.
MONITEX OD-AA Vibration Monitor – It is important to measure vibration levels, especially when a lot of breaking and demolition work is being undertaken, as it could pose further structural integrity risks.
We are currently supporting Airedale Hospital with their RAAC restoration project, where we have installed our DUSTEX® Aire Guardian Rigid Containment Unit and our DUSTEX® Raptor. The DUSTEX® Aire Guardian Rigid Containment Unit has been installed between the work zone and the live corridor that would be in use by staff, patients and visitors. This is creating a barrier between the work area and the clean corridor. Positive pressure is then being applied inside the Aire Guardian unit using our DUSTEX® Raptor; this has created an airlock inside the unit and an air pressure that is higher than in the rooms on the adjacent sides, creating a buffer zone . The positive pressure will eliminate the risk of dust migrating, because if a worker opened the door to the containment unit to enter the corridor, any contaminated air would be pushed back into the work area because of the force of the positive air pressure. See diagram below.
RVT offer a free guide that has been specifically created for construction, renovation and maintenance workers who are operating within the healthcare sector and are looking for a simplified explanation of the Health Building Note 00-09 (HBN 00-09). This guide pays particular attention to dust control and how it can be controlled during building works.
HBN 00-09 Guide - Instant download
If you would like to speak to one of our qualified consultants about the challenges you are facing with RAAC, or you would like to book a free site visit, please call us on 0808 178 3286 or complete our online form.
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