RAAC Demolition & Removal

PBM Contractors are qualified and prepared for emergency RAAC removal, with vast experience in internal demolitions and partial deconstruction of walls, floors and ceilings.

The danger of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) is that it has a projected lifespan of 30 years from installation. Many buildings built with RAAC in roofs, walls or floors were constructed over 30 years ago, leaving them at risk of sudden collapse. Any building containing RAAC requires immediate action to ensure the safety of those inside.

Enquire About Our RAAC Services, Call Us On: 0121 772 0858

Birmingham City Council Demolition Contractor

We are Birmingham City Council’s appointed Emergency Demolition contractors. We work with schools and other public buildings to dismantle structures that are no longer required or contain dangerous materials.
Since RAAC was commonly used in public building works between 1950 and 1990, these types of buildings may need RAAC removal services:

Schools
Hospitals
Libraries
Flat-roofed buildings
Other concrete structures built between 1950 and 1990.

Experienced Internal Demolition of RAAC

As RAAC is commonly used in roofs, walls and floors, but not whole structures, removing RAAC requires careful dismantling and internal works.

We have conducted many internal demolition projects including removing walls and ceilings. Frequently this means working to temporary works detailings and sequencing drawn up by a structural engineer, and we are used to working in this way.
As experienced demolition contractors, we can remove RAAC with minimal impact on the rest of the structure and leave your building safe to install new roofing.

Solve Safety Issues: RAAC Removal

As accredited demolitions contractors, our services are trusted across the city. We undertake works with the utmost care, ensuring as much of the building can remain in use while we remove RAAC. Enquire about RAAC demolition for your building and we will provide a quote and a time frame. Let’s get your building fully functional as soon as possible. Solve RAAC Safety Issues

RAAC FAQs

What is RAAC Concrete?

RAAC stands for Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, a lightweight type of concrete slab used widely in public building works between 1950 and 1990. It is lightweight because of the aeration of the concrete, seen as bubbles within the concrete when broken. RAAC was usually used in precast panels in roofs, floors and walls. The most common use was in flat roofs.

How to identify RAAC planks or panels?

If the building’s structure is not covered, RAAC panels can be identified by eye. Typically, RAAC is identified by:

600mm wide concrete panels
V-shaped grooves between panels or chamfer at each long edge.
unpainted colour is white or light grey
Soft enough to make an indentation with a screwdriver, screw or nail

The initial plans for the building may refer to RAAC or mention the following suppliers: Siporex, Durox, Celcon, Hebel, Ytong.

If you suspect the building you are responsible for contains RAAC, it is important to seek advice or a RAAC Survey from a structural engineer or building surveyor.

Further RAAC identification advice is available from the government website.

How do we remove RAAC safely?

Each case is different, as we work to the specific recommendations of a qualified structural engineer. Generally speaking, removing RAAC from a building involves installing a full-boarded internal crash deck to the area beneath the planks. This stops debris and objects from falling long distances and causing damage to the flooring.

We would then break out the RAAC concrete panels, either by hand or mechanically if conditions allowed. We do this until we’ve removed all RAAC, progressively clearing the crash deck to remove debris from the area in stages.

Looking to discuss your project?

Get in touch today by calling 0121 772 0858 or contact us here!

PBM Contractors Ltd

PBM Contractors Ltd is a family run business & has been for the past 38 years since its formation in 1986. The business was formed by Barney McGarry & his sons Peter, Brian & Noel.