Jenny Gilruth reported that 35 local Scottish schools have problematic AAC. Photo: Andrew Milligan/Pennsylvania
Scottish schools Constructed of concrete that can crumble will not be closed like schools in England, SNP education minister says.
Jenny Gilruth said 35 local Scottish schools they were found to contain Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). ).
The material can crumble, especially if it gets wet, and more than 100 schools and colleges in England have been ordered to close or partially close due to the risk of collapse.
But Ms Gilruth said schools would not be closed in Scotland and accused the UK government of deviating from the recommendations of the Institute of Civil Engineers.
It says the RAAC should only be replaced if it is considered that it is in poor condition. and high risk and can be managed locally.
'Continue to follow the advice'
The UK Government has announced a «change in our approach» to managing RAAC after «recent cases have led to a loss of confidence in buildings containing this material». Part of the roof of a primary school in Kent collapsed in July 2018.
But Ms Gilruth said «we will continue to adhere to this advice» and councils assured her they had taken «appropriate mitigation measures» . Instead.
She admitted that the wall at a MoD school in Scotland had to be guarded after the material was discovered.
Her intervention came after the Liberal Democrats said ministers «need to get their heads out of the sand and take action» and the teachers' union accused her of ignoring their concerns.
The NASUWT teachers union said it had written to Ms. letter. Gilruth asked her in July to take control of the problem because she was «too complicated» for advice.
But Mike Corbett, the organization's president in Scotland, said she didn't respond and expressed his disappointment as «we would have thought something like this would be given priority.»
'Chocolate Aerobar&# 39;
RAAC was widely used in the construction of public sector buildings in the 1950s and 1960s. Concrete is mixed with other substances, including gas, to make it five times bigger and be used to create planks or blocks for buildings, but it has been compared to an «Aero candy bar».
Experts say that its service life is very long. is only 30 years old as air pockets make it vulnerable to moisture, which can corrode concrete and rust metal supports. Stuff can look normal but suddenly and without warning fail catastrophically.
Ms Gilruth said she was 'concerned' but told BBC Radio Scotland: 'I think yesterday's decision [to close schools ] The Ministry of Education deviated… from the recommendations of the Institute of Civil Engineers.”
“We will continue to follow this advice and I hope that the Ministry of Education will continue to engage with my officials on this issue.”
She added that the final decision on school closures will be made by the councils, but the data they give her granted, «does not suggest that we will close any schools.»
Security assurances
Ms Gilruth reported that 35 schools had schools closed. there was a «relatively small amount» of concrete, and local residents assured parents and students of their safety.
However, she was unable to say how many buildings in other parts of the public sector were affected. NHS councils, local authorities and government agencies have been asked to report to ministers.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said: “We now know from England that beams previously considered safe , can still collapse catastrophically. Must there be a tragedy in Scotland before ministers take it seriously?
“This issue has been simmering for months now and it's ridiculous that the Scottish government hasn't been able to use the summer to carefully assess the extent of the problem. and let's get started on the repairs.»
He said Ms. Gilruth should name the affected schools and indicate how she would support all government agencies, including hospitals and universities, to cover the cost of repairs.
Asked about the lack of response from Ms Gilruth, Mr Corbett told BBC Radio Scotland: «We are just very disappointed given the fact that the safety of students and staff in school buildings is at stake.»
» This aerated concrete, as we now know, appears to be susceptible to spontaneous collapse.”
£77 million renovation
At least nine schools were affected in Dumfries and Galloway, seven in Aberdeen and six in Clackmannanshire .
Five primary schools and four community centers have been identified in West Lothian, with nearly £77 million allocated by the council for renovation work.
In August, Perth and Kinross Council and Moray Council announced work to remove RAAC panels from local schools.
Students from the Trinity and Cramond primaries in Edinburgh were moved to temporary classrooms after concrete was found there. Also affected are Pentland Primary School, Colinton Primary School and the secret Curry Primary School, as well as the secret St. Andrews Fox Primary School in the city.
254 NHS buildings were also found to contain material but the Scottish government spokesman insisted on it. said in July that «there is no evidence these buildings are unsafe.»
The commissions that found the concrete include NHS Ayrshire & Arran at Crosshouse University Hospital in Kilmarnock, Lanarkshire National Health Service at Biggar Medical Center and Grampian National Health Service. Earlier this year, the Greater Glasgow National Health Service and Clyde said they had identified 34 possible cases of RAAC.
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