POTENTIALLY dangerous RAAC concrete, which has led to the closure of dozens of schools in the UK, may be present in Jersey’s Hospital, it has been revealed.
The lightweight material was used in flat roofing, floors and walls between the 1950s and 1990s.
It is a cheaper alternative to standard concrete and has a lifespan of about 30 years.
In June, the UK’s National Audit Office reported that years of insufficient funding had increased the risk of a building collapse.
In a statement, Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet said: ‘Following reports of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) being identified in the UK, local cement manufacturers and structural engineers reported that they were not aware of any RAAC in our local public estate.
‘To confirm this, we undertook an exhaustive investigation, and we now believe there may RAAC present in four areas of the General Hospital.
‘Structural engineers will now undertake a full site inspection to confirm whether RAAC is present and in the event that it is, all necessary measures will be taken to ensure that the buildings are made safe for the longer term.
‘In the meantime, the hospital is making arrangements to enable a full inspection to be undertaken and ensure patient safety.
‘I’d like to assure Islanders that investigations began at the time of our initial statement and that this issue has been, and will continue to be, treated with absolute priority.’
