RAAC found at Gatwick and Heathrow airports: Fears of travel chaos as crumbling concrete found at airports
Concrete that has caused chaos across the UK in recent days has now been found at Heathrow and Gatwick, it emerged this afternoon.
Bosses at the airports have said they were aware of the presence of RAAC before the crisis caused chaos at the start of the school term this week.
The scandal over reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) caused fury from parents after more than 100 schools were ordered to fully or partially shut buildings before the new academic year due to safety concerns.
RAAC was found first at Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport last year.
Safety precautions have already been put in place on a temporarily basis as airport bosses now decide on a permanent solution to the issue.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: ‘Industry has been aware and acting on the remedial steps that should be taken in buildings that contain this material. We, like many others, have been assessing our estate and will continue to mitigate the risk where this material is found.
‘Passenger and colleague safety will always be our first priority and we will continue to update stakeholders across the sector as our plans for permanent solutions progress.’
Gatwick Airport also last inspected RAAC in their buildings in June this year and structural engineers said at the time they they had no cause for concerns and that there is no risk to anyone at the airport.
A London Gatwick spokesperson said: ‘We have a register of locations containing RAAC on the airport campus, which are closely monitored through a regular comprehensive structural inspection regime.
‘Our most recent inspection in June 2023 did not present any concerns and we will continue to monitor on a regular basis.’
Manchester Airport is also being inspected at the moment for the presence of crumbling concrete but there is reportedly a ‘very low’ chance it will be found.
