During a survey earlier in 2023, Make identified Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) within the main building of the school.
From that point, the RAAC was monitored for signs of further deterioration. However, following the well-reported changes to DfE guidance in August 2023, the School was left needing expert help and support to come up with a speedy solution to keep the school both open and safe.
Make were able to complete a full feasibility study and mitigation review on behalf of the school in order to determine the best solution available to them within the timescales that were presented. As a result of this review, Make were appointed by the school to secure alternative, temporary teaching spaces that would meet guidelines and avoid much-feared closure.
Following this decision, the next challenge we faced was sourcing suitable units. With the current RAAC crisis affecting so many schools, demand for temporary teaching spaces had skyrocketed. However, due to our experience and reliable supply chain, Make were able to work with suppliers to provide units that were sourced from multiple depots across the country.
After successfully sourcing the appropriate teaching spaces, our next task was to organise the logistics of delivering and installing the cabins in a challenging location. Following discussions, we identified a route using the adjacent park’s car parking area to allow the large transporters and lifters to access the site. We also liaised with the local district council to temporarily restrict access to the park for a very short time to allow smooth installation.
All the units were delivered by Monday 11th September and fitted out with functional power provisions. The project was turned around exceptionally quickly, allowing the site to be fully operational in the new term.
Following the above success, the next steps are to provide a full mitigation solution which will allow the use of the main building again and ensure that all sections of the school are safe for occupation and years of happy learning.
