PM in place to coordinate RAAC removal programme

Project Manager in place to coordinate RAAC removal programme

With a masters in construction management and many, many years working in the industry, predominantly with concrete buildings, Almond’s newest employee, Frank Spratt, is well positioned to take on the role of Project Delivery Manager which will oversee the removal of RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) from 220 of Almond’s properties.

Frank started his career with Sir Robert McAlpine, working across Scotland before travelling ‘down under’ to Sydney to work as a project manager on high rise buildings in the city. When he and his wife decided they wanted to start a family, they returned home to Scotland where Frank set up his own business in project management, working on prestigious developments such as Holyrood North Site and the redevelopment of Raeburn Place.

When it comes to RAAC, Frank has first hand experience of it, when a property he owned had RAAC in the extension.

In terms of the challenges with this project, Frank explained:

“The work required to remove the RAAC is not particularly difficult. Almond has already evidenced this through their pilot project. The most complex element will be working closely with tenants because this is a huge upheaval for them. We will need to decant them from their home for approximately seven days whilst we remove the RAAC.”

Due to the location of the RAAC in the loft hatches, the amount of dust that will be created will potentially be substantial and will require all surrounding rooms to be sealed, hence the reason why tenants cannot stay whilst the works are in progress.

Frank continues:

“We obviously want this process to be as painless as possible for our tenants, but we are asking for their co-operation. The power is in the planning. Once we go live, it is a case of ‘rinse and repeat’, a cycle of events that replicate, however, maintaining the schedule is paramount, as any delays will elongate the process for everyone.”

In addition to Frank’s role, Almond is employing two tenant liaison officers to work closely with all households who are affected by this. All three positions are on a fixed term contract for two years which Frank believes is sufficient time to ensure the project is successfully completed.

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact Sally Thompson (Communications Officer): sally.thompson@almondha.org.uk

NOTE TO EDITORS:

1. RAAC is a lightweight building material that was used in the 60s and 70s to increase the speed of construction. The key issue with this material is its porous structure, potentially allowing water to enter, which can cause internal steel reinforcements to corrode and lead to cracking. This is more problematic when seen in long spans, such as the flat roofs on hospitals and schools. Less research has been carried with domestic properties, although the Scottish Government recently agreed to work with the Institute of Structural Engineers to produce specific guidance for domestic properties.