As the ‘bubbly concrete’ crisis continues, leaders of the meetings
industry are urging the Government to call upon their agile services to help
those affected by school and hospital closures.
Kerrin MacPhie, chief executive of the Meetings Industry
Association thinks this structural issue could be an opportunity for the sector
to show the Government how valuable the events industry is.
She said: “As the issue with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC)
is potentially much wider-spread with numerous government-owned buildings
including hospitals and courts being affected, it presents an opportunity for
the business meetings and events community to take the lead once again by
offering a solution in a time of need.
“During Covid-19 the sector proved just how agile it can be
by swiftly transforming its various meetings and events spaces into hospitals
and vaccination centres while hotel meeting rooms were also turned into courts
and inquest rooms to help the government deal with the huge backlog of cases as
we emerged from the pandemic.
“As a sector, we are highlighting to government that we can,
for example, support by creating classrooms to support students in their
education during school closures. With many exhibitions venues being
traditionally quieter later in the year, this could be a quick fix.”
What exactly is RAAC and why is it dangerous?
The Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) is a
lightweight material that was used mostly in flat roofing, but also in floors
and walls between the 1950s and 1990s. It is a cheaper alternative to standard
concrete, is quicker to produce and easier to install. Consequently, it only
has a 30-year lifespan and can decay quickly when exposed to moisture.
More than 100 schools containing RAAC have either partially
or fully shut due to safety-concerns around concaving roofs and walls.
Hospitals are also facing the same issue. Last year, health
minister Maria Caulfield announced that 34 hospital buildings in England were
at risk, a situation which was described by the boss of one affected hospital
boss as a “ticking time bomb”.
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
