How do you survey for RAAC without damaging the building?

Most of a RAAC survey is non-destructive: visual inspection of roofs, soffits and voids supported by scanning. Confirmation sometimes needs a small, carefully located intrusive check, which is made good afterwards. We keep any opening up to the minimum needed to be certain.

Will a RAAC survey tell me whether my building is safe?

A survey tells you whether RAAC is present, where it is and what condition it is in, and assigns a risk-based priority to each element. That is the information an owner or engineer needs to judge safety and decide on management, monitoring or remediation.

How long does a RAAC survey take?

A single roof or wing can often be inspected in a day; a large or complex estate takes longer and may be staged. We scope the time once we know the building size, the number of roofs and the access arrangements.

Do you provide a written report?

Yes. Every survey is issued as a written report with annotated plans showing where RAAC is, a condition schedule and prioritised recommendations, suitable for owners, insurers and engineers.

RAAC Surveys

A RAAC survey establishes whether a building contains reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete and, where it does, locates it, records it and grades its condition. RAACScan carries out RAAC surveys for building owners, duty holders and structural engineers who need a clear, evidence-based picture before deciding what to do next.

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What a RAAC survey is

A RAAC survey is a structured inspection that answers three questions in order: is RAAC present, where is it, and what condition is it in. It begins with a desktop review of the building age, drawings and construction type, moves to a visual inspection of roofs, soffits and voids, and confirms findings by intrusive checks where access allows.

Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete was used widely in roof, floor and wall panels from the mid-1950s to the mid-1990s. It is lightweight and aerated, which makes it quick to install but weaker and more porous than dense concrete. Because failures can develop with limited warning, identifying and recording it accurately is the foundation of managing the risk.

When a RAAC survey is required

A survey is commissioned wherever a building of the RAAC era has flat or shallow-pitched roofs, single-storey wings or panel floors and the construction has not been confirmed. Owners and duty holders carry a clear responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Defective Premises Act to understand the condition of their buildings, and a RAAC survey is the recognised means of doing so.

Surveys are often triggered by a property transaction, an insurance or lending requirement, a refurbishment or re-roofing project, or a portfolio-wide review prompted by national guidance on RAAC in schools, hospitals and public buildings.

What a survey covers

Confirmation of whether RAAC is present, distinguished from dense concrete and other plank systems
Location and extent of RAAC, recorded on plans and in a schedule
Condition of the panels: cracking, deflection, bearing length and water damage
Evidence of reinforcement corrosion and previous alterations or overloading
A risk-based view of which elements need attention first
Clear recommendations for management, monitoring or referral for remediation

How the survey is carried out

A specialist attends site and inspects roofs, soffits and accessible voids, using access equipment, confined-space procedures or drone survey where needed. RAAC is confirmed visually from its characteristic appearance and joint detail and, where access allows, by careful intrusive inspection. Findings are photographed, measured and recorded against a plan so the building owner has a permanent record.

Where the boundary between RAAC and dense concrete is unclear, scanning and sampling resolve it. The output is a written survey with annotated drawings, a condition schedule and prioritised recommendations.

Who commissions RAAC surveys

RAAC surveys are commissioned by building owners and landlords, estates and facilities teams, structural engineers, surveyors acting on transactions, insurers and lenders, and public-sector duty holders managing schools, healthcare and civic estates.

Frequently asked questions

How do you survey for RAAC without damaging the building?: Most of a RAAC survey is non-destructive: visual inspection of roofs, soffits and voids supported by scanning. Confirmation sometimes needs a small, carefully located intrusive check, which is made good afterwards. We keep any opening up to the minimum needed to be certain.
Will a RAAC survey tell me whether my building is safe?: A survey tells you whether RAAC is present, where it is and what condition it is in, and assigns a risk-based priority to each element. That is the information an owner or engineer needs to judge safety and decide on management, monitoring or remediation.
How long does a RAAC survey take?: A single roof or wing can often be inspected in a day; a large or complex estate takes longer and may be staged. We scope the time once we know the building size, the number of roofs and the access arrangements.
Do you provide a written report?: Yes. Every survey is issued as a written report with annotated plans showing where RAAC is, a condition schedule and prioritised recommendations, suitable for owners, insurers and engineers.

Related services and coverage

RAAC Surveys for your building?

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