Following last week's nationwide news that some schools in England have been told to shut their buildings that are made of Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), Powys County Council has decided to carry out additional survey inspections of schools in the county.

RAAC is a material that was mainly used in flat roofing, floors and walls between the 1950s and 1990s.

It is a lightweight material and a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, but this also means that it is less durable and its structural behaviour differs compared to standard concrete.

Aerated concrete is susceptible to structural damage too and has a predicted lifespan of about 30 years.

More than 100 schools in England were shut last week due to their buildings being a danger with RAAC decaying.

Speaking on the situation with Powys schools, Leader of Powys County Council, Cllr James Gibson-Watt said: “At present, we are not aware of any local authority schools in the county that contain RAAC.

“The council previously investigated the matter in 2020. However, following the recent developments and the additional guidance that has been issued, we are now in the process of undertaking a small number of additional survey inspections of our schools and the wider corporate estate.

“Surveys on the highest priority buildings have already been completed with no evidence of RAAC being present.

“We are working hard to ensure all other surveys are completed as soon as possible and we expect to conclude the additional work within the next few days.”