From structural challenge to high-quality facility

A masterclass in fast-tracked healthcare engineering, the £15m Ward 6 Ventilation Inpatient Centre (VIC) project at Aintree University Hospital Liverpool has transformed a high-risk structural challenge into a high-quality clinical facility, eradicating RAAC and completely reimagining the estate. As a result, the Major Capital Projects Team has created a facility that is now one of only four specially commissioned NHS Respiratory Weaning Centres in England. Kasia Pekala, senior project manager – Major Capital Projects Team at NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, tells us more.

RAAC stands for Reinforced (contains steel bars) Autoclaved (process of making via Autoclave cooker) Aerated (contains bubble like structure) Concrete (mix of cement and aggregate). It is a lightweight, low strength concrete block used across the UK during the period of 1950s to mid-1990s. These structures were mainly used for building roof due to its good thermal properties. However, there have been cases were RAAC panels have also been used as wall structures.

RAAC has been extensively used in buildings such as schools, hospitals, and other public buildings due to its ease of installation, cost effectiveness, and speed of construction. However, between the 1980s and 1990s, RAAC has faced safety concerns related to its durability and lifecycle as cracking, sagging, and corrosion of steel reinforcement became evident.