Water Supply Safety – RAAC in UK Schools

Water Supply Safety: In the UK, some buildings stand as a testament to the past, serving as reminders of construction techniques that have since become obsolete and hazardous. Among these structures are those built using a type of concrete known as Reactive Aggregate Attack Concrete (RAAC), colloquially referred to as “crumbly concrete.” This outdated building material has raised significant safety concerns, particularly in the realm of education, where hundreds of schools across the UK used RAAC in their construction. In response to fears of potential collapses, some schools have been shut down, and temporary accommodation huts have been erected. Amidst these concerns, Dantek wants to offer guidance and support to ensure the safety of water supply systems in these vulnerable buildings.

School Buildings and Safety Fears

One of the most pressing concerns surrounding RAAC structures in the UK is their prevalence in school buildings. Many educational institutions unknowingly used RAAC in their construction, posing a significant risk to the safety of students and staff. In response to these safety fears, some schools have taken the difficult step of shutting down their facilities, disrupting the education of countless students.

Temporary Accommodation: A Vital Solution

With schools needing to ensure the safety of their students and staff, temporary accommodation huts have become a necessary and practical solution. These huts provide a secure environment for teaching and learning while allowing for essential repairs or reconstruction to take place. However, this is just a temporary measure. The long-term solution lies in the complete overhaul of RAAC-affected buildings.

Dantek: Ensuring Safe Water Supply

One critical aspect of maintaining Water Supply Safety of buildings, whether temporary or permanent, is ensuring the safety of water supply systems. Here at Dantek, we offer trusted water treatment services.

Water Supply Safety – Disinfection: A Necessity

Dantek understands the importance of maintaining clean Water Supply Safety in systems. When dealing with construction projects, disinfection of water supply pipes is a crucial step to ensure that the water is safe for consumption. According to guidelines outlined in BS 8558 and the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, disinfection is necessary under various circumstances:

• Installing new supply pipes unless it’s a private dwelling occupied by a single family.
• Carrying out major extensions or alterations, unless it’s a private dwelling occupied by a single family.
• Working on underground pipework, excluding localized repairs or insertion of junctions.
• When a system has not been regularly flushed or used, or when contamination is suspected due to factors like sewage, animals, or human interference.

What you can expect from Dantek’s water treatment services:

Our services encompass a thorough flush and disinfection process that goes the extra mile in ensuring your Water Supply Safety and compliant. The procedure includes a balanced flush of the entire system to displace sediment, scale, and debris towards the outlets, followed by meticulous disinfection of cold-water and domestic hot water pipework to all outlets. To guarantee the effectiveness of the disinfection, we perform repeated flushes using town mains water until disinfectant levels meet the stringent standards outlined in BS8558.

One of the key elements of our service is the assessment of system water quality. We take representative potable water samples and entrust them to a UKAS accredited laboratory for in-depth microbial analysis. The results, which confirm the microbiological quality of the system water, are then compiled into a comprehensive laboratory report and certificate. This documentation serves as tangible proof of the thorough work we’ve carried out, giving you the confidence and assurance that your water supply is both safe and compliant with industry regulations.

Dantek’s Expertise and Reassurance

Our extensive experience in water treatment services is invaluable in these uncertain times. We can provide expert guidance and support to ensure that water supply systems are compliant with regulations and safe for use. Beyond that, we offer reassurance to those responsible for the safety of these buildings, providing peace of mind that they are doing everything possible to protect the people who rely on their water systems.

We’re here to support you in navigating the challenges posed by RAAC structures and to ensure that Water Supply Safety concerns are addressed with the utmost care and expertise