In England, more than a hundred schools are closed due to the threat of collapse

The British government has ordered the closure of more than 100 schools in England built with a certain type of concrete Lightweight concreteconsidered to be at risk of collapse. Schools will have to immediately put in place measures to make buildings safe, such as reinforcing roofs.

Autoclaved aerated concrete is a man Concrete used between the fifties and nineties. It has small air bubbles in it, which makes it lighter and cheaper than other building materials, but it is also less resistant and durable: its structural properties differ significantly from conventional reinforced concrete. It has a life expectancy of about thirty years, after which, according to the British Safety Agency, it can break down, even without warning signs.

The government’s decision came just days before the start of classes for the autumn term in England, leaving them little time to take the required security measures: many students could be transferred to other schools, taught distance learning or in classrooms in temporary structures that had been set up. Temporarily created structures.

The government said it took a precautionary approach to protect the safety of students, and acted when it learned of the problem, which continues to affect a small minority of schools in England. However, the timing of the decision has been criticized by the opposition Labor Party and teachers’ unions.

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