THERE is none of the potentially dangerous concrete, RAAC, in any East Renfrewshire Council properties, the local authority’s leader has confirmed.

Cllr Owen O’Donnell, Labour, updated councillors on a search for Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) across the council estate.

It was completed after over 100 schools and colleges in England were closed following the discovery of RAAC, with a beam in one school collapsing. It has been identified in around 40 Scottish schools.

Further studies will be carried out in East Renfrewshire by an engineering firm to “double check” the council’s findings.

Cllr O’Donnell said the council had carefully followed government guidance and is “comfortable we have no RAAC present within any East Renfrewshire Council properties”.

“To ensure further compliance we have engaged with a structural engineering company (Cowal Design) who will double check the investigation work carried out by our technical officers is correct and confirm the findings we already have.”

East Renfrewshire Council was tasked with identifying and developing a RAAC management and remediation strategy, which began with a desktop investigation.

Officials used “the age of the properties to identify assets that might require a site inspection for potential RAAC”, the council leader said.

Any properties that were built between the 1930s and 1990s were identified for inspection.

“We were mindful that several of our properties have multiple build dates due to upgrade and or extensions,” Cllr O’Donnell added.

“We also used data from historical intrusive surveys that enabled use to positively identify the roof make-up and structure.

“The buildings that had a type of roof or structure that potentially could be made from RAAC were inspected closer.

“This involved invasive survey work whereby tiles were removed or access taken via ceiling hatches until we were confident that the roof make-up was not RAAC.”