Dundee, Scotland:  A former Dundee City Council worker is speaking out about the defects of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) panels, shedding light on the challenges faced by construction teams during the building process and the long-term impact on residents.

A 25-Year Career in Construction

The worker, who retired in 2015 after 25 years of service with Dundee City Council, first began working on Hazel Drive flats in 1972, when the local authority was still called Dundee Corporation. He worked on the project for a short time before moving to London for work. Upon returning to Dundee, he rejoined the council—by then called Dundee City—and remained there until his retirement. Over the years, he witnessed firsthand the recurring issues with RAAC in local buildings.

RAAC Panels: Early Awareness of Defects

During the construction of flats at Hazel Drive—one of the RAAC-constructed estates—the worker became acutely aware of the material’s flaws. He recalled that RAAC panels arrived at the site already damaged, with cracks and structural weaknesses that made construction extremely difficult.

“We knew right away something was wrong. The panels arrived broken, cracked, and damaged. Using them to build was a nightmare,” said the worker.  

A similar history is referred to during the construction phase of RAAC homes in Basildon (click here). 

Reporting Defects and Management’s Response

The worker and his team reported the defects to the head architect, prompting an investigation. A structural engineer was sent to inspect the site and condemned the panels, halting work twice on separate occasions. The site was closed for two weeks while new panels were sourced.

However, despite the initial shutdown, the same defective panels were used when work resumed, leading to repeated concerns from the workers.

“After the site was reopened, the same damaged panels were used again, and the defects didn’t go away. We reported them once more, and a second structural engineer condemned the panels, shutting down the site for a second time,” he explained.

The Broader Issue of RAAC

The worker first encountered RAAC during the demolition of another building around 2010/2011, where he noticed the panels were severely aerated and filled with holes. This experience reinforced his concerns about RAAC’s long-term durability.

Despite his early awareness of RAAC’s issues, it wasn’t until 2023 that he discovered RAAC was present in his own home.

“I didn’t know there was RAAC in my home until Dundee City Council informed us in 2023. Had I known, I wouldn’t have bought it,” the worker shared.

His testimony raises serious questions about why RAAC continued to be used despite clear structural concerns, and why affected homeowners were left unaware of the risks for decades.