Usually, I ignore you because your posts are so scattered.
But this time, I'll bite.
The problem wiht RAAC is that the reinforcing steel which is embedded in the concrete will corrode due to the large percentage of the voids which allow moisture to infiltrate the concrete over time and the concrete becomes weak and brittle withe repeated freeze thaw cycles. (Which we have in abundance in Toronto.) It is impossible to see either of these deficiencies. Until there is a failure. RAAC was a cheap system that is no longer used in 30 years in Canada due to its inherrent dangers. It had a 30 year life span when it was installed in 1969 and we are well past that.
Your buddies at the NDP are free to put up a bond and accept all liability and responsibilities for the roof structure. But we all know the won't because they are full of shit. The building is going to be torn down and probably very quickly. Get your head around that fact.
Scattered my ass.
Get your head around the fact that much more than the engineering report > which stated that just one RAAC panel that has been deemed to be at critical risk and that just 6% of the RAAC panels are at high risk all of which could be remediated < factored into this decision to close the OSC.
The engineering report states the remediation required for these sections of the roofing panels and for the integrity of the remaining roofing panels.
Fact is, the Frickin Fraud is fine with managing the risk associated with the RAAC panels in 360 of Ontario's schools, BUT refuses, absolutely refuses and has absolutely refused since 2018 to manage the risk with RAAC panels at
the OSC.
Risking the lives of thousands of school kids and toddlers at risk in Ontario's schools is a risk the Frickin Fraud is willing to take BUT shuttering the OSC because 6% of the roof is at risk, which can be remediated as is happening in schools, is fine and dandy .
The question is why?
The answer lies with who will benefit from the removal of OSC from the prime property it currently occupies.
You cannot see beyond the "my feet are stuck in the concrete" of a time that has passed by you and others like behind.
Oh and btw, your choices of what is architecturally, historically, societally and culturally significant and worth protecting are abysmal at best.
Hundreds of Ontario schools with the same aging concrete as the Ontario Science Centre are being monitored
The Ministry of Education asked last fall that all buildings that have RACC be inspected.
June 24, 2024
About 360 of Ontario’s 4,500 schools contain some aerated concrete, and boards are monitoring their condition after the Ministry of Education last fall asked that they all be inspected.
In a memo sent to directors of education last November, the ministry noted that in the United Kingdom, more than 100 schools were shut down just prior to the start of start of classes in 2023 after a school’s flat roof collapsed because of deteriorated RAAC, or reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Such concrete was used in floors, walls, eaves and roofs in the 1960s, 70s and 80s and is said to have about a 30-year lifespan, and the ministry said that given pre-1980 aerated concrete parts are “now past their expected service life ... it is recommended that consideration is given to their replacement.” On Friday, the
province announced the immediate closure of the Ontario Science Centre over concerns its roof panels — constructed from RAAC — were at risk of failure.
The ministry said that while “no problems have been identified in Ontario schools, through discussions with boards and data available, it appears that the material (brand name Siporex) is present in some older schools in the province. The ministry understands that a number of school boards already have management strategies in place.”
The memo goes on to say that “out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the continued provision of safe and healthy learning environments for students and staff, the ministry is requesting all school boards implement an investigation, assessment, and management strategy for RAAC within their buildings. This may involve the use of specialized professional engineering services” and any reports were to be submitted as of last January.
Patrick Daly, former president of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association and chair of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic board, said about eight of 65 schools there are being closely watched.
“We hired an engineering firm to inspect those schools ... and as a result the consultant recommended to our board that we re-inspect all of those schools every two years. They didn’t find any concerns, but strongly encouraged us to continue to inspect them.”
Daly wasn’t aware of any immediate repairs needed in any Catholic schools across the province, and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association said the situation for its members was the same.
“It was in the fall when we were given a heads up about this” and where aerated concrete was found, “school boards have been monitoring it for some time,” said president Cathy Abraham.
“We know that there are schools built during that time period,” she added. “And if they found something, action would have been taken, because keeping our schools as safe facilities” is the priority.
A spokesperson for Education Minister Todd Smith said “the ministry proactively required school boards to assess the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete throughout schools. About eight per cent of Ontario schools surveyed have RAAC identified.”
The spokesperson said “several school boards have been actively managing RAAC through regular inspections, reinforcement of RAAC planks, and roof replacements. The government has invested $1.4 billion annually to support boards with the renewal and repair of schools, including those with RAAC identified and will continue to work with the boards to support remediation plans.”
Civil engineering Prof. Lamya Amleh of Toronto Metropolitan University said the issue with RAAC is that it is a “lightweight porous building material often used for construction due to its good insulation properties, structure fire protection and ease of use,” but its drawbacks include that it is “more porous than traditional concrete, which means it can absorb water more easily” which can lead to “cracks or even structural failures.
“Proper sealing, regular maintenance, and avoiding unreinforced modifications are crucial to ensure RAAC remains in good condition. Neglecting these can accelerate deterioration and increase the risk of structural failure,” said Amleh.
Parents, she added, “should not panic but should be informed” and ask about regular inspections and maintenance.
Meanwhile, Toronto Community Housing Corp., the city’s subsidized housing agency, says it isn’t aware of RAAC materials being used in any of its buildings “at this time.” However, spokesperson Kimberly Moser cautioned that “most” of the agency’s older housing complexes were inherited by TCHC after being built by the province or city, and directed further inquiries to the two governments.
A spokesperson for Unity Health — which includes St. Michael’s Hospital, Providence Healthcare and St. Joseph’s Health Centre — said their building records also do not indicate any use of RAAC construction material across those three hospitals.
