The London airports of Heathrow and Gatwick, the main hubs of the United Kingdom, have detected in their installations the same type of concrete that has raised fears of collapses in a thousand British schools, the origin of a scandal overseas. Sleeve. “The sector is aware” of the presence of this concrete in certain installations and had already “taken the necessary corrective measures in the buildings” concerned, assured Heathrow, the main British airport, in a statement sent to AFP on Friday. .
As students returned to class in the UK this week, revelations grew about the extent of the use, from the 1950s, of a less expensive, lightweight type of concrete in schools. educational institutions. Dozens of schools have had to close completely or partially for the start of the school year, and concerns have arisen about other public buildings such as hospitals or courts. “Like many others (companies), we have assessed our real estate holdings and will continue to mitigate risk where this material is found,” Heathrow added. The airport says it discovered this type of concrete last year in a location in its Terminal 3 and says it has taken measures to guarantee the safety of its passengers and employees.
For its part, Gatwick airport ensures that the presence of the material has been on its radar for some time, and claims not to be worried. “We have a register of” affected locations at the airport and these “are closely monitored through a regular regime of comprehensive structural inspection,” Gatwick said in a statement also sent to AFP on Friday. . “Our most recent inspection in June 2023 did not raise any concerns and we will continue to conduct regular monitoring,” the airport continues.
While this material is of particular concern in poorly maintained buildings, it poses a much lesser threat in airports, which spend more money on their maintenance than public buildings, according to experts interviewed by the Financial Times, which revealed the presence of this type of concrete in British airports.
