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RAAC surveys in Wheatley Hill. The UK's reference point for RAAC.

RAAC Surveys Wheatley Hill | Identification and Assessment | NDTScan

RAAC identification, condition assessment and reporting to IStructE guidance across Wheatley Hill, County Durham and the surrounding area. NDTScan attends from its Oxford base, anywhere in the UK.
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RAAC plank end bearing with exposed reinforcement, recorded on an NDTScan survey

Overview

RAAC surveys in Wheatley Hill are carried out by NDTScan, the UK's specialist in the identification and analysis of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. The planks were installed in County Durham buildings for nearly forty years, mainly in flat and shallow-pitched roofs, and they are now well beyond the design life their manufacturers assumed. Identifying them is the first step; understanding their condition is the one that matters.

The Department for Education's list of education settings with confirmed RAAC, published in February 2024, includes 4 settings in County Durham, among them Ferryhill School, St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College and St Benet's Catholic Primary School, Ouston. The Department of Health and Social Care's list of hospital sites with confirmed RAAC includes University Hospital of North Tees in County Durham. Forum Theatre has also been publicly reported as containing RAAC. NDTScan names these buildings to show that RAAC is a live issue in County Durham, not to suggest it has worked on them. The published lists cover education and NHS estates only. The same planks sit in council offices, housing, leisure centres, theatres, shops, depots and private commercial stock around Wheatley Hill that no national list has ever counted.

A RAAC survey from NDTScan starts with identification. Ground penetrating radar separates aerated planks from dense concrete, hollowcore and timber decks plank by plank, and the reinforcement pattern, transverse bars and plank widths confirm the reading without opening the roof. Condition comes next: cracking, deflection, end bearing, water staining, corrosion and previous repairs are recorded for each plank, and the findings are classified in line with IStructE guidance so the Wheatley Hill owner can see at once which elements need action, which need monitoring and which are sound.

NDTScan's advice to Wheatley Hill owners is consistent: survey before you decide. A RAAC roof that has been identified and assessed plank by plank can be managed, propped, strengthened or replaced on evidence. One that has only been glanced at will be closed, propped or replaced on fear, and that is where budgets go. The survey is the smallest cost in the chain.

Scan before you repair. That is the standing advice for every Wheatley Hill client, and the reason NDTScan reports what the concrete contains before anyone specifies what to do about it.

Services Available in Wheatley Hill

  • RAAC Identification Survey GPR based, plank by plank identification of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in roofs, floors and walls across Wheatley Hill. Confirms what the element is made of without opening it up, and records plank widths, reinforcement and bearing details as evidence.
  • RAAC Condition Assessment Plank level inspection of confirmed RAAC for cracking, deflection, bearing length, water ingress, corrosion and previous repairs, classified in line with IStructE guidance. Reported so a County Durham engineer or estates team can act on it directly.
  • RAAC Management and Reinspection Monitoring regimes, reinspection intervals and management plans for RAAC that is being kept in service, plus expert input where a Wheatley Hill owner needs an independent second opinion on a survey or a remediation proposal.

RAAC in and around Wheatley Hill

Instructions in and around Wheatley Hill follow the RAAC lifecycle. Identification surveys where the construction of a flat or shallow roof is uncertain. Condition assessment of planks already known to be RAAC. Risk classification to IStructE guidance to support closure, propping or continued use decisions. Management plans and reinspection for planks kept in service. Independent review where a County Durham owner has been given a survey or a remediation quote and wants a second opinion before spending. NDTScan works for the Department for Education, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Office of Government Property funded bodies as well as private owners, and attends Wheatley Hill from its Oxford base.

NDTScan also provides RAAC surveys in Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, Billingham and Consett and the rest of County Durham. The rest of the region is covered from the North East RAAC surveys page, and the service itself is described on the RAAC surveys page.

About NDTScan

NDTScan is a specialist non-destructive testing company based in Oxford and led by Neil Smuts, author of The RAAC Book. It is the UK's specialist in the identification and analysis of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, and a Level 4 UKCSS Operator, the first in the UK to achieve that certification. RAAC surveys in Wheatley Hill sit alongside the company's concrete scanning and structural condition survey work, and every report is written to a standard suitable for engineering acceptance, insurers and dispute work.

Wheatley Hill RAAC Services

  • RAAC Identification GPR based, plank by plank identification of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in Wheatley Hill roofs, floors and walls, without opening the structure.
  • Condition Assessment Cracking, deflection, bearing, water ingress, corrosion and previous repairs recorded for every confirmed plank in Wheatley Hill buildings.
  • IStructE Classification Findings classified in line with IStructE guidance so County Durham owners and engineers can decide on closure, propping, management or replacement.
  • Schools and Colleges Identification and assessment for education estates across County Durham, planned around term dates and occupied buildings.
  • NHS, Council and Housing Estates Hospitals, clinics, council buildings, leisure centres and housing stock in and around Wheatley Hill, with reporting that supports estate-wide decisions.
  • Nationwide from Oxford NDTScan attends Wheatley Hill and the whole of England from its Oxford base, whenever the work demands it, with every survey interpreted and reported in full.
Sales Support?

02080
888 724

Technical Support?

info@ ndtscan.com

Yes. NDTScan attends Wheatley Hill and the rest of County Durham from its Oxford base, and works across the whole of the UK. RAAC identification and condition assessment is a core service, delivered by the company's own specialists and reported in line with IStructE guidance.
Yes. Ground penetrating radar reads the internal structure of the plank without any opening up, and the difference between aerated and dense concrete is clear in the data. Where the ceiling finish or roof covering hides the planks, NDTScan works from whichever face is accessible. For a Wheatley Hill building that means identification with no damage to the fabric.
It will give the owner's engineer the evidence needed to make that decision. NDTScan records the condition of every plank, classifies the findings in line with IStructE guidance and states plainly where immediate action is needed. The decision on occupation rests with the responsible engineer, and the report is written so that decision can be taken on evidence rather than on fear.
Anything with a flat or shallow-pitched roof built between the late 1950s and the mid 1990s: schools, colleges, hospitals, clinics, council offices, leisure centres, community halls, housing blocks, retail units and industrial sheds. Across County Durham the education and NHS estates have been counted; the rest of the stock has not, and that is where most uninspected RAAC now sits.
Plank by plank, not as a general opinion. Each element is identified, its condition recorded and classified in line with IStructE guidance, and every significant defect is photographed and located on a plan. The report says what was found, what was not found and how confident each reading is, so the County Durham owner can act on it directly.
Need reliable NDT support? NDTScan delivers advanced non-destructive testing and structural diagnostics across the UK. Explore our full capabilities below:

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How NDTScan Delivers Clarity, Confidence, and Compliance

Initial Scope Consultation

We start by understanding your asset, its environment, and your inspection goals. Whether it's structural integrity, corrosion mapping or defect detection, our team tailors a solution that fits.

Advanced NDT Scanning

Using industry-leading equipment, including Trimble, Leica, DJI drones, and GPR systems, we perform detailed non-intrusive testing with minimal disruption.

Data Reporting & Analysis

You receive comprehensive, plain-English reports backed by high-resolution imagery, 3D models, and annotated scan maps. Data is delivered fast, often within the same week.

Recommendations & Support

Beyond inspection, we guide your next steps, from remedial works to structural interventions or re-inspections. We’re partners, not just service providers.

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Why Choose NDTScan

Changing the way industries think about inspection and assurance.

Proven, Compliant Technology

Our scanning systems are smart, secure, and fully compliant with UKAS, ISO 9712, and sector safety protocols. We bring the right tech to every job, no compromise.

Highly Skilled Team

Every NDTScan technician is certified, trained, and experienced in real-world environments, from rail tunnels to marine piles. You're in expert hands.

Certified, Auditable Results

We deliver UKAS-traceable reporting and standards-led inspection workflows, ideal for clients under CDM, Utilities, and Infrastructure compliance frameworks.

Support When You Need It

From urgent site visits to post-scan guidance, our team is on hand to support you, because clarity shouldn't wait until Monday.

Wheatley Hill RAAC Survey FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions.

What Wheatley Hill owners, engineers and estates teams ask before instructing a RAAC survey, and how NDTScan answers.
Yes. NDTScan attends Wheatley Hill and the rest of County Durham from its Oxford base, and works across the whole of the UK. RAAC identification and condition assessment is a core service, delivered by the company's own specialists and reported in line with IStructE guidance.
Yes. Ground penetrating radar reads the internal structure of the plank without any opening up, and the difference between aerated and dense concrete is clear in the data. Where the ceiling finish or roof covering hides the planks, NDTScan works from whichever face is accessible. For a Wheatley Hill building that means identification with no damage to the fabric.
It will give the owner's engineer the evidence needed to make that decision. NDTScan records the condition of every plank, classifies the findings in line with IStructE guidance and states plainly where immediate action is needed. The decision on occupation rests with the responsible engineer, and the report is written so that decision can be taken on evidence rather than on fear.
Anything with a flat or shallow-pitched roof built between the late 1950s and the mid 1990s: schools, colleges, hospitals, clinics, council offices, leisure centres, community halls, housing blocks, retail units and industrial sheds. Across County Durham the education and NHS estates have been counted; the rest of the stock has not, and that is where most uninspected RAAC now sits.
Plank by plank, not as a general opinion. Each element is identified, its condition recorded and classified in line with IStructE guidance, and every significant defect is photographed and located on a plan. The report says what was found, what was not found and how confident each reading is, so the County Durham owner can act on it directly.