Modular solutions to support healthcare estates managing RAAC risk

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) is a structural material widely used across public buildings in the UK from the 1950s through the 1990s. While its lightweight properties once offered advantages in construction, we now understand that RAAC has a predicted service life of around 30 years and, where it remains in place beyond that span, can present critical structural risk and prompt immediate building closures.

For healthcare estates teams already under pressure to maintain service delivery, RAAC presents a dual challenge: ensuring safety where this material is present, while keeping clinical services operational. Modular construction provides a resilient, compliant and rapid route to address both short-term and long-term estate needs.

Rapid deployment for healthcare building requirements

Where RAAC-affected spaces must be vacated, modular buildings deliver safe, fully compliant accommodation with minimal disruption to core patient care. Whether the requirement is a temporary clinical facility that meets healthcare building regulations or a bespoke space that maintains clinical workflows on a live site, modular solutions install quickly and efficiently.

• Modular hire options offer a cost-effective and flexible means to establish interim clinical space while permanent plans are developed, helping to keep critical services open and staff productive without long procurement cycles.
• Permanent modular buildings provide a future-proof replacement for RAAC-compromised structures, delivering spaces designed to meet clinical needs and technical standards from consultation rooms to wards.
• Refurbished modular buildings offer a fast, sustainable and cost-effective option for replacing or decanting from RAAC-affected spaces, delivering compliant clinical environments while supporting service continuity and estate efficiency.

In each case, off-site manufacture ensures much of the build process takes place under controlled conditions, significantly reducing on-site activity, noise and disruption. A critical consideration within complex hospital environments. Whether expanding, relocating or reconfiguring services, modular healthcare buildings provide the flexibility to adapt to changing demands, supporting estates teams in delivering resilient, future-ready facilities.

Tailored solutions for strategic healthcare estate planning

Modular buildings can be configured to suit unique site constraints and operational requirements, offering estate teams the versatility needed in the face of RAAC challenges:

• Design flexibility to match clinical functions and workflows
• Fast installation to preserve service continuity
• Compliance with healthcare regulations and standards
• Temporary, hire and permanent solutions available to support phased estate strategies

For example, where immediate closure of RAAC-affected blocks is unavoidable, temporary modular facilities can be in place in a matter of days, allowing clinical activities to continue uninterrupted. Parallel planning for a permanent modular replacement building can then progress with minimal pressure on teams and finances.

Supporting a safe, resilient future for healthcare estates

RAAC poses a pressing risk to buildings across the healthcare estate. Modular construction offers a pragmatic, proven path forward, bridging the gap between urgent accommodation needs and long-term infrastructure strategy.

By partnering with a modular specialist who understands healthcare estate demands, clinicians and estates teams can tackle RAAC risk with solutions that prioritise safety, compliance and continuity, ensuring that patient care remains uninterrupted and that facility upgrades are delivered with confidence.

A proven partner for managing RAAC challenges

Wernick is a trusted modular provider with extensive experience supporting the education sector in responding to RAAC-related building risks. Delivering safe, compliant accommodation at pace while maintaining operational continuity. That same expertise translates directly to healthcare estates, where service uptime, safety and compliance are critical. With established processes, flexible delivery models and a deep understanding of complex live environments, Wernick provides healthcare organisations with the confidence to address RAAC challenges quickly, pragmatically and with a long-term view.