A Concrete Crisis Has the UK Literally Crumbling

More than 150 schools, colleges, and nurseries in England have been ordered to close parts of their buildings due to the looming threat of collapse.

The cause of the panic is Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete , whose acronym “ RAAC ” has suddenly entered the British political vernacular.

The lifespan of a RAAC structure is only between 30 and 50 years.

Some estimates have put the cost of fixing the problem in the hundreds of millions of dollars .

The government has said it “will spend whatever it takes to keep children safe,” but it’s not clear how much that would be.

How the Conservative Party deals with the crisis could also be crucial as the election year draws closer.