Asbestos report recommends demolition of school

Tests at a school in Wales, which was closed last month because of asbestos fears, have detected airborne-fibre levels up to ten times above the previously accepted background level for schools.

The school, which caters for more than 900 pupils, shut on 12 October after a structural report identified the presence of asbestos. Caerphilly County Borough Council released a further report in mid November, undertaken by Santia in the wake of the initial findings.

The report uncovered evidence of widespread contamination within the ceiling voids at the school, as well as damage to asbestos-insulating boards (AIBs) within some classrooms, caused by scrapes and scuffs from pupils vacating chairs and tables.

Tests also confirmed the presence of asbestos fibre in heater cabinets and unsealed AIB in other heaters. With the heaters in use for a period of four hours in the unoccupied school, the tests detected airborne fibre levels up to 0.007 fibres/cm3 – more than ten times above the accepted level for schools of 0.0005 fibres/cm3, as referred to in a government guidance document issued in 1999.

The report added: “In situations where the heaters are left on for longer periods during the cold winter months and with the school occupied by up to 900 pupils and 100 staff, it is possible that the airborne-fibre levels and the associated risk will increase.”

Based on its findings and the potential remedial costs involved, the report concludes “it is not practical, based on cost versus risk, to continue the school’s operation”, and recommends that the Council remove all asbestos-containing materials, so far as reasonably practicable, and then demolish the school.

The Council released the report to ensure parents and staff have the full facts behind the decision to close the school. Special health-advice sessions are also being offered to parents this week.

“The council wants to be honest, open and transparent in the way we deal with the school, so we felt it was important that all interested parties had access to the full report,” explained council leader Harry Andrews.

“The decision to temporarily close the school was not taken lightly, but the health and safety of pupils and staff is paramount. We are confident that we took the right decision faced with the information that was presented to us on the afternoon of Friday 12 October, and we acted swiftly and decisively to protect the school community.”

The council has commissioned an invasive asbestos survey of the whole site, which is likely to take a month to complete. The HSE’s inquiries are also continuing and the council currently awaits its findings.

The report by Santia is available at http://tinyurl.com/bt6oa5o