§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on alumina content in cement; whether any houses are affected; and to what extent.
§ Mr. KaufmanOn 8th February 1974 a precast prestressed concrete roof beam over a swimming pool at a Stepney school collapsed with very little warning. A second beam fell later. An investigation by the Building Research Establishment confirmed that the collapse was caused by deterioration in the strength of the high alumina cement concrete of which the beams were made.
The reasons for the loss of strength were not apparent and it was therefore concluded that all buildings containing long-span structural members made of this material should be examined. Action has been taken to publicise the problem and steps have been taken to bring home to owners of such buildings the advisability of having them professionally appraised and of taking safeguading measures where necessary.
It is thought that few houses will be found to have high alumina cement concrete roof or floor construction.