A West Yorkshire hospital has become the first in the UK to use new geospatial software to help pinpoint high-risk crumbling concrete panels.
More than 80% of floors, walls and ceilings at the Airedale Hospital, in Keighley, are made of Raac, or reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, which has a lifespan of about 30 years.
Though due to be rebuilt before 2030, in the meantime the hospital operates a rolling inspection programme to monitor more than 20,000 Raac planks across 52 departments.
Estates Project Manager Richard Burgin said the new software allowed his team to instantly identify potential problems and help minimise disruption.
Previously, inspections relied on hand-written surveys to record defects, including cracks, movement or moisture, which were then transferred into a spreadsheet.
Photos were uploaded manually and separate paper floor plans updated to show the changes to risk across each ward.
The new Geographic Information System (GIS) collects information on iPads, reducing the risk of human error, and allows the survey team to run complex scenarios to help spot patterns of deterioration.
