RESEARCH to investigate the impact of pyrrhotite in concrete blocks has been commissioned by the Department of Housing and is due to start soon.
The Department of Housing has confirmed that research to investigate pyrrhotite oxidation in concrete blocks and the potential impact of deleterious materials on foundations has been commissioned and will commence shortly.
It comes as a recent peer reviewed study shows that pyrite and pyrrhotite and other substances are the cause of the defective block issue in Donegal, not mica.
The Department has requested National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) to identify the necessary research required to support a review of the relevant standards as a matter of priority, including the I.S. 465 standard which includes the ‘assessment, testing and categorisation of damaged buildings incorporating concrete blocks containing certain deleterious materials’.
An interagency Defective Concrete Blocks – Technical Matters Steering Group has been established to support and inform the NSAI Standardisation Program in relation to technical issues.
The steering group includes representatives from NSAI, Geological Survey Ireland (GSI), Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the Housing Agency (observer), and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The Steering Group has agreed a process to specify, procure, fund and manage research projects, subject to budget constraints, and research proposals have been developed by the relevant NSAI Technical Committees. Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) will project manage research projects under the framework with partners RSK Environmental Ltd and a consortium of international experts led by University of Ulster.
Professor Paul Dunlop of Ulster University was one of five experts involved in a recent study which found that pyrrhotite appears to be the cause of the defective blocks issue in Donegal, not mica.
His team at Ulster University is also involved in this new research for the Department of Housing which involves core samples from affected houses in Donegal.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Mr Dunlop said, “The government should be using all peer reviewed research on this issue including the paper that we recently published.
“It is correct that they are funding a research programme and Ulster University, EMPA Switzerland, Laval University in Canada, University of Connecticut and Concrete and Research Testing Laboratory in Ohio have been selected to do this research on behalf of the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI).
“The project has not started yet but we are awaiting for confirmation from the GSI on the release of funding and as soon as that happens, the project will be started. The samples have already been delivered to Ulster University. These include samples of concrete foundations and blocks from defective concrete homes,” said Mr Dunlop.
The Department of Housing said once the necessary research is carried out, changes, if required, will be made to the defective block scheme.
A spokesperson for the Department said, “Once the necessary reviews have been concluded after the commencement of the enhanced Defective Concrete Block (DCB) scheme and any revised standard published by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), the enhanced DCB scheme will be reviewed at that point, in the event that such amendments are required.”
The Department has also said this research will not delay the imminent introduction of the enhanced DCB scheme for affected homeowners.
The spokesperson continued, “It is important that the significant enhancements contained in the enhanced scheme, including the increased grant rates and the ancillary grants relating to alternative accommodation are made available to homeowners who have not yet applied under the previous grant scheme, and that those enhancements are also retrospectively made available to existing applicants to the previous grant scheme as soon as possible.”
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