Water pumps were waiting to be fitted
A SPRINKLER system that could have saved Glasgow School of Art arrived on site the day before fire engulfed the building, it has emerged.
The giant pumps needed to complete the insulation were “agonisingly close” to being fitted before the blaze on June 15.
The Charles Rennie Mackintoshdesigned building was gutted in the blaze, which also caused extensive damage to neighbouring properties including the O2 ABC venue on Sauchiehall Street.
Keith MacGillivray, chief executive of the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association, said: “The pumps had arrived the day before but were in component parts and where the pumps would be fitted, along with water tanks, was quite constricted.
“They were going to put all the parts into the space then reassemble the pumps there. It would have to be connected to water tanks and tested so it was a few weeks away from being completed. The system was agonisingly close to being operational.”
GSA was undergoing a major refurbishment by Kier Construction after being damaged in a fire in 2014.
The cause of the blaze is being BY AMANDA KEENAN investigated by police, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Health and Safety Executive.
MacGillivray said a temporary sprinkler system could have been installed.
He added: “When you take in context that the project had been going for four years, it is a bit disappointing.
“During reconstruction, we recommend you put in a temporary system, particularly where you’ve got a building of such value.
“In any heritage we would suggest when refurbishment is going on – which is usually the most dangerous period for these buildings – that some sort of temporary system should be done.”
Kier Construction said: “An agreed fire safety strategy was implemented for the build phase of the Mackintosh restoration project, which combined measures for the protection of all those entering the site to work and to alert the authorities in the event of an outbreak of fire.
“These included a smoke and heat detection system and regular evacuation tests, as well as 24-hour, seven-days-a-week security and fire warden patrols.”