Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Fire alarm plans in place before blaze
DUNDEE City Council has insisted that plans to install a new fire alarm system at Braeview Academy had been in the pipeline before a blaze struck last September.
Councillors on the city development committee are being asked tonight to approve the release of £85,722 of public cash to install the latest safety kit at the Whitfield school.
The new system will be provided by local firm IC Fire and Security, based at Castlecroft Business Centre at Claypotts.
However, while the proposal is only coming to committee now, the local authority has insisted that plans have been on the table for some time.
A spokesman told the Tele: “The council regularly reviews fire alarm systems across its building stock.
“Prior to the fire last September, Braeview Academy had been identified as requiring an enhancement to the existing fire alarm system and this was already in the process of being procured.
“The tender proposed for the school involves the installation of a new wireless system for the administration, PE and technical blocks.
“The recently installed modular class rooms have a similar system already in place.”
Fire safety measures at the secondary school came under intense scrutiny following the blaze, which caused extensive damage to the north-west corner of the building last September.
Pupils from Braeview were displaced to Baldragon Academy and Craigie High while the building was made safe, with a number of classes continuing to be taught out of portable cabins in the grounds.
A fire risk assessment carried out at the school by council staff found “reasonable” security measures to prevent wilful fire raising had not been put in place.
Inspectors found scores of appliances were either untested or inappropriately placed, and that scheduled fire alarm tests had not been carried out.
The council is still considering whether or not to close Braeview in the future as part of a radical plan to shake up local schooling.