The Glasgow School of Art is releasing the following
information today, 26 November 2014, relating to the fire in the Mackintosh Building at 12.27pm 23rd
May 2014.
information today, 26 November 2014, relating to the fire in the Mackintosh Building at 12.27pm 23rd
May 2014.
Over the last 6 months the Scottish Fire
and Rescue Service (SFRS) has undertaken a systematic investigation into the
fire and has now produced its final report into the incident. The Fire
Investigation Report is the property of the SFRS.
and Rescue Service (SFRS) has undertaken a systematic investigation into the
fire and has now produced its final report into the incident. The Fire
Investigation Report is the property of the SFRS.
The Glasgow School of Art is undertaking an
ongoing review of its own policies and procedures. This will be informed by conclusions from the SFRS
investigation.
ongoing review of its own policies and procedures. This will be informed by conclusions from the SFRS
investigation.
The GSA wishes to publicly restate its
thanks to SFRS for their work to save a significant part of the Mackintosh
Building, its collections, archives and the work of staff and students, their
thorough investigation of the cause and spread of the fire and their agreement
for the GSA to make the following information from their report publicly
available:
thanks to SFRS for their work to save a significant part of the Mackintosh
Building, its collections, archives and the work of staff and students, their
thorough investigation of the cause and spread of the fire and their agreement
for the GSA to make the following information from their report publicly
available:
For a selection of floor plans of The Mackintosh Building and free for use images visit:
BACKGROUND
The fire started in Studio 19 located in
the north basement, west wing of the Mackintosh Building within a student
exhibition space (approximately 6m X 2.5m, constructed of chipboard and wooden
studs).
the north basement, west wing of the Mackintosh Building within a student
exhibition space (approximately 6m X 2.5m, constructed of chipboard and wooden
studs).
The student work comprised high expansion
foam panels (these were fabricated outwith the exhibition space), and were approximately
50-75mm in depth, fastened to three of the walls, with one wall left blank to
receive projected images from a projector mounted on the opposite wall.
foam panels (these were fabricated outwith the exhibition space), and were approximately
50-75mm in depth, fastened to three of the walls, with one wall left blank to
receive projected images from a projector mounted on the opposite wall.
At the time of the incident visible gaps
between the foam panels were being filled-in by applying foam directly from a
canister of expanding foam.
between the foam panels were being filled-in by applying foam directly from a
canister of expanding foam.
CAUSE
The fire originated within a projector mounted
on a shelf approximately 1.7m from the ground and located on the south wall of
the studio. (Projector details – Epson EMP-TW680; this was the property of GSA
and had been purchased in 2008; it was maintained by GSA Technical Services
Department; it had been subject to inspection, cleaned and tested prior to
being loaned, with guidance, to the student; annual portable appliance testing
(PAT) had last been carried out in December 2013).
on a shelf approximately 1.7m from the ground and located on the south wall of
the studio. (Projector details – Epson EMP-TW680; this was the property of GSA
and had been purchased in 2008; it was maintained by GSA Technical Services
Department; it had been subject to inspection, cleaned and tested prior to
being loaned, with guidance, to the student; annual portable appliance testing
(PAT) had last been carried out in December 2013).
Fire was caused when flammable gases
(Isobutane, propane and dimethyl ether) used as a propellant within a canister
of expanding foam was discharged in close proximity to the projector. These
flammable gases were drawn into the projector cooling fan. The SFRS
report has ruled out ignition being caused by this equipment being defective,
and SFRS could find no evidence to suggest it did
not operate as the manufacturers intended. It is likely that indirect ignition of
the flammable gases occurred as it passed in and around energised electrical
components of the projector.
(Isobutane, propane and dimethyl ether) used as a propellant within a canister
of expanding foam was discharged in close proximity to the projector. These
flammable gases were drawn into the projector cooling fan. The SFRS
report has ruled out ignition being caused by this equipment being defective,
and SFRS could find no evidence to suggest it did
not operate as the manufacturers intended. It is likely that indirect ignition of
the flammable gases occurred as it passed in and around energised electrical
components of the projector.
Once ignited the flame front would have
grown in size consuming plastic components and the plastic casing of the
projector, flames then impinged onto the foam which was placed on the wall
directly behind it.
grown in size consuming plastic components and the plastic casing of the
projector, flames then impinged onto the foam which was placed on the wall
directly behind it.
FIRE SPREAD
As flames and hot gases reached ceiling level
of Studio 19 they spread horizontally, igniting further timber panelling and
entered voids in the walls on both sides of the doorway of Studio 19.
of Studio 19 they spread horizontally, igniting further timber panelling and
entered voids in the walls on both sides of the doorway of Studio 19.
Flames then travelled through the voids in
the walls into Studio 31 on the ground floor, directly above Studio 19. Fire spread vertically either side of
the doorway and also horizontally behind the timber panelling, in a westerly
direction, in Studio 31. At least
four voids run vertically in the walls of Studio 31 and these allowed unchecked
fire spread to areas above, as well as on the same level.
the walls into Studio 31 on the ground floor, directly above Studio 19. Fire spread vertically either side of
the doorway and also horizontally behind the timber panelling, in a westerly
direction, in Studio 31. At least
four voids run vertically in the walls of Studio 31 and these allowed unchecked
fire spread to areas above, as well as on the same level.
One of these voids allowed lateral access
to Studio 32 at ceiling level. From Studio 32 the fire spread through voids to
the Mackintosh Library above. The
construction, layout, and high fire loading (timber furniture, panelling and
books) meant that the room and its contents became totally involved in the
fire. From the Library the fire spread
vertically via voids to the Library Storage Space above and then into Studio 58
via these same voids.
to Studio 32 at ceiling level. From Studio 32 the fire spread through voids to
the Mackintosh Library above. The
construction, layout, and high fire loading (timber furniture, panelling and
books) meant that the room and its contents became totally involved in the
fire. From the Library the fire spread
vertically via voids to the Library Storage Space above and then into Studio 58
via these same voids.
Returning to the ground floor within Studio
31, fire spread via all four vertical voids to the first floor Studios above
43, 44 and 45. The fire achieved
this by breaking through timber panelling which cover the voids, allowing
access into the corridor outside the studios.
31, fire spread via all four vertical voids to the first floor Studios above
43, 44 and 45. The fire achieved
this by breaking through timber panelling which cover the voids, allowing
access into the corridor outside the studios.
Fire then spread laterally from the Professors’
Studios to Studio 57. From here, the
fire also spread into Studio 58.
Studios to Studio 57. From here, the
fire also spread into Studio 58.
A major contributory factor for the fire
spreading throughout the building was the number of timber lined walls and voids,
and original ventilation ducts running both vertically and horizontally
throughout the building. The
vertical ventilation ducts consisted of both brick-lined, (located within the
walls), and timber ducts (mounted on the wall surface). The brick-lined ducts
were formed within the structure of the walls. Horizontal ducts were constructed of timber and, in some
instances, sheet metal. A vertical
service void ran the entire height of the building to roof level and acted like
a chimney. It allowed flames, hot gases and smoke to travel vertically.
spreading throughout the building was the number of timber lined walls and voids,
and original ventilation ducts running both vertically and horizontally
throughout the building. The
vertical ventilation ducts consisted of both brick-lined, (located within the
walls), and timber ducts (mounted on the wall surface). The brick-lined ducts
were formed within the structure of the walls. Horizontal ducts were constructed of timber and, in some
instances, sheet metal. A vertical
service void ran the entire height of the building to roof level and acted like
a chimney. It allowed flames, hot gases and smoke to travel vertically.
A fire suppression system, designed to
enhance existing fire protection measures, was being installed and was in the latter
stages of completion; at the time of the fire the system it was not fully commissioned
and was not operational.
enhance existing fire protection measures, was being installed and was in the latter
stages of completion; at the time of the fire the system it was not fully commissioned
and was not operational.
MOVING FORWARD
In the immediate aftermath of the fire the
GSA implemented its business recovery plan. This has ensured the School was able to maintain effective
operations, including the annual Degree Show and graduation, and maintaining
postgraduate taught programmes over the summer concluding with the Graduate
Degree Show in September 2014.
GSA implemented its business recovery plan. This has ensured the School was able to maintain effective
operations, including the annual Degree Show and graduation, and maintaining
postgraduate taught programmes over the summer concluding with the Graduate
Degree Show in September 2014.
Since September 2014 and the start of
academic year 2014/15, the School has been operating business as usual, with
staff and students decanted from the Mackintosh Building relocated to other GSA
buildings and the Tontine Building in the Merchant City through a lease with Glasgow
City Council.
academic year 2014/15, the School has been operating business as usual, with
staff and students decanted from the Mackintosh Building relocated to other GSA
buildings and the Tontine Building in the Merchant City through a lease with Glasgow
City Council.
The Glasgow School of Art has commissioned
an external review of its management of the critical incident.
an external review of its management of the critical incident.
Now that the SFRS has concluded its
investigation into the cause of the fire, The Glasgow School of Art will be
reviewing the specific lessons to be learnt from the incident. Information from
the SFRS Fire Report will also be used to inform the Mackintosh Building
restoration and GSA’s broader approach to health and safety management going
forward.
investigation into the cause of the fire, The Glasgow School of Art will be
reviewing the specific lessons to be learnt from the incident. Information from
the SFRS Fire Report will also be used to inform the Mackintosh Building
restoration and GSA’s broader approach to health and safety management going
forward.
Progress is being made on plans for the
restoration of the Mackintosh Building.
The Building is now wind and water tight, is being cleared with services
being reinstated to allow works to commence, and specialists from Kirkdale
Archaeology are forensically excavating the remains of the Mackintosh Library,
the outcomes of which will inform the restoration.
restoration of the Mackintosh Building.
The Building is now wind and water tight, is being cleared with services
being reinstated to allow works to commence, and specialists from Kirkdale
Archaeology are forensically excavating the remains of the Mackintosh Library,
the outcomes of which will inform the restoration.
The recruitment of the internal project
team is progressing and the appointment (in line with EU procurement requirements)
of the design team and the external project management team to undertake the
restoration has commenced.
team is progressing and the appointment (in line with EU procurement requirements)
of the design team and the external project management team to undertake the
restoration has commenced.
A special Board Committee has been
established under the leadership of Eleanor McAlister OBE to oversee the
restoration project. We aim that
the building will be fully restored and operational as a working art school,
exhibition space and visitor attraction between 2018 and 2019.
established under the leadership of Eleanor McAlister OBE to oversee the
restoration project. We aim that
the building will be fully restored and operational as a working art school,
exhibition space and visitor attraction between 2018 and 2019.
Further information:
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474
press@gsa.ac.uk