EXCLUSIVE | WATCH: Another Highland school hot water leak
Ongoing MFR News investigation uncovers Wick Campus incident.
Last updated 23rd Jan 2018
Another Morrison Construction-built school has suffered a hot water leak, this time at the overdue Wick Campus.
MFR News broke the story this morning, as our news team continued to push Highland Council to release further details about the incident...
Since revealing the latest findings of our ongoing MFR News investigation into the Highlands' new-build schools, details have slowly been coming out of the local authority, which later in the morning admitted that the leak had actually activated a fire alarm.
It's thought that steam from water which escaped from a copper heating pipe triggered an alarm in a science lab, and it's been confirmed that the leak lead to two-classrooms and a corridor being flooded.
Morrison Construction is responsible for work on the controversial new school which it claimed in January was ready for pupils to move into, but earlier this week came proof that it isn't ready, sparking fresh questions about pupil safety.
The contractor insists that the incident was "minor" and has since been "repaired", but Highland Council has ordered all pipework to be checked and tested.
In a statement the controversial firm, which is part of the Galliford Try Group, said: "We confirm that there was a minor water leak in a pipe at Wick Campus. It has since been repaired. We have nothing further to add and do not wish to provide an interview."
BELOW: MFR News continues to request an interview with the Highland MD of Morrison Construction Donald McLachlan...
The problem sounds similar to what happened at the nearby new Noss Primary just one month after it opened to pupils last year, when the ceiling collapsed.
Reacting to the news, Wick Campus project stakeholder group member Professor Iain Baikie told MFR News: "Oh, no, not again! The incident at Noss created £30,000 of damage, it was quite an extensive leak with hot water, and it was just by luck that it didn't affect pupils and staff."
MFR News has repeatedly asked the local authority whether what happened at Noss has happened again at Wick, but we're not getting an answer to that particular question.
"Oh no, not again!" PROFESSOR IAIN BAIKIE
Our reporter Bryan Rutherford said: "Before we went on-air to break the story with the details we had already confirmed with Highland Council officials, we were still waiting for answers to five questions, from a total of nine questions which we had asked the administration at the start of the previous day.
"Towards mid-morning on the day of our news coverage, well after our news bulletins broadcasting through the morning, officials provided further information which suggested that the water that leaked from the pipe was hot water, but still no comment on whether the fault is the same as the one that occurred at Noss Primary."
It took the local authority around seven-hours to respond to an MFR News request for an interview about the incident at Wick Campus.
The request was made before 08:00am on Wednesday, February 22nd, and on February 23rd at just before 4pm a spokesperson claimed that "no one is available for interview this afternoon."
MFR News immediately followed up by asking: "Can you please advise us of when someone will be available for an interview, after Finlay MacDonald (Highland Council's head of property services) agreed during our verbal briefing that he would be willing to interview on the issue of Wick Campus?" There has been no response to this question, and messages left on Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson's mobile and home phone for her to contact us for an interview about the situation with the Highlands' newest schools also remain unanswered.
On January 30th, MFR News confronted Margaret Davidson about the issue of building standards and safety concerns surrounding new-build schools in the region.
The councillor, who is expected to stand for re-election in May's local government elections, was attending the official signing of the £315million Inverness City Region Deal.
During a speech at the ceremony in Invergordon she claimed that making the most of the significant new investment for the North relies on local schools.
Later, during an interview, one of our journalists asked her: "Talking about schools, and the fact that we have kids who are performing well, and that being key to the future, what doesn't appear to be performing very well is the quality of the builds of several new schools made by Morrison Construction, is that something that concerns you?"
WATCH: After Ms. Davidson stumbled her way through an answer, mid-way, the interview was stopped by a council official...
Meanwhile Highland MSP Edward Mountain has renewed calls for the Scottish Government to take action, and hold an independent inquiry. He told us: "The council need to be upfront and open with people and say exactly what the problem is.
"Parents in Wick deserve that, and they need to know that their children are safe at school."
"The council need to be upfront and open with people" EDWARD MOUNTAIN MSP
ABOVE: The result of an **MFR News TwitterMFR News Twitter poll...**
Later in the day, Highland Council's head of property services, Finlay MacDonald told MFR News: "We have requested assurances that all the pipework has been thoroughly re-checked and tested in accordance with both the manufacturer's recommendations and our requirement and will be completely compliant prior to the building coming into school use.
"This will not impact on the timescale for opening the Campus."
In another statement released by the local authority, the council stated:"Costs will be met by the contractor, not the council.
"We are assured that all the pipework is being thoroughly checked and tested over the next few days and will be completely safe prior to the building coming into use.
"This pipework had previously been witness tested.
"The cause would appear to be an isolated faulty fitting which is being investigated further by the contractor.
"The apparent cosmetic damage has been rectified.
"Water flow was apparently restricted to two classrooms and part of the corridor."
"This will not impact on the timescale for opening the Campus" FINLAY MACDONALD, HIGHLAND COUNCIL
MFR News understands that a council engineering officer has investigated the incident, and made recommendations to Morrison Construction.
THEY INCLUDE:
- Re-check the integrity of all heating and domestic water services, comprising of Mapress crimped joints installed throughout the site by means of further pressure testing.
- Components should be checked and verified in line with manufacturers' testing recommendations.
- Pneumatic testing should be carried out prior to hydraulic testing and increased temperatures.
- Each of these tests should be carried out whilst the building is unoccupied.
- Visual inspections to be carried out to check for insertion depth marking in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations.
- Copies of all pressure testing records, for both heating and domestic water services, should be submitted to The Highland Council.
- Copies of the PAT testing certification issued following the water release into the classrooms should also be made available to The Highland Council.