Three year investigation fails to find cause of Glasgow Art School fire
A three year investigation into the cause of a second fire at The Glasgow School of Art's Mackintosh building, has failed to find a cause for the blaze, which also destroyed the neighbouring 02 ABC.
A three year investigation into the cause of a second fire at The Glasgow School of Art's Mackintosh building, has failed to find a cause for the blaze, which also destroyed the neighbouring 02 ABC.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has been investigating the cause of the fire since it started on 15th June 2018, but the extensive damage caused by the severity of the blaze means they were unable to determine why it started.
The investigation concluded on September 30th 2021 and involved the excavation and physical examination of hundreds of tonnes of fire-damaged debris and analysis of witness testimonies, CCTV and photographic footage.
Despite this, investigators were unable to gather enough evidence to support any single theory about why the fire started. It means that the official cause has been recorded as ‘undetermined’.
Restoration work from first fire contributed to severity of blaze
The investigation did find that the ongoing work to restore the Mackintosh following the first fire in 2014 contributed to the severity of the second blaze and was the reason it was able to spread and take hold so quickly.
Ross Haggart, SFRS Deputy Chief Officer, said: “Our investigation into the devastating fire at the Glasgow School of Art has been a deeply complex and protracted process.
“Due to the nature of the ongoing restoration and construction works combined with other factors such as the air supply into the building, the fire was unfortunately able to take hold, spread and ultimately cause catastrophic damage.
“This presented a number of challenges to our investigation, namely working within a structurally dangerous site to physically examine hundreds of tonnes of debris which was up to four metres in height and heavily compacted.”
He added: “We are of course acutely aware of the cultural significance of the Mackintosh building and the pressing needs for answers.
“We scrutinised every aspect of this fire to ensure our investigation was as robust and thorough as possible.
“Unfortunately, almost everything within the building was severely damaged or consumed in the fire and that included any potential items of evidence that could have provided those answers.”
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Air duct system caused 'uncontrolled fire growth'
The report finds that it is likely the fire started on the east side on or above level 4 of the Mackintosh building.
It adds that an unlimited air supply fed through the duct system which served to intensify the fire, promoting uncontrolled fire growth and rapid development.
Fifty per cent of the building was well alight within 38 minutes of the arrival of firefighters.
The SFRS Fire Investigation team was mobilised as part of the extensive response and the investigation began immediately.
The report recommends that lessons learned from the Mackintosh Building fire in 2018 should be carefully considered by key stakeholders involved in future construction projects.
DCO Haggart said: “We were unable to find sufficient evidence to support any credible origin and it has not been possible to establish a definitive cause.
"However we have made a number of recommendations including the introduction of new mechanisms to enhance information sharing around ongoing construction projects within Scotland to ensure the safety of our firefighters and our communities.”
Mackintosh was 'near completion' when second fire took hold
The investigation into the first GSoA fire in 2014 found it started when a projector ignited gases from expanding foam used in a student project. No sprinkles or ventilation meant is spread fast.
The Mackintosh building was in the final stages of its £35million restoration when then second fire broke out.
At the time of the second fire, sprinklers had yet to be installed in the building. Components for the fire suppression system had been delivered the day before, but were weeks away from assembly and testing.
In August 2020, Glasgow School of Art took legal action against Page\Park Architects, the Glasgow based architectural practice responsible for the Mackintosh Building restoration work and between August 2018 and July 2020 has spent just over £12 million on debris clearance and stabilisation work.
In November 2020, Glasgow School of Art announced that work to clear debris from the Mackintosh Building would not be completed until 2021 and that work to repair fire damaged glazing and cladding on the Reid Building would not be completed until 2022.
Art School says lessons will be learned
Professor Penny Macbeth, Director of The Glasgow School of Art and Kristen Bennie, Interim Chair of the GSA Board of Governors released a joint statement, which said: “Firstly, we would like to thank the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for their meticulous approach to this incredibly complex investigation, and for their steadfast commitment to establishing the facts and the cause of the 2018 fire.
"It has been a very difficult time for the city, and in particular our closest neighbours, for students, staff and the wider heritage sector all of whom have been impacted in myriad ways by both Mackintosh Building fires.
“While the SFRS Fire Investigation Report is detailed and comprehensive, we share the regret that many will feel that the exact cause of the fire has not been identified. Taking time to study and consider the report thoroughly, in particular the recommendations, we will now undertake and share a lessons learned exercise on all aspects of the restoration to inform future construction projects.
“The SFRS Fire Investigation Report is an important milestone allowing us to progress the Mackintosh Project as outlined last October in the Strategic Outline Business Case. We are committed to the faithful reinstatement of the Mackintosh Building within the practical constraints of the regulatory environment, as an integral part of the GSA, as a catalyst and key driver for the social and economic revival of Garnethill and Glasgow and as an exemplar of sustainability for heritage buildings.”