Knowsley Council is investigating alleged problems with fire protection at eight PFI schools built by Balfour Beatty under the Building Schools for the Future programme.
In the fire, smoke spread into an adjoining stairwell. If the blaze had been more serious, the IoS says, the smoke could have affected children evacuating the building.
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Knowsley Council has said that urgent work is now being carried out to rectify the fireproofing issues around the eight schools, including problems with mechanical dampers.
In a statement it said: “As a result of the issues at Knowsley Park, surveys were commissioned to cover all of the PFI school estate, which has found similar issues. A detailed programme of work has been agreed with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service to resolve the issues and this is being expediently implemented.”
In August last year, as part of its divestment programme, Balfour Beatty sold Transform Schools, the PFI vehicle it set up to build the Knowsley schools, to investment firm Dalmore for £42m.
Knowsley council found problems at all eight of its PFI schools, including Halewood Academy (above)
A spokesman for Dalmore said: “Transform Schools (Knowsley) is aware of issues with the integrity of the passive fire safety provisions across the PFI estate having carried out surveys of all facilities. The company is now working with our supply chain to rectify all issues. All costs associated with the works will be borne by the private sector contractors. The Fire Authority and the council’s corporate health and safety team have confirmed that the schools are safe to occupy and remain open.”
In a statement, Balfour Beatty said: “Balfour Beatty is working with Transform Schools (Knowsley) to an agreed programme of works to rectify known issues with the fire safety provisions.”
Construction Manager has sought comment from both Knowsley Council and Balfour Beatty.
According to the IoS report, Knowsley Council had also been alerted to the possibility of problems at its schools after a Channel 4 news programme last year examined a variety of problems at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, also built by Balfour Beatty.
The programme apparently uncovered a series of problems with fire dampers, alleging there were problems with maintenance, testing and access. It cited a report which contained “images of a damper sealed with tape, one propped open with a piece of metal, preventing it working in a fire, and others built into the wall so they couldn’t be accessed for testing.” Under health and safety law, fire dampers have to be tested every 12 months.
Channel 4 quotes a statement from Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS trust acknowledging that when the Queen Elizabeth opened in 2010, it was made aware that Balfour Beatty “needed to improve access arrangements for BBW [Balfour Beatty Workplace] staff to maintain fire dampers”.
It added: “A programme of works was provided, which commenced in 2010 and were completed in 2011. No payment for these works has been made by the Trust.”
The programme went on to allege that technical defects were a particular issue in PFI projects, due to the nature of the contractual relationship with clients.
Meanwhile, the BBC reported last week that Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary, built by Amec under the PFI and opened in 2000, is also experiencing problems major problems with fire-proofing and other issues with substandard workmanship at the project.
North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust said it had uncovered “major flaws” in elements of the hospital’s construction and had “deep concerns” over materials used in the £67m hospital.
Chief operating officer Helen Ray said that problems related specifically to fire proofing materials used, which she said did not meet required standards to allow for safe evacuation or prevent fire from spreading in the building. Further work would mean some patients being moved to temporary wards to be built in the hospital grounds.
PFI firm Health Management Carlisle Limited had declined to comment to the BBC on the trust’s claims.
