Bosses at the Olympia in Dundee neglected industry guidance on fire damper testing for eight years, The Courier can reveal.
A Freedom of Information request confirmed no tests were carried out on the fire dampers at the building between its opening in June 2013 and closure in October 2021.
This is despite rules stating they should be tested by a “competent person” at least once year
100+ issues discovered
Fire dampers can help stop the spread of fire by responding to heat, with the damper slamming shut when the temperature reaches a set point.
Their main purpose is to prevent flames from crossing a fire barrier.
The current UK code of practice for fire safety in buildings guidance was updated in 2017, with the previous code of practice from 2008 stipulating testing should be carried out “at regular intervals not exceeding two years”.
The code of practice – BS 9999 – provides recommendations and guidance on the provision of measures to control or mitigate the effects of fire.
More than 100 issues were subsequently found with the fire dampers at the Olympia last year when testing was carried out as part of refurbishment works.
The Olympia Leisure Centre was initially shut in October 2021 after an issue with a light fitting was discovered.
However, more problems were found – including corrosion on the flumes – forcing the facility into a prolonged closure.
As part of a subsequent review into Olympia’s design and construction, council chiefs ordered annual checks on the fire and smoke dampers at the building while it was shut.
Whistleblower comes forward
Drop tests were carried out and a July 2022 report, compiled for Robertson Construction and seen by The Courier, identified 102 issues with dampers in the building.
These included the wrong type of damper being fitted, dampers not being supported properly and failure to install fire barriers.
Remedial works were then actioned by Dundee City Council in order to rectify the problems, with money allocated from the £6m repair budget going towards the job.
The exact cost of the works has not been made public but a whistleblower who contacted The Courier claims it is in the region of £400,000.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, they said: “This has been widely known by the council senior management and councillors who approved the additional expenditure.
“However the public are unaware of the amount of local funding diverted to fix this fully avoidable and delayed problem.
“It is also extremely lucky that no major fire incidents have occurred since the building opened as the fire damper installation may not have protected the building.”
Dundee City Council response
In their response to the Freedom of Information request, Dundee City Council said tests were not carried out because the fire dampers were deemed “compliant to current standards” at the time of the building’s completion.
They added that “arrangements will be in place for the dampers to be serviced and tested on an annual basis when the Olympia reopens”.
The Olympia is due to reopen this month however no date has been confirmed.
A spokesperson for Dundee City Council said: “As part of the detailed outline of works required at Olympia, which was agreed at recess sub- committee July 2022, the report highlighted that annual checks were to be carried out on the fire and smoke dampers while the building was closed, and any resulting works subsequently actioned.
“These works have been incorporated into the project programme prior to the building being handed over.”
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