Children’s school window safety fears 11/4/13
Fears of heavy roof windows crashing on top of pupils at a raft of brand new Western
Isles schools has sparked action.
Windows have suddenly fallen out of the roof and slammed onto the floor below. No
child or staff member were hurt in the incidents but safety screens had to be installed
over a number of suspect windows to try and stop pupils from being injured in any
repeat incident.
But any potentially dangerous window need to be replaced and made safe as soon as
possible admits the Comhairle.
It is unclear if some of the roof light windows may have been put in the wrong way
round with the extra-strengthened pane of the double glazed units being on the inside
of the building instead of the outside.
The Comhairle later said that the window units were installed correctly and could
be put in either way. For extra safety, the glazing panels will be taken out and
installed in reverse during the inspection works.
In other flaws with the new schools, glass window panes have reportedly shattered
with window failures said to have occurred at Balivanich and Point schools.
The window faults and other building flaws are treated as construction snagging problems
and the Northern Irish consortium, FMP, which carried out the £70 million construction
of the schools is legally obliged to fix the issues at no cost to the council.
This week, inspections are being undertaken to examine the safety of the windows
in the new schools.
The checks require the removal of suspect window units at several schools.
It is unknown if the inspections will be completed before pupils and staff return
to classes on Monday after the two week Easter holiday.