Parliament fire report: Sprinklers were last serviced in 2017
Cape Town Fire department Station Commander JJ Williams said the valve appeared to have been closed.
The City of Cape Town has released a report on the fire that engulfed parts of the parliamentary precinct.
The report indicates that the sprinkler control valve set on the southern façade of the Old Assembly building was not activated and as a result the sprinklers did not activate when the fire started.
The sprinklers were last serviced last in 2017, with service scheduled for 2020.
Cape Town Fire department Station Commander JJ Williams said the valve appeared to have been closed.
"If properly serviced, this valve should have been locked with a chain in an open position and a block plan would have been available showing system lay out, the lifts continued to operate despite a ‘break glass’ unit at one lift being activated. Fire doors were locked in an open position using latches and roof smoke vents did activate at the National Assembly.
"Unclear if fire alarm and detection system was operational. No fire alarm was received by Cape Town Fire Service from the old or new National Assembly buildings. An alarm was received after the fire fighters were already on scene from Tuynhuys adjacent to the assembly buildings.
“HVAC system failed to shut down forcing City to isolate electricity to block, lift safety trip did not operate, and some emergency staircases were overcome by smoke due to latching open of fire doors."
Parliament, together with the department of Public Works, are expected to release a preliminary report on the fire by Friday.
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