A fire report has been issued by the City of Cape Town pertaining to the flames that flooded Parliament.
“Please note that this is not an official fire report on the incident. It is for information purposes and provides the observations of City fire safety officers who worked on the scene,” the report reads.
Here is a summary of the report:
Parliament is a National Keypoint, which further restricts the involvement of the City in the enforcement of fire regulations. This means there is the consequence of exempting the national state from these laws, and preventing the Fire Department from compelling compliances with fire safety standards for Parliament and other national state-owned assets.
Divisional Commander Wayne Visser’s assessment of fire impression equipment and related fire safety matters at the “Old Assembly” parliament-building site.
- The external fire hydrants were well marked and maintained; adequate access provided
- The sprinkler control valve set on the southern façade of the Old Assembly building had not been activated
- Sprinklers did not activate.
- The sprinklers were last serviced last in 2017, with service scheduled for 2.2020
- It is unclear which apportion of the building was actually fitted out with sprinklers
- The required layout-block plan at the valve set was illegible
- General first aid fire suppression equipment (fire hose reels and fire extinguishers) were in-dated for service (11/2021), internal fire hydrants were operational with acceptable fire flow.
- Fire detection and an alarm were present yet some are uncertain of the extent of the system, as extensive damage had occurred
- General fire informational signage was well presented although some non-SABS signs were found
- A major contributing factor to the excessive heat and smoke encountered throughout the building was the open-latching of fire doors onto the fire escape staircases using small metal latches
- The “rabbit warren” of locked office configurations off feeder passages negatively affected any ventilation occurring from inner spaces
- The emergency staircases were poorly ventilated with minimal natural vents encountered to the outside; no mechanical venting of the staircases was observed
- Wall panelling and décor materials presented additional fire loading throughout the building.
Station Commander JJ Williams’s assessment added:
“During my walk around of the affected areas, I found that the National Assembly sprinkler valve was not serviced (Service date was 02 2017 and this needs to be done every three years) and the valve appeared to be 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 layout
- Lifts continued to operate despite a “break glass” unit at one lift being activated
- Fire doors were locked in an open position using latches
- Roof smoke vents did activate at the National Assembly.
General notes:
1. The cause of the fire will be addressed in the official investigation and is not commented on here.
2. Fire extinguishers and hose reels appeared to have been serviced.
3. Fire detection system appears faulty (see images), but was badly damaged in fire. Its operational status still needs to be determined in the investigation.
4. Attached are the last three SONA reports submitted to Public Works noting numerous fire safety risks.
5. Unclear if the fire alarm and detection system were 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 firefighters were already on the scene from Tuynhuys adjacent to the assembly buildings.
6. HVAC system failed to shut down forcing City to isolate electricity to block.
7. Lift safety trip did not operate.
8. Some emergency staircases were overcome by smoke due to latching open of fire doors.
Read more:
Another attack? Government building suffers flames following Parliament saga
Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery