Atkins survey details DSS flaws

Fresh information has been passed to CJ detailing alleged flaws in the fire protection of the œ55 million DSS hq in Leeds.

The building, which has no fire certificate, has been occupied for two years and has been the subject of serious safety allegations in the national press concerning its 1,420 electronic fire dampers. CJ has now been sent minutes of a meeting between main contractor, Norwest Holst, subcontractors and consultant WS Atkins, held in February after an Atkins inspection into the state of the fire dampers.

The minutes show that WS Atkins found that the British Gypsum dry walling system had not always been correctly installed by subcontractor Barris to the BG White Book standard - core boards were found to be loose or in some cases missing. Framework and fire proofing was missing around some dampers.

Pipework was not always fire stopped and some walls were found to have only single skin fire protection, when they should have had double. Comments were also made as to the generally poor workmanship of the riser shaft walls and other accommodation walls viewed above ceilings.

Norwest Holst admits remedial work is still going on, but states: ''There are no fire walls or fire breaks missing and all the partitions are of the correct grade. We are attending to the deficiencies with the partitions at their interface with the dampers.

'We would restate that the client, project manager, Home Office fire officer and the facilities manager have all carried out inspections and are satisfied as to the safety of the building and its occupants.'