Skip to main content
Mobile
  • Finance, Accounting & Economics
  • Global Business Management
  • Management, Leadership & Organisation
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Strategy
  • Technology & Operations
HS Talks HS Talks
Subjects  
Search
  • Notifications
    Notifications

    No current notifications.

  • User
    Welcome Guest
    You have Limited Access The Business & Management Collection
    Login
    Get Assistance
    Login
    Forgot your password?
    Login via your organisation
    Login via Organisation
    Get Assistance
Finance, Accounting & Economics
Global Business Management
Management, Leadership & Organisation
Marketing & Sales
Strategy
Technology & Operations
Case study

Lessons from two fires at Glasgow School of Art

Simon Kincaid
Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal & Valuation, 11 (4), 346-354 (2023)
https://doi.org/10.69554/KHMP2468

Abstract

Fires have occurred in many high-profile historic buildings, including several in recent years. The Mackintosh Building at Glasgow School of Art, however, is unique in having suffered two fires in recent years, the second of which was highly destructive and affected the whole building. The comprehensive level of documentation about the building, ironically far more complete in the aftermath of the first fire as a consequence of the fine detail needed to facilitate a reconstruction project (at an advanced stage at the time of the second fire), means that there remains the potential for reconstruction. This in fact is the preferred option for the future of the building. There are a number of important lessons to come out of the fires, which have wide applicability for other historic buildings. The first, alluded to above, is that strenuous efforts should be made to ensure that documentation of the building is as complete as possible — likely a combination of safe storage of archival material and new digital recording. Secondly, the fires have emphasised the importance of early warning of fire, and consequently detection and alarm systems must be of high quality and failsafe; they must also remain at this standard when construction work is occurring, at which time care must also be taken not to compromise passive fire protection. Thirdly, since fast and effective intervention is critical, the fire and rescue service should be well acquainted with the building, with planning and cooperation to this end being prioritised. Conversely, where location means that early response is unlikely, independent action by the building staff and other fixed measures may be required. Finally, the possibility of there being a future for a historic building following a destructive fire may often depend on suitable and adequate insurance cover being in place.

Keywords: Glasgow School of Art; fire; historic buildings; detection and alarm; documentation

The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.

Already a subscriber? Login or review other options.

Author's Biography

Simon Kincaid is a Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University teaching undergraduate and postgraduate architecture and building surveying students. His main areas of teaching expertise include fire safety, building conservation and building pathology. He has written widely on the subject of fire in heritage and has presented on this theme at several conferences.

Citation

Kincaid, Simon (2023, March 1). Lessons from two fires at Glasgow School of Art. In the Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal & Valuation, Volume 11, Issue 4. https://doi.org/10.69554/KHMP2468.

Options

  • Download PDF
  • Share this page
    Share This Article
    Messaging
    • Outlook
    • Gmail
    • Yahoo!
    • WhatsApp
    Social
    • Facebook
    • X
    • LinkedIn
    • VKontakte
    Permalink
cover image, Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal & Valuation
Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal & Valuation
Volume 11 / Issue 4
© Henry Stewart
Publications LLP

The Business & Management Collection

  • ISSN: 2059-7177
  • Contact Us
  • Request Free Trial
  • Recommend to Your Librarian
  • Subscription Information
  • Match Content
  • Share This Collection
  • Embed Options
  • View Quick Start Guide
  • Accessibility

Categories

  • Finance, Accounting & Economics
  • Global Business Management
  • Management, Leadership & Organisation
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Strategy
  • Technology & Operations

Librarian Information

  • General Information
  • MARC Records
  • Discovery Services
  • Onsite & Offsite Access
  • Federated (Shibboleth) Access
  • Usage Statistics
  • Promotional Materials
  • Testimonials

About Us

  • About HSTalks
  • Editors
  • Contact Information
  • About the Journals

HSTalks Home

Follow Us On:

HS Talks
  • Site Requirements
  • Copyright & Permissions
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
© Copyright Henry Stewart Talks Ltd

Personal Account Required

To use this function, you need to be signed in with a personal account.

If you already have a personal account, please login here.

Otherwise you may sign up now for a personal account.

HS Talks

Cookies and Privacy

We use cookies, and similar tools, to improve the way this site functions, to track browsing patterns and enable marketing. For more information read our cookie policy and privacy policy.

Cookie Settings

How Cookies Are Used

Cookies are of the following types:

  • Essential to make the site function.
  • Used to analyse and improve visitor experience.

For more information see our Cookie Policy.

Some types of cookies can be disabled by you but doing so may adversely affect functionality. Please see below:

(always on)

If you block these cookies or set alerts in your browser parts of the website will not work.

Cookies that provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. If not allowed functionality may be impaired.

Cookies that count and track visits and on website activity enabling us to organise the website to optimise the experience of users. They may be blocked without immediate adverse effect.