Falling tiles cause concern at Stromness Primary

Netting is to be placed over the roof of one of the newest school buildings in Orkney next week as a safety precaution, due to hundreds of tiles falling from the roof.

Orkney Islands Council said that work to place netting over the roof at Stromness Primary School is due to begin on Monday.

The authority say that since the school opened in January 2013, a number of slates have broken and fallen from the roof during winter gales. The netting will be put in place to prevent further slates from falling from the roof before a more permanent solution is adopted.

The OIC say that the slates used on the roof were sourced from China by the building contractor. These comply with British building standards and, in all, 77,000 slates were fitted. However around 300 have since been dislodged from the roof.

The council has been regular contact with the building contractor, Morrison Construction, and the company with the contract to maintain the school, Galliford Try FM.

Peter Diamond, OIC’s head of schools, said: “The loss of slates from the roof is clearly unacceptable to us. It has been agreed that the best solution is to replace the current slates with Welsh slates, which have been used widely in Orkney and should prevent further problems occurring for many years to come.

“Work to fit the netting over the roof will begin early next week, with the slate replacement taking place when practicable to carry out this work.”

He added: “In discussion with the school, measures will be put in place to minimise disruption and ensure the safety of pupils and staff when the slate replacement takes place.”

Donald Mclachlan, regional director, Morrison Construction, said: “Some sections of the roof have lost a very small number of slates. As a result, we have been in regular contact with Orkney Islands Council and are awaiting for a positive update from our subcontractor Macleod Roofing, to offer the best possible solution.”

According to the OIC, the contractor will pay for the cost of fitting the netting. The council also stated that the like-for-like cost of replacing the slates is the contractor’s responsibility.

However, as the council is asking for Welsh slate, which is more expensive than the slate originally used, the OIC will cover the price difference between the two types of slate.

Discussions are taking place as to the cost to the council of the change in material.

In answer to the question of why Welsh slates were not used in the first place, the council said: “This was a design-and-build contract and the decision on the type of roofing material used was taken by the contractor. The slates used do meet British building standards and to date it is unclear why this problem has occurred.”