By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Hot spots have been identified in parliament’s basement during an inspection by Engineers following the January fire that gutted National Assembly.
Parliament says there is no immediate danger to either the inspectors currently on-site or the general parliamentary community.
Firefighters are dispatched as a precautionary measure to prevent potential flare-ups.
1/3 Structural engineers from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, who are currently conducting inspections inside the fire-damaged National Assembly Building, have picked up some heat at certain spots on the basement of the building, and have…
— Moloto Mothapo (@MolotoMothapo) February 16, 2022
2/3…swiftly called the Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service Department. The fire department will be on site shortly to attend to the heat. This is a precautionary safety measure to avert any potential flare up, and there was no immediate danger…
— Moloto Mothapo (@MolotoMothapo) February 16, 2022
3/3…to either the inspectors currently on site or the general parliamentary community. pic.twitter.com/jXwU3OYajP
— Moloto Mothapo (@MolotoMothapo) February 16, 2022
This comes after another team of professionals was deployed on 7 January to conduct a visual assessment of the damage.
The initial team of professionals, comprising structural, civil, electrical and mechanical engineers, concluded a high-level preliminary visual assessment of the damage, including the safety aspect of the site.
“Based on the preliminary visual inspections, there was evidence of severe structural damage (major spalling) to the slabs. The slabs affected by the damage are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floor. In addition, there were major cracks in the walls on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The professional team advised that the New Assembly Building is unsafe and should be cordoned off and closed to restrict access,” said the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
The DPWI then activated steps to procure an independent specialist engineering team to conduct a further and detailed assessment as well as the testing of material strength.