Contract workers failed to turn off a sprinkler system at Inverness Royal Academy after they triggered it while testing new gas cookers, causing major flooding.
Water levels reached skirting board height and spread into several classrooms, corridors and stores on the first and ground floors and percolated into the school’s kitchen and library.
It is not known how long the sprinklers were running, but council staff were in the building through the night into yesterday trying to contain the damage.
The £34million school, which houses 1,050 pupils, has been closed for a second day running and will reopen on Monday.
Councillors have reacted angrily to the mishap, the latest in a series of incidents to beset the new school which opened last summer.
Last night, Highland Council’s director of development and infrastructure, Stuart Black, said: “I believe that was the problem (failing to switch off the sprinklers). The company responsible was Hub North and Morrison Construction but we did have people, a squad of five, inside dealing with the issue through the night.”
Both Michael Padzinksi, chief executive of Hub North Scotland, and a Morrison Construction spokeswoman, confirmed they are investigating the incident.
The delay-hit £48million Wick Campus also involved Hub North and Morrison Construction as key contractors.
Other issues at Inverness Royal Academy have included wrong materials being used during gas pipe installations, power outages, cabling problems and complaints over leaky roofs.
Yesterday Inverness Ness-side councillor, Alasdair Christie, said: “This has obviously been a total inconvenience to staff, parents and pupils and it will be very frustrating for them.
“The main thing is for the council to get on top of the situation to make sure this does not happen again by working with contractors and janitorial services, to ensure disruption to learning is avoided.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said contractors “inadvertently” activated the sprinklers.
A mop-up operation has taken place and the sprinkler system has been deactivated and safety tests are being carried out on sprinklers, electrics and alarms.
Head teacher Nigel Engstrand said: “The most affected area is in a home economics room. However the library and some of the technical classrooms are also affected. Due to the swift action of our staff they managed to save library books which would have been ruined.”
Inverness South councillor Duncan Macpherson was shown photographs by Mr Engstrand yesterday.
They showed water at skirting board level.
Councillor Macpherson said: “He (the rector) said he was called out at 10pm and was there until 2am. He said they could not switch the sprinklers off and had to call out experts.”
Fellow Inverness South councillor Ken Gowans said: “I would like a full report done on the school to reassure parents.
“Given the past history on this brand-new building I think the time has come to have it.”