THE main contractor behind the Glasgow School of Art restoration has a history of fire safety failings, it has been revealed.

Kier Construction bosses insist that heat and smoke detectors were installed at the Mackintosh building, which suffered devastating damage from a major blaze on Friday.

However the contractor was previously in the spotlight after an inquiry ruled their work on the DG One leisure centre in Dumfries included "extensive failures" in fire safety measures.

Kier Construction claim that their fire safety strategy for the Mackintosh building included 24/7 security and a fire patrol team - however when asked if these precautions were in place on the night of the fire they refused to comment.

The contractor was working on restoring the Glasgow School of Art following a previous major fire in 2014.

There is no suggestion that Kier Construction is responsible for the recent blaze. 

Fire chiefs will be examining fire safety measures as part of the investigation into the cause of the blaze.

Assistant Chief Officer David McGowan stated "we will uncover the facts" though it is expected that the investigation will take a "significant period of time."

It could be up to six months before answers are forthcoming on how the fire began, though it is understood that it began in the east wing of the Mackintosh building.

The art school and neighbouring ABC arena were left as burnt-out shells after a major blaze tore through the structures on Friday evening.

Glasgow City Council is reportedly coming to a consensus that the majority of the building's exterior will be saveable, barring the eastern gable.

Kier Construction was previously slammed for its work on the DG One leisure centre in Dumfries; a structure that cost £17 million but had to close just six years after opening due to extensive defects in its construction.

A recently-published inquiry criticised what it described as a "virtually unprecedented" number of faults.

Professor John Cole, who led the probe, wrote: “This inquiry would particularly wish to bring attention to the extensive failures in regard to the omissions and inadequate installation of fire-stopping discovered throughout the DG One building.

“The scale of these omissions served to completely compromise the fire safety strategy for the building.”

Cole claimed Kier Construction was “unquestionably” responsible for the defective work. Taxpayers will now be funding the repairs that will cost more than it did to buld the centre in the fist place.

A Kier spokeswoman said: “An agreed fire safety strategy was implemented for the build phase of the Mackintosh restoration project, which combined measures for the protection of all those entering the site to work and to alert the authorities in the event of an outbreak of fire.

“These included a smoke and heat detection system and regular evacuation tests as well as 24 hour, 7 days a week security and fire warden patrols by a team of three guards, originally appointed by the client after the 2014 fire and subsequently by Kier.

“We continue to work with and support Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and our client as they determine the next steps for the Mackintosh building and site.

“We have a passionate team of local construction and crafts people, skilled conservators, supply chain and engineering specialists who have worked incredibly hard on this iconic landmark, and together we are all keen to do whatever we can to help moving forward.”