Windsor Castle (Hansard, 30 November 1992)

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which parts of Windsor castle are listed grade 1; and what consideration has been given to listing Windsor castle as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation world heritage site.
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§ Mr. Brooke
Windsor castle and all the buildings within its walls are listed in grade 1.
Windsor castle has been considered for nomination to UNESCO as a world heritage site, but as there are already a number of other strong candidates for world heritage site status I have no present plans to nominate this site.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what parts of the Chester tower at Windsor castle were maintained, redecorated or refurbished by his Department, or its predecessor, over the past five years; and what was the cost of this work to the Exchequer;
(2) what surveys were made to the Chester tower, Windsor castle, since the fire at Hampton Court; what additional or alternative fire precautions and installations were recommended which were subsequently installed or implemented; and what was the cost to the Exchequer of those improvements.

§ Mr. Brooke
Following the Hampton court fire, a detailed survey of electrical services and fire precautions was carried out at Windsor castle, including Chester tower. In addition, in 1988 the PSA surveyed every part of the interior of the castle and recorded its findings in drawings, photographs and written reports. A photogrammetric record was also produced of the castle from Edward III tower to the Brunswick tower, including the private chapel.
As a result of the survey which followed the Hampton court fire, a works programme costing over £20 million was started in 1988 and is now nearing completion. The Chester tower work had been completed. The fire prevention measures included:

complete rewiring of the main castle buildings;

automatic fire detection system;

installation of new fire resisting doors to staircases and in corridors;

upgrading of existing doors to provide fire resistance; infilling or upgrading of openings in staircase enclosures or escape corridors;

replacement of combustible linings to services, to staircase enclosures;

upgrading of enclosing elements of construction to plant rooms, store rooms, workshops, kitchens, lifts, ducts, shafts, tank rooms and access doors;

enclosure of builders work ducts and service shafts;

enclosure of light well features to internal corridors and state rooms;

sealing of disused shafts, ducts and service openings;

upgrading of floors relative to change of use;

fire protection to exposed steel members, if newly installed;

provision of fire breaks in some extensive voids;

fire stopping of duct surrounds and service penetrations;

fire sealing of the junctures of connecting cavities;

infilling of openings or gaps in structural elements, especially in party walls;

replacement of combustible service duct covers;

installation of non-combustible false ceilings with cavity barriers;

removal and replacement of combustible insulation or covers to air conditioning ductwork;

installation of fire dampers in A/C systems;

insulation of metal ducting in proximity of timber;

removal of combustible waste materials from underfloor voids; and

sealing of underfloor voids in the proximity of wall panelling.