Scientific Engineering Services: All work areas have been reopened
Drill hole sealed, rooms cleaned, and indoor air quality tests carried out: Metalworking and carpentry workshops have been reopened
In coordination with the University of Konstanz and the technical experts from SakostaCAU, and after receiving the approval from the trade supervisory authority, representatives from the Konstanz office of Vermögen und Bau Baden-Württemberg decided to seal the drill hole in the asbestos-containing “Promabest” wall between the metalworking and carpentry workshops and to have the affected rooms cleaned by specialists. After completing these tasks, clearance measurements were carried out. Based on the results of these measurements, technical experts recommended that both the metalworking and carpentry workshops could resume normal operations. As a result, all Scientific Engineering Services work areas were reopened.
These and neighbouring areas were closed as a precautionary measure after an external contractor drilled through an asbestos-containing “Promabest” wall between the metalworking and carpentry workshops while installing a radio system. Indoor air quality tests carried out by SakostaCAU showed a raised asbestos fibre concentration level in the metalworking and carpentry workshops. Contact samples from these rooms, however, confirmed that the room surfaces were not contaminated by asbestos. Additional measurements in the neighbouring work areas (precision mechanics, glass apparatus and mechanic service workshops as well as the materials store) showed that fibre concentrations did not exceed the safety limit. As a result, the university was already able to reopen these neighbouring areas on 5 July 2019.
Sealing, cleaning, and indoor air quality tests
To prepare for the sealing and cleaning measures in the metalworking and carpentry workshops to be carried out starting on 8 July 2019, specialists initially set up a so-called black area as a safety measure: a work area created through a safety partition with airlocks under negative pressure. This confined black area prevents asbestos fibres from reaching neighbouring rooms while sealing and cleaning work is being carried out in it. Technical experts from Howe then sealed the drill hole, cleaned the rooms and all work equipment. After this work had been completed, the technical experts from SakostaCAU carried out additional indoor air quality tests. These tests showed that fibre concentrations in these rooms did not exceed the safety limit. The experts confirmed that all criteria had been fulfilled and that the metalworking and carpentry workshops could resume normal operations.
The technical experts from SakostaCAU are currently drafting a detailed report that will include all measurement results. We will publish this report in our information portal on the re-evaluation of university buildings according to asbestos guidelines.