The PCB values in the room air have increased in lecture halls 4 and 5 for years. However, as they are still below a limit value and a renovation is planned, the University Building Office as a subsidiary agency of the Ministry of Finance is not taking action. The Occupational Safety Expert of the University (FASi) is not kept informed, either.
What is not considered: When the University Building Office measured PCB values of 2,680 ng/m³ in the room air of lecture hall 4 in January 2009, the limit value for pregnant women had long been exceeded.
The University and its Occupational Safety Expert (FASi) only found out about the measured values at the end of October 2009. On 30 November 2009 the Unfallkasse informed the University about the particular risk. President Liebig then had the lecture hall closed immediately.
In the following period, both lecture halls were extensively cleaned and renovated. Eventually, the procedure was awarded the Hugo Häring Prize by the Association of German Architects.
Chronological order of the events
2011
August: newly refurbished lecture halls 4 and 5 are awarded the architecture prize: Press release, Online Courier
2010
13 January In the aftermath of the incidents, the university demands the University Building Office “to report future results of safety relevant measures to the Technics and Domestic Services Department as well as the Occupational Safety Expert immediately after they were carried out”. Online Courier
2009
1 December: Rektor Liebig ordnet die sofortige Schließung der Hörsäle 4 und 5 an. Pressemitteilung, Online-Kurier
30.11.: Unfallkasse recherchiert besonderes Risiko für Schwangere.
30.11.: Ortsbegehung der Unfallkasse in HS 4 und 5.
9.11.: Sicherheitsbeauftragter erfährt Luftwerte aus HS 4.
12.11.: Personalrat bittet die Unfallkasse zum Ortstermin.
25.10.: Sicherheitsbeauftragter informiert Kanzler und Personalrat.
19.10.: Sicherheitsbeauftragter erfährt von neuen Materialmessungen aus HS 5.
Herbst: Finanzministerium storniert Gelder für Sanierung.
16.1.: Bauamt misst Spitzenwert von 2680 ng/m³ Atemluft in HS 4
2008
9.12.: Bauamt misst Kontamination in Vorhängen von HS 5.
2003
16.10.: Neue PCB-Verordnung: alle Landes-Gebäude werden untersucht.
As a result: The University Building Office measured a peak value of 2,090 ng/m³ air in lecture halls 4 and 5. It ordered a further use of the lecture halls under certain conditions until a renovation in 2010.
