The ceiling in the gymnasium of the Altstadtschule elementary school was opened to check the ceiling structure. It was found that the trickle protection (from artificial mineral fibers "KMF") was damaged in various places on the ceiling. However, the result of an indoor air measurement carried out by inuma GmbH, Dorstadt on 13.02.2019 shows that there is no KMF contamination in the sports hall.

An indoor air measurement must take place under conditions of use in order to provide unbiased results. The aim is to record the actual exposure of the room users to any indoor pollutants that may be present. Corresponding conditions for sample measurements are described in various guidelines and recommendations, including those of the Committee for Indoor Hygiene.

For room tests in rooms that are ventilated by a ventilation system (such as the one in the Altstadtschule gymnasium, the so-called RLT system), it is recommended that the system be operated under normal operating conditions for at least three hours before sampling. However, the hall's ventilation system had been out of operation since the evening before the measurement, which is not usual in the winter months.

It cannot be assumed that the operation of the ventilation system increases the fiber count in the gymnasium, as the ventilation system draws in the outside air via ventilation grilles in the outside area and feeds it into the hall via ventilation ducts. Nevertheless, the KMF indoor air measurement is repeated under the real ventilation conditions in order to rule out all possible health hazards for the hall users.

If the new measurement confirms the KMF indoor air result ("no increased indoor air pollution"), a risk is not recognizable in consultation with the Lower Saxony State Health Office. The closure of the gymnasium could then be lifted. We will inform you again!