Sint-Niklaas (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Heavy rain caused a leak in the library’s basement warehouse in Sint-Niklaas, leading to the discovery of asbestos during repairs. The basement is now closed for safety assessments and cleaning.
The book warehouse is located in the basement of the library building at Hendrik Heymanplein in Sint-Niklaas. This area is not accessible to the public and is mainly used by the library to store older and less popular books that aren’t frequently borrowed. Recently, the warehouse faced a serious issue when a heavy rain shower caused a significant water leak. The intense water pressure from the storm caused a drain joint to come loose, which allowed water to seep into the warehouse. This situation likely poses a risk to the stored books and could lead to damage if not addressed quickly.
What steps are being taken to address asbestos discovery in Sint-Niklaas library’s basement?
After the water leak in the library’s basement, plumbers were called to inspect and repair the damage. During their inspection, they discovered asbestos, which is concerning because it can pose health risks if its fibers become airborne and are inhaled. This finding led to further investigations to assess the level of asbestos contamination and to determine how to address the issue safely. It has been said that this situation highlights the challenges of managing older buildings, especially in areas that are not frequently accessed. Proper handling of asbestos is crucial to ensure the safety of library staff and any maintenance workers involved in the repairs.
The library’s basement is closed right now, and a special team is checking the warehouse. It will stay closed until at least the end of the month. Because of this, the books in the warehouse can’t be borrowed and won’t be listed in the library’s catalog. They are also looking into whether the books need cleaning, so they’re testing the air in the warehouse. The city council hopes the asbestos issue is only at the drain joint.
