• After the ceiling parts fell down, the building management team worked flat out to repair the hall on fire so that swimming in the main pool will be possible again from Monday in any case.
• Further checks were also carried out this week. The safety of bathers in all municipal swimming pools is a top priority.
• Further repair and renovation steps are being prepared.

Good news for Brand and the entire city: the Aachen-Brand indoor swimming pool can reopen on Monday, January 26. The building management and the sports department can announce this to the relief of many after intensive checks. After parts of the ceiling cladding above the small pool in the hall at Wolferskaul came loose on Sunday (January 11) and fell into the water, numerous specialists from the administration and external experts worked flat out in the days that followed to clarify the reason for the incident and at the same time to get the swimming pool ready for use again as quickly as possible. "I am very pleased that this was achieved in such a short time," says Lord Mayor Dr. Michael Ziemons. "I would like to expressly thank the many colleagues who worked so hard to ensure that the people of Aachen were able to use the swimming facilities in Brand again so quickly." At the same time, the Lord Mayor thanks the affected clubs and schools in Brand as well as all bathers for their understanding and patience due to the restricted swimming facilities in Aachen over the past few days.

Indoor swimming pool fire: further action
Just a few days after the incident, the municipal building experts dismantled the ceiling surfaces in the affected non-swimmers' area. Following initial ad hoc visual inspections and further investigations with the support of external experts, the building management team extended its investigation into the cause. A structural engineer was called in. This week, he took a close look at the Brander Halle, as he had done days earlier in the Ulla Klinger Halle and the Osthalle. According to the current state of the investigation, the falling off of part of the ceiling cladding above the non-swimmers' pool in Brand is due to corrosion damage. Temporary lights have now been installed in the area and the ventilation system has been professionally reinstalled. The work can be completed by the end of this week thanks to the quick and prudent action of everyone involved. Although the missing suspended ceiling is currently impairing the acoustics in the hall, swimming is possible as usual and without restriction. At the same time, plans are being made as to when a comprehensive renovation of the ceiling in the non-swimming area will be possible. The administration is endeavouring to develop a schedule for this that minimizes the disruption on site as much as possible.

Non-swimmers' pool will be prepared as quickly as possible
The sports department will clean the entire hall at the weekend. The staff will be ready to open the pool as usual at 6.30 am on Monday morning. If the non-swimmers' pool has not yet been completely filled, warmed and cleared, the main hall with the sports pool will be available to all swimming fans for the start in any case.

East hall: next steps
Further inspections also took place in the east hall last Monday (January 19) with the support of the structural engineer. Preliminary result: the hall can still be used. Detailed reports on the tests will follow shortly. Based on this, the administration will also plan the further procedure and any future renovation steps.

Teaching pool in Walheim
The announced inspection of the ceiling of the municipal teaching pool at Walheim elementary school took place today (Friday, January 23). No damage was found.