Rottweil Vocational School Partially Reopens as Asbestos Testing Continues
Published on 10/02/2026 at 02:02 | Editorial boerse-global.de
Workshops at the Rottweil vocational school centre have been cleared for use again, but several other sections of the complex remain sealed off while investigators map the extent of asbestos contamination.
An engineering firm commissioned by local authorities issued the partial all-clear, and no new readings of concern have been recorded, according to reports dated 1 October 2026. To firm up that picture, roughly 80 additional measurements have been ordered, with a particular focus on the transition zones inside the round building.
The Rottweil district administration is aiming to sign off on further areas over the coming week. When the centre might return fully to in-person teaching — and how much of it — has not yet been determined.
Health authority sees no realistic danger
Heinz-Joachim Adam, who heads the Rottweil health office, said the school community had realistically faced no danger from the contamination, based on assessments reported on 30 September 2026.
The problem first surfaced at the end of July 2026, when asbestos was found during work to open up the underground car park ceiling. Since mid-September 2026, elevated readings have dominated life at the centre, which houses both the Nell-Breuning-Schule and the Erich-Hauser-Gewerbeschule.
What began as the closure of individual areas escalated into a temporary shutdown of the entire complex. The centre has stood largely empty since the start of the school year, with the affected zones kept off-limits as a precaution.
Where the fibres are concentrated
An indoor air measurement taken on 11 September 2026 showed how unevenly the fibres are distributed. The anomalies clustered in the toilet areas and on level 1 of the oldest part of the site, known as construction phase 1. Classrooms that were tested came back clean by comparison.
Within construction phase 1, 30 of 47 measurement points registered no more than 500 fibres/m³. Six points fell in the 500 to 1,000 range, and eleven exceeded 1,000 fibres/m³.
Across large stretches of the building, readings stayed below 100 fibres/m³ — under the remediation target of 500 fibres/m³. About 60 measurements have been carried out so far on behalf of the Rottweil district, with roughly 100 more planned as the investigation continues.
Situations like this are a reminder of how much rests on thorough, documented risk assessment — and how quickly gaps become costly. A free toolkit gives you 41 ready-to-use templates and checklists covering fire safety, manual handling, first aid and lone working, so your records hold up when it matters. Download the free Risk Assessment Toolkit
3,000 students displaced
Some 3,000 students are affected by the closure. Most have shifted to remote learning, while others are using alternative sites, including rooms set aside for exam classes.
To keep a sense of community going, some learning groups moved outdoors. The two new AV-Dual classes at the Erich-Hauser-Gewerbeschule had breakfast together with teachers and school social workers in the schoolyard on Monday, 28 September 2026, then set off on a trip to the Neckarline suspension bridge, which spans 606 metres and stands about 60 metres high.
According to the school's head, parts of the facility could reopen for normal operations before long, though a complete reopening may take considerably longer. The district's plans call for the actual remediation of the vocational school centre to take place during the summer holidays in 2027.
The readings here show how unevenly hazardous materials can spread through a building — which is exactly why COSHH-style assessments matter. A free toolkit offers 43 fully adjustable templates, checklists and toolbox talks to help you meet your legal duty to assess dangerous substances. Get the free COSHH Risk Assessment Toolkit
