Prague hygienists supervise the removal of asbestos during the reconstruction of Kotva

Prague - Since the start of work in February to remove asbestos from Prague's Kotva department store, the Prague hygiene station has conducted several inspections on-site and found no deficiencies or violations of regulations. Petra Batók, spokesperson for the Prague hygienists, announced this in a press release today. During the reconstruction, the specialized company Dilmun System will remove approximately 308 tons of toxic material from the building, which opened in 1975, according to the hygienists.

Asbestos is dangerous primarily because fine fibers released during work with it are not visible to the naked eye but can penetrate deep into the lungs when inhaled, acting toxically on the human organism and potentially causing serious diseases. Therefore, the inspections also included measuring the concentration of these invisible fibers on the construction site and in its surroundings.

According to the spokesperson, the first inspection occurred before the start of the remediation on February 10, followed by others on February 25, April 1, April 16, and most recently on June 2. All inspections in the work environment were compliant. Inspectors found no issues in four cases outside direct workplaces, and results from the last measurement are not yet available, Batók added. Inspections will continue, according to her.

Hygienists state that asbestos must be removed not only from the roof of the building but was also used on the facade. The remediation is carried out in a negative pressure environment ensured by tarps equipped with powerful filtration units due to the release of fibers. "Asbestos fibers are retained in fine filters and then safely and ecologically disposed of. Workers move in the space in protective suits and use respirators and other work tools," explained Václav Krýsa, director of the occupational hygiene department of the Prague station.

Construction workers began the reconstruction of the Kotva department store on February 10 of this year, one year after it was closed to the public, symbolically on the 50th anniversary of its opening. The modernization of the building, designed by architects Vladimír and Věra Machonin, is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2027.

Kotva was built as an example of a luxurious Czechoslovak department store. When it opened in February 1975, it was the fifth largest department store in Europe. Recently, it has struggled with competition from more modern shopping centers. The owner of the property has been Generali Real Estate since 2020.