At No. 9 Lenina Street in Minsk, which was damaged by a fire on June 28, the installation of a new roof is planned to be fully completed by September 1. This became known at today’s on-site meeting chaired by Minsk City Executive Committee Chairman Uladzimir Kukharau, Minsk-Novosti reports.
The main work inside the building will be carried out as part of a major overhaul, and design documentation is already being developed. The roof truss system has now been fully restored, an anti-condensation membrane has been installed and the battens have been completed. The standing-seam roof is about 60% complete. The ventilation shafts are 90% insulated, while 10% of the ceiling insulation has been completed. By the beginning of September, builders are expected to complete the roofing work and insulate the attic.
As the building has the status of a historical and cultural heritage site, it is planned to be restored to its original appearance. After the fire, the facade was cleaned of soot. Painting is scheduled for spring.
At the same time, specialists are inspecting the building and the affected apartments. The results will determine which structures need to be replaced or restored. This data will form the basis of the major renovation project, which will be submitted for state review after it is developed.
According to Minskstroy Director General Anatol Viedziorchyk, the main difficulty was that the site had to be restored without a complete set of design and cost-estimate documentation.
“Therefore, we worked as closely as possible with the design organization and the client, and resolved all necessary issues at daily planning meetings,” he said.
Work at the site is being carried out seven days a week from morning until 10–11 p.m. During the most intensive periods, 70–80 specialists were working at the site simultaneously; about 65 people are currently involved.
In addition, apartments damaged by water used to extinguish the fire are being inspected. The inspection is expected to be completed by September. After the findings are received, specialists will determine the required scope of repairs.
It was recalled that decisions on organizing repair and restoration work in the building were made as early as the second day after the fire.
“After that, we are waiting for the experts’ conclusion specifying what exactly is subject to assessment, modification or addition, and what work needs to be carried out. This data will form the basis of the building’s major renovation project, which will be submitted for review. After receiving a positive conclusion, we will begin work at the site in stages, even if it is late autumn or early winter. The capital’s construction organizations have sufficient experience to carry out such work in cold weather,” said Raman Melnik, head of the administration of Minsk’s Leninsky District.
After the meeting, representatives of the authorities also met with residents of the affected building. Minsk residents asked for help removing construction debris from their apartments and dismantling damaged floors. Utility services are expected to take part in this work. Residents were also advised to pay attention to drying out the premises to prevent further damage.
The issue of temporary accommodation for residents was also discussed. On the day of the fire, 10 people were accommodated in a dormitory. As the premises will be needed for other purposes in the future, the city is considering relocating the affected residents to other dormitories.
A fire at the six-story building at 9 Lenina Street broke out on the evening of June 28. The blaze engulfed more than 1,000 square meters of roofing, and it took several hours to extinguish. After the fire, the building’s residents were temporarily relocated.
