Safety measures at Cologne Cathedral

The reason for the crane operation in the man basket was a leaning structure, three meters high and weighing a tonne, in the buttresses of the choir. The building fabric in this area, which consists mainly of shell limestone from the 1929/30s, is constantly exposed to the elements and varying wind forces. Staff of the Dombauhütte – the Cathedral Builders’ Lodge – take regular safety and maintenance measures to ensure the preservation and structural safety of Cologne Cathedral.

Due to the necessary road closure for the crane site on the Domshof, the operation had to be carried out on a Sunday. The construction site and access roads were cordoned off by VIVA Traffic Management Cologne when the mobile crane arrived on site at 5:00 am. By 8:30 a.m., the assembly of the 230-tonne crane was completed, and the man basket was ready.

Throughout the day, the two master stonemasons Wolfgang Küpper and Daniel Schubert, checked several different areas on the eastern side of the cathedral, in the southern part of the choir, and made repairs where necessary. The work carried out at a height of around 70 meters took all day.

The 230-tonne LTM 1230-5.1 mobile crane at Cologne Cathedral.  On 12 November 2023, at a height of around 70 meters, two employees of the Dombauhütte were busy stabilising the structure.

On 12 November 2023, at a height of around 70 meters, two employees of the Dombauhütte were busy stabilising the structure.

It is the Cologne Dombauhütte’s job to maintain the structure of Cologne Cathedral. To preserve Cologne's landmark for posterity, constant restoration and conservation work is required. The Cathedral’s size, its age, its complex structural shapes, its varying stone types, and the preservation of the historic stained-glass windows and works of art represent an extraordinary challenge for the approximately 100 employees.

For further information visit https://www.koelner-dombauhuette.de