Vice President of the Bundestag Omid Nuripur (Green Party) criticized the structural deficiencies in the parliament buildings that cause unpleasant odors in the plenary hall. He stated this in an interview with Spiegel.
"Once, cast iron SML pipes were used for drainage here – unfortunately, also horizontally. This leads to their faster corrosion, accumulation of wastewater, formation of sulfuric acid, damage to the pipes, and unpleasant odors," said Nuripur.
"The horizontal installation was not particularly wise. Every expert knows this. Replacing the pipes will now be part of the necessary reconstruction," he added.
The politician from the Green Party noted that other defects, such as leaking roofs of the Bundestag buildings, have mostly been addressed. "But unfortunately, this is not a permanent solution," he added.
More than 20 years after the Bundestag building was put into operation, it is becoming clear that mistakes were made during its construction.
"Too much emphasis was placed on aesthetics rather than reliability. Now it is coming back to us like a boomerang. Flat roofs are particularly vulnerable, especially during heavy rains. Over time, every sealing gasket fails. The drainage angle is insufficient," said Nuripur.
Nuripur pointed out that there is a huge need for reconstruction in the Bundestag and the offices for members of parliament and staff. "Two-thirds of the buildings need to be reconstructed over the next 20 years. This means that 800–1000 offices will be under constant reconstruction over the next two decades," he said.
