Tallinn French Lyceum closes sports hall over severe roof leak

The Tallinn French Lyceum, a school in the Estonian capital, closed its sports hall on Tuesday and Wednesday after water began coming through the roof more heavily than ever before. Principal Peter Pedak told ERR, Estonia's public broadcaster, that the building had leaked even before its official opening in October 2018, but the current situation is the worst so far.

Suspected cause

According to the principal, the leak is most likely due to a blockage in the rainwater drainage system. A camera inspection scheduled for Wednesday should show whether that is the case. Pedak noted that the roof also serves as a walkable surface and is partly covered by a flower bed, so it is unclear how well it is waterproofed.

The hall's ceiling also has cracks. The principal said they are located above the panels and are generally not regarded as an immediate danger. Whether they are construction defects, he said, is a more complicated question.

Who pays for repairs

The school's budget has no funds for major construction work. The lyceum is commissioning the camera inspection itself, but any major repairs would be the responsibility of the Tallinn Education Department, the school's governing authority. Next steps depend on the inspection: once the causes are identified, a repair plan can be drawn up and costs estimated.

The closure will not disrupt physical education classes, which are being held outdoors until the fall break anyway. The principal hopes the building can be used again soon.

Education Department spokesperson Sille Tiitsmaa confirmed that water is accumulating on the roof because a blocked drainage system cannot clear rainwater quickly enough. She said there is currently no reason to plan extensive renovations or a roof replacement, as the blockage is being addressed.