ISOPOL trains Russian mining company

Roof renovation in Barentsburg on Spitsbergen in the Arctic Circle

Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis
Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis

Renovating roofs on Spitsbergen with PUR roof spray foam is an interesting challenge. Even if the season is called summer, +8°C are already high. Our assignment: to train a Russian team of roof spray foamers in the Russian mining settlement Barentsburg on Spitsbergen. ISOPOL supplies the machines and the raw materials. Arrival at the airport of the "capital" Longyearbyen and onward journey to Barentsburg by the company's own helicopter MI8 due to lack of other transport possibilities. We were then the only guests at the Hotel Barentsburg.

Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis
Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis

The roofs to be rehabilitated were mostly covered with bitumen membranes, but had been severely attacked by the extreme climatic conditions.

Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis
Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis
Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis
Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis

The Russian mining company "TRUST ARKTIKUGOL" had made all the necessary preparations. The company plans to make large investments in this northernmost mining settlement in order to make mining on site environmentally compatible and to offer the workers the best possible living conditions.

Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis
Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis

The constant cold forces the raw materials polyol and isocyanate to be preheated in the drums. Once again, this shows how skillfully the Russian employees can improvise.

Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis
Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis

A temporary cabin was built for the plant equipment. From there, the hoses with the gun led to the roofs.

Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis
Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis

It is unusual for German foamers: to carry out roof renovation work with PUR roof spray foam at night (midsummer night) and in the background the mountains are covered with snow.

Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis
Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis

The modern machine technology somehow did not really fit into the environment and was somewhat reminiscent of our project in Norilsk (Siberia). However, the employees provided by Arktikugol were highly motivated.

Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis
Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis
Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis
Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis
Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis
Dachsanierung in Barentsburg auf Spitzbergen am nördlichen Polarkreis

The local director of the Barentsburg mine thanks us for the intensive on-site training, then the helicopter is waiting to take us back to Longyearbyen airport. From there we continue to Düsseldorf, changing planes in Oslo and Copenhagen. Good luck!

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