MILAN (ITALPRESS) – Mapei is participating in the project to restore Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, which was hit by a major fire on April 15, 2019. Working with the two contractors Lefèvre and CCR (BALAS Group), who won the tenders launched by the public institution Rebàtir Notre-Dame de Paris, the commissioning body, the company has provided solutions for the restoration of the transept vaults, the two arms of the transept and the nave (Lefèvre) as well as the choir (CCR). The reopening of the cathedral to the public is scheduled for December 8, on the occasion of the celebration of the Immaculate Conception, although not all operations will be completed.For this project, Mapei put into practice its most advanced knowledge and expertise in the field of structural reinforcement. Work on the reconstruction of the vaults began during spring 2022, after masons and stonemasons were trained on the proper use of the chosen solution by Mapei. The work was carried out every day with the utmost respect for the heritage and with the expertise of several experts in the field of restoration of historical monuments.With the aim of restoring the pre-fire situation, a pre-mixed mortar, based on natural hydraulic lime (NHL) and Eco-Pozzolan, supplied by Mapei and reinforced with glass fiber mesh, was used for the restoration of the cathedral: a solution specifically developed for the consolidation of historic works, and approved by a team of three architects specializing in historic monuments and responsible for the project: Philippe Villeneuve, Rèmi Fromont and Pascal Prunet with the collaboration, for the structures, of Italian architect Carlo Blasi. The solution proposed by Mapei was the subject of a year of testing, with numerous experiments conducted in the laboratory and in situ, before being finally approved by the three architects. “This structural intervention, acting as a real shell, restores the masonry vaults to their original shape and strength,” says Thomas Briac, engineer in charge of works at the Lefèvre company, “mitigating the effects of future movements and avoiding fractures in the joints with the adjacent reconstructed areas. The use of the most innovative technologies is of great help because a heritage project is not out of its time. “The long experience that Mapei can boast with regard to mortars used in restoration and consolidation works was greatly appreciated,” says Carlo Blasi, Consultant for the direction of the structural reinforcement works at Notre Dame Cathedral. Mapei was able to demonstrate that its materials had been tested, subjected to various tests and also possessed certifications regarding their strengths.”-photo Mapei press office-(ITALPRESS).
