A-bomb Dome going under cover again

Hiroshima’s iconic A-bomb Dome will be once more going under scaffolding later this month.

Surveyors plan to extract pieces from the walls, subject them to strength tests and check the effectiveness of previously injected epoxy resin.

The tests are to estimate how well the building will stand up to possible earthquakes. It was declared last year after the data from tests carried out in 2007 underwent computer analysis that even in a magnitude 6 quake the “there was no possibility that the Dome would collapse immediately”. It was found, however, that much of the weight of the building is supported by 4 key points without the aid of pins or supports. It is these areas where tests will be concentrated, sampling from about 15 locations.

Work will start the day after the Hiroshima Confectionary Expo, being held across the street  from the A-bomb Dome, comes to an end on May 13. Scaffolding will go up and the Dome will be covered in mesh sheeting. Work is expected to be completed by July 26 and the Dome returned to “normal” by the August 6 peace day.