Munich Elementary School Pavilion Reaches 34.4 Degrees Celsius; Shading Delayed Until October
Munich, July 19, 2026 – An elementary school pavilion on Ruth-Drexel-Straße in Bogenhausen, Munich, recently registered a classroom temperature of 34.4 degrees Celsius with 32 percent humidity. Parents have reported that temperatures in the building have consistently exceeded 30 degrees Celsius in recent weeks. A shading system, intended to mitigate the heat, has been significantly delayed.
Shading System Delayed Due to Contractor Issues
The company commissioned for the timber work on the heat protection system informed the city that it could not complete the order due to a serious illness of its owner. As only one company submitted a bid during the initial tender, the procurement process must now be repeated. The School Department (RBS) does not anticipate the work to begin before early October.
Currently, each classroom is equipped with only two fans, which were procured by the school administration. These temporary measures are proving insufficient against the rising temperatures.
Focus on Alternative Cooling Measures
The heat protection strategy for the elementary school focuses on a combination of external sun protection, outdoor shading, and cross-ventilation in the early morning hours, or shock ventilation when outdoor temperatures are cooler. Air conditioning systems are generally not planned for Munich schools due to high electricity consumption and environmental concerns, with exceptions made only for specialized rooms like IT facilities.
The RBS also suggests that, where organizationally possible, both teaching-related and leisure-oriented activities should be relocated to cooler places outside the school premises, such as the Siemenspark. However, the Ruth-Drexel-Grundschule is located in Bogenhausen, while the Siemenspark is in Sendling, highlighting logistical challenges. The RBS emphasized that implementing such measures requires close coordination between school management and the State School Office or the responsible school inspector.
Parents Ventilating Classrooms Before School Hours
According to the CSU in the Bogenhausen district committee, some parents have been arriving at the school early in the morning to ventilate classrooms, as the facility managers typically only open windows after their shift begins. The RBS clarified that windows in the severely affected pavilion are usually opened for cross-ventilation at 7:00 AM, and some are left open overnight in good weather. The school administration has been explicitly authorized to assign overtime to technical building management staff to facilitate early window opening, making parental intervention unnecessary.
Political Action and Future Outlook
The CSU plans to submit a request for the city to arrange effective shading, possibly through temporary systems or suitable cooling devices, before the summer holidays. While acknowledging parental involvement, the CSU stressed that this cannot be a permanent solution. However, the district committee has postponed the motion until its next meeting, which will occur after the summer holidays.
This situation underscores the growing challenge of adapting public infrastructure, particularly schools, to increasingly frequent heatwaves, and highlights the need for more agile and effective procurement processes for essential upgrades.
