National Automobile Museum in Encamp to reopen after asbestos remediation

The National Automobile Museum in Encamp will reopen to the public on Tuesday 2 December, after being closed preventively since late August following the detection of asbestos in some vehicle components on display.

The Ministry of Culture’s Department of Cultural Promotion said specialised firms carried out removal, cleaning and disinfection work and that several technical reports commissioned during the process confirm there is no environmental presence of asbestos at the site. The department said the latest assessments found no airborne asbestos particles that could affect visitors or staff.

Authorities said the components containing asbestos were initially removed from eight vehicles without following proper protocols, a practice that prompted a subsequent controlled removal and decontamination process. The department commissioned monitoring at different stages to measure any potential presence of asbestos during the remediation.

Officials stressed that asbestos constitutes a health risk only if it is disturbed and releases fibres that can be inhaled. The ministry said no suspended asbestos particles were detected in the sampled areas at any point in the monitoring carried out during the works.

The museum’s closure had been taken as a precaution to ensure the safety of visitors and employees while affected components were identified and safely removed. With the remediation completed and validated by specialised companies and technical studies, the site will reopen with measures in place to guarantee public and worker safety.