he industrial process and potentially contaminated the site. Industrial demolition can be a complex undertaking involving sophisticated engineering, specialized rigging, and complex industrial hygiene requirements.
What is a High Reach and how is it used in Demolition?
High reach units can involve the use of super long boom arms with specialized hydraulic attachments mounted on excavator platforms. These units are designed to allow access to tall structures, often 20 stories or more, and safe demolition of the building within its footprint.
What is Commercial Demolition?
Commercial demolition is the partial or complete dismantlement of commercial properties such as office buildings, shopping malls, hotels and the like.
What is Deconstruction?
Deconstruction is defined as the labor-intensive demolition of a structure in order to maximize the amount of potentially recyclable materials from the building. It often involved a considerable amount of hand demolition and sort separation in preparation for marketing the structure’s components.
How exactly are Demolition and Deconstruction Different?
Considering that conventional demolition contractors routinely recycled up to 90% of the material generated on a typical demolition site, there is little difference between the two methods of demolition save the labor-intensive nature of deconstruction.
Is Demolition a Regulated Industry?
Demolition contractors are some of the most regulated construction industry professionals. As they are working on structures that are often damaged by fire, weather, or structural deficiency, most demolition projects require permit review by local municipal building departments. As demolition contractors handle hazardous materials and toxic substances there are a host of municipal, state and federal environmental regulations that govern the industry’s operations. As demolition is a dynamic craft and contractors are dealing with a variety of structures, the industry’s health and safety regulations are very strong. Many states have their own health & safety rules and the Federal Government’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s (OSHA) Construction Standard (29 CFR 1926) contains a specific section on demolition operations.
Does Demolition Involve Historic Conservation?
Demolition contractors, because of their experience and knowledge of the nature of structures, often have considerable expertise in historic preservation. They understand what structural elements can be saved and how to assure that the integrity of an historic structure can be maintained.
Asbestos and Demolition
Asbestos is an insulating and sound attenuating product that is used as pipe and ceiling insulation, sprayed-on fireproofing, and a variety of other uses. It can also be contained in flooring, roofing materials and some cement products. Overexposure to asbestos can cause health problems. Asbestos abatement, the safe removal of asbestos, is a major part of the demolition process. It is highly regulated and its safe handling and disposal is a major segment of the demolition market.
What are PCBs?
PCBs or polychlorinated biphenyls are an organic chemical used as an additive in transformers and capacitors in a structure’s electrical system, in rail cars, heat transfer systems and in some coating materials. The chemical is highly stable, has a low flammability and is an excellent medium to sustain an electrical field. Unfortunately PCBs, because of their complex chemical make-up are slow to breakdown in nature and can cause some health issues. Proper handling and disposal of PCB-containing oils and fluids as well as PCB-contaminated equipment is a major part of the demolition process.
What’s a Brownfield?
A Brownfield is a contaminated site, often a small manufacturing, industrial, or commercial site that has less hazardous or toxic substances than a highly contaminated site regulated under the Superfund law. These brownfields can be abandoned gas stations, dry cleaning establishments, electroplating plants, warehouses, or manufacturing sites that have small amounts of pollut