5 Steps In Planning A Demolition Project
When people picture the demolition process, they often focus on the moment of an explosive demolition that brings a building down. Lots of planning goes into deconstructing a building, though. Additionally, many demolitions aren't explosive.
If you're preparing to demolish a structure, you'll have to confront multiple issues. Demolition service providers usually follow these five steps in planning a project.
Assessment
A demolition company needs to know what the structure is like to plan its end. Bringing down a concrete office building is a different proposition than demolishing a wooden house. Similarly, the contractors will look at the structure's condition to see if it's safe for certain methods. They may review blueprints and even conduct surveys to ensure that the process will be safe and smooth.
Mitigating Hazards
Demolishing a structure can send hazardous materials flying everywhere. Older structures can contain materials like asbestos, lead, and PCBs. Some sites have leftover fuel tanks, too. You will have to devise a plan for safely removing all of these materials from the site before the demolition proceeds.
Environmental concerns also play a role. If the demolition site is near a waterway, for example, you may need to take steps to prevent hazardous materials from getting into it.
Choosing a Technique
There are two common techniques for demolishing buildings. Explosive demolition involves placing charges at critical structural points, detonating them, and letting gravity do the work. The demolition services team then removes the demolished materials from the site. Mechanical demolition involves using machinery and people to remove the materials section by section.
Explosive demolition has the virtue of speed. However, it's not appropriate for every job. If you're trying to recover high-value materials, you should recover those mechanically first. Some locations won't permit the noise or dirt of explosive demolition, either. There may also be a risk to nearby structures.
Post-Demolition Planning
You also have to think about the post-demolition period. Suppose a business bought a lot to construct a new building. There will be a period when the site is exposed to the elements. You have to plan to prevent erosion. Otherwise, the soil could disappear and leave you with a civil engineering project before you can start construction.
Communication
Finally, you need to plan for communication. Suppose you find an active gas line during the demolition process. Your team needs to know who to call to address the issue as promptly as possible. Document all parties' contact information. Pass it along to all stakeholders to ensure quick communication.