How to demolition for dummies 2022

Some say if you want it done right, you do it yourself

Once a building or structure finally fulfills its purpose, the time has come for it to be demolished. What most people may imagine is the awesome sight of a building crumbling into pieces as it falls to the ground. But before that can happen, there are a number of other steps that need to take place. A demolition involves more than just explosions or destroying everything with a wrecking ball. Today, we are going to explain the stages of the demolition process.

But before we get into that, what exactly is a demolition?

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Referring to Safe Work Australia, a demolition involves any activities related to those in which you “demolish or dismantle a structure or part of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure”. Dismantling aid structures such as scaffolding would not count as part of the building demolition. The removal of light or power poles also does not apply.

Both fixed and movable structures can undergo a demolition. Some examples of structures that can be destroyed include buildings, sheds, and even towers.

Now, let's take a look at the steps that need to be taken for a safe and successful demolition.

Stage 1: The Site Evaluation

The first stage in the demolition process is the evaluation of the location. This is essential to identify any health or environmental hazards that may arise from destruction. Professional environmental consultants will conduct a site assessment of the entire building, including vaults, cellars and basements, and waste dumps. The surrounding area must also be looked at. The consultants will keep note of:

• Items that could cause a fire or explosion
• Toxic or hazardous chemicals
• Extra parts and debris
• Materials such as asbestos that may be toxic. (Note: you are legally required to determine whether asbestos is present on the site.)
• Potential risks to the surrounding environments

Stage 2: The Handling of Materials

Figuring out what to do with any leftover materials is also something that should be considered before anything begins to be dismantled.

Here are some disposal options:

Recycling: You may come across some things that are not suitable for resale, such as outdated electronics. In this situation, you must determine whether it is smart to recycle the item rather than just throwing it away.

Salvaging: If the objects you find are still usable, you should attempt to restore as much as you can. It is possible to salvage almost anything, and that doesn't necessarily mean you have to keep it. If you do not want or need the item, there's always the option of donating to a charity. Just make sure everything is in great condition.

Landfill/Pickup: When there are hazardous materials on your site, you can arrange for them to picked up on a specific day. Some examples of potentially hazardous items include old batteries and leftover cleaning supplies. Non-toxic items that cannot be recycled or salvaged can be thrown into a landfill if there are no alternatives.

Stage 3: The Removal of Harmful Materials

The next stage in the procedure is all about implementing risk control measures to keep everyone involved with the process as safe as possible. Depending on the site, there may be only a few control methods that can be used.

The hierarchy of control is the process of ranking control methods from high to low based on levels of protection and reliability. Elimination will always be at the highest level, so that should be the main goal when performing risk control. If one cannot completely get rid of the waste or toxin, there are a few alternatives. These include:

Substitution: A risk-benefit analysis is one method of evaluating whether an action is or isn't worthwhile. This entails replacing a certain stage or detail in the demolition process with a less hazardous alternative. A good example would be substituting a demolition method for a safer one.

Isolation: Isolation is all about protecting the surrounding structures and any pedestrians that may be close by. This may include using fences and/or barriers to block anyone from entering the site.

Engineering controls: Make sure to minimize risk by using proper equipment and ensuring there are protective structures in place to shield from any falling objects.

Administrative controls: Administrative controls involve the placement of signs around the area as a way to inform workers and pedestrians about the site and how to navigate around it.

Protective equipment: Workers should be provided with personal protective equipment, such as hard hats and high-visibility vests. Anyone else must also be given protective wear while on the site.

Stage 4: The Demolition

Once each method and risk has been planned out, it is finally time for destruction. Here, we will explain three ways in which a structure can be demolished.

Demolition by Hand

Hand demolition is a non-explosive method that is great for when you need to be careful. An example of a handheld tool would be the well-known sledgehammer, which can tear through small walls or single columns.

Advantages of Hand Demolition

You'll most likely use this method when you plan on saving some building parts for future use, like electrical wiring or other important building components. Dismantling by hand allows workers to be more careful. Make sure to start with the roof and work your way down floor by floor. It's recommended for any businesses occupying the building to temporarily shut down operations or move to another space.

Disadvantages of Hand Demolition

Since things are being done by hand, you could guess that this method is the most time consuming and can be the most costly.

Demolition By Machine

Most commercial projects employ mechanical demolition as their primary method of deconstruction because the job can be completed effectively using heavy machines and good technology. Types of machines used include the following:

• Bulldozers, which are used to dig up soil and move debris throughout the demolition site
• High-reach excavators, good for reaching super high areas. These are typically utilized for buildings that are too tall for explosive demolition
• Wrecking balls, a giant piece of heavy metal swung from a crane. These are also good for targeting tall buildings. However, this machinery is not used as often as an excavator might be due to the lack of control in terms of ball trajectory. Excavators do a better job at hitting on target.

The items that were listed necessitate a high level of expertise and should be handled only by highly trained experts. Hydraulic excavators, bulldozers, and even wrecking balls all create many potential risks if utilized incorrectly.

Advantages of Machine Demolition

Machine demolition allows for projects to be handled quickly and cost effectively. If you are working on a tight schedule or hoping to stay under budget, this option would be the best for you.

Disadvantages of Machine Demolition

There's a high chance of someone getting injured if the equipment is not used properly.

Uncontrolled or unintentional building collapses are a worst-case scenario, but other elements such as intense dust, flying debris, and noise can all harm surrounding structures and workers. Before beginning your demolition project, make sure you have all of the necessary papers and a professional debris removal company on call in case anything bad may occur.

Demolition by Explosion or Implosion

Explosive demolition involves fixing a building with explosives so that when it is destroyed, it falls accordingly. For obvious reasons, this type of demolition cannot be practiced without the approval of a regulatory authority.

This method typically allows the building to fall to the side. This is performed by attaching steel cables to the side of the building that is set to fall, ensuring it plunges in the right direction once the explosives are detonated. Where there is not enough space beside a building, the demolition team decides to make the building collapse onto its own base. This is called implosion and is a great option for protecting any structures that are next to the one being demolished.

Stage 5: The Clean Up

The clean up is one of the most important steps because it ensures everything is organized properly and nothing unnecessary or dangerous is left behind. First, recyclable debris such as wood and steel should be separated from all other rubbish that will be thrown away. Once all materials are sectioned, they can be disposed of by either recycling, rubbish pickup, or by selling. The next step is to remove any signs, temporary barriers or fencing, and sectioning tape from the demolition site. Afterwards, the site and the surrounding area should be assessed once again to check if anything needs to be repaired. There's a possibility that potholes may need to be refilled or lines need to be repainted.

Before a building is demolished, a thorough plan must be made to identify any risks and the work that should be done to prevent them. The plan may also include details such as the distances between the building and surrounding structures, the duration of the entire process, and what demolition methods and safety precautions will be implemented. Each stage of the process is just as important as the one before it and when everything is properly taken into consideration, the project runs smoothly.