Demolition of Building

CHAPTER-1

INTRODUCTION

We know every structure is designed for a life period. The existence of the structure
after the service life period is very dangerous to its occupants and surrounding buildings. The
building act usually contains provisions that enable local authorities to control demolition
works for the protection of public safety and to ensure adjoining premises and the site are made
good on completion of the demolition. A notice of conditions is issued that require certain
works to be undertaken to achieve these aims. Where demolition of a building takes place, the
owner must inform the council. Greenhouses, conservatories, prefabricated garages and sheds
do not require permission to be demolished. Usually if the building to be demolished has a
volume of less than 1750 cubic feet (49.56 cubic meters), then permission is not required to
knock it down.

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CHAPTER-2

DEMOLITION

Demolition is the process of tearing down or falling down of a building after its life
period with the help of some equipment or any other method. When explosives are used for
this then the demolition process are called as an implosion. Every civil engineering structure is
designed for a life period. After that the existence of a structure is very dangerous. So removal
of such structures with proper safety measures has got great importance. There are different
steps involved before and during the time of a demolition activity. They are described as
follows.

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CHAPTER-3

STEPS BEFORE DEMOLITION

The different steps before the execution of a demolition process are:

1. Surveying
2. Removal of hazardous materials
3. Preparation of plan
4. Stability report
5. Safety measures

Surveying

Surveying means study of different parameters of the structure and its surroundings. There
are two types of surveying are mainly conducted. They are

A. Building surveying
B. Structural surveying

A. Building surveying

It includes,

(a) Record Drawings

Prior to the Building Survey, the existing record plan, including layout plan showing
adjoining properties, pedestrian walkway, roads and street, etc. shall be retrieved.

(b) Survey Items

The Building Survey shall cover the following:

1. The construction materials;

2. The existing use and, if possible, the past uses of the building prior to demolition;

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3. The presence of wastewater, hazardous materials, matters arising from toxic chemicals,
flammable or explosive and radioactive materials, etc. and possible presence of
materials which can contribute to air pollution and soil contamination;
4. Potentially dangerous areas, e.g., abnormal layouts, presence of enclosed voids, and
non- ventilated light wells which may trap obnoxious gas at the bottom;
5. Adjoining properties and site conditions, such as the existence of slope and retaining
wall, wall supporting ground, illegal structures, bridges, underground railway and its
above ground structures, including entrances, vent shafts, distribution substations,
traction substations, plant rooms, overhead railway structures, surface track sections,
overhead cables or guy wires, and other utility Service connections;
6. Drainage conditions and possible problems on water pollution, flooding and erosion,
especially on sloping sites and water receiving bodies;
7. Shared facilities with adjoining building, including common staircases, party walls, and
possible effect on it, such as self-enclosed walls to the adjoining buildings, during
demolition;
8. Hoarding and covered walkway requirements;
9. Adjoining pedestrian and vehicular traffic conditions;
10. Available headroom, clear spaces and distance of building from lot boundary which
may affect the loading operation and transportation of building debris during
demolition;
11. The sensitivity of neighbourhood with respect to noise, dust, vibration and traffic
impact.
12. Available site area to allow on-site sorting of building debris; and
13. Street furniture such as fire hydrant, parking space/meters, street light, street sign and
hawkers’ stalls which could be affected by the demolition project.

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(c) Hazardous Materials

1. Unless the Building Survey reviews that, no obvious hazardous material is present
in the building, the Authorized Person shall cause proper sampling and testing for
the hazardous materials;
2. In the case when hazardous materials e.g., asbestos containing materials, or
petroleum, are present, they shall be removed and cleaned/disposed of according to
the
3. statutory requirements administered by the Environmental Protection Department,
Fire Services Department, Labour Department and any other Government
Departments.
4. In the case when the site has previously been used to store chemicals, and other
dangerous goods, soil contamination assessment shall be required at pre-demolition
stage and/or post-demolition stage; and
5. In the case when the site has previously been used to store explosives, special
procedures to ensure no explosives remain on site will be required.

B. Structural surveying

(a) Record Drawings

Prior to the Structural Survey, the existing record layout, structural framing plans and
structural details shall be studied. The Registered Structural Engineer shall check the presence
of unusual detailing that may cause abnormal structural behaviour during demolition, e.g.,
upward anchor of tensile reinforcement in cantilevered structures. If existing record plans are
available, these plans shall be used as reference and preferably be brought along with the
Structural Survey.

(b) Survey Items

The Structural Survey shall cover the following:

1. The structural materials used;

2. The original structural system employed in the design;
3. The method of construction;
4. Any dilapidation and degree of deterioration on any structural elements;

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5. The structural conditions of adjoining structures and its shoring which may be
affected by the proposed demolition work.
6. The presence of continuous structures that may be truncated by the demolition;
7. The structural system and structural conditions of basements, underground tanks or
underground vaults.
8. The presence of exposed bracing or possible presence of covered bracing;
9. The nature of walls, whether it is block wall, reinforced concrete walls, load bearing
walls or partition walls.
10. Cantilevered structures such as canopies, balconies, or other forms of architectural
features.
11. Any fixtures to the building such as signboard, sun-shading devices.

(c) Special Structures

The Structural Survey shall review the following:

1. The correctness of structural information available;

2. The presence of any unconventional structural elements which may require special
attention and well-defined modification procedures;
3. The possibilities of structural modification to enable efficient demolition traffic
during demolition; and
4. Any limitation on shoring and other temporary supports.

(d) Investigation and Testing

In the case when no structural details are available, the structural survey shall include
on site measurement and retrieve any structural framing as much as practicable, performing
tests and exposing some key structural elements to facilitate checking on existing structure.
This will allow the development of procedures that ensure the stability of the building at all
stages during demolition.

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Removal of hazardous materials

If hazardous materials, such as asbestos containing materials, petroleum contamination

and radioactive contamination, exist in the building, further investigation and removal of such
hazardous material or contamination by specialist shall be referenced.

Asbestos Containing Material

Specialists shall be employed to take samples and cause such samples to be tested for
asbestos containing material. In the case when asbestos containing material are discovered,
specialist contractor shall be employed to remove such asbestos containing material. The
asbestos waste should be handled, stored and disposed of as chemical waste in accordance with
the Waste Disposal Ordinance and Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.

Soil Contamination Material

In the case when possible, soil contamination material is present, specialist shall be employed
to prepare soil contamination test proposal and submit such proposal to the Environmental
Protection Department for comment. Upon agreement by the Environmental Protection
Department, and completion of the tests, a Soil Contamination Assessment shall be submitted
to the Environmental Protection Department for acceptance. In the case when remedial works
are required, the remedial proposal shall be submitted to the Environmental Protection
Department for approval prior to implementation of such remedial works.

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Preparation of plan
A Demolition Plan shall include the following:
(1) A plan showing:
(a) The location of the building to be demolished;
(b) A detailed topography of the site and its surrounds together with ground level contours
and sections of the slopes and ground supported by the building where appropriate;
(c) Details of ground removal and/or backfilling; and
(d) The distances from the building to be demolished to its adjacent buildings, streets,
structures and significant street furniture.

(2) A layout plan of all floors of the building to be demolished, with adequate sections,
showing:

(a) The occupancy usage of the floors;

(b) The structural support systems;
(c) Principal materials of construction;
(d) The condition of the building e.g., the degree of deterioration; and
(e) The relationship of the building to be demolished with neighbouring properties affected
by the demolition, which include all adjoining buildings and unauthorized structures,
shared staircases, party walls, truncating continuous frames, slopes, retaining wall,
overhead cables, guy wires and underground utility services.

(3) A plan showing the structural arrangement and construction of all unconventional structural
elements, such as prestressed concrete structures, precast concrete members, stressed skin
structures, steel framed structures, hangers, hanging ties, trusses or Vierendeel girders, deep
beams, long span beams (greater than 10m), arches, transfer plates, transfer girders, earth
retaining or basement structures, buildings which also act as earth-retaining structures
supporting adjacent ground, flat slabs, hollow block ribbed slabs and large cantilevered
structures;

(4) A plan showing the procedure for the demolition of the building; detailed sequence of
demolishing particular structural members; and the method of demolition to be adopted
including the restrictions on the use of any particular type of equipment;

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(5) In the case when powered mechanical plants and equipment are used, a plan showing the
route of movement of powered mechanical plants and equipment including the method of
lifting mechanical plant, where necessary, onto the top floors of the structure; any structural
alterations required to

suit the demolition, e.g., temporary strengthening to suit early removal of any ground floor/or
cockloft structure to facilitate vehicular movement at ground floor, or strengthening of
deteriorated key structural members; and any shoring, temporary supports and/or floor
propping required;

(6) A plan showing all precautionary measures for the protection of the public including
hoardings, covered walkways, catch platforms, catch fans, scaffolding, protective screens and
safety nets;

(7) A plan showing the proposed shoring and precautionary measures for all affected adjacent
buildings, slopes, retaining structures and services at each stage of the demolition works;

(8) A plan showing the proposed shoring and temporary support to be provided to the building
to be demolished;

(9) A plan or descriptive notes on the proposed methods for handling and disposal of debris
including

(a) The permissible temporary accumulation of building debris at upper floors and at
ground floor;
(b) Method of handling demolished building debris;
(c) The routing and movement of debris from each floor to on grade holding area prior to
leaving the site;
(d) Means of transportation of debris off the site;
(e) Time and frequency of debris disposal off site;
(f) Record scheme on the tonnage of each truck load, truck license plate, driver’s name,
trip tickets and location of dump site;
(g) The site supervisory personnel responsible for the debris management system; and
(h) A temporary parking layout for mobile machines and trucks, if necessary;

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Stability report

According to Building (Administration) Regulation, the Demolition Plan must be

accompanied by a Stability Report with supporting calculations. The Stability Report shall
include the following parts:

(1) A report on the stability of the building to be demolished during all stages of demolition;

(2) In the case when powered mechanical plants or equipment are used, a report on the stability
of the building with supporting calculations to demonstrate that the use of the plants and
equipment will not render inadequate the margin of safety of, or cause damage to any building,
structure, street, land and services;

(3) In the case when powered mechanical plants or equipment are used, structural calculations
for all temporary supports and bracings;

(4) A report on the stability of neighbouring buildings, adjoining properties.

(5) In the case when temporary or permanent supports are required to these neighbouring
buildings, adjoining properties, and party walls, structural calculations for these temporary and
permanent supports; and

(6) A report with calculations demonstrating that the demolition work will not render
inadequate the margin of safety of, or cause damage to any building, structure, street, land and
services.

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Safety measures

Training and Communication

Demolition workers, including plant or equipment operators, shall go through proper

job safety training and be informed of the potential hazards by attending training sessions as
well as on-the-job training. At present, the Construction Industry Training Authority has
organized relevant training courses for site supervisors/foremen and plant or equipment
operators.

Equipment Maintenance

All equipment shall be tested and examined before use. They shall be properly stored
and maintained. The equipment shall be inspected daily and results of the inspection shall be
recorded accordingly. A detailed safety instruction shall be provided to cater for specific
situations of the project, if necessary.

Electrical Safety

A properly connected power source from a local electric utility supplier or a mobile
electricity generator shall be utilized in demolition sites. The safety requirements given in the
Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Electricity) Regulations shall be adhered to.

Fire

All flammable goods shall be removed from site unless they are necessary for the works
involved. Any remaining flammable goods shall be stored in proper storage facilities. All
furniture, timber, doors, etc. shall be removed before any welding work is performed.
Firefighting appliances shall be provided and maintained in working conditions. The
Construction Site (Safety) Regulations require the contractor to maintain in good condition and
free from defects all firefighting appliances provided in such construction site.

Occupational Health

The health of workers on site shall be properly protected in accordance with the relevant
subsidiary regulations of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and the
Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance with particular attention to the following areas:

(A) Exposure to Dust;

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(B) Chemical Exposure;

(C) Heat Stress and Ventilation;
(D) Noise Exposure;
(E) Medical and First Aid Facilities;
(F) Sanitation; and
(G) Occupational Diseases.

Emergency Exit Requirements in Demolition Sites

Emergency exits shall be provided during building demolition. In case of any

emergency evacuations, the emergency exit will serve as a lifeline for transportation of injured
workers. A minimum of one exit route shall be maintained and designated as the emergency
exit at all times during the demolition. Adequate lighting and fire extinguishing equipment
shall be provided. Emergency exit shall be properly protected, free of obstruction, and properly
marked with exit signs or other indications to clearly show the route. All workers shall be
informed about the exit route.

Vibration

Demolition work will cause vibration to neighbouring buildings or structures to various

extents, depending on the method of demolition. The most serious vibration is caused by
implosion. The effect of vibration caused by implosion is categorized as follows: -

1. Permanent ground distortion produced by blast-induced gas pressures;

2. Vibratory settlement of foundation materials;
3. Projectile impact (i.e., blast fly rock); and
4. Vibratory cracking from ground vibration or air blast. These effects will have to be
dealt with specifically in the method statement for implosion. For other mechanical
demolition methods, the vibration effect is usually less than some other construction
processes, such as percussive piling and blasting. In some cases, the traffic vibration
caused by heavy duty tractors is more significant than that caused by mechanical
demolition. In order to identify the actual cause and effect of vibration, Registered
Specialist Contractors (Demolition) are advised to carry out vibration monitoring
during demolition. As a general guideline, the peak particle velocities at any adjoining

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structure shall not exceed 15mm/sec for prolonged vibration caused by mechanical
demolition.
Environmental Precautions

The general requirements to minimize environmental impacts from construction sites

can also be applied to demolition processes. The following sections contain some of the
procedures to be adopted:

(a) Air Pollution

Concrete breaking, handling of debris and hauling process are main sources of dust
from building demolition. Dust mitigation measures complying with the Air Pollution Control
(Construction Dust). Regulations shall be adopted to minimize dust emissions. Burning of
waste shall not be allowed. Diesel fumes generated by mechanical plant or equipment shall be
subject to the control of the Air Pollution Control (Smoke) Regulations.

(b) Noise

Noise pollution arising from the demolition works including, but not limited to, the use
of specified powered mechanical equipment (SPME), powered mechanical equipment (PME),
such as pneumatic breakers, excavators and generators, etc., scaffolding, erection of temporary
works, loading and transportation of debris, etc. affects the workers, and the sensitive receivers
in the vicinity of the demolition site. Silent type PME shall be used to reduce noise impact as
much as practicable. Demolition activity shall not be performed within the restricted hours as
established by EPD. Currently under the Noise Control Ordinance, noise from the use of SPME
and PME within restricted hours is governed by a Construction Noise Permit (CNP) system.

(c) Water

The discharge of wastewater from demolition sites requires a valid discharge license
from the EPD and the application of such a license shall be made under the Water Pollution
Control Ordinance (WPCO). Effluent shall be treated to the standards as stipulated in the
license before discharge.

(d) Hazardous Materials

If removal of asbestos containing material is needed, an Asbestos Investigation Report

(AIR) shall be submitted to EPD. An Asbestos Abatement Plan (AAP) shall be submitted at

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least 28 days before the asbestos abatement work commences. The asbestos abatement works
shall be carried out in accordance with the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO) and the
Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Asbestos) Regulations before demolition. Other
materials such as LPG cylinders in domestic flats, toxic and corrosive chemicals for industrial
undertakings, and any other hazardous materials have to be identified and properly handled
and removed prior to the commencement of the demolition of the building. The management
of waste must fully comply with the Waste Disposal Ordinance. Additionally, management of
waste which is classifiable as a chemical waste must also comply with the Waste Disposal.

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CHAPTER-4

METHODS OF DEMOLITION

There are two types of demolition

1. Non explosive demolition

2. Explosive demolition.

Non explosive demolition

It means the demolition of a structure done with some equipment without the use of any
explosive. Different equipments used for the demolition activity are

a. Sledge hammer

A sledge hammer, equipment used for removing a stone wall or a single column. It
consists of a long stem with a metallic head. It is used to give impacts on the surfaces and that
cause the demolition of structure. It cannot be used for removal of large buildings.

Fig 1. Sledge hammer

b. Excavators and Bulldozers

Fig 2. Excavator

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Hydraulic excavators may be used to topple one-or two-story buildings by an

undermining process. The undermining process means erode the base or foundation, i.e., dig
or excavate beneath the foundation so as to make it collapse. The strategy of excavation is to
undermine the building while controlling the manner and direction in which it falls. The
demolition project manager will determine where under mining is necessary so that the building
is pulled into the desired manner and direction. Safety and clean-up considerations are also
taken into account in determining how the building is undermined and ultimately demolished.

Fig 3. Bulldozer

Loaders or bulldozers may also be used to demolish a building. They are typically equipped
with “rakes” (thick pieces of steel that could be an I-beam or tube) that are used to ram building
wall. Skid loaders and Loaders will also be used to take material out and sort steel.

c. Wrecking balls

Fig 4. Crane with wrecking ball

In case of buildings have greater heights (5 to 6 story) normal excavators and bulldozers
are not sufficient. In such cases crane with wrecking balls are used to perform the demolition
activity. The wrecking balls are steel balls hanging from a steel rope which is attached to the
crane. This method is more effective only for high rise masonry structures because of the
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uncontrolled backward movement of steel ball after the impact on the wall surface. Now this
method not commonly used because of this uncontrolled behavior of wrecking balls.

d. High reach excavators

Fig 5. High reach excavator

High reach demolition excavators are more often used for tall buildings where
explosive demolition is not appropriate or not possible. These excavators are used to demolish
up to a height of 300 feet. These excavators with some attachments are also provided for some
specific purposes. For example, excavators with shear attachments are typically used to
dismantle steel structural elements. Hydraulic hammers are often used for concrete structures
and concrete processing attachments are used to crush concrete to a manageable size, and to
removing reinforcing steel.

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Explosive demolition

The basic idea of explosive demolition is quite simple. If we remove the support
structure of a building at a certain point, the section of the building above the point will fall
down on the part of the building below that point. If this upper section is heavy enough, it will
collide with the lower part with sufficient force to cause significant damage. The explosives
are just trigger for the demolition. It’s gravity that brings the building down.

Demolition blasters or blasting expert (“Blasting expert” means a person who is the holder of
a valid mine blasting certificate.) load explosives on several different levels of the building so
that the building structure falls down on itself at multiple points. When everything is planned
and executed correctly, the total damage of the explosives and falling building material is
sufficient to collapse the structure entirely, so cleanup crews are left with only a pile of rubble.

The main challenge in bringing a building down is controlling which way if falls. There are
mainly two ways to implode a building,

1. felling like a tree

2. falling into its own footprint Felling like a tree

1. felling like a tree

In this the blasting crew will be able to tumble the building over on one side, into a
parking lot other open area. This sort of blast is the easiest to execute, and it is generally the
safest way to go. Tipping a building over is something like felling a tree. For example to topple
the building to the north, the blasters detonate explosives on the north side of the building first
, in the same way you would chop into a tree from the north side if you wanted it to fall in that
direction . Blasters may also secure steel cables to support columns in the building, so that they
are pulled a certain way as they crumble.

2. Falling into its own footprint

Sometimes, though, a building is surrounded by structures that must be preserved. In

this case, the blasters proceed with a true implosion, demolishing the building so that it
collapses straight down into its own footprints (that means the total area of building is removed
into the base of the building). This feat requires such skill that only a handful of demolition
companies in the world will attempt it.
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Fig 6. Demolition of a chimney in Germany (falling into footprint)

Blasters approach each project a little differently, but the basic idea is to think of the building
as a collection of separate towers. The blasters set the explosives so that each “tower” falls
toward the centre of the building, in roughly the same way that they would set the explosives
to topple a single structure to the side. When the explosives are detonated in the right order,
the toppling towers crash against each other, and all of the rubbles collect at the centre of the
building. Another option is to detonate the columns at the centre of the building before the
other columns so that the building’s sides fall inward.

According to Brent Blanchard, an implosion expert with the demolition consulting firm Protec
Documentation Services, virtually every building in the world is unique. And for any given
building, there are any number of ways a blasting crew might bring it down. Blanchard notes
the demolition of the Hayes Homes, a 10-building housing project in Newark, New Jersey,
which was demolished in three separate phases over the course of three years . “A different
blasting firm performed each phase,” Blanchard says, “and although all of the buildings were
identical, each blaster chose a slightly different type of explosive and loaded varying numbers
of support columns. They even brought the buildings down in different mathematical
sequences, with varying amounts of time factored in between each building’s collapse.”

Explosives used

Blasters use different explosives for different materials, and determine the amount of
explosives needed based on the thickness of materials. For concrete column, blasters use
traditional Dynamite or similar explosive materials. Dynamite is just absorbent stuffing soaked

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in a highly combustible chemical or mixture of chemicals. When the chemical is ignited, it

burns quickly, producing a large volume of hot gas in a short amount of time. This gas expands
rapidly, applying immense outward pressure (up to 600 tons per square inch) on whatever is
around it. Blasters cram this explosive material into narrow boreholes drilled in the concrete
columns. When the explosives are ignited, the sudden outward pressure sends a powerful shock
wave busting through the column at supersonic speed, shattering the concrete into tiny chunks.

Demolition of steel column is a bit more difficult, as the dense material is much stronger. For
buildings with a steel support structure, blasters typically used the specialized explosive
material Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, called RDX for short. RDX – based explosive
compounds expand at a very high rate of speed, up to 27,000 feet per second (8,230 meters per
second). Instead of disintegrating entire column, the concentrated, high velocity pressure slices
right through the steel, splitting it in half. Additionally blasters may ignite dynamite on one
side of the column to push it over in a particular direction.

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CHAPTER-5

INFERENCE

Type of demolition method depends upon various factors such as site condition, type
of structures, age of building, height of building and economy. Any-way controlled demolition
of building is necessary to ensure safety. Explosive demolition is the preferred method for
safely and efficiently demolishing the larger structures. Almost all major building implosions
in the world are handled by 20 well-established companies, blasting is passed on from
generation to generation.

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REFERENCES

 www.iitca.co.in
 www.google.com
 www.wikipedia.com

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