The Various Methods Available to Tear Down Your Building
Every demolition job comes with a unique set of requirements and challenges. For that reason, demolition contractors have devised various methods that can be used to make sure that each project is performed according to exact specifications. Here is a look at some common techniques that demolition professionals can use to flatten structures today:
Demolition by hand
This method involves the use of hand tools such as sledgehammers, chisels, fire axes, and claw bars to systematically tear down a building part by part. It is, therefore, not a fast method of getting the job done and it is restricted to small projects. Because safety is of great concern when demolishing by hand, it is advisable to tear down the structure in the reverse sequence to that followed when building it. This means that the roof section goes first before other sections of the building are touched. This eliminates the risk of the roof caving in when staff are working within the building.
Demolition by hand is typically restricted to single-storey buildings because demolition people tearing down a building by hand would be compelled to work from the topmost floor of a muti-storey building all the way to the ground. This can pose serious safety risks, as the demolition personnel may sustain serious injuries if the floors they are standing on collapse due to the additional weight of the removed items.
Demolition by mechanical means
When it is strenuous to complete a demolition job by hand, it is better to use demolition equipment. There are numerous ways to tear down a building mechanically. Demolition equipment like a bulldozer, a caterpillar, or a wrecking ball attached to a crane can be used. Balling, for instance, is a fast, practical and safe way of demolition when dealing with multi-storey buildings that have undergone structural damage. With the machine operator safely working a safe distance away from the falling and flying debris (in the cabin section), many of the safety hazards associated with demolition by hand can be avoided.
Demolition by implosion
This is the quickest but potentially the most hazardous way to collapse a building. It involves planting and detonating explosives inside a building. The blasting crew must ensure that there are no adjacent buildings that will be structurally weakened by the implosion, and any major air pollution must be effectively controlled. This method of demolition is usually used to bring down large buildings.
Demolition experts will make sure they regularly clear debris off from the work site to avoid pile up and to create a safe working space.