SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

FOR DISMANTLING/
DEMOLITION OF A
BUILDING
 INTRODUCTION
 Demolition is the dısmantlıng, razıng, destroyıng or
wreckıng any building or structure or any part of
building by pre-planned and controlled methods.
 Demolition is bringing down the building and other
structures safely.
 The demolition of structure with the help of explosives
is called as implosion.
 The main objective for demolition may be the age of the
structure.
 Methods of demolition depends upon type of structure,
height and surrounding structures.
DISMANTALING
OF
BUILDING
 OBJECTIVE
S

 Prevention damaging the neighbourhood environment.

 Repair of damaged structures.
 Reuse: Construction of other structure at that previously
constructed site.
 Provides safety for the occupants in the building.
STEPS BEFORE DEMOLITION

Surveying

Removal of
hazardous
materials

Preparation
of plan

Safety
Measures
 SURVEY FOR DEMOLITION
 For demolition of a building ,detailed survey and
assessment of a building is necessary, It includes:
1. Building survey
 Drawing records

 Material survey

 Hazardous materials

 Photographs of a building to be demolished

 Surrounding buildings

 Building height, distance from nearby buildings

2. Structural survey
 Drawing records
 Special structure
 Behaviour of structure
 Structural support system
 Degree of deterioration
 REMOVAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS:

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
Asbestos Material
Waste Disposal 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.

Soil Contamination
 PREPARATION OF PLAN:
 Based on demolition surveys, a demolition plan is prepared . This
plan is produced with the application for approval to the local
authority.
 This plan include
 Plan showing the location of a building to be demolished.
 Building height, structural system
 Extent of damage to the building
 Existing structures and facilities in the vicinity
 Layout plan
 Proposed method of demolition
 Safety measures
 Proposed sequence of demolition steps
 Details of equipment's used.
 Plan for handling and disposal of debris
 Proposed arrangements for site supervision
 DEMOLITION SEQUENCE
Demolition sequence shall be determined based on Actual site conditions,
Restraints, The building layout, The Structural layout and its construction.
In general, the following sequence shall apply:
1. Utilities disconnection. Electricity, plumbing water lines, drainage
connections etc.
2. All cantilevered structures, canopies, verandahs and features attached to
the external walls shall first be demolished prior to demolition of main
building and its internal structures on each floor.
3. When demolishing the roof structure, all lift machine rooms and
watertanks at high level shall be demolished in “top down” sequence to
the main roof level.
4. Demolition of the floor slabs shall begin at mid span and work towards the
supporting beams.
Demolition of Cantilevered Reinforced concrete slab
(Manual Method)
Demolition of Cantilevered Reinforced concrete slab &
beam (Manual Method)
Demolition of the floor slabs shall begin at mid span and
work towards the supporting beams.
Demolition of External Beam
(Manual Method)
 FACTORS AFFECTING SELECTION OF
DEMOLITION METHOD
 Type of structure
Different types of structure like load bearing
masonry structure , RCC framed structure, steel structure ,
etc.
o Size of structure
If the size of structure is small, hand demolition can be
sufficient. for large structures and multi-storeyed buildings
special like wrecking ball method, deliberate collapse, implosion
technique etc are necessary.
o Available time period
o Location of structure
o Limitation of noise, dust and vibrations
o Skill of workers
o Safety
o Availability of equipment
o Adjacent structures
 Wrecking method

Pusher arm
Mechanical technique
Demolition techniques

Engineering Methods Concrete sawing

demolition method
Implosion technique
Pressure jetting
method

Welding & wire

cutter

Non Engineering Hand driven

Manual demolition
demolition hydraulic jacks

Hammers, Picks
 MANUAL METHOD

Manual methods are carried out top down, proceeding, in

general, from the roof to ground.
The sequence of demolition may vary, depending on
• site conditions
• structural elements to be demolished.
For reinforced concrete buildings, jack hammers are
commonly used to break down the concrete.
Oxy-acetylene torch could be used to cut the reinforcements.
The reinforcements shall remain until all the concrete connecting
to or supported by the reinforcement is broken away or when its
support is no longer required.
In congested areas, these features could have critical impact on the
safety of the public.
Demolition of these features shall performed with extreme
caution.
If rope or tie wires are used to pull down the structural elements,
the pulling wire must be at least 4 times stronger than the
anticipated pulling force.
In addition, workers shall be shielded from the rope or tie wires.
 MECHANICAL METHOD
• The sequence of demolition by machine is typically the same as
the top down manual method, except that most of the
demolition is done by mechanical plant.
• The demolition begins with the lifting of the mechanical plant
on to the building top floor.
• When rope or tie wire is used for pulling, the workers shall be
protected or stay away from the area within reach.
Adequate propping shall be installed at floor levels below the
working floor to safely support the operation of the mechanical
plant.
The movement of the mechanical plant shall only be within the
propped area. The propped areas shall be suitably marked.
The movement of the mechanical plant shall be prohibited
within 2 m of the building edge, within 1 m of any floor
openings or any cantilevered structures.
The mechanical plant shall be lifted onto the
roof of the building by the use of mobile crane or other
appropriate means as approved.
The machine shall descend down to the next floor by means of a
ramp. The ramp may be a temporary structure or other appropriate
design.
The slope of the ramp shall be no steeper that 1.75 to 1 or as
recommended by the machine manufacturer.
As an alternative, the machine may also be lowered to the next floor
by the use.
Typical Sequence Of Top Down Method
With Mechanical Equipment
Typical Sequence Of Top Down Method
With Mechanical Equipment
 Demolition of Cantilevered Slab by (Mobile Machine)

Demolition Of Cantilevered Slab By Mobile Machine –Cut & Lift Method

 DEMOLITION BY WRECKING BALL
The wrecking ball application
consists of a crane equipped with
a steel ball.
The destruction of the building is by
the impact energy of the steel ball
suspended from the crawler crane.
The wrecking ball operates outside
the building.
This method is suitable for
dilapidated buildings, silos and
other industrial facilities.
However, the operation requires
substantial clear space. The
application also demands high
level skill operators and well
equipped.
Operation of Wrecking Ball
 The balling of each section of the structure shall proceed from
top to bottom.
Recommended techniques for the wrecking ball operations include
(1) Vertical Drop -free falling of the wrecking ball onto the structure and
(2) Swing in line - swinging of the ball in-line with the jib.
A second dragline will normally connect to the ball horizontally to control
the ball motion.
The ball shall be swung into the building
The jib or boom shall be operated with no less than 3 m above the portion
of the structure being demolished.
Clear space for operation between the crane and the structure being
demolished shall be ½ of the height of structure, with additional
distance between crane and boundary wall for manoeuvrability.
High strength wire shall be used to allow pull-out of the wrecking ball from
potential traps.
To minimize the dust impact on the surrounding area, the structure to be
demolished shall be pre- soaked with water before demolition. Water
spraying shall continue on the structure during demolition.
The operation shall not be performed adjacent to overhead
power lines. The site shall be entirely fenced off to forbid public access.
 RUSHERS
• The crusher attachment breaks the
Concrete and the reinforcement by the
hydraulic thrust through the long boom arm
system.
• The hydraulic crusher can be operated from
the ground outside the building. This
method is also suitable for dangerous
buildings, silos and other industrial facilities.
• The operation shall have a minimum clear
space of ½ the building height as a safety
zone for the falling debris.
• The excavator shall operate on firm ground that
can support the machine during the crusher
operation.
• Each section of the structure shall be
demolished in a top down sequence.
 Hydraulic shears
Pulverizers
Grapple

Demolition By Hydraulic Crusher With

Long Arm Boom
DEMOLITION BY EXPLOSIVES
 EXPLOSIVES
Introduction
• In the controlled demolition industry,
building implosion is the strategic
placing of explosive material and
timing of its detonation so that a
structure collapses on itself in a
matter of seconds, minimizing the
physical damage to its immediate
surroundings.
• Despite its terminology, building
implosion also includes the
controlled demolition of other
structures, such as bridges,
smokestacks, towers & tunnels. 34

• Numerous small explosives,

strategically placed within the
structure, are used to catalyze the
collapse. Nitro- glycerine, dynamite,
or other explosives are used to shatter
reinforced concrete supports.
RDX-based explosive compounds
expand at a very high rate of speed, up
to 27,000 feet per second (8,230
meters per second)
 Pre-blast Considerations
 The design may include pre-weakening of the structure, the strategy in
placement of the explosives and time delay so that the building will
collapse in a safe manner.
 Pre-weakening of the structure may include cutting out a portion of the
shear walls and other structural elements.
 A test blast may be conducted to verify the strength of the structural
member and to fine tune the explosive design.
 Protection of the adjacent properties and habitats is also an important
consideration.
 A good design will cause the structure to fall towards the centre of the
building and/or within the protected area.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Demolition
.
 HOARDING AND COVERED WALKWAY
 The primary purpose of hoarding and covered walkway is to
provide protection of the public during the construction or
demolition of buildings.
 Generally, hoarding isolates the demolition site from the
public.

I III

II
Criteria For Hoarding And
Covered Walkway
WALKWAYS:
Walkways shall be provided for the use of
the workmen who shall be instructed to use them
and all such walkways shall be kept adequately
lighted, free from debris and other materials.

CATCH PLATFORMS
In demolition of exterior wall of multi-
storeyed structure, catch platform of heavy
planking shall be provided to prevent injuries to
the worker working below and to the public,
when the external walls are more than20 m in
height.
 PROTECTIVE SCREENS

Protective screen covers

shall be placed, where
necessary, to prevent flying
pieces from injuring the fellow workmen.
Bamboo scaffolds or metal scaffolds shall be used for
providing protective screens to completely enclose the
building structure for retaining dust and small debris.
Tarpaulin and heavy duty nets shall be used to cover the
exterior face of the scaffold.
The protective screens shall be secured to the
scaffoldings at intervals in both horizontal and vertical
CHUTES
Debris, waste and other materials
shall not be thrown, tipped or shot
down from a height where they are
liable to cause injury to any person
on or near the site.

Existing lift shaft, light well and openings on floor may be

used to convey debris down the building floors.
Areas adjacent to the openings of these features used as a
chute shall be barricaded when they are not in use. Warning
signs shall be posted to prevent workers from entering the
area.
As an option, plastic chutes may be used inside the floor
openings and lift wells to minimise noise and confine the
falling debris.
 TEMPORARY SUPPORTS
Temporary supports are required to cater for the
loads due the machinery used in demolition, debris
accumulated, impact from fallen debris and lateral
loads due to the fallen debris and wind force etc.
A suitable factor of safety shall be considered.
They are also provided when any part of the
structure or any element being demolished is not
self-supporting (or)
when the temporary stability of the structure or its
elements could be impaired as a result of the
demolition activities.
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 session as well as on the
job training.

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.
Electrical Safety
 A properly connected power source
from a local electric utility supplier
or a mobile electricity generator
shall be utilized in demolition sites.
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. 12

 All furniture, timber, doors, etc. shall

be removed before any welding
work is performed. Fire fighting
appliances shall be provided and
maintained in working conditions.
Vibration
Demolition work will cause vibration to neighbouring buildings or
structures to various extent, depending on the method of
demolition, which should be controlled by suitable monitoring. The
most serious vibration is caused by implosion.
Air Pollution
Concrete breaking, handling of debris and hauling process are
main sources of dust from building demolition. Dust mitigation
measures, such as water spray, shall be adopted to minimise dust
emissions. Burning of waste shall not be allowed.
Diesel fumes generated by mechanical plant or equipment shall be
controlled.
Noise
 Noise pollution arising from the demolition works including, but not
limited to, the use of specified powered mechanical equipment
such as pneumatic breakers, excavators and generators, etc.,
scaffolding, erection of temporary works, loading and
transportation of debris, etc. affects the workers, and the
demolition site.
THANK YOU!!!
 Wrecking method

Pusher arm
Mechanical technique
Methods Concrete sawing
Demolition techniques

method
Engineering
Implosion technique
demolition
Pressure jetting
method
Deconstruction
technique

Welding & wire

cutter

Non Engineering Hand driven

Manual demolition
demolition hydraulic jacks

Hammers, Picks