How Demolition Contractors Carry Out Selective Demolition
Nowadays, demolition companies are opting to adhere to proactive guidelines in an effort to make their demolition operations more environmental friendly. Considering this, demolition contractors are opting for selective method also known as soft strip demolition technique geared towards salvaging recyclable building components for future projects rather than simply knocking the entire building down. Some of the reusable materials recovered include brick, metals, wood, concrete, walls, ceilings, floor and fittings to name a few. In the end, selective demolition capitalises on efficiency by minimising waste, repurposing recyclable materials and reducing ecological impact. This article offers a break down how demolition contractors (like Brajkovich Demolition & Salvage (WA) Pty Ltd) carry out selective demolition.
Project Survey
Selective demolition applies to both small residential properties and large-scale commercial structures. The process commences with an assessment identifying dangerous materials as well as quantifying reusable materials. Immediately the figures have been examined, the demolition phase may start.
Team Selection
A clean demolition is one, which recovers all the reusable materials while creating minimal ecological impact during and past the process. For this to happen, the demolition company needs to bring on board a host of professionals. This includes electricians, plumbers, mechanics, structural engineers, architects and so on. All these skilled professionals will give their input towards planning the demolition process.
Cut and Cap
After selecting a team and planning the best demolition strategy, the demolition company sends in the plumbers, electricians and mechanics. Note that a building chosen for selective demolition remains a live building. This means that the major operative functions of the building must be literally cut and capped to guarantee a safe flattening process and to prepare various parts and components for elimination and recycling, if feasible. The electrician will cut off electricity to the section slotted for destruction as well as provide temporary lighting inside the building for proper visibility during demolition. In addition, the mechanic will close down the heating and ventilation air conditioning systems and the plumbing professionals will cap any open pipes. For large-scale projects, all the utilities may be shut down entirely.
Set Up an Egress
As earlier stated, the main objective of selective demolition is to lessen demolition expenses and repurpose materials. With this in mind, an egress strategy is important for maximising the gathering of reusable structural materials. An egress system allows the demolition contractors to empty the demolished structural materials into a dumpster for categorisation and recycling.
Pick and Pack
During the demolition phase, the contractors will presort knocked down structural materials for salvaging and scrap valuation. These sorted materials are normally quantified by poundage, which enables you to effectively evaluate the efficiency of this demolition technique. Some of the common recycled structural materials during this phase include piping, concrete and metal wiring.
Strip to the Shell
The demolition contractors will dismantle the mechanical, architectural and electrical components. What is left is a shell of a building, which is ready for refurbishment.