What is controlled demolition?
Precision, control, safety — bringing a building down can achieve all these qualities using the method of controlled demolition.
Gone is the need to rely on dynamite or wrecking balls to plough through structures in an unguided and inaccurate way. With controlled demolition, you can achieve a high standard of exactness and care that is far safer for employees and surrounding buildings.
So let’s take a look at what controlled demolition is, how it can benefit you, and the three main methods available to you.
What is controlled demolition?
Controlled demolition is the systematic and targeted removal of a building structure piece by piece, using precise, guided and controlled techniques. The demolition is effectively carried out in stages, minimising damage to surrounding buildings, protecting employee safety, and ensuring a far more accurate result.
Controlled demolition methods are an alternative to less precise techniques such as explosions or wrecking balls that can be more difficult to control and far more harmful to people and places.
What are the benefits of controlled demolition?
Controlled demolition has many benefits including:
- Less noise
- Fewer fumes
- Reduction in harmful vibrations
- Remote demolition techniques protect workers from falling debris
- Ensures greater control and precision
- Protects the surroundings from damage
- Supports high standards of health and safety on site
- Access to tight or hard-to-reach areas
Now we’ve explored the advantages of controlled demolition, let’s look at the methods available.
What are the different types of controlled demolition?
There are three main controlled demolition techniques, as follows:
- Concrete bursting: Bursting heads are put into pre-drilled holes in the structure which then hydraulically and carefully ‘burst’ the holes to form cracks. Once this step is complete, pieces of the burst structure are removed safely.
- Diamond drilling: Diamond drill bits are known for their strength and accuracy, and are used to bore into hard materials to create precise and measured openings. Free of dust and vibration, diamond drilling is a non-percussive method of material removal that protects user health and safety.
- Robotic demolition: A remote-controlled and compact Brokk robot is operated from a safe distance which enables a worker to avoid falling material. This robot can navigate nimbly around a site, even accessing tight or hard-to-reach areas. These machines are fitted with hydraulic attachments and work by crunching and breaking apart material in a targeted and precise manner. The Brokk robot is also quiet, reducing noise pollution and protecting employee comfort and health.
For further discussion about which technique might suit your project best, just ask a professional today.
Searching for targeted and controlled demolition in Nottingham, Derby and Leicester? Here at UK Diamond Drilling, we’re the region’s go-to providers of controlled demolitions. Using techniques such as diamond drilling and track-mounted Brokk robots, we ensure absolute safety and precision on site. Get in touch to discover more today.
