Demolition Contractors Are Creators

If you are interested in demolition, R. Baker & Son recommends the National Demolition Association’s video “Introduction to the Demolition Industry”. This informative video explores the history of demolition and the demolition contractor’s role in urban renewal, recycling, environmental cleanup, restoration, and disaster response. 

 

Narrator Ed Asner describes demolition contractors not as destroyers but as creators of space for new construction, of ways to reuse recycled building materials, and of jobs. Demolition brings tax dollars into new communities, creates space for new parks, and protects public safety by removing dangerous structures. 
 

The demolition industry is described as constantly evolving to meet new safety regulations and environments restraints. Interior demolition clears old factory space to make way for new equipment, and remove interior walls to create modern office spaces. The video features footage of building implosion, heavy equipment demolishing homes, buildings, bridges, industrial complexes, and oil tanks, giant shears cutting through steel beams, and machinery is shown crushing and grinding concrete.

Asner talks about demolition contractors’ involvement in the removal of hazardous materials like lead, asbestos and PCBs, as well as the recycling of materials like concrete, steel, iron, copper, and wood. Historic preservation is discussed, describing how demolition contractors dismantle building interiors while leaving facades and other architectural features intact. “Demolition is not destruction”, Asner says. “It’s the first step in creation.”

To view the “Introduction to the Demolition Industry”, visit https://www.youtube.com/user/demolitionassoc

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-222-3553
http://www.rbaker.com

‪#‎rigging‬ ‪#‎demolition‬ ‪#‎construction‬ ‪#‎environmental‬

Tank Farm Dismantling

New York and New Jersey have a fair amount of tank farms serving pharmaceutical, food and beverage, industrial manufacturing and petrochemical industries. Dismantling a tank farm is not typically a complex undertaking, but requires an experienced dismantling contractor to properly identify safety and environmental hazards as well as asset recovery opportunities. R Baker has been involved in dozens of tank farm dismantling projects over the past several years.

One recent dismantling project in New Jersey required mechanical, electrical, and structural dismantling of several tank farms. Erected in the early 80s, the farms mainly consisted of elevated stainless steel tanks ranging from 500 to 10,000 gallons covered by a steel-framed Butler-style roof system. Most of the piping was stainless steel, with some plastic piping, and there were several sets of pumps for product transfer between tanks and delivery trucks. Connection points to the tanks, pumps, and other accessories were either stainless steel weld or tri-clover clamp. There was an extensive grounding system for all tanks, pumps, and piping, along with several grounding bars for static connection of drums. All of the lighting and power for pumps and outlets for portable pumps were explosion-proof due to a hazardous environment Class I, Division 1, groups C and D classification.

Dismantlement of the tank farm entailed unbolting and cutting of all piping, pumps, tanks, and electrical systems after they were cleaned and identified as safe for lockout tag out. Salvageable pumps and fittings carefully removed for reuse at another facility. After all of the mechanical electrical and structural parts and pieces were removed, R. Baker & Son dismantled the parapet wall that surrounds the tank farms. Concrete floor trench drains and holding tank were removed from the ground. The concrete was tested for any contaminants and carefully cut and removed in square blocks. Clean backfill and stone replaced the concrete floor and trench to make the area reusable again.

R. Baker & Son - Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-222-3553
http://rbaker.com/dismantling-contractors.php

BIM on Plant Relocation Projects

Building information modeling, or BIM, is digital modeling technology used in building planning, design, construction, operation, and management. It is widely used in new construction, selective demoltion, and renovation projects, and it is becoming recognized as a highly effective tool for plant relocation projects.

BIM-to-field laser scanning equipment can be used create a 3D model of existing mechanical and structural building components at the new facility. By centralizing information in one coherent, readily-accessible system and allowing building owners, designers, and plant relocation contractors to take a virtual tour of the completed facility in the model. Placement of new and existing equipment in the new facility is simplified and problem areas that might not be apparent on paper are more easily identified and corrected. 

BIM can also be used in plant relocation to pinpoint all electrical utilities, such as electrical substation VFDs, motor control centers, large electrical conduit, and racks. Pipes, ductwork lines can be plotted, as well as maintenance and pull spaces. Design changes entered in the BIM model automatically update all trickle-down details, eliminating relocation problems and errors. R. Baker & Son also relies on building information modeling for rigging, dismantling, selective demolition, and plant decommissioning projects.

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-222-3553
http://www.rbaker.com

Knowing What’s Buried in Concrete an Important Part of Demolition

The history of concrete goes back at least 8,000 years, and it has been used extensively in construction since the Roman Empire. Next to water, it is the second most-consumed material on earth. Consequently, millions of tons of concrete are removed from demolition sites around the world each year. Knowing what’s buried in the concrete is an important part of every demolition project.

Demolition of concrete is not a straightforward, cut-and-dried process. It is not uncommon for contractors to have embedded rebar, conduit, plumbing piping, and, occasionally, duct work in cement during construction, rather than installing them overhead. If blueprints are not available at demolition, as is often the case, demolition contractors must do some detective work to determine what is present within the walls and floors of a concrete structure. This is crucial on selective demolition projects, where damaging or severing an electrical feeder, fiber optic, or plumbing line can be dangerous and potentially catastrophic to operations.

The first step in finding piping and/or ductwork lines in concrete is to identify where they might originate, such as in mechanical rooms, shafts, and basement areas, and determine whether the line is live. If a line is to remain in-use, an MOP (method of procedure) must be developed to identify, mark, and preserve these utilities. Strick lockout/tagout practices must be followed. Paths can often be traced with a capacitive voltage sensor, or tick tester, which sends a signal through the conduit or pipe, and workers use a detector to mark the line in question. Size and depth of a line can be determined by x-raying sections of the concrete.

With over eighty years of experience in demolition, R. Baker & Son is an established expert in concrete removal. We properly identify what’s hiding within clients’ walls and floors before cutting, chopping, or coring concrete, ensuring a safe and successful outcome on every demolition project.

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-222-3553
http://rbaker.com/selective-demolition.php

Demolition and Building Implosion

In the controlled demolition industry, the commonly-used term “implosion” is a bit of a misnomer. A building implosion is actually a large series of pre-calculated detonations that cut a structure’s supports in an intricately-planned, -timed and -executed sequence of operation. Explosives remove internal supports first, and outer supports are pulled by gravity into the center of the structure. Controlled implosion can be done on a much shorter schedule than traditional demolition, and can greatly reduce project costs. When engineered and executed properly, implosion can safely reduce a large building or structure to a pile of rubble in seconds, rather than months or years.

Safeguarding nearby people and surrounding buildings is most important part of implosion demolition, particularly when performed in an urban setting. Months of preparation and planning go into a project, and the actual implosion usually occurs on a Sunday morning, when there is minimal human activity. Spectators who turn out to see the show are kept outside a safe perimeter. Experiencing a final check and countdown, feeling the percussion of explosives, and watching a building collapse gracefully into a neat pile of rubble in a matter of seconds, and hearing the cheer of the crowd is an impressive and exciting experience for demolition enthusiasts and workers alike.

R. Baker & Son
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-222-3553
http://www.rbaker.com

Demolition Project: Boiler Removal

Some of R. Baker & Son’s more challenging demolition projects involve removal of huge, old boilers. Baker crews are currently engaged in a demolition project at leading central New Jersey university in which outdated, inefficient boilers are being replaced by multiple smaller high-efficiency boilers. This is a service we’ve performed numerous times for energy-conscious clients as of late. Three or four smaller high-efficiency boilers can be installed within an old boiler’s footprint, and will significantly outperform the old boiler.

Years ago, boiler vessels were usually rigged into place, in one massive piece, early in a construction project, and the structure would be built around it. Oftentimes, have multiple boilers of various sizes to handle the heating load of a building. Most of these inefficient old boilers are located in congested mechanical rooms, surrounded with equipment such as air compressors, pumps, aerators, chillers, water treatment skids, etc., as well as piping, electrical conduit, controls, sprinkler lines, and other systems. All of these items serve to complicate a demolition project.

Many demolition and selective demolition projects require the dismantling and removal of large boilers without disturbing surrounding equipment or disrupting operations, so intensive planning and coordination are required. Everything must be identified and plotted, and a specific safety plan must be compiled with a task hazard analysis. Items like conduit, control wiring, or plumbing may require relocation before the boiler can be cut up and removed. Proper ventilation and smoke control are a must.

Accompanying photos of boiler removal are from a recent R. Baker & Son demolition project at a large pharmaceuticals facility. Many facilities are undertaking similar projects.

R. Baker & Son - All Industial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-222-3553
http://www.rbaker.com

“Rubble Trouble New York” Demolition Video Game

Being a demolition contractor in the New York metro area can be challenging to say the least. There are many planning and safety procedures to follow, permits to be obtained, tools and equipment to be maintained, and tight schedules to be met. It's a tough job, and not very glamorous. However, someone has found a way to make demolition in New York fun for kids with Rubble Trouble New York, a free online video game. You don't need to be a demolition contractor to play, all you need is an appetite for destruction.

Rubble Trouble New York is a physics-based strategy demolition game first released in 2010. Whether its interior demolition or taking down an industrial complex, Rubble Trouble New York has 32 levels to master. Each level, players are provided with a different demolition tool, such as drills, wrecking balls, explosives, wrecking tools, and even missiles, to earn money before running out of tool power. Structures become progressively more difficult to demolish, and players must avoid damaging other buildings and injuring construction workers.

Rubble Trouble New York is popular among kids who like demolition, wrecking and construction games. We at R. Baker & Son gave it a try and could not get past level 9. Maybe you'll have more luck.

About R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) in business since 1935, is a premier specialized contractor operating in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, with over one hundred employees and an exemplary safety record (we have been directly involved in four sites that received VPP OSHA Safety Awards). R. Baker & Son is financially strong, with bonding capabilities over $10 million. Capabilities include industrial and commercial demolition, rigging, machinery- and plant-moving, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and equipment relocation, interior demolition, selective demolition, warehousing, wrecking and razing, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, salvage, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, and investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
http://www.rbaker.com