R. Baker & Son Power Plant Decommissioning

U.S. nuclear power plants are aging.  According to the Department of Energy, the average age of the 5,800 power plants in operation is about 40 years, and many them are outdated, environmentally unfriendly, costly to operate and maintain, and unprofitable.  Though nuclear power is inexpensive to produce and emits no greenhouse gases, and nuclear facilities account for about 20% of the power generated in the U.S., there is increasing pressure to make relicensing requirements more stringent and to shut down aging nuclear reactors. Also, the EPA and state agencies are imposing tougher regulations, and many of these facilities would require expensive retrofits to come into compliance.   As a result, many operators are deciding that extending the life of near-obsolete nuclear power plants no longer makes good business sense, and are opting to decommission, dismantle and/or demolish their facilities. 

Though decommissioning can be a complex and expensive task, the cost can be comparatively small compared to retrofit, and recovered scrap and salvage can offset a good portion of these costs.  Some states have established objectives shifting toward green alternatives such as wind, solar, geothermal and biofuel, and plant operators are exploring ways to convert existing facilities to renewable sources following decommissioning.  

R. Baker and Son is a seasoned contractor offering total power plant decommissioning services, from consultation to decommissioning plan development, and we have numerous safe, successful decommissioning projects under our belts.  We provide complete demolition, selective dismantling, and rigging and removal of power plant equipment, as well as asset recovery and used equipment sales.  Power plant decommissioning is strictly regulated, particularly so in nuclear facilities, and R. Baker and Son operates in strict 100% compliance.  

To find out more about our power plant decommissioning services, please contact R. Baker and Son at 732-222-3553.  

About R. Baker and Son All Industrial Services

R. Baker and 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.

Demolition, wrecking and razing, rigging, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business / SDVOSB, salvage, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and machinery moving, building demolition, riggers, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, interior demolition, investment and asset recovery.


R. Baker and Son All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311

Website: http://www.rbaker.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Demolition.Rigging

Demolition Vibrations Used to Study Earthquakes

When a 13-story building on the California State East Bay campus was declared seismically unsafe, university officials considered their options. Retrofit was deemed too expensive, and the most economically sensible solution was demolition by implosion, then rebuild.  As the demolition date approached, a Cal State geology professor approached US Geological Survey officials with an idea:  why not study the vibrations from the implosion to learn about the area’s seismic vulnerabilities?  So when the building was demolished on August 17, 2013, more than 600 miniature seismographs in the area collected data that will help earthquake scientists better understand one the most dangerous fault zones in the U.S. 
 
According to the USGS, there is a 63 percent chance of a major earthquake in the San Francisco Bay area in the next 30 years.  The 13-story Warren Hall, built in 1971, stood a mere 2,000 feet from the Hayward Fault, which is considered the area’s most likely to shift.  Vibration recordings from the demolition will help scientists develop a seismic map of the area to locate trace fault lines that split off from the main fault, and determine where and how the ground might move when a large quake occurs.  The data will also help cities plan future development. 

 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..

Demolition, wrecking and razing, rigging, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business / SDVOSB, salvage, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and machinery moving, building demolition, riggers, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, interior demolition, investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son All Industrial and Demolition Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Demolition.Rigging

R. Baker & Son: Are These Innovative New Techniques the Future of High-Rise Demolition in NYC?

Like New York, Tokyo, Japan is a highly-populated, densely-packed city.  Many of Tokyo’s mid-20th century high-rise buildings are becoming obsolete and must be demolished.  Japanese companies have developed two groundbreaking techniques for dismantling skyscrapers, referred to by some as “stealth” demolition, that could be utilized in New York City in the near future.  One demolition method entails buildings being dismantled from the top down, with all of the work hidden under a moving scaffold, and the other, remarkably, has structures being dismantled from the ground up.

Only a handful of New York skyscrapers have been demolished during the last 50 years (most recently the Deutsche Bank building in lower Manhattan), but like Tokyo, many are in need of renovation or demolition.  Many aging high-rises have low ceilings, limited floor space, single-pane glass, and outdated heating and cooling systems, but overhaul is oftentimes economically unfeasible, so the best option may be to demolish and rebuild.  Implosion and wrecking balls are not permitted in NYC, so the conventional method of high-rise demolition entails contractors erecting scaffolding all the way up and around the building, and dismantling it floor by floor.  The work is noisy, dirty, and creates an eyesore for New Yorkers. 
With the top-down demolition method, an enclosed scaffold “cap” that resembles the building’s façade is constructed over the roof on temporary columns supported by hydraulic jacks.  Workers demolish the building two floors at a time, and the columns are lowered into new positions.  Because all work takes place under the cap, noise levels are 20 decibels lower than tradition methods and 90% more dust is contained.   The work is hidden from passersby, and many people are not even aware that buildings are being demolished until late stages of the demolition. 

 The reverse of the above demolition method is a bottom-up approach in which steel columns are cut at ground level and the entire building is lowered in 30-inch increments on huge hydraulic jacks as each floor is dismantled.  This eliminates the need to have work crews and heavy equipment at the top of the building and is safer than traditional methods. 

Other benefits to these new demolition techniques include more efficient abatement of hazardous materials like asbestos, and easier sorting of recyclables such as steel, aluminum, copper and concrete. 
Though the Japanese demolition techniques have not yet been used in the U.S ., there will come a time in the very near future when more and more outdated Manhattan high-rise buildings will need to be demolished, and there is a good chance that New York City area contractors will be adopting these innovative methods. 

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..

Demolition, wrecking and razing, rigging, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business / SDVOSB, salvage, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and machinery moving, building demolition, riggers, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, interior demolition, investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311
Web: http://www.rbaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Demolition.Rigging

Riggers and Millwrights

Top rigging, dismantling and demolition contractors like R. Baker & Son rely on the extensive knowledge, skill, and experience of riggers and millwrights. So what, exactly, are millwrights and riggers, and what do they do?
 
Millwright:
A millwright is a tradesperson who installs, maintains and repairs stationary industrial machinery and mechanical equipment by interpreting blueprints and schematics, constructing foundations, performing layouts, and assembling parts to perfect working order. Millwrights must possess a combination of skills and knowledge that includes steel fabrication, welding, machining, electronics, and fluid mechanics. They are trained through apprenticeship programs that combine classroom education with on-the-job training.  Most apprenticeships last four years and may include an Associate degree. 

Rigger:
A journeyman rigger is a tradesperson who specializes in lifting, moving, and placing extremely large or heavy loads, machinery, and objects using specialized equipment.  Riggers are responsible for staging loads and determining their sizes and weights; building or assembling jibs, derricks, cranes, booms, and other components; setting up rigging gear, cables, pulleys, and other tackle; erecting structural steel and concrete panels, etc.; and maintaining rigging equipment.  Rigging is learned through apprenticeship. 



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..

Demolition, wrecking and razing, rigging, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business / SDVOSB, salvage, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and machinery moving, building demolition, riggers, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, interior demolition, investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services
1 Globe Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311
Web: http://www.rbaker.com/demolition-contractors-new-york.php
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Demolition.Rigging

Plant Relocation: Working with a Multi-Phased Master Plan

Relocation of a plant is an extremely demanding task, but a large portion of the work is done in the planning. All plant relocation projects must be handled through a master plan with multiple phases and sub-phases.  There are many different segments to every operation – employees, machinery, IT, packaging, shipping and receiving, etc.  In plant relocation projects, it is important for the contractor to understand the client’s profit centers within the company prior to planning and phasing a project.

Early phases of a plant relocation project always require installation of a “backbone” of utilities and IT network.  This can include electrical substations and distribution, IT racks and switches, building automation systems, and process control systems.  These early phases require larger expenditures because the investments will support all of the future swing-over phases.  To ensure a seamless transition, minimizing expenses and downtime are key.

Logistics are highly important in any plant relocation project, and in addition to moving equipment, a project may also involve purchasing new equipment and/or upgrading or repairing existing equipment.  The complexities unique to every plant relocation project require detailed user requirement specifications and the input of multiple disciplines to make sure the multi-phased approach works.

The basis of every plant relocation project is to ensure that the backbone is properly set in place so that the rest can follow.  R. Baker & Son has vast experience in partnering with plant relocation clients to help develop a comprehensive, multi-phased project plan.  To find out more about plant relocation and how R. Baker & Son can help plan your next project, please contact us at 732-222-3553.

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..

Demolition, wrecking and razing, rigging, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business / SDVOSB, salvage, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and machinery moving, building demolition, riggers, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, interior demolition, investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311
http://www.rbaker.com/demolition-contractors-new-york.php
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Demolition.Rigging

R. Baker & Son: Demolition, History and Wrecking Balls

Many of us can recall seeing wrecking balls being used to demolish buildings in old cartoons and black and white films.  But the huge steel spheres that were predominantly used from the 1930s to the 1970s are rarely seen in modern demolition, having largely been replaced by long reach excavators. 

Wrecking balls are made from forged steel and commonly weigh between 1,000 and 12,000 lbs.  No one knows for sure who invented it, though several wrecking companies claim to have done so, but one of the earliest documented uses took place in England in 1888. Unlike their spherical predecessors, modern wrecking balls are pear-shaped with a flat top, which allows them to be pulled back through a roof or slab more easily.

To demolish roofs and slabs, a wrecking ball is suspended from a crane boom by a steel chain and allowed to free-fall onto the structure.  Walls can be demolished by two methods, either by repeatedly pulling the wrecking ball toward the crane cab and allowing it to swing free like a pendulum to strike the structure, or by pivoting the crane boom to accelerate the ball toward its target. 

Though effective, wrecking ball demolition is rather rudimentary and difficult to control, and often caused collateral damage.  Long reach excavators, with their high-tech attachments such as metal cutting shears, concrete processors, and grapples, are much safer and offer far better precision and efficiency.  Nowadays wrecking balls are sometimes used on brick and concrete structures, in quarries, and for breaking up concrete roads and runways.  

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.

Demolition, wrecking and razing, rigging, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business / SDVOSB, salvage, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and machinery moving, building demolition, riggers, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, interior demolition, investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311
Web: http://www.rbaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Demolition.Rigging

R. Baker & Son the Clear Choice for NYC Demolition

New York is an extraordinary city, and NYC demolition projects pose very unique challenges.  Clients should always select a qualified, licensed and registered firm with extensive experience in NYC demolition and thorough knowledge of city codes and regulations. 

R. Baker & Son got its start in NYC and the tri-state area almost 80 years ago, and each year we are ranked among the top demolition contractors in the New York tri-state area, which includes New York State, the five boroughs of New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut.  R. Baker & Son performs numerous large-scale demolition projects in New York City each year and serve as the preferred rigging and demolition contractor for NYC national landmarks and historic sites such as the World Trade Center, the 9/11 Memorial Museum, the Statue of Liberty, and the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.  R. Baker & Son is fully licensed and registered in New York City, and our standards of safety and performance consistently exceed government and industry standards. 

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..

Demolition, wrecking and razing, rigging, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business / SDVOSB, salvage, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and machinery moving, building demolition, riggers, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, interior demolition, investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311
Web: http://www.rbaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Demolition.Rigging