Sky Cranes What Do You See?

Tower cranes are used in almost every major city in the world, and they are most easily spotted when you are arriving by plane. In fact, some people judge a city economy by relating the amount of sky cranes hanging over buildings that are under construction as a positive sign for the economy. A good example of this is the New York / New Jersey metro area.

Rigging and hoisting materials are the job of the sky crane, which moves materials such as concrete, sheet rock, studs, glass, duct work and all other supplies to their destination. There is one sky crane operator who climbs a ladder to the top where the cab is located. What you don't see is the numerous rigging crews and professionals whose job it is to properly strap and connect all material safely so that it can be hoisted correctly. There is also another set of rigging professionals that remove the straps and binding when the material gets to the proper location.

Another integral part of the rigging company team are the coordinators whose job entails scheduling all the material deliveries, how they get to the job-site, and how much time is needed to lift those materials to their respective location while scheduling the next load. Without the rigging coordinator there would be complete chaos between the operator and rigging crews, not to mention a construction traffic jam,

The sky crane gets most of the notoriety, but there is another workhorse on the job site called the material lift, which is much like an elevator, it runs at higher speeds up the side of the building but takes no passengers. Rigging service professionals are in charge of the delivery loading and unloading all of the material to and from the material lifts. If the construction project is large enough this effort can require dozens of riggers and several rigging managers to keep things running smoothly.

Whenever I see a sky crane I think of all the people involved with helping it run smoothly, the organization skills, the manpower and the specific link it has to the economy and improvement.

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

In Need Of Good Riggers

With the Dow Jones Index hitting a record high of 18k in December and low inflation rates being reported at 1.3%, the signs are also looking up, as the construction industry is projected to see more balanced growth in 2015.

Construction jobs declined nearly three times as much during the last recession than it did during the 1981 recession. This was also due in large part to many workers retiring or  going into different related fields and lines of work. Now that construction is picking up again, there is a skilled labor shortage that is concerning.

Rigging is one of those skilled trades that is struggling to find qualified personnel. The labor shortage is enough of a concern that some developers and large construction companies are cautious when making commitments for large projects. The skilled labor shortage can have a serious effect on overall project cost, schedule and quality.

Rigging requires crane operator training, heavy equipment training (with various types of machinery), safety training, equipment maintenance, knowledge of physics, geometry, electrical and mechanical as well. Equipment and materials cannot get to their destination,  set in place safely and on time without rigging and riggers. Which is why a skilled Rigger is in high demand in almost any location.

It's unfortunate that many of the young people in America have looked away from skilled trades as unemployment is high for young adults. Many experienced Riggers can earn a good six-figure salary in major cities from New York to Los Angeles. Rigging requires 4 to 5 years of apprenticeship and study, while working with an experienced rigging contractor.

The good news is that after many years of recession, things are finally looking up. The not-so-great news is that we are in dire need in the workforce for experienced construction professionals. The laws of supply and demand will pay accomplished Riggers higher salaries which will raise prices accordingly. The lesson for the rest of us is to not look away from skilled trades, but to look towards them.

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
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311

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

Essential PPE: Hard Hats

Because there are a myriad of potential hazards in the rigging and demolition industry, wearing the proper protective equipment is imperative to protecting worker safety. Head injuries, which can prove fatal or cause permanent impairment, are particularly dangerous, so one of the most important pieces of PPE in an R. Baker & Son crew member’s arsenal is the hard hat.

In general, protective headgear should always be worn in situations in which there is risk of falling or moving objects, fixed objects such as pipes or beams on which one might strike their head, and/or risk of accidental contact with electrical hazards. For construction, rigging, and demolition workers, these hazards are always present and hard hats should be worn at all times. At minimum, hard hats should be resistant to penetration, capable of absorbing the shock of a blow, water and burn resistant, and should display clear instructions for use.

There are three industrial classes for hard hats. Class A headgear provides impact and penetration resistance and electrical protection up to 2,200 volts. Class B is designed to provide maximum protection against electrical shock, up to 20,000 volts, as well as impact and penetration protection. Class C offers lightweight impact protection and does not protect against electric shock. R. Baker & Son workers typically wear Class B hard hats.

Hard hats require regular maintenance and daily inspection to ensure they meet or exceed safety regulations and standards. Headgear that is perforated, cracked, or otherwise deformed should be discarded and replaced, well as those that show loss of surface gloss, chalking, or flaking, which can indicate excessive exposure to heat or chemicals. Suspension systems that appear damaged or worn must be promptly replaced. Always replace a hard hat that sustains an impact, even if damage is not visible.

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

R. Baker & Son in New Jersey: Utility Safety During Demolition

Demolition in New Jersey requires considerable planning when it comes to utilities. Before R. Baker & Son begins a project, multiple above-ground and below-ground utilities must be considered and identified, and may need to be shut off, disconnected, and/or relocated in order to perform demolition.

Prior to starting demolition, each utility company must be contacted. Local representatives or field engineers will be assigned to the project and may require submission of drawings, applications, and/or permits pertaining to the individual utilities. For example, electrical lines will need to be shut down, relocated, tested, and reenergized under the supervision of the electric company, who may also need to notify nearby customers of power interruptions. Similarly, water lines may require that valves be shut down and verified that they hold, and pressure taken off the line and locked out for worker safety. Gas lines may need to be shut down, pressure relieved and purged of all residual gas, and verified before work can commence.

Fiber optic cables and cable TV also require coordination with the utility companies. Fiber optic cables carry significant amount of data, and a severed line can affect service to thousands of commercial and residential customers. Damage to TV cables can cause outages for numerous customers as well.

Utility representatives will mark where underground utilities are located with paint and flags to prevent accidents and unnecessary interruptions. The most common method for locating utilities is using a tick tracer or sensitive metal detectors to locate piping or electrical lines. Though drawings and as-builts are valuable aids in locating utilities, it should be noted that there may be inaccuracies, and sometimes these drawings have been misplaced and can’t be located. Also, easements that give utilities a right of way to exist are often unmarked, and as NJ is the most densely populated state, there is an increased chance of accidental damage to utilities.

Lastly, when removing utilities during demolition, it is important to preserve all meters and return them to the utility company. For more information on utilities during demolition, please contact R. Baker & Son at 732-222-3553. 

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

Refinery Selective Demolition Project

R. Baker was recently involved in a large selective demolition project at a petroleum refinery/research center located in northern New Jersey.  The project to make way for a new exhaust system and new lab hoods throughout the facility was a complex one, complicated by the facility’s fortress-like construction, with rebar-reinforced, 12-inch-thick floors, walls, ceiling, and roof. Baker crews performed demolition, coring, cutting, rigging, and assembly.

Removal of the equipment was the first, and easiest - stage of the project.  During this enabling phase R. Baker & Son crew members worked closely with the client to determine which pieces of equipment and fixtures would be removed and when so lab users would have advance knowledge to temporarily work around the missing equipment. 

When the selective demolition was completed, the more difficult tasks began.  Floors were x-rayed to determine to determine where electrical conduit was located. X-rays were performed at night to minimize radiation risks to building occupants. The images required careful study to differentiate between rebar and conduit throughout the floor. 

Once electrical conduits were identified, they were traced to the nearest electrical panel, and circuits were isolated and rerouted so the floors could be cored.  These circular passageways ranged from eight inches to eighteen inches in diameter throughout the facility.  Because the coring machine was water cooled, conduits had to be plugged with clay to prevent water from flowing down into the labs through conduit openings.  Some areas could not be cored and had to be jackhammered to expose the conduits and make way for control wiring risers.  The entire effort was coordinated with a structural engineer and the HVAC designer. 

New ductwork, fire dampers, and controls were installed within the openings throughout the building.  Large new exhaust fans and plenums were rigged onto the roof, and new lab fume hoods were assembled and installed in all labs.  The new lab exhaust system worked in conjunction with the 100% outside air system which provided 105,000 CFM of air throughout the building.  Upon completion of the new ventilation system, new pre-fabricated casework was installed where needed for lab experiments.

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

Container Cranes and Rigging

Port of New York and New Jersey home to some of world’s largest container cranes...

As part of a major expansion of the Port of New York and New Jersey, three massive shipping cranes have been erected at the Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT) on Newark Bay.  The cranes, classified as super-post-Panamax, among the largest container cranes in the world, will allow the port to accept larger cargo ships that will begin shipping directly from Asia to the East Coast once the Panama Canal expansion is completed in 2015.

The cranes, shipped by manufacturer ZMPC from Shanghai aboard a specially-designed freighter, arrived in New Jersey in May 2014.  They stand 561 feet tall and, with their longer arms, are capable of rigging higher stacks of containers, and can extend farther to unload big ships that are 22 containers wide.  Previous PNCT cranes were capable of rigging a maximum of 18 rows of containers.

The $500 million PNCT expansion is part of a larger effort that includes dredging of channels in New York Harbor as well as a $1.3 billion project to raise the height of the Bayonne Bridge to allow larger ships to reach terminals in Newark and Elizabeth.

Container cranes are generally classified by their lifting capacity and size of the ships they can unload.  “Panamax” refers to cranes rigging ships capable of passing through the Panama Canal prior to its expansion.  Post-Panamax cranes can load and unload ships that are too wide to pass through the Panama Canal up to 18 containers wide.  Super-Post-Panamax cranes can rig containers from ships 22 or more containers wide.  The Panama Canal will be wide enough to accommodate most container ships once the current expansion project is completed.

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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Demolition.Rigging

Selective Demolition and Preserving History

R. Baker & Son has been involved with a number of high-profile New York City landmark projects, and whenever we work on historic buildings, there are multiple layers of challenges.  Most old structures have undergone numerous renovations, repairs, and other projects over many years, so you never know what you’re in for when a project begins. A recent project had numerous surprises in store. 

When demolition began, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work was exposed that required upgrading, such as knob-and-tube wiring from the early 20th century. Some of the wiring was run in old gas lines piped to gas lighting fixtures.  There were also corroded and leaking galvanized water lines that needed to be replaced with copper or PVC.  Shoddy, patch-up water leak repairs over the many years needed to be removed and repaired properly.  There were also issues with the building settling, so action needed to be taken to bring the structure back to plumb and level.  Asbestos found on old boiler and steam pipe fittings required removal and remediation.

The most interesting part of the project was identifying, preserving, and restoring irreplaceable historic objects wherever possible. Old gas chandeliers, sconces, and light fixtures, some Tiffany, were removed for reconditioning, electrical wiring, and reinstallation.  Stained glass windows were reconditioned, and a dumbwaiter that had not worked in many years was repaired and made operational.  Even copper gutters and leaders were restored where possible, as well as the building’s original brass pipe-and-horn intercom system.  Intricate woodwork in the building required careful preservation.  Original ornamental woodwork and bannisters were reconditioned, most of it in-place, and oak paneling was sealed off and protected.  A humidifier was brought in to keep the wood at the proper humidity during demolition and renovation.  Oak, cherry, and walnut doors and brass hardware was sent out for reconditioning.  Old black-and-white photographs were used to restore interior spaces and the exterior to the original design wherever possible.  The end result was a beautifully-restored NYC building.

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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Demolition.Rigging