Demolition experts look at a lot of different factors when choosing which demolition method is best for the building they’re tearing down. They may decide to use a combination of methods or opt for selective demolition.
This type of demolition involves removing only the parts of the structure that don’t need to be replaced. It’s often used in older buildings or for expansion work.
Hydraulic Excavator
The hydraulic excavator is one of the most important construction machines to use for demolition and concrete work. You can find the top Brisbane demolition companies often using this equipment in their line of work. These machines are able to perform a number of different functions depending on the attachments used. Whether they are shears or hammers, these excavator demolition attachments are designed to make the process of breaking down structures incredibly efficient.
The shears used in this type of equipment are able to cut through steel structural elements like beams and columns. They work a lot like large hydraulic operated scissors, backed by thousands of pounds of force that can tear and twist sections of the structure apart. The hammers on the other hand are designed for demolition of concrete structures by crushing them into small pieces. This allows the demolition crew to easily remove the concrete and also makes it easier for the excavator to carry away the debris and waste.
Another great demolition machine is the long reach excavator. These are specialized excavators that have been fitted with long boom arms and can be used for demolition purposes. They are able to get into areas that normal excavators would not be able to access and can quickly clear the debris from sites. They are perfect for high-rise buildings as they can be used to demolish the building from the inside out, instead of having to use a crane to pull down the whole thing.
There are also several other types of demolition machines that are able to do different jobs for different levels of demolition projects. Loaders, bulldozers and dump trucks are all able to be used to clear debris from demolition sites and can be fitted with a variety of blades to help break down concrete or other material. Hydraulic breaker attachments are also very popular with demolition contractors as they can turn skid steer loaders, backhoes and mini-excavators into demolition machines that can break concrete and other materials with ease. These attachments are able to convert these machines into demolition equipment that can break up building walls and slabs in place or take them down piece by piece.
Bucket Excavator
When it comes to demolition and concrete work, an excavator is a heavy-duty piece of equipment that can tackle a variety of different projects. However, it’s important to know that not all excavators and their attachments are created equal. When looking for a bucket excavator, there are several things you need to take into consideration. These include working height, ground conditions, and the size of the attachment. Knowing this will help you choose the right tools and equipment for your job and ensure that everyone is safe on-site.
Some of the most common excavator attachments used for demolition and concrete work include grading buckets, ripper buckets, shears, and hammers. These attachments are ideal for breaking down steel structures, cutting rebar, and cleaning up materials. They’re also great for picking up large debris that may not fit in a standard excavator bucket.
Other common demolition excavator attachments include a micro trenching bucket, skeleton bucket, and rake riddle bucket. These tools sift through materials and separate the various types of aggregate on a construction site. This helps to keep the work environment cleaner, and it’s often more cost effective to separate these materials on site rather than just getting rid of them.
In addition to these specialized buckets, many demolition contractors use hydraulic breaker attachments on their excavators. These are perfect for breaking down walls, slabs, and other concrete surfaces, and they can be used in both soft and hard ground. Hydraulic breaker attachments can also be used for scrap and recycling applications, including shearing metal beams, sheets, and wires.
It’s important to remember that these attachments must be properly fitted to the excavator. Otherwise, they can cause damage to the vehicle or injury to the operator. To ensure that the attachments are correctly fitted, you should use a caliper to measure the distance between the pin ears on each side of the excavator. This will give you a rough estimate of which buckets will work with your machine. Once you have the measurements, you can then compare them with the bucket capacity data sheet provided by the manufacturer.
Wrecking Ball
The Wrecking Ball is the tool that many cartoonists use to depict demolition. It is a substantial, forged steel sphere attached to a crane that was popular in the 1950s and 1960s. However, this type of demolition is rare in modern times as professionals have found more efficient ways to tear down structures. This includes using excavators, bulldozers, and explosives.
A wrecking ball is expensive to use and requires a lot of space. It is also difficult to control properly and spreads debris in all directions. Therefore, it is not a good option for urban areas. However, it is still used in some cases to demolish buildings on the outskirts or in less dense areas.
When a building is being razed, it must be removed from the site in an environmentally-friendly way. Some of this work may involve crushing concrete to reduce its size for recycling or reusing. In addition, the site must be cleared of any contaminated soils and groundwater. This may involve excavation and hauling away the contaminated material for remediation or using onsite technologies to treat groundwater and soils.
For structural implosions, the appropriate explosive must be selected for each type of material to be demolished. For example, dynamite is useful for breaking up concrete and reducing its overall weight. For a steel structure, RDX is used to generate an intense shock that cuts through the metal. In addition, an accelerant such as nitroglycerine is often added to the explosive to increase its speed of reaction.
After the demolition is complete, the site must be cleaned up to minimize environmental risks. This may include removing contaminated soils for remediation, scrubbing down and washing concrete to recycle the rebar, or treating and cleaning underground water. In some cases, the demolition site may require a large footprint that is left for future construction, in which case the site must be remediated and the land returned to its original condition.
While a demolition job might look chaotic from the outside, it is actually a highly orchestrated engineering undertaking that requires precision and careful planning. This is not a task for the uninitiated, and it takes years of training and certification to become a certified demolition professional.
Crane
The crane is one of the most common pieces of machinery used on construction sites. They are versatile and can be fitted with various attachments for demolition and concrete work, such as wrecking balls and hydraulic claws. They are also used for high-level demolition, where they can be equipped with a telescopic hook and boom. This allows them to reach difficult areas of a building, like roofs and upper floors.
The boom is the most important part of a crane, as it allows it to lift loads. It consists of heavy wire ropes that are made from steel and are twisted into the shape of a helix, which gives them strength. The jib is attached to the end of the boom and helps to lift objects. This is usually done by pulling diagonally, dragging or using dynamic forces. This is not recommended, however, as these methods may result in damage to the boom and other parts of the crane.
Another way to use a crane is in implosion demolition, which is when a demolition professional places explosive charges inside the building, causing it to collapse on itself. This is a very dangerous technique that requires extensive planning and precise placement of the charges. It is also very expensive, as the charges need to be placed on a large scale. As such, it is only used on very large buildings.
For smaller demolition projects, a material handler can be used to break up concrete and other hard materials. It is a hydraulic machine that has a long arm with hydraulic grips and is controlled by an operator who sits in the cab. It can also be equipped with a hammer to help break up harder substances.
Demolition and concrete work require a lot of power, so it is important to choose the right equipment for the job. Choosing the correct tool can save you time and money, as well as prevent injuries. NMC Cat has insight into the general guidelines that should be followed when selecting demolition equipment. These include knowing the maximum working height, ground conditions and ensuring that the equipment is safe to operate within a reasonable distance from the structure.