EDA AUTUMN SEMINAR SPECIAL EDITION
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n News, io t li o m e D f o n st-ever editio r fi e h t o t e ion website t a g e r Welcom g g a s of the new the magazine news.com n io t li o m e .d www
We have been talking about producing a newsletter/magazine for some time now but, following the recent European Demolition AssociationÕs (EDA) Autumn Seminar in Istanbul, we simply couldnÕt allow all that valuable information to go to waste.
For your information, I have been personally critical of the EDA in the past. I have been frustrated for many years at the way in which bureaucracy, in-fighting and a widespread apathy combined to stall what should be the foremost trade body of its kind.
So when I say that I was impressed by the latest seminar, it is praise indeed. The new Secretariat demonstrated a high level of commitment and organisation; the content of the presentations and discussions was exceptionally good; and the EDA is finally demonstrating a degree of determination I have not seen from them in 20 years.
“the EDA is finally showing some backbone”
Of course, there is no such thing as a perfect event. Locating the event in Istanbul was an inspired idea but it unquestionably impacted upon delegate numbers. The lack of attendance from the German and Dutch associations in particular left the feeling that the EDA is still a long way from being truly representative. And the fact that only two members of the trade press bothered to show up indicates that the EDA still has much to learn about marketing. But, and itÕs a big BUT, the EDA is finally showing some backbone. It met fire with fire when its planned high reach guidance notes were criticised; it justified its decision to host this event on the Europe-Asia border by highlighting the incredible growth potential in Turkey; and with its round-table discussions, it demonstrated a willingness to listen that has been sadly absent in recent years.
But my key memory of this event was the eagerness to learn demonstrated by the delegates, particularly those from Turkey, Poland and Russia. It is highly unlikely that demolition contractors will ever work cross-border on a regular basis and those that do will almost certainly do so via a joint venture with a local company. To my mind, there is no better vehicle to foster such partnerships than the EDA. And, at a time when many demolition contractors are looking ahead to flat domestic demand, the ability to strike such partnerships could not be better timed. Any demolition contractors looking to stay at the cutting edge of their chosen business or who are looking to forge potentially lucrative new partnerships in emerging markets should be booking their place at the Nice seminar NOW!
Demolition News
November 08
“The EDA demonstrated a willingness to listen... ...that has been sadly absent in recent years”
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h c a e R High d a e H o t d a e H One of the key items for discussion at the EDA Autumn seminar was the associationÕs planned high reach guidance notes. Mark Anthony reports.
I have been a journalist for more than 20 years
and there is one rule that I have always fought to defend: that I would report the news and not BE the news. Unfortunately, rules are there to be broken and during the EDA seminar in Istanbul, I crossed the line.
One of the key items for discussion at this event was the EDAÕs proposed high reach guidance notes, a subject that has been on the table for more than three years. As a member of the National Federation of Demolition ContractorsÕ publications team and a co-author of the NFDCÕs own guidance, I was in attendance to contend that the EDA should have merely adopted this established and well-received guidance across Europe.
Mark Anthony
However, in the interests of balance, I will not include ANY of my thoughts here; a full transcript of my presentation can be found here: $//,688/%*40-(7 +)8>4=-&5
Instead, I will focus upon the key findings detailed by Stefano Panseri, a member of the EDAÕs technical commission, which can also be $//,688/%*40-(7 +)8><-0=> viewed in video form by clicking here:
$//,688/%*40-(7 +)8>4=-&5
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Demolition News
November 08
The EDAÕs findings were based on a round-table discussion and questionnaire during the last EDA seminar in Rome. These discussions used the $//,688/%*40-(7 NFDCÕs own guidance as a+)8>=/ starting,1point but $//,688/%*40-(7 +)8>=/ ,1 delegates were asked for their opinion on how this guidance might be improved or enhanced. One of the key questions Ð what constitutes a high reach machine Ð demonstrated just how quickly $//,688/%*40-(7 +)8>=?+#+ this market is+)8>=?+#+ moving. When the NFDC created $//,688/%*40-(7 its original version just over two years ago, a 30 metre machine was considered huge and the Federation therefore set the high reach $//,6882227'$(9#-+0,7 +)8!")+(%/%+*: 2 -!.8%*!" benchmark at 15 metres. $//,6882227'$(9#-+0,7 +)8!")+(%/%+*: 2 -!.8%*!"37$/)
Just two years later, and a 90 metre machine is already in existence; the EDA, therefore, proposing a 20 metre lower limit.
Although not yet required by law across Europe, the second key question looked at the need for a risk assessment detailing the work to be carried out by a high reach excavator. This question was greeted with a unanimous YES vote, a fact that underlines the demolition industryÕs willingness to self-regulate without the need for Government or regulatory intervention.
Rather less unanimous was the answer to a question relating to the frequency of high reach operator training. Half of all those surveyed believed that specific, annual high reach training to be adequate; 25 percent wanted training to take place at six month intervals; the remaining 25 percent pushing for three month training intervals. It is pleasing to report such an enthusiasm for training, even though there is still a worrying lack of specific high reach excavator training across the European Union.
Just what constitutes a high reach machine?
Participants reunified on the question of visual machine inspections with 95 percent demanding daily inspections as the EDA standard.
Less clear cut was the question of the length and width of the excavatorÕs tracked undercarriage. Around 60 percent of participants insisted that high reach machines have longer tracks while 83 percent requested a longer undercarriage. This is an interesting anomaly and one that we intend to cover in greater depth in future editions as Demolition News believes it exposes a lack of engineering knowledge within the industry. Widening and lengthening tracks is commonplace among third-party equipment modifiers such as Kocurek and Rusch, as is the addition of counterweight. However, while such additions unquestionably increase machine stability, the potential impact upon the machineÕs operation is far too often overlooked. Interestingly, the question of machine stability during operation was again up for discussion in Question 13: should a high reach machine be used for lifting duties? Stefano Panseri rightly pointed out that this decision is normally based upon local regulations covering the use of excavators working as cranes.
According to the EDAÕs findings, 73 percent of participants said that a high reach machine should NOT be used as a crane. Although it is this figure that will find its way into the EDAÕs guidance notes, it is surprising that more than a quarter of participants considered this practice to be acceptable. Demolition News is sure that Rusch and Kocurek might have a different opinion.
Stefano Panseri, EDA technical commission
Demolition News says:
From a personal standpoint, I still have questions about the credibility and voracity of the EDA’s findings; as one of the Istanbul delegates pointed out, some of the participants in the research were not actually qualified to contribute. However, the high reach excavator market has moved on in the past two years with machines getting bigger almost by the day, and there is little question that someone – be it the EDA or the NFDC – will need to revisit this subject in the very near future. Perhaps more worrying is the fact that while the participating associations and federations are striving to develop a best practice for these huge machines, the training world is, sadly, lagging behind. It is Demolition News’ hope that it will not require an accident or fatality to address this imbalance.
Demolition News
November 08
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e c n a d i u G r e h Cr us d e c u d Intro
Demolition NewsÕ Mark Anthony used the EDA seminar to unveil the NFDCÕs guidance notes on the safe use of mobile crushers in a demolition environment. What follows is a synopsis of his presentation.
Ò...In the past, the demolition industry was perceived as a sister industry to construction. We facilitated the work of the construction companies; we worked on the same sites; and we used roughly the same equipment. It is not surprising, therefore, that demolition contractors throughout the UK and across Europe were among the first to adopt mobile crushing equipment and techniques to help in this recycling process.More recently, as the UK government has increased the pressure to recycle with ever-rising landfill charges, the mobile crusher has become almost universally adopted by our industry.
But these machines, which letÕs not forget were originally conceived for the quarrying sector, bring with them a whole series of potential hazards.
These include: ¥ Injury caused by material ejected from the crusher jaws ¥ Injury caused by operatives falling into the crusher chamber ¥ Injury caused by operatives being struck by the bucket of the loading machine ¥ And the unseen but problematic hazard of Whole Body Vibration. Thankfully, while the first three of these have all been cited as the cause of accidents and, in some cases, fatalities in the quarrying sector, the UK demolition industry has been largely spared such incidents. However, that fact did not stop the UKÕs Health and Safety Executive taking a growing interest in the use and operation of track mounted crushers in the demolition industry.
Just over a year ago, the HSE issued a set of outline guidance notes on the safe use of mobile jaw crushers, the primary objective of which was to remove the operator from the crusher while it was in operation. There was no question that the HSEÕs initial guidance addressed each of the major hazards identified previously. But the National Federation of Demolition Contractors had some major concerns, the most important of which was that the HSE guidance had been written very much with quarries in mind.
Demolition News
November 08
One of the key recommendations of the guidance was the use of an independent Òpicking stationÓ to house the operator and to protect him from the hazards identified previously. In an ideal world, I am sure we would all use picking stations; we would all have a breaker boom or excavator standing by to tackle any blockages that might arise; and we would all be working with a nice, consistent material that contained no steel or timber. Sadly, the demolition industry doesnÕt operate in an ideal world: ¥ The material weÕre expected to process is far from consistent and often contains tramp iron and steel, timber, plastics and a whole host of other contaminants ¥ We donÕt generally have the luxury of a dedicated breaker boom to tackle blockages and bridging ¥ And we simply donÕt have the space to house a standalone picking station. So, while the NFDC supported the HSEÕs efforts to reduce crusherrelated incidents and accidents, it also recognised the need for something more focused to the needs of the demolition sector.
Together with representatives from Sandvik Mining and Construction, one of the worldÕs leading suppliers of crushing equipment for the demolition and recycling sector, the NFDCÕs publications team set about creating its own set of guidance notes. Just under a year in development, these guidance notes were issued to NFDC members at the annual convention in Majorca at the end of August. The NFDC guidance deliberately mirrors many of the findings and recommendations from the previous HSE guidance. However, with its greater focus upon the demolition sector, it does not make unreasonable demands for picking stations and the like. Instead, the NFDC guidance recommends the use of widely available ground-level or remote controls to remove the operator from the operating platform and, therefore, potential harm. The guidance also recommends the pre-sorting and segregation of materials prior to crushing to eliminate the need for an operator to be on board the machine at all. I am not going to bore you with a detailed reading of the guidance notes. The NFDC has kindly allowed the guidance to be posted on the EDA website so you can read it for yourself.
So where does that leave us? ¥ The NFDC has consulted with equipment manufacturers Ð not just Sandvik Ð to produce what could and should be adopted as the industry benchmark ¥ The NFDC has consulted with industry experts and users across a broad spectrum on applications to harness their knowledge and experience, and ¥ The NFDC has invested money and time into the development and production of a set of guidance notes on the safe use of mobile crushers in a demolition environment that we believe to be unique in Europe if not the world. In my opinion, the EDA now has three choices. ¥ It can wait for European regulations to catch up with UK recommendations and then react, belatedly. $//,688/%*40-(7 +)8>4=-&5 parties to create its own guidance to hopefully pre-empt any such ¥ It can issue questionnaires and establish working regulations, or ¥ It can simply adopt and badge the NFDCÕs guidance as its own. Mark Anthony's presentation to the EDA can be viewed in video form by clicking here: $//,688/%*40-(7 +)8><-0=>
Demolition News
November 08 $//,688/%*40-(7 +)8>=/ ,1
e h t g n Setti g n i n i a Tr d r a d n Sta
reports on s w e N n o ti li o Dem has ontractor that c n o ti li o m e d g a UK ble and growin a ze si a lf se it carved and quality. g in in a tr in g in niche by invest
UK demolition companies, like those around the world, are predominantly family-owned concerns that can trace their roots back many years. Indeed, it is not unusual for the current managing director to be the son, nephew or even grandson of the company founder. Any newcomer looking to carve itself a slice of the UKÕs hotly-contested workload pie must, therefore, have a USP; a unique selling point that differentiates it from its more established rivals. Thankfully, Richard Dolman of AR Demolition has eschewed the Òmy boomÕs bigger than your boomÓ shortcut of purchasing a super high reach excavator and has instead put his money not into metal but into people. In the companyÕs brief 10 year history, it has notched up more training qualifications than you can shake a telescopic boom at, and has earned itself three different kinds of ISO accreditation.
CD &
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Together, these Òvalue-addedÓ but largely unseen factors are helping Dolman make something of an impact around the UKÕs Midlands area. What makes this rise even more remarkable is the fact that Dolman himself is not the archetypal corporate responsibility type but a former equipment operator made good. ÒI started my own business as a JCB owner/operator when I was 20 years old after completing a two-week backhoe loader training course,Ó Dolman says. ÒThat business grew to encompass equipment rental, groundworks and ultimately demolition but I never forgot the importance of my own training. Every time I have taken on new employees, I have insisted that they undergo the very latest training courses. It is vital that our training standards remain one step ahead of those around us.Ó
DON'T FOLLOW THE RECYCLING TREND... BUCKET
Indeed, DolmanÕs achievements in the field of personnel improvement reads like a demolition training coordinatorÕs dream. Since November 2007, AR Demolition employees have attended more than 150 courses and seminars. Sixteen of the companyÕs operatives have achieved NVQ Level 2 accreditation; eight operatives are accredited to Demolition Plant NVQ Level 2; and one of his operators recently gained NVQ Level 2/CCDO Mattockman accreditation at ConstructionSkills Construction College at Bircham Newton. In addition, all AR Demolition employees attend CDM Regulations training, have taken
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nt ÒCustomers wa that the assurance rk demolition wo out will be carried ntly quickly, efficie and above all SAFELY.Ò
the prescribed health and safety touch screen test, and have undergone asbestos awareness training. As if that werenÕt enough, seven of his team completed a four-day, first aid course. So while he has invested more than £500,000 on new equipment during the past 12 months, including the purchase of a Volvo EC360 with a remarkably modest 21 metre high reach boom, it is his investment in people and their ongoing development that Dolman believes has lead to his companyÕs growing local reputation. ÒOur customers are not interested in how big our machines are or whether theyÕre made by Volvo, Komatsu, Caterpillar or JCB,Ó Dolman insists. ÒThey want the assurance that demolition work will be carried out quickly, efficiently and above all safely. Through our investment in training, we can clearly demonstrate that our team is experienced, qualified and more than capable of undertaking virtually any demolition-related task.Ó With the walls of his former office threatening to collapse under the weight of so many training certificates, AR Demolition has just completed a much-needed relocation to new, purpose-built premises in its native Nuneaton, Warwickshire. It is just as well. The companyÕs new office walls are now burdened further by ISO certificates, the company having received ISO9001, ISO14001 and ISO18001 accreditation in recent months.While he is rightly proud of his companyÕs achievements over the past decade, Richard Dolman readily admits that he still has a long way to go if he is to catch up with some of the UKÕs larger, more established demolition contractors. But thanks to his foresighted investment in his most valuable asset Ð his people Ð this is one rookie middleweight that could give some its heavyweight rivals a serious run for their money.
s e h c n u a L i R D& s r a c s O y r t s u Ind Recycling Demolition & as International h e creation announced th on of the Demoliti are Awards, which of me a highlight o c e b to re tu intended in fu industry. The n o ti li o m e d e pport the year for th ed with the su is n a rg o e b l il n event w tion Associatio li o m e D n a e p of the Euro up. shers, KHL Gro li b u p s iÕ R & D and
The first Demolition Awards event will be held in Amsterdam in November 2009, with the EDAÕs autumn conference being held at the same venue in conjunction with the Awards to create a Ômust attendÕ event for the sector. The Awards are intended to recognise those demolition contractors, large and small, that have displayed excellence over the course of their demolition activities by applying best practices, ensuring health and safety during their work, displaying innovation in terms of demolition techniques and in their attitude to the environment in which they operate. Specific Award categories will also recognise manufacturers for innovation in design and manufacture through to excellence in customer support in the field. The categories are: ¥ Demolition Job of the Year ¥ Demolition Company of the Year ¥ Demolition Safety Award ¥ Demolition Training Award ¥ Demolition and Recycling Environmental Award ¥ Best Explosive Demolition Award ¥ Best Industrial Demolition Award ¥ Best Confined Space/Urban Demolition Award ¥ Manufactures Innovation Award ¥ Best Customer Support Award Contractors and manufacturers do not have to be members of their particular national demolition associations or of the EDA to submit entries. A judging panel composed of leading industry figures, assembled with the assistance of the EDA, is currently being put in place.
Demolition News
November 08
D&Ri and its publisher, KHL Group, firmly believes that the demolition and recycling sector of the construction industry deserves this forum where the achievements of the sector can be recognised, and welcomes the support of the EDA in making the event possible. James King, publisher of D&Ri, said, "The evolution of the demolition and recycling industry over recent years has been quite remarkable - especially in terms of the development of new methods and practices, better specialised equipment, and the on-going rise in professionalism $//,688/%*40-(7 +)8>4=-&5 within the industry." He added, "These new awards created by Demolition & Recycling International, which itself has been at the centre of the industry's development for almost a decade, will recognise that great pace of development across the whole industry." $//,688/%*40-(7 +)8><-0=>
D&Ri editor Lindsay Gale echoed this: ÒThere currently is no international, recognised forum where the achievements of the industry can be celebrated. Major steps have been taken by contractors across the board in $//,688/%*40-(7 +)8>4=-&5 $//,688/%*40-(7safety, +)8>=/caring ,1 improving for the environment and in finding ever-more efficient ways of carrying out their daily work. The creation of the Demolition Awards provides a means whereby these improvements can be recognised by the industry. $//,688/%*40-(7 +)8>=?+#+ $//,688/%*40-(7 +)8><-0=>We look forward to welcoming you in Amsterdam.Ó Submissions can be submitted via $//,6882227'$(9#-+0,7 +)8!")+(%/%+*: 2 -!.8%*!"37$/)
$//,688/%*40-(7 ,1 from the beginning +)8>=/ of December 2008.
To view a video of D&Ri editor Lindsay Gale introducing these awards, please click here: $//,688/%*40-(7 +)8>=?+#+
s ’ n a M a n i n Woma s r a c s WorldO
a s just finished a h o h w t n e d stu on is a final year nd power stati a r Laura Wilkins to c a tr n o c n r with UK and demolitio n so a placement yea M d n a n cialist Brow demolition spe rime Safety. P s rt e p x e ty safe
Laura, explain your interest in demolition industry I have always been described as a bit of a tomboy and growing up with a brother I suppose some of his interests must have rubbed off, but I have always been interested in machinery and plant through my fatherÕs work which involves providing power to the canteens, showers and offices, he also does a bit of plumbing, all sorts of bits and bobs really.
I can see where the interest came from, but why seek a career in demolition? As I drew to the end of my secondary education, I was naturally looking for some ideas that would further my career. I had already completed an AVCE Business and BTEC E Business course and was exploring how to combine these with a university course. My father said there was a real need for good Health and Safety consultants and after researching the subject I saw that it would provide a perfect solution. What was your next step? I applied and was accepted onto a BSc Health and Environment course at Nottingham Trent University. I completed two years of theory and coursework and was then lucky enough to do a yearÕs placement with Prime Safety and then Brown and Mason. Is there a family connection here? Yes, my father had done a lot of work with Brown and Mason and thought very highly of them and their HSE regime. I had already had a connection with Prime Safety in Maidstone, who provide Brown and Mason with training courses. They were kind enough to start my placement year and take me through the audit and admin side of things but after a few weeks of training they suggested I needed a more practical and hands on approach, and I was introduced to B&M. I was taken on as a placement student to study Health and Safety within the company.
on a new relevance. It has also enabled me to see at first hand, how such large and powerful machinery is used safely. With more and more equipment being used on site and fewer people on the ground, it is imperative that there are set rules and parameters that are understood long before work commences, and that there are no breakdowns in communications that could lead to a dangerous situation. How have you fitted in? How have the men treated you on site? It has been really good, the engineers have treated me with real respect and more importantly, as an equal. They have all gone out of their way to help, to be informative and to educate. Could that be because women are still a novelty in demolition? No, I was initially worried about being intimidated but I think the men soon realised I could hold my own, and they were absolutely genuine when it came to teaching me the safety ground rules on site. It wouldnÕt have mattered who I was, because I wanted to learn, and they appreciated that. It has been a real eye opener to see how every aspect of the job is planned, analysed and executed. It is always good to be taught by experts There can’t be many students involved in the demolition business. Did you ever feel out of place? No, again I was accepted as one of the lads, just because I was attending university, did not make me more intelligent than them. You have to learn a lot of the aspects of the trade through years of experience Ð that is something you canÕt learn from a book. I feel really privileged because I have the best of both worlds. I can train at university and then learn the practical side on site. What now? I started a new academic year in October and will complete the course and hopefully become a qualified consultant in 2009. I shall certainly be looking to work within the demolition industry if the opportunity arises.
You obviously see a future in demolition, what’s your advice to both students and women wishing to work in this sector. WhatÕs stopping you! I wish there were more students looking at the demolition sector. There are plenty of construction students but no courses on demolition, so there are no students It doesn’t sound the most glamorous of specialising in demolition. As for women in demolition, why not? occupations, has it been interesting? Definitely. Prime Safety taught me the groundwork and planning There are plenty of opportunities for women. I have proved I can side of things. Now I have seen the technical and practical side to do everything the men do and it is incredibly interesting. It has demolition, whereas before it was all theory. All the course work proved to be one of the best decisions IÕve made and I feel it will only get better. now starts to make sense, and you can see how it all fits together. Sitting through all the lectures at university now takes Going back to uni, is there anything you will miss? Yes. The people. They have been really great. And unfortunately emolition ews November 08 the money, IÕll have to go back to being a poor student now.
D
N
n i e l o R c e t x E n a c i x Me d r a w A g n i l c Recy
partment of e D l a n o ti a N MexicoÕs ral Resources tu a N d n a t n e Environm Concretos d e rd a w a s a h (Semarnat) e prestigious th h it w s o d la 08 Recic e Recycling 20 st a W f o n io it n Recog Õs g the company nd award followin e processing a th in rk o w g n pioneeri nstruction and o c f o g n li c y c re ste. demolition wa
Concretos Reciclados, which was born out of a well-established Mexican mine operating organisation, is the first Latin American company dedicated to construction and demolition waste recycling and cites its use of Extec crushing and screening equipment as a key factor in its success. Stringent Legislation Originally founded 35 years ago as Mina La Esperanza, the company operates from an eight hectare former mine in the Yehualique Hills at Iztapalapa in Mexico, all of which is dedicated to construction and demolition waste recycling activities. The companyÕs Arturo Valdez reports that the companyÕs growth has coincided with the implementation of ever more stringent environmental legislation. ÒMexico produces approximately 34 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste each year but, until recently, it did not have adequate infrastructure to deal with that level of waste,Ó Valdez explains. ÒAs a result, only around 30 percent of it made it to landfill, the remainder being tipped illegally.Ó Faced with an increasing environmental issue and rapidly depleting levels of natural resources, the Mexican government responded with legislation to encourage the recycling of construction and demolition waste and the use of secondary materials. ÒPrevious legislation dictated recycling levels of 40 percent but new regulations were passed in July 2006 which will see that level increase by 25 percent per year,Ó
Expansion Trail Concretos Reciclados was the first company in Latin America to respond to the opportunity that this new, more stringent legislation presented. The company invested in an Extec C-12 track-mounted mobile crusher and an Extec S-5 mobile screen to begin to tackle the countryÕs glut of waste concrete, bricks and tiles. ÒWe visited Extec users operating in similar applications in the UK and in Australia and were very impressed by what we saw,Ó Valdez says. ÒAnd our machines are all that we expected.Ó Valdez reports that the company is currently processing approximately 300 tonnes of material per day, reducing the 550 to 650 mm feed material to locally popular 75, >50 and >25 mm grades. However, he is still not satisfied with the production levels of his companyÕs operation and, inspired by the Semarnat waste recycling award, is planning to invest in further Extec equipment. ÒWith our initial investment, we are regularly achieving an output of 300 tonnes per day but that material is proving so popular that we will soon have no choice but to invest in additional Extec equipment,Ó Arturo Valdez concludes. ÒIn the very near future, I would like to see us achieving output levels of 1,500 tonnes/per day to meet local demand for secondary materials.Ó
D & C t s o h o t NDA m u i s o p m y S e Wast The USÕ National Demolition Association has announce plans for host an inaugural International Symposium on the State of C&D (Construction & Demolition) Recycling, to be held in Chicago in the Autumn of 2009. ÒThis gathering of government regulators, industry professionals, and members of academia is designed to provide a forum to discuss ways to increase the amount of construction waste and demolition debris being recycled globally,Ó says Michael R. Taylor, CAE, executive director of the National Demolition Association. ÒIn addition to dealing with such diverse issues as stormwater management, diesel emissions, the impact of our activity on global warming, and hazardous materials handling, the Association wants to maximise the reuse of the commodities generated on our project sites every day. We also want the event to help develop sound public policy to expand opportunities to expand the C&D waste stream.Ó The National Demolition Association will partner with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Federation of Demolition Contractors in the United Kingdom, the European Demolition Association, and numerous other organisations involved with recycling and construction. The International Symposium on the State of C&D Recycling will be gathering federal, state, and local regulators with companies involved in the demolition and recycling process to discuss ways to develop environmentally sound and economically viable ways to recycle C&D waste. There will be sessions on current generation and recycling rates, market development, new technology, administrative barriers, and economic disincentives to successful recycling. Full details on the landmark event will be available shortly.
is d celebrates h John Woodwar with t vice-presiden election as IDE his wife Jill
Demolition News
November 08
John Woodward has been elected vice president of the Institute of Demolition Engineers. A lifelong demolition man, Woodward has been a member of the IDE for many years, most recently acting as the InstituteÕs events chairman. ÒI am honoured to have been elected as IDE vice president and I look forward to working with the president, Terry Quarmby, to really drive the institute forwards,Ó Woodward says. ÒWe have huge plans for the IDE, many of which I explained to the delegates at the recent European Demolition Association event in Turkey. With the backing of the IDE council and its members, we can now bring those plans to fruition.Ó
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The world economy may be on the brink of recession and the UK housing market may be in meltdown but that has failed to halt progress on the redevelopment of the Chambers Wharf area of LondonÕs Docklands where derelict warehouses are to be replaced by prestige flats and apartments with desirable river views. Chambers Wharf is a striking residential re-development planned by the St Martins Property Group, which received a resolution to grant planning permission from Southwark Council in July 2008.
Dancing in the Street
Covering an area of approximately 2.0 hectares, the site housed a collection of a dozen or so storage buildings and wharfage together with a 10 storey cold store to the north of the site and another, larger 10 storey cold store to the south. Although the site has lain derelict for many years, it has been used as the backdrop for a number of UK TV series and was also the location for the Mick Jagger/David Bowie ÒDancing in the StreetÓ video produced for the Live Aid concert in 1985. However, the site was earmarked for demolition in 2008 to make way for a new high quality residential development consisting 596 apartments comprised in 6 buildings, of which 189 are affordable.
Recycling to the Fore
Chosen demolition contractor Cantillon started work with an extensive soft strip and asbestos removal programme. Project manager Andy Dyson reports that the level of asbestos found to date has been minimal
and largely confined to the roofing panels. With the asbestos removal phase completed, Cantillon was then required to secure, hoard, scaffold and dust sheet the perimeters before demolition work could commence in earnest. In keeping with CantillonÕs Òconsiderate contractorÓ status, the Chambers Wharf project was designed with materials recycling very much to the fore. ÒWeÕre expecting to produce in the region of 10,000 m3 of crushed concrete and 600 tons of steel at Chambers Wharf,Ó Dyson says. ÒAll waste is to be crushed to 6F2 and reused on site where possible, and the remainder to be reused off site. In addition, two of the buildings have maple floors which were removed and recycled. Stock bricks have been reclaimed and the engineering bricks have been crushed.Ó
Multiple Challenges
With its inner city, river fronted location, the site has thrown up some notable features that could have caused some real problems had they not been innovatively solved at the project planning stage. ÒThe southern cold store overshadows a local school playground. This building is to be,Ó enveloped on 3 sides in scaffolding and sheeting prior to punching out all the infill panels between the reinforced floors and uprights,Ó he says. ÒAdjacent the site and on the riverside, an area to the west has already been developed and as a result, there are two fully-occupied residential blocks approximately two metres away from the site perimeter. Once again, buildings have been enveloped with scaffold and plastic sheeting to reduce noise and dust, and these will be gutted from the furthest end so the retained wall will act as a sound baffle.Ó As a further safeguard, Dyson says that four computer linked noise monitors/sensors have been situated around the site: one for the school and a further three in the residential areas. ÒThe monitors are linked to an alarm that triggers if sound levels exceed the set level,Ó Dyson continues. ÒThe system is remarkably easy to use and has been a major asset in controlling noise pollution.Ó
Scuppered and Salvaged
Located in the heart of the city, removal of waste material via road was likely to be an additional challenge. To reduce vehicle movements, save time, and to make maximum use of available infrastructure, all bulk waste material is being removed from site by barge. However, as Dyson explains, even this seemingly simple solution had its own unique challenges.ÒThere was a sunken 350 tonne steel barge alongside. Originally, this was going to be broken up for scrap until we realised it had been deliberately scuttled. The barge was partly repaired, and silt removed from the hold so that an assessment of its condition could be made. With a little work, she was made seaworthy again,Ó Dyson continues. ÒHowever, she did contain around 400 tonnes of ballast that had to be analysed before it could be emptied, repaired and refloated. Using the barges for waste removal has had a major impact upon the carbon footprint of this project, reducing it from an anticipated 98 tonnes of carbon using on-highway trucks to just 11 tonnes.Ó
Assistance and Support
Andy Dyson is upbeat about all aspects of the contract and, in particular, has highlighted the close working relationship his team has established with the Local Council, Southwark as a key aspect of the project. Dyson is far less complementary about what he describes as the Òinconsistent supportÓ shown by some Utility companies serving the site. ÒThe utility companies simply donÕt understand the demolition business. We discovered a gas leak on site and that was resolved within two hours but six weeks after we requested other utillity disconnections weÕre still working around these servicesÓ.
Demolition News
November 08