DEMOLITION OF

STRUCTURES
 INDEX
I. Introduction
II. Demolition survey
III. Objectives
IV. Demolition plan
V. Factors affecting selection of demolition
method
VI. Steps before Demolition
VII. Demolition sequence
VIII. Safety measures during demolition
IX. Methods of Demolition
X. Environmental concerns in demolition 2
 INTRODUCTION
Demolition is the dısmantlıng, razıng, destroyıng or
wreckıng any building or structure or any part of
building by pre-planned and controlled methods.

 Demolitionis bringing down the building and other

structures safely.

 The demolition of structure with the help of explosives is

called as implosion.
 The main objective for demolition may be the age of the
structure. 3

 Methods of demolition depends upon

1. type of structure

2. height and surrounding structures.

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 OBJECTIVES/ NEED

 Prevention damaging the neighbourhood environment.

 Repair of damaged structures.

 Construction of other structureat that

previously constructed site.
 Provides safety for the occupants in the building.
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STEPS BEFORE DEMOLITION

4. Safety measures

3. Preparation of plan

2. Removal of hazardous
materials

1. Surveying
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SURVEY FOR DEMOLITION

 For demolition of a building ,detailed survey and

assessment of a building is necessary.
It includes:
1. Building survey
 Drawing records
 Material survey

 Hazardous materials

 Photographs of a building to be demolished

 Surrounding buildings

 Building height, distance from nearby buildings

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 Type of building
2. Structural survey
 Drawing records
 Special structure

 Behaviour of structure

 Structural support system

 Degree of deterioration

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Preparation of plan:
 Based on demolition surveys, a demolition plan is
prepared . This plan is produced with the
application for approval to the local authority.

 This plan include

 Plan showing the location of a building to be demolished.
 Building height, structural system
 Extent of damage to the building
 Existing structures and facilities in the vicinity
 Layout plan
 Proposed method of demolition
 Safety measures
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 Proposed sequence of demolition steps
 Details of equipments used.
 plan for handling and disposal of debris
 Proposed arrangements for site supervision
Electrical Safety
 A properly connected power source from a local electric utility

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supplier or a mobile electricity generator shall be utilized in
demolition sites.
Fire
 All flammable goods shall be removed from site unless they

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are necessary for the works involved. Any remaining
flammable goods shall be stored in proper storage facilities.
All furniture, timber, doors, etc. shall be removed before any
welding work is performed. Fire fighting appliances shall be
provided and maintained in working conditions.

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 Demolition of the floor slabs shall begin at mid span and
work towards the supporting beams.
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Prof. Ankit Patel
 Floor beams shall be demolished in the order of cantilevered
beams, secondary beams and then main beams.
 Wire and winch shall be used to secure the cross beam to other
structural members.
 The concrete is first broken away at both ends near its column
supports to expose the reinforcement.
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 Reinforcement shall be then cut to partially drop the beam and
the brought down with wire.
 Secure the column by wire
and winch to existing

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structure.
 Pre-weakening at the bottom
of column:

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1) Break away the concrete to
expose the reinforcing bars.
2) Cut the reinforcing bars at
the exterior half of the
column. Cutting shall be
performed immediately
prior to pulling.
 Pulling down the column in
a controlled motion.
FACTORS AFFECTING SELECTION OF DEMOLITION METHOD
 Type of structure

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Different types of structure like load bearing masonry
structure , RCC framed structure, steel structure , etc.
o Size of structure

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If the size of structure is small, hand demolition can be
sufficient. for large structures and multistoreyed buildings
special like wrecking ball method, deliberate collapse, implosion
technique etc are necessary.
o Available time period

o Location of structure

o Limitation of noise, dust and vibrations

o Skill of workers
o Safety
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o Availability of equipment

o Adjacent structures
 Demolition
techniques

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Non
Engineering Engineering
demolition demolition

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Manual
Mechanical demolition
methods

Implosion
technique

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Deconstruction
technique
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MECHANICAL METHODS
 Wrecking method
 Pusher arm technique

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 Thermic lance technique

 Non explosive demolition

 Concrete sawing method

 Deliberate collapse method

 Pressure jetting method

 bursting

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MANUAL DEMOLITION
 It is suitable for demolition of small buildings.
 Tools required for manual demolition

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 Hammers

 Picks

 Wire cutters

 Welding cutters

 Hand driven hydraulic jacks

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SEQUENCE OF DEMOLITION

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 All cantilevers structures shall demolished first.
 Before demolishing roof , all water tanks and lift rooms
shall be demolished.
 Demolition of floor slab shall begin at mid span and

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proceed towards the supporting beams.
 The order of demolition of floor beams shall be as
follows
 Cantilever beam
 Secondary beam
 Primary beam
 Non loadbearing walls and partition walls shall be
removed prior to demolition process.
 Columns and load bearing walls shall be demolished
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after removal of beams on top.
Ball and crane
 This is one of the oldest and most

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commonly used methods for
building demolition. A crane uses a
wrecking ball, weighing up to 6120
kg, which is either dropped onto or
swung into the element to be

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demolished. Wrecking ball at rest

 The ball is made from forged steel,

which means the steel is not cast
into a mould in a molten state. It is
formed under very high pressure
while the steel is red hot (soft but
not molten) to compress and to
strengthen it.
 Concrete members can be broken
into small pieces, but secondary 21
cutting of reinforcing may be Swinging the wrecking ball
necessary.
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 Advantages and Disadvantages of Ball and
Crane method:

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 Advantages:
1) To demolish roofs and other horizontal spans.
2) The wrecking balls are still used when demolition may

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not be possible due to local environmental issues or
asbestos/lead building content.
 Disadvantages:

1) It demands a great deal of skill from the crane operator.

2)The height of a building that can be demolished is limited
by crane size and working room; however, buildings as
high as 20 stories have been demolished.
3) The breakup process can cause considerable dust,
vibration and noise which may be objectionable. 24
Dismantling
 Selective or complete

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demolition of concrete
structures is possible by cutting
elements and then removing
them with a crane.

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 The cutting process may be by
sawing, water jetting or thermal
lance.
 Because the surface of the cut
concrete is smooth and
relatively regular, these methods
have particular application when
the objective is partial
demolition, for instance in the
Dismantling a beam
creation of openings in walls 25

and slabs.
 Cutting with a water jet minimizes
dust and eliminates vibration and
fire hazards. An abrasive and

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water-catching system is required
to clean up during the jetting
process.
 Hydro demolition uses a high

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pressure supersonic water jet, that
penetrates the pores and cracks of
the concrete and builds up an
internal pressure. When this
pressure exceeds the tensile
strength of the concrete, the Water Jet cutting
concrete breaks.
 The water jet can be used not only
for cutting straight lines but also 26
contours, a useful feature for
cutting access manholes.
 A thermal lance is created by packing a seamless mild steel
tube with low carbon rods and passing oxygen through the

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tube.
 While this method eliminates vibration and dust problems,
it creates other hazards associated with smoke and fire
danger.

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 Whether sawing, jetting or lancing is used to dismantle the
structure or its components, each element must be safely
lowered to the ground.

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Thermal Lance Sawing method

Advantages of Dismantling method:
1)Dismantlement of building components, specifically for re-

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use, recycling, and waste management.
2)Reducing disposal costs where waste collection, hauling or
disposal is supported by the tax base.

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3)Building components that are dismantled will need to be
stored in a secure, dry location. This will protect them from
water damage and theft.
Disadvantages of Dismantling method:
1)The amount of time and cost of labor are the main drawbacks.
2)Harvesting materials from a structure can take weeks, whereas
demolition may be completed in roughly a day.

3) Toxic waste such as asbestos sheets and lead paint have no 28

resale value so they are discarded.
C. Pneumatic and hydraulic breaker

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 A common piece of equipment used for demolishing
bridge decks, foundations and pavements is a
hydraulically or pneumatically operated, boom-mounted

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breaker.
 The advantages of a machine mounted breaker may
include a telescoping boom for easy reach and, remote
control operation and underwater demolition capabilities
 Some of the smaller remote- controlled machines can be
lifted through window openings and used inside a
building to demolish floors and walls.
 Productivity can vary greatly depending on hammer size,
type of concrete, amount of reinforcing and working
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conditions.
A jackhammer is

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a pneumatic or electro-
that combines

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mechanical tool
a hammer directly with a chisel.
Hand-held jackhammers are typically
powered by compressed air, but some
use electric motors.
Electric powered tools come in a
variety of sizes from about 12 lbs - 65
lbs.
They require an external power
source, but do not require a 30
compressor.
Pneumatic hammer
  A hydraulic jackhammer, typically much larger than portable
ones, may be fitted to mechanical excavators or backhoes and

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is widely used for roadwork, quarrying and general demolition
or construction groundwork.
They are used in mines
where there is an explosion

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risk since they lack any
high-power electrical
circuitry that might cause a
triggering spark.
The jackhammer is
connected with hydraulic
hoses to a portable hydraulic
power pack: either a petrol or
diesel engine driving a Hydraulic breaker
hydraulic pump 31
Advantages and Disadvantages of Pressure
Bursting method:

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Advantages
1)The hydraulic breakers have tremendous power output also
means they are the most power efficient, getting the most
work out of the available energy.

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2)A properly used and maintained hydraulic machine can last
for a long time.
3)Pneumatic breakers are simpler tools with fewer moving
parts, requiring less maintenance.

Disadvantages

1) They require power, fuel or battery for their work.

2) They tend to be the most expensive types.
3) They require an external power source.
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D. Pressure bursting
 Pressure bursting can be used in cases

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where relatively quiet, dust-free,
controlled demolition is preferred.
 Both mechanical and chemical pressure
bursting split the concrete, either with a

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splitting machine operating on hydraulic
pressure provided by a motor in the case
of mechanical bursting, or through the Pressure bursting
insertion of an expansive slurry into a
pre-determined pattern of boreholes in
the case of chemical bursting.
 The split concrete is then easily
removed, either by hand or by crane.
 Both methods work by applying lateral
forces against the inside of holes drilled
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into the concrete.
 Introduction

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 In the controlled
demolition industry, building implosion is
the strategic placing of explosive
Explosives
material and timing of its detonation so
E. a structure collapses on itself in a
that
matter of seconds, minimizing the

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physical damage to its immediate
surroundings. RDX-based explosive
 Despite its terminology, building compounds expand at a very
high rate of
implosion also includes the controlled
speed, up to 27,000 feet per
demolition of other structures, such second (8,230 meters per
as bridges, smokestacks, towers, second)
and tunnels.
 Numerous small explosives, strategically
placed within the structure, are used to
catalyze the collapse. Nitro- glycerine,
dynamite, or other explosives
are used to shatter reinforced concrete 34
supports.
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Building Implosion
 Blasting methods employ rapidly
expanding gases confined within a series
of boreholes to produce controlled

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fractures which provide for easy
concrete removal.
 For the demolition of concrete structures
it is usual to drill holes at a

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predetermined angle into the concrete to
be removed.
 Implosion is the strategic placing of
explosive material and timing of its
detonation so that a structure collapses Strategic implosion
on itself in a matter of seconds,
minimizing the physical damage to its
immediate surroundings.
 The technique weakens or removes
critical supports so that the building can
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no longer withstand the force of gravity
and falls under its own weight.
 Pre-blast Considerations

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 The design may include pre-weakening of the structure, the
strategy in placement of the explosives and time delay so that
the building will collapse in a safe manner.
 Pre-weakening of the structure may include cutting out a

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portion of the shear walls and other structural elements.
 A test blast may be conducted to verify the strength of the
structural member and to fine tune the explosive design.
 Protection of the adjacent properties and habitats is also an
important consideration.

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 Pre-weakening of the structure may include cutting out a
portion of the shear walls and other structural elements.

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 A test blast may be conducted to verify the strength of the
structural member and to fine tune the explosive design.
 Protection of the adjacent properties and habitats is also

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an important consideration.

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Process of Implosion
Test Blast:

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Before carrying out the actual blasting, a test blast, in ordered
to ascertain the efficiency of explosive & detonators.

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Wrapping of holes:
The wrapping of holes is done to ensure that due to explosion

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of charges the debris does not fly in air. For this purpose, the
holes were covered with gunny bags and iron net after
placement of explosive and detonators.

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Ballasting:
Ballasting of Charges / Explosives work are carried out in a

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controlled manner such that there will be a time gap of 1/100
second between two successive blasts. The trigger of charges is
done in such a control manner so that the noise pollution and air
pollution should be minimum.

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Falling of structure:
Once central support/column will be destroyed and adjoining
columns will be weakened, due to its gravity the entire mass will
come down on its footprints

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 CONCLUSION

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 It can be concluded that demolishing/imploding the
building structure will prove very useful, economical
and quickest for reconstruction.

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 Leads to a safe and controlled demolition for the
occupants and neighbourhood.
 Development in techniques allows rapid demolition
with no harm to the environment.

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REFERENCES
 http://www.implosionworld.com/history.html
 www.wikipedia.com

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 http://archsd.gov.hk/media/11640/demolition_e2004
.pdf
 http://wiki.iricen.gov.in/doku/lib/exe/fetch.php?medi
a=m%E0%A4%BEr%E0%A5%8Dc_march_2013:a
chuta_rao.pdf
 http://www.concreteconstruction.net/Images/Demoli
tion%20of%20Concrete%20Structures_tcm45-
341335.pdf
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THANK YOU