The 4 Stages Of Demolishing A Commercial Building
Demolishing a commercial structure is a process that requires as much attention as it took to build it. Commercial demolition services companies aim to conduct their work in defined stages. Building owners and other stakeholders should be aware of what these stages are.
Planning
The first step is to plan for the coming challenges. Working with a team of commercial demolition contractors, you'll need to assess what the structure of the building is like. Typically, this includes conducting surveys of both the building and the surrounding properties.
In consultation with the contractors, you will then determine what is the best method for taking down the building. Depending on the circumstances, this could include some combination of taking materials down by hand, using machinery to knock sections down, and deploying explosives to speed the process up.
You will need to submit your demolition plans for government review and obtain a permit. Try to have detailed plans ready so you can answer any questions.
Risk Mitigation
To start, you'll want to disconnect all utility systems going into and out of the building. The goal is to prevent any potential environmental issues or fires while also preserving the integrity of the connections for future use.
Similarly, you'll need to remove potentially hazardous materials from the building. These often include problematic materials like lead and asbestos. You may also need professionals to remove contaminated materials from previous commercial operations. Hazardous products like gasoline, chemical precursors, solvents, and paint also need to go.
Demolition and Debris Removal
The commercial demolition contractors will secure the location, usually with fencing, to prevent any unauthorized people from entering the site. You also may need to create temporary infrastructure to facilitate the processes of demolishing the structure and removing the debris. The contractors will then bring in heavy equipment, tools, supplies, personnel, and support vehicles to handle the demolition.
Depending on the quality of the materials, you may also want to reclaim some things from the structure. For example, many organizations reclaim bricks for use in later construction or for resale. Recycling is also an option. This can defray some costs. Anything that isn't suitable for reclamation or recycling will need to go into heavy dumpsters for removal.
Finalization
You should conduct a final inspection of the site to ensure that everything is okay. Depending on the condition of the property, you may need to take additional steps to limit erosion or even treat the soil. Once you are satisfied with the state of the property, local officials will visit to determine if the site complies with safety and environmental rules.
Contact a company like Cecil Holcomb Demolition to learn more.
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