Case Study - Middleton Industrial Estate
Project: Middleton Industrial Estate Units 12-15
Client: Guildford Borough Council
Program: 9 Weeks
Location & Overview
The Middleton Industrial Estate project was situated in the centre of a busy industrial estate, next to a children's activity centre. There was a pedestrian walkway, including public parking, to the rear of the project, and to the other elevation ran the Network Rail mainline into Guildford city centre.
The Industrial estate has one access road, which had a constant flow of transport feeding the industrial estate. This had to be monitored so the project did not cause disruption to the public or the other units.
The perimeter of the project was secured using a combination of Heras fencing and hoarding, with manned access gates to the entrance, and separate pedestrian access.
The various number of buildings on the project comprised of two-storey traditional masonry structures with concrete flooring, steel frame warehouse units with asbestos cladding, and
two-storey concrete frame buildings with block & beam floors. The buildings contained various types of non- notifiable asbestos and notifiable asbestos throughout, as well as Japanese knotweed identified in areas on one elevation.
Pre-contract
Portsmouth Demolition & Salvage Ltd were the principal contractor for the project, and were responsible for all notifications to the local authorities. Our management team attended a pre-contract meeting on-site with Guildford Borough Council.
Guildford Borough Council had a number of requirements that needed to be met at all times. These requirements were discussed at the meeting, and methods of compliance were agreed and developed into the demolition phase plan.
Typical requirements included:
Management of asbestos
Control of Japanese knotweed
Network Rail communication
Protection to the public
Control of noise
Control of dust
Traffic management
Restricted work times
Site security
Bespoke Works & Challenges
Some of the buildings were located in close proximity to the site boundary, adjacent to the Network Rail lines & children's activity centre. These needed constant pedestrian and vehicular access. The works to demolish these sensitive areas were unable to be undertaken out of trading hours so scaffolding and solid panel hoarding were used to protect the public, and Network Rails assets
Prior to the works commencing on each of the buildings, the non-licensed asbestos was removed by Portsmouth Demolition & Salvage Ltd under the control and supervision of the site supervisor. A detailed method statement and risk assessment were developed for this operation, and the materials disposed of to a licensed facility in closed and sheeted bins.
Background and personal monitoring for asbestos workers was periodically undertaken to ensure the workplace exposure limits were not exceeded. And to provide reassurance to our client that the works were being suitably controlled, and that the members of public, and other industrial estate users would not be exposed to asbestos fibers from the removal works.
Following the removal of the asbestos and the issue of clearance certificates, the building was stripped of all furniture, carpets, ceiling tiles, doors and services etc.
Portsmouth Demolition appointed a competent and licensed subcontractor to undertake the removal of the notifiable licensed asbestos. The subcontractor provided detailed method statement and risk assessment which was reviewed by our health & safety advisers. The works were carried out under controlled condition in line with the HSE guidance and the control of asbestos regulations 2012, and the supervision of the the subcontractors supervisor and the supervision of Portsmouth Demolition.
The subcontractor carried out background and personal monitoring. and provided Portsmouth Demolition with reoccupation/clearance certification when the removal works had been completed.
Consignment notes were provided to Portsmouth Demolition & Salvage from the subcontractor for asbestos waste removal from site to a licensed waste facility.
Prior to the actual demolition commencing, a survey of the structure was undertaken to ascertain the location of the load-bearing elements, and therefore enabling a safe sequence of demolition to be determined.
The 360-excavators commenced demolition on the office structure away from the public elevation and the industrial estate’s transport routes, carefully removing sections of the felted timber roof maintaining the stability of the structure.
Following this the excavators, using selector grab attachments, dismantled the second floor level masonry walls down to the top of the first floor block and beam flooring. The excavators then carefully removed sections of the flooring followed by dismantling the lower level masonry walls working methodically with structural elements of the building, to ensure that a premature collapse did not occur. During the above methodology, the supervisor and banksman carried out close & continuous observation on the stability of the building.
The 360-excavators fitted with a shear attachment commenced demolition of the steel frame warehouse units by carefully shearing through the top of the apex of the steel frame roof the continuing to shear the frame into manageable sections which were lowered to ground level. The 360-excavator continued shearing through the roof of the warehouse maintaining the stability of the structure and leaving the side elevation of the building in situ to act as protective barriers. On completion of the roof being successfully demolished the 360-excavator using the same piecemeal methodology demolished the side elevations. During the above methodology the supervisor and banksman carried vigilant observations on the stability of the building.
Due to the type of construction, the building was demolished in a piecemeal and top down demolition method that allowed each element to be cleared on a daily basis, leaving the remainder of the structure stable and the need for temporary support works was not required.
The slab and foundations were broken up and excavated. All materials were crushed on site to 6F2 ready for reuse by the client at a later stage of the project. Water cannons were used at all times to control dust throughout the works and noise levels were continuously monitored and recorded. Noise was reduced by the selection of the most appropriate plant and attachments, all of which are no greater than 3 years of age and are fully maintained. Noise was further reduced by the 360-excavator being operated at low engine revolutions. Long drops of demolition elements were avoided by skilled operators exercising care and competency when dismantling the structure, further reducing the likelihood of dust, noise and nuisance on site and to the surrounding area.
The works were carried out within the allocated time, with in budget & without any accidents & incidents.
Fill in the form below and a member of our team will contact you shortly