Education

Industrial demolition is the dismantlement of structures or facilities used in the production of goods. This work can be done at chemical plants, oil refineries, manufacturing facilities and the like. It often involves the environmental remediation of hazardous substances that were part of the industrial process and potentially contaminated the site. Industrial demolition can be a complex undertaking involving sophisticated engineering, specialized rigging, and complex industrial hygiene requirements.

Commercial demolition is the partial or complete dismantlement of commercial properties such as office buildings, shopping malls, hotels and the like.

Deconstruction is one of the most rewarding methods of demolition, albeit a much slower and detailed process than standard mechanical demolition. During commercial deconstruction, the building is deconstructed piece-by-piece using hand tools—opposed to heavy machinery—to carefully dismantle the building with the objective of recovering as much salvageable material as possible.

The process is essentially reverse construction, dismantling the structure from top-to-bottom, starting with the roof, and is an excellent way to recoup as much of your property as possible.

Note: During the process, larger machinery (e.g. cranes, shear legs, etc.) may be used to support the structure.
This method is more expensive upfront, but you can often recoup much of your investment by re-using or selling the salvaged materials.

Demolition with explosives requires expert hands and skill. Most structures, except timber and brick structures, can be adapted to this type of demolition. Make sure you have all the documents and legal permissions to continue demolition.

Accurately calculated and controlled explosions ensure a commercial building comes down quickly, easily and precisely.

The Clean Air Act states that the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) regulations must be followed during any commercial building demolition or renovation. These regulations require that the owner or operator of the building notify the necessary state department before any demolition (or renovation) of buildings that could possibly contain a certain amount of asbestos takes place.

Particular operations are prohibited from releasing visible emissions into the air and are required to follow proper air cleaning and hazardous waste removal procedures. 

The national average for commercial demolition is roughly $7-$12 per square foot. However, the average square footage cost decreases as the square footage of the project increases. Other factors that affect commercial demolition cost include permit fees, projects size, building materials, whether or not hazardous materials are present, and debris cleanup/disposal.

Under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, any contractor, inspector, supervisor, worker, management planner, or otherwise that works with asbestos-containing building materials in a commercial build must be accredited under a training program as rigorous as the EPA Model Accreditation Plan (MAP).

State and local agencies may have more stern requirements than those required by the federal government, so make sure you research the demolition and asbestos requirements for your state.

Commercial demolition requires great care and knowledge to do correctly therefore it shouldn’t be taken on by just anyone.

Demolition contractors are some of the most regulated construction industry professionals. We work on structures that are often damaged by fire, weather, or structural deficiency. Most demolition projects require permit review by local municipal building departments.

As demolition contractors handle hazardous materials and toxic substances there are a host of municipal, state and federal environmental regulations that govern the industry’s operations.

Because demolition is a dynamic craft and contractors are dealing with a variety of structures, the industry’s health and safety regulations are very strong. Many states have their own health and safety rules and the Federal Government’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s (OSHA) Construction Standard (29 CFR 1926) contains a specific section on demolition operations.

As the recycling rates from both conventional demolition and what is called deconstruction are generally about the same, often close to 90% of the material on a project site, the major difference between the two processes tends to be that deconstruction is usually much more labor-intensive than conventional demolition where a considerable amount equipment and technology is used. Deconstruction involves the hand dismantlement of potential recyclables and therefore in addition to be more labor intensive can be more time consuming than convention structural demolition that utilizes heavy equipment, specialized attachments and recycling equipment. The goal of both demolition and deconstruction is the same, to maximize the amount of marketable recycled material generated on a project site.