Futuristic demolition method with a better-than-fairytale ending

As if bored by explosive and mechanical means, it seems that the demolition industry is constantly seeking new ways to bring down buildings and structures. Gather together demolition professionals from across the globe, and sooner or later someone will throw hydro-demolition, lasers and even microwaves into the conversation. But how many are aware of what can be done with a vortex cannon?

A vortex cannon, I hear you ask. What, pray, is a vortex cannon?

Well, the science is largely lost on us mere journalists, but this BBC video and it’s use of the Three Little Pigs storyline to demonstrate what a vortex ring can achieve certainly makes for compelling viewing:

The smokestacks that helped power the space race fell on Sunday.

While the eyes of much of the demolition and blasting world were turned towards Cape Town in South Africa for the long-awaited implosion of the Athlone Towers, Controlled Demolition Inc (CDI) was quietly going about its business (well, as quietly as explosive demolition can be) in Florida to fell a pair of Florida Power and Light smokestacks at the world-famous Cape Canaveral.

The stacks and the associated boilers powered the space race. But they also puffed soot and oily residue on cars, pitting paint and raising health concerns among local people. “We’ve been subsidising their profits with our health for years,” said Amy Tidd, a longtime power plant opponent. “It’s all about the money.”

But on Sunday morning, those fears were finally laid to rest as the two red-and-white stacks that towered 121 metres (397 feet) above the nearly half-century-old Cape Canaveral power plant fell in a controlled implosion.

Read more here or watch the video below.

Demolition works delayed by discovery of PCB contamination.

The US Environmental Protection Agency is taking oversight control of the demolition of the former General Motors plant. Anne E. Kelly, an EPA project manager, said her agency has ended negotiations with Motors Liquidation Corp. for a consent order detailing plans for work at the former GM Powertrain site.

“The EPA issued a unilateral order for the demolition and cleanup of the soils under the plant,” she said. “The order was signed by our office Wednesday night. Motors Liquidation has indicated the facility will be demolished, and EPA is now taking oversight of how that will be done.”

Ms. Kelly said the order includes oversight of the building’s decommissioning and the issue of its contaminated contents. She acknowledged that the recent finding of equipment with PCB contamination inside the former GM Powertrain facility likely will push the demolition schedule back.

“It will affect the schedule for demolition, but I’m not sure how that will impact the bid process,” she said. “This was not envisioned in the initial bid specifications. I don’t have a specific schedule.”

Read more here.

Human remains uncovered on Canadian demolition site.

Canadian police are investigating after a home demolition in Metro Vancouver turned up suspected human remains on Friday. The home, located in South Burnaby, was being torn down to make way for re-development when the startling discovery was made.

Forensic Identification Services and the BC Coroners Service attended the scene to inspect the remains. “Based on their initial assessment, it is believed the remains are human,” Staff Sgt. Robert Marks said in a release.

The cause of death has not been determined.

Read more here.

Cape Town came to watch as the Athlone Towers tumbled yesterday.

It is a story that we have followed for about a year now and which began with news that, following the failure of one of the rings, the Athlone Towers in Cape Town, South Africa would have to be demolished. And yesterday, that story came to a dramatic end with both towers coming down in a simultaneous implosion.

Needless to say, YouTube today is crammed with footage from this momentous blast but we have gathered together what we believe to be the pick of the bunch (so far):

Athlone Cooling Towers Demolition from Phillip Gibb on Vimeo.

Excellent video captures a pair of Hitachi high reach machines in action.

OK, so the interview section of the video is in German but the subtitles are English and, frankly, the pictures speak for themselves.

Cape Talk website set to broadcast Athlone Towers as it happens.

It’s been a long time coming but at noon on Sunday local time (11 am GMT), Cape Town’s Athlone Towers will finally fall in a controlled implosion.

Obviously, we would love to be there but budget constraints and a lack of invitation has prevented this so instead we will be taking front-row seats to watch the event live on DemolitionNews.com’s brand-new iPad.

The implosion is being broadcast live here and will subsequently be broadcast on 567 CapeTalk here.

Of course, we will endeavour to bring you all the footage here on DemolitionNews.com just as soon as we can find a suitable source of embeddable video.

Could sewage spill lead to more demolition extras?

Just weeks after presenting city officials with a bill for almost $250,000 for demolition extras at its Colborne Street site, AIM Environmental could be reaching for the invoice paper again after a sewage spill at the site caused them further delays.

AIM Environmental dropped a manhole cover into a sanitary manhole on Water Street and caused a sewer main stoppage around 2 p.m. Thursday.

The contractor reported the accident to the city when the manhole filled with sewage, began overflowing onto the street, and entered a nearby storm catchbasin.

In an email to councillors and senior staff , Terry Spiers, director of environmental services, said pollution control inspectors went to the site and immediately reported the incident to the Ministry of the Environment’s Spills Action Centre.

AIM Environmental brought in equipment to remove the manhole cover from the flooded chamber to relieve the stoppage while public works staff went in to assist, Spiers said.

Read the full story here.

Contractor interviewed over demolition of “listed” mine rescue building.

North Wales Police have been called after more demolition work at the former Mines Rescue Station in Wrexham. On Wednesday demolition on the 1913 building was stopped by the local council, which said a safety certificate was needed.

Heritage body Cadw then listed the building, giving it protection.

But police were contacted on Friday after a demolition vehicle was seen entering the premises again, and the area has now been taped off. Local councillor Phil Wynn said the most historically important part of the building had been destroyed.

Police have also interviewed the contractors, and Wrexham council officials are also present.

Read more here.

AED and Delta Demolition’s public spat over Bellaire Bridge ownership turns nasty.

In the latest round of media posturing, Delta Demolition’s Lee Chaklos has laid the blame for delays in demolishing the Bellaire Bridge squarely at the feet of Advanced Explosive Demolition’s (AED) Eric Kelly. “The biggest reason for the delay (in starting demolition of the bridge) is that AED is up to no good,” Chaklos said. “He (AED Vice President Eric Kelly) has been calling the local police station, informing them that he owns the bridge.”

Kelly initially purchased the bridge from Bellaire businessman Roger Barack earlier this year for $1. The firm then reportedly sold the bridge to Krystle Chaklos, also of Delta Demolition, under the name KDC Investments for $25,000. Indications then were that KDC and Delta Demolition would use AED’s expertise to blow the span.

Chaklos claims that he has an e-mail from Kelly dated June 3 stating the financial transaction between the companies was complete and congratulating KDC on being the new owner of the bridge. But Chaklos said AED’s claims of owning the bridge started after July 7, when he informed Kelly “his services wouldn’t be needed.”

“He was unable to comply with our insurance requirements,” Chaklos said of Kelly. “He was trying to fly under the radar. He thought he could go in under our contractor’s license. He couldn’t. He had to get his own.”

Chaklos noted that while he does not yet have his own license for West Virginia, he plans to travel to Charleston soon to take the test to obtain it.

But AED is not taking the matter lying down. In a press statement, the Eric Kelly says: “AED disputes any reference to ownership, monetary cost and future involvement in the Bellaire Bridge demolition.” Kelly further states that his company will present its own plans for demolishing the bridge to Benwood officials and the U.S. Coast Guard.

He termed previous comments from Chaklos – saying AED would not cooperate with Delta Demolition – “inaccurate, unfounded and libelous in reference.”

“AED has been working with the previous owner of the bridge and the city of Benwood since 2008 and has extended every professional effort to bring the demolition to fruition,” Kelly states. “The delays by Delta Demolition and KDC Investments have been well documented by the city of Benwood, and have no reflection on AED.

“Future statements will be forthcoming from counsel once the contracts for ownership and demolition are processed through the judicial system,” he added. “Once again AED would like to thank the citizens of Benwood and the Benwood city officials for their support and professional response.”

Read more here.