Exclusive video of IDE vice-president’s workshop at DEMCON 2010.
In addition to the presentations hosted by the European Demolition Association, the DEMCON 2010 exhibition in Stockholm played host to a series of seminars, the most interesting of which was the “Demolition Innovations – 2010 and Beyond” round-table workshop hosted by Institute of Demolition Engineers’ vice president, John Woodward.
Although the setting was hardly conducive to high quality sound recording, we managed to capture the key points on Woodward’s presentation and some of the key discussion points:
Video of the people and machines of the EDA conference and DEMCON show.
Late last week, delegates from more than a dozen countries descended up the Swedish city of Stockholm for a unique event; a combined European Demolition Association Autumn conference and the inaugural DEMCON exhibition of demolition equipment. And Demolition News was there to capture the action.
While we’re busily writing a comprehensive review for the next edition of Euro Demolition News and editing further video content to bring you here (hampered by a broken finger ironically sustained in a Swedish furniture store), here’s a brief video that captures some of the people and machines that made the event.
Coleman & Co. start work on demolition of Phoenix Rise tower.
Work has begun to bring down the sixth and final tower block on a Black Country estate.
Birmingham-based Coleman and Co has been appointed by Wolverhampton City Council to knock down the 17-storey Phoenix Rise building in the Blakenhall area of the city.
The building is the last remaining tower block of sextet which once made up the Blakenhall Gardens Estate.
Bellaire Bridge debacle looks set to conclude in court.
The future of the Bellaire Toll Bridge soon could be determined in an Idaho courtroom.
Advanced Explosives Demolition – the demolition crew featured on the reality television show “The Imploders” – has filed a legal complaint in the Kootenai County, Idaho, court against Delta Demolition and KDC Investments, Delta attorney Jeremy Domoczik confirmed.
The complaint surrounds the issue of whether AED or Delta Demolition/KDC owns the bridge and who has the right to take it down. No hearing date has been set in the case.
Combined gala dinner proves that two into one sometimes doesn’t go.
Picture the scene. The European Demolition Association (EDA) has just completed the opening day or it’s well-attended and informative Autumn Conference in Stockholm, Sweden. Meanwhile, delegates and representatives the Drilling and Sawing Association (DSA) have emerged from the opening day of the first-ever DEMCON exhibition that is being held next door. The bar of the Infra City hotel is packed and it’s four deep at the bar; surely the perfect backdrop for a convivial, combined gala dinner; a meeting of minds in which representatives from both sectors could come together over some Swedish cuisine.
Sadly, things didn’t turn out quite like that; in fact, the apparent inter-industry animosity left some members of the EDA stunned.
Depending upon your viewpoint, the seating plan was either relaxed or chaotic, resulting in members of both groups being sat tooth by jowl. But within minutes of sitting down and initial introductions being made, EDA members were left amazed and angry after being told by a very senior member of the DSA that demolition contractors were little more than “a bunch of gypsies”.
A little later, the same individual described the demolition industry as “Mickey Mouse”, and not in a way that was intended to suggest the happiest place on Earth. Another then added that, to the drilling and sawing sector, demolition contractors meant credit checks because, supposedly, this industry never pays its bills.
Perhaps the harshest criticism, however, was the suggestion that “any idiot can demolish a building”. The irony of this was that just a few hours previously, the EDA had been debating the need for a licensing scheme to ensure that NOT just any person can demolish anything.
The fact that these views came from a senior official of an international trade association is disappointing in the extreme; equally disappointing is the fact that these views were aired in a forum that numerous people had worked long and hard to organise in order to fuel discussion and mutual understanding and appreciation.
But the lasting feeling is that by calling into question the professionalism and integrity of their fellow industry in such a crass, unwarranted and public manner, the individuals involved merely underlined their own lack of professionalism and social grace.
As many of you will be aware, Demolition News is currently in Stockholm, Sweden for the EDA conference and DEMCON exhibition. If you would like to follow the action live, please follow the Twitter feed to the left or check us out at www.twitter.com/demolitionnews
Scotland’s First Minister calls in Safedem contract.
Alex Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister, has visited a Safedem demolition site in the West Pilton area of Edinburgh to see first hand the Scottish Governments’ funding of regeneration projects across Scotland.
He took a great interest in the demolition process and was fascinated by the size of the machine and the skill of the operator. He also commented on the tidiness of the site but specifically complimented Safedem’s Community Liaison Team for their proactive approach in keeping the community up to date and informed about site operations. Salmond spent over an hour on site talking to Safedem staff about all that goes into a demolition project.
“The amount of planning and consideration that Safedem have put into this project is incredible, their work is a really positive start to the regeneration of West Pilton,” he said.
The West Pilton demolitions are being carried out by Safedem as part of their term contract with City of Edinburgh Council. To date, Safedem have demolished over 300 redundant homes in the area.
Demolition work underway to pave way for new sports hub.
The demolition process of Singapore’s National Stadium is now in full swing. After the grass was removed recently, it is now the turn of the wooden benches. The move will pave the way for the construction of a new Sports Hub by April 2014.
Benches that are still in good condition will be recycled for use at the new facility. Other items that will be salvaged include the commemorative plaques and museum pieces.
Angela Chouaib of Green Air Monitoring takes a timely look at face fitting of masks.
Angela ChouaibI have been asked numerous times about face fit testing so I have listed the frequently asked questions and answers. Please see my guide below if you are asking yourself what do you really need to know???
What is Face Fit Testing?
Face Fit Testing is the method used for checking that a tight fitting facepiece matches the persons’ facial features and seals adequately to the wearers’ face. It also helps to ensure that poorly fitting facepieces are not selected for use. An inadequate fit will significantly reduce the protection provided to the wearer. Face Fit Testing can also be used to ensure that an individual knows how to properly put on and wear the respirator.
If a fit test is not performed, then an unsatisfactory seal/barrier may excessive leakage of airborne contaminants into the wearer’s breathing zone, even though the user is wearing a respirator correctly selected for the application.
The HSE have produced a guidance document ‘Fit Testing of Respiratory Protective Equipment Facepieces’ (HSE OC 282/28). The HSE strongly recommend that fit testing is included as an integral part of any Respiratory Protective Equipment program
Tight fitting facepieces are:
Filtering facepieces
Half Masks
Full-face masks
When should Fit Testing be performed?
Face fit testing should be carried out:
As part of the initial selection of RPE
When an un-tested face piece is already in use.
If an employee wears more than one type of tight fitting facepiece then each facepiece should be tested.
A repeat test should be carried out when the wearer:
Loses or gains weight
Undergoes any substantial dental surgery
Develops any facial changes (scars, moles etc) around the face seal area
How is Fit Testing performed?
There are two basic types of fit testing, these are:
Qualitative – method based on tasting or smelling a bitter, sweet or odorous compound.
Quantitative – provides a numerical calculation of the effectiveness of fit. This is called a Fit Factor. This is usually carried out using a particle counting device or a controlled negative pressure device.
Green Air Monitoring provide Quantitative Fit Testing using the TSI Portacount which is a particle counting device. This is suitable for testing the following mask types:
Filtering facepieces (P1, P2, P3 types)
Half mask respirators
Full face mask respirators
Power assisted respirators with full face mask or half mask
Breathing apparatus
How does the quantitative test work?
Quantitative fit testing involves a direct numerical measurement of the respirator face seal performance. Using a probe into the mask, the particle counting device counts the number of ambient particles leaking into the facepiece and compares this with the particle number challenging the facepiece. The particles within the facepiece are assumed to have entered through a leak in the face seal. This calculation is known as Fit Factor.
Fit Factors
A quantitative fit test gives a number that is referred to as the Fit Factor (FF). A high FF number means the facepiece achieved a good contact between the face seal and the face during the test.
Does each employee need to have their own facepiece?
No. However, you should ensure that the type of facepiece worn during the fit test is the same size, make and model that is available to the employee.
What do I need to do before the fit testing is performed?
Subjects should refrain from eating, chewing gum, drinking or smoking for at least 30 minutes prior to the test. Candidates must also be clean shaven within the region of the face/mask seal.
Why do I have to do exercises when I am being fit tested?
This is to simulate the work you would normally be carrying out – this will test the fit of the facepiece better than if you were sitting down or just standing still.
I have passed a fit test but do I need to check and maintain my facepiece?
Yes. The fit test does not assess the quality of the maintenance of the facepiece – it must be checked regularly.
I have failed my fit test, what do I do next?
Manufacturers make lots of different sizes of facepieces so you may obtain a better fit by wearing an alternative type or size of mask. If an adequate fit is not achieved then it may be necessary to wear a respirator that doesn’t rely on a tight face seal.
How long do I have to keep records?
The employer should keep fit test records for a minimum of five years.
How long does the fit testing take?
About 20 minutes per person.
How much does it cost?
This depends on the service you require, the number of people and number of masks to be tested. The most cost effective solution is to come to your site, or alternatively, you can arrange for your staff to be tested at our premises in Manchester or Kent.
What is the difference between Qualitative and Quantitative Fit Testing?
Both methods have advantages and disadvantages, see below:
Qualitative Fit Testing:
√ Inexpensive
√ Low maintenance
X Imprecise
X Easy to do wrong
X No documentation of results
X Subject to deception,
X Wearer’s have different abilities to taste the solutions; some can’t taste them at all!
X Limited to Fit Factor of 100 (half masks or filtering facepieces – P1, P2, P3), not suitable for full-face masks.
X Uncomfortable, people do not like wearing the hood
X Slow to perform
Quantitative Fit Testing:
√ No fit factor limit
√ Precise
√ Fast to do
√ Hard copy of results,
√ No chance of deception
√ Easy to perform
√ Wide range of facepieces can be tested
√ Useful tool for employee respirator training
X Cost of buying and maintaining a suitable fit testing device, training personnel to perform the tests
Green Air Monitoring can take the hassle out of it for you – less lost work time, reduced costs, no maintenance and the fit testing is carried out by fully trained personnel.
Angela Chouaib
Green Air Monitoring Ltd
11 Kent House
Old Bexley Business Park
Bourne Road
Bexley, Kent, DA5 1LR. Office: 01322 555 556 Mobile: 07855 577 820 Email: AngelaC@greenairmonitoring.co.uk Website: www.greenairmonitoring.co.uk Twitter: AirQualityQueen LinkedIn: Angela Chouaib
Elderly woman assaulted as demolition continues under police protection.
Opponents of a multi-billion-euro rebuilding of the Stuttgart rail system in Germany rejected talks with the government of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg Monday, saying they would not negotiate unless demolition of the city’s central train station was suspended. The announcement came ont he day a YouTube video was released that showed an elderly female protestor apparently being punched by a police officer (see below).
Last month, at least 30,000 people demonstrated in the city against the project. Some 60 kilometres of tunnels and an underground main station are intended to free up surface land for buildings and parks.
‘We won’t be attending the talks because the demolition is still going on,’ said Gangolf Stocker, a spokesman, after the protest leaders had conferred.
Read the full story here and see the alleged assault video below:
Work has begun to bring down the sixth and final tower block on a Black Country estate.
Alex Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister, has visited a 
The demolition process of Singapore’s National Stadium is now in full swing. After the grass was removed recently, it is now the turn of the wooden benches. The move will pave the way for the construction of a new Sports Hub by April 2014.
Why do I have to do exercises when I am being fit tested? 