Demolition crew forced to take down part of a mill building damaged by fire.

A team of demolition experts has been called in to make the scene of a dramatic mill fire safe. Firefighters battled a blaze at the disused industrial premises in Bolton near Manchester on Tuesday night.

A dozen neighbouring properties had to be evacuated and four families had to spend the night with family and friends. All of them were allowed home on Wednesday morning.

Now a specialist team has demolished the most unstable part of the building.

Read the full story here and here.

The mighty Caterpillar is the latest company to join our Business Directory.

I am proud and constantly amazed at how quickly Demolition News has grown in the mere 12 months it has been in existence. The number of subscribers increases almost daily; the traffic levels are off the chart compared to just a few months ago; and, perhaps best of all, we’re getting more and more positive feedback both in the comments and in direct emails.

However, we have just received some news that has put all our previous achievements and development milestones in the shade.

Caterpillar, the world’s largest and most-respected construction equipment manufacturer, just joined our Business Directory.

We thank them (and all our other Business Directory members) for their support. It means a huge amount to everyone at Demolition News that our efforts are being recognised by companies of this stature.

Demolition company owner pleads guilty to asbestos violations.

Construction & Demolition Recycling magazine today reports that Gary Fillers, the owner of the demolition and salvage firm Watkins Street Project LLC, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee has pleaded guilty in federal court for conspiring to violating the Clean Air Act’s work practice standards related to the proper stripping, bagging, removal and disposal of asbestos.

Read the full story here and here.

Excavator falls victim to basement collapse on Philadelphia site.

As you know, we here at Demolition News are keen advocates of the social networking site, Twitter. Not only does it allow us to find out what our favorite celebrities have eaten for lunch, it’s also a useful source of interesting facts, figures and, in this instance, photos.

We are still trying to find more details. All we know so far is that the incident occurred earlier today during the demolition of the former Quint’s Army & Navy store in Scranton, Philadelphia. We’ll bring you more details as they arrive.

Pink hard hats? What is the world coming to…?

Pink access platforms are one thing; but pink hard hats? OK, I know I have worn a kilt (strictly in the line of research, you understand) and that my wardrobe probably does contain more than its fair share of pastel shades and floral prints than is probably normal for a man of my unquestionable heterosexuality.

But even I would draw the line at a pink hard hat…Or would I?

In truth the pink hard hats – as sported by these rufty-tufty construction types – are in a good cause; raising awareness of breast cancer to be precise.

More than 100 construction workers gathered at St. Pancras station in London today, donning pink helmets to mark the start of national breast cancer awareness month. The Emcor UK workers were taken from the St. Pancras Chambers site which is currently being re-developed.

Read the full story here.

Skid steer loader giant Bobcat unveils new range of combination buckets.

A new family of combination buckets is now available for Bobcat skid-steer, compact tracked and all-wheel steer loaders. Comprising five models with widths from 157 to 213 cm (62 to 84 in), the new combination buckets replace the buckets previously offered in these sizes and complement the existing 112 cm (44 in) and 140 cm (55 in) wide buckets.

Designed for diverse applications in construction, landscaping, demolition and recycling, the combination bucket is a versatile tool acting as several attachments in one. Used as a normal bucket, the combination bucket digs, carries, loads and dumps material. However, the clamshell section of the bucket can be opened and closed over material to fill the bucket, a feature especially useful for clean-up work. Moreover, the clamshell can be opened to release the material without having to tip the bucket forward, an important advantage when unloading into high board trucks.

Video of wrecking ball cable being changed; far better than it sounds.

We have been trying to get our hands on this video for months now but, with one thing and another, it hasn’t happened. However, our friends over at Stephen SetteDucatti Photography have just made this available. And we think you’ll agree it’s been worth the wait.

RICS launches guide to sustainability and the property life cycle.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is using official guidance to encourage members to use their expertise to promote sustainable approaches to their work in land, property and construction.

Through its latest guidance Sustainability and the Property Life Cycle RICS details how sustainability can be embedded into the property lifecycle and provides a resource for engaging members.

Sustainability and the Property Life Cycle primarily examines the sustainability interventions and opportunities property professionals can put forward during the design and construction of a building project.

It also forms a starting point for further guidance aimed at the RICS property lifecycle stages, principally: Greenfield/estate management; planning and procurement; new construction; occupation and use (including refurbishment and alterations); and demolition and remediation.

“RICS members are at the forefront of addressing the effects of a changing climate in relation to land, property and construction and providing a response in terms of professional advice,” says RICS Head of Sustainability Standards, Martin Russell-Croucher.

Photos showing the demolition of the Dunkerton Viaduct in 1981 have come to light.

I’m never sure why old photos and video footage of long-forgotten demolition works suddenly comes to light. But I am grateful, nonetheless, because it does give a useful insight into how our industry used to look.

Take, for example, this set of photos showing the demolition and subsequent implosion of the Dunkerton Viaduct in Bath. Although they were taken relatively recently – 1981 to be precise – the fact that they’re in black and white gives them an almost pre-War feel.

It’s a great set of photos, and we’d recommend them to any demolition historians out there. You can find more by clicking here.

Demolition of North Dakota landmark water tower delayed by high winds.

Grand Forks officials said they’re delaying the demolition of the city’s old “Smiley” water tower because of the threat of high winds.

The demolition of the 77-year-old tower with a painted smile and a wink had been scheduled later this week. A statement from the city said crews will wait until at least next week to name a new date.