Dig A Crusher MD completes epic charity cycle ride.

As regular readers will know, Dig A Crusher managing director has just spent the past seven days cycling from the Northernmost to the Southernmost tip of his native Ireland to raise money for the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity. Saddle sore and weary, Sean has just sent us this message:

Congratulations Sean and to all your fellow riders; what a spectacular achievement.

Angelo State University Hall implosion delayed following discovery of asbestos.

The implosion of University Hall on the Angelo State University campus has been delayed because of the discovery of additional asbestos that must be removed first.

The former residence hall popularly known as the Women’s High Rise, was scheduled for demolition by implosion on 20 September. A new date will be set for October, according to an ASU news release.

Read the full story here.

Could the demolition of James May’s Lego house be the easiest demolition job ever?

Back in August, BBC Top Gear presenter and toy fanatic James May and a group of willing volunteers built a house entirely from Lego which May then lived in.

However, the two-storey building – complete with staircase, toilet and shower – was designed purely as a temporary structure. And unless an alternative home can be found for the structure, it is due to be demolished on 22 September in what could prove to be the easiest, and most colourful demolition job in recent memory.

There’s no news as yet on who has landed the contract to demolish the building. But we sincerely hope they see through the toy theme and handle all the on-site haulage using Tonka trucks.

Volume of responses force Defra to delay revised waste exemption rules.

For just over a year, The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Welsh Assembly Government and the Environment Agency have been undertaking a review of the waste exemptions from environmental permitting. The aim of the review was to provide a more risk based and proportionate approach to the regulation of waste recovery and disposal operations, complementing the new environmental permitting regime.

The consultation included a number of proposed measures aimed at increasing the use of exemptions for as wide a range as possible of low risk activities (including most of those operating under an Environment Agency low risk position) whilst removing or restricting the availability of the exemptions for higher risk waste operations by seeking to regulate higher risk operations through one or more standard permits.

The consultation also sought views on a partial impact assessment and a draft set of regulations. This consultation closed on Thursday 23 October 2008, and a summary of responses – including those from the National Federation of Demolition Contractors and the Institute of Demolition Engineers – has just been published.

Defra reports that the original proposal was to implement revised regulations by October 2009. However, the high level of stakeholder engagement during and since the consultation has led to an increased number of policy issues requiring resolution. Defra, Welsh Assembly Government and the Environment Agency have therefore decided to put back the implementation of new regulations until the next available opportunity in April 2010.

Further details, including a summary of responses, can be found here.

Equipment thieves have made off with $39,000 worth of equipment from Naval Station.

A demolition crew from Northwest Demolition and Dismantling returned to the Centerville Beach Naval Station in California on Monday and found that a skid steer loader, a trailer and a generator were missing from the property, according to a Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release.

The stolen property is estimated at about $39,000. The first vehicle reported as stolen is an approximately 1991 Bobcat 553 Skid Steer Loader that is white, orange and black. The Bobcat had a custom-made grapple bucket attachment. The tires on the Bobcat are Setco brand solid tires.

Further details here.

Video showing implosion of a pair of 115 metre high chimneys in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Texas Stadium implosion decision now imminent.

As thousands of Dallas Cowboys fans turn their attention to the new $1.15 billion stadium in Arlington, officials in Irving are hoping to send the team’s former home out with a bang. Literally.

The City Council is expected to consider awarding a $5.8 million demolition contract – a contract that came under intense scrutiny for the breadth of bid values received – next week that would allow a Dallas excavation company to implode Texas Stadium. The city has never kept quiet its plans to clear the structure and redevelop the teardrop-shaped site. But don’t expect officials to get too excited about blowing up the most famous building in town.

Read more here and here.

Dutch access platform manufacturer produces demolition-specific scissor lift.

Imagine the contractor/manufacturer meeting that led to the creation of what we believe to be the world’s first demolition-specification Mobile Elevating Work Platform:

Contractor: Hi, I need a scissor lift.
Manufacturer: Well you came to the right place Sir. Were you looking for anything in particular?
Contractor: Well, I work in demolition so it’s got to be tough, durable and rugged
Manufacturer: Not a problem. Anything else?
Contractor: I want it on tracks, there’s a lot of rubble you see. And I want it made from heavy-duty steel.
Manufacturer: Tracks, heavy-duty steel. OK?
Contractor: Did I mention the tough, durable and rugged?
Manufacturer: Yep. Tough, durable and rugged. All noted. That’s a rough ol’ business you demolition guys work in huh?
Contractor: Damn right. Rough and tough. It’s a man’s world, and no mistake.
Manufacturer: Did you have a colour scheme in mind at all?
Contractor: Yeah, I want it pink. And not just any pink either. I want it “Lady Penelope Pink”
Manufacturer: Am I on Candid Camera?

Read the full and apparently true story here.

A New Zealand man has died after a fuel tank he was dismantling exploded.

Kenneth Joseph Crown, 55, a metal recycler from Hamilton, died on Tuesday when he was struck by a flying lid after the disused petroleum tank he was dismantling with welding gear exploded. Crown was working as a contractor for CMA Recycling at the Petroleum Services site in Pukete.

Click here for more details.