UK-based magazine New Civil Engineer reports that New York needs to redraft its demolition codes because regulations are being overlooked when buildings undergo structural refurbishment, leading engineers claimed last week.

New York City Buildings Department deputy assistant commissioner Dan Eschenasy said investigations into collapses in New York had revealed confusion about when demolition guidelines should apply.

Full story here.

Leading UK companies from across the construction supply chain have committed to collectively halve the amount of construction waste sent to landfill by 2012.

Just a few weeks after the launch of The Construction Commitments: Halving Waste to Landfill, over 30 organisations have signed up to WRAP’s (Waste & Resources Action Programme) voluntary agreement – including leading clients and contractors, Land Securities, Defence Estates and Laing O’Rourke.

Full details can be found here:

Manhattan prosecutors won’t charge the city or state in the Deutsche Bank blaze that killed two firefighters – although several agencies were supposed to ensure the Ground Zero building was safe.
Instead, the district attorney’s office plans to ask a grand jury to bring manslaughter charges against a mob-tied subcontractor, John Galt Corp., and corruption charges against 14 individuals hired to demolish the toxic tower, three reliable sources said.

Full story of the planned prosecution can be found here, while a recap of the Deutsche Bank story can be found here.

The National Demolition Association has announced the schedule of events for its 36th Annual Convention to be held April 4-8, 2009 at Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Resort®, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Frank Addeman, Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering, will speak on Monday April 6 about that creation of the Walt Disney World resort and what goes on behind the scenes to maintain it.

Educational breakout sessions on Tuesday April 7 will be on the topics of the emergency response to the I-35W bridge collapse in the Twin Cities and the subsequent cleanup; the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program and how demolition plays an important role; and the issues and obstacles inherent in succession planning.

On Wednesday April 8, a presentation will be made by Michael Casbon of Brandenburg Industrial Service Co., Chicago, and chairperson of the National Demolition Association’s Safety Committee, on the BP Texas City refinery disaster.

The exhibit hall of the Annual Convention, which is the largest exhibition of demolition equipment and services in the world, is open Sunday April 5 through Tuesday April 7.

There is still space remaining in the 100,000-sq.-ft. exhibit hall. Prospective exhibitors can contact the Association at info@demolitionassociation.com or at 800-541-2412.