Hi, I’m doing a research on the safest methods to demolish a commercial building in a suburban area. Demolition of a shopping mall surrounded by houses and shops.
This demolition happened in my country where it went awry and cause the loss of a few lives. The contractors hired for the work claimed the method they used is one of the safest in the industry – ‘the top down method’ using hydraulic crushers (cranes), eating away chunks of cements and steel beams floor by floor from top to bottom.
However, initial investigations showed they are not using the proper techniques and procedures when the work was carried out, like not having an escape ramp for the cranes to descend and so forth. While it may be one of the ways of demolition, I don’t think its the safest, considering vibrations could cause corrosion in the floors below. Compounded by the fact that the building is about 35 years old.
I’m writing for a national daily and would appreciate some expert opinions and experiences in this area. I could provide the photographs of the disaster through email upon requests.
Website links for my further research are also welcome.
Thanks in advance for all serious comments and opinions.