3 Things to Know About Commercial Building Demolition

Are you planning to demolish a commercial building? Hold up! It’s not as easy as it looks. It requires thorough research, careful planning, and proper orchestration to ensure the entire process is safe, secure, and efficient. 

Demolition contractors need to consider environmental and employee safety; otherwise, they could lose their business licenses. With that, you need to adhere to the safety standards set by OSHA and EPA standards. 

Some materials are harmful, such as asbestos and hazardous materials that must be removed safely before the demolition begins. Here are some things to keep in mind: 

1. Limit Exposure to Harmful Chemicals

Building contractors are aware of the dangers of construction materials, such as asbestos, lead, and many more. Here are some of the potential hazards you need to watch out for: 

• Synthetic Mineral Fibers (SMF): SMFs are fibrous products made from fibreglass, ceramic, and rock wool. Exposure to SMF can cause throat, nose, and eye irritation. There is also the question of whether SMF can cause lung cancer because there are times when they contain fiberglass. Therefore, demolition contractors must wear protective clothing and respirators when they come in contact with SMFs. 
• Wood dust with formaldehyde: When inhaled, the dust can get stuck inside the nasal passages that can cause nasal cancer. Wood panelling and particleboard contain toxic formaldehyde-laced dust that is released into the air that can pose serious risks for workers. 
• Lead paint: Often overlooked, workers can get exposed to lead paint when torching steel beams. If not properly executed, there can be high airborne lead levels. 

2. Ensure Fall Protection

Demolishing a commercial building means tearing things down and creating holes. Therefore, fall protection must be in place. When workers work around an open roof, wall, or hole with a fall of more than six feet, workers must have full-body restraints. 

3.Recycle Materials

As part of the demolition process, workers must know which materials can be recycled. Here are some materials that can be recycled upon demolition: 

• Concrete: A lot of concrete can be taken from a demolition project. The material can be crushed into gravel, which is in high demand for new building projects. 
• Steel: Steel and other types of scrap metals can be processed to turn into new products. 
• Beams and Wood Interior Doors: Wooden doors, posts, and beams in good condition can be reused, recycled, or sold. A lot of architectural salvage companies buy these types of materials. The good thing? You can even recycle wood even if they’re already in poor condition. 
• Sinks and Toilets: If the toilets and sinks are in good condition, an architectural salvage company can use them. Otherwise, porcelain can be recycled with concrete and stainless steel fixtures. 

Conclusion

From building a structure to demolishing it, there are a lot of things you can learn from each other. Proper planning and execution are important to prevent safety risks, whether you were the one who built it or not. That’s why it’s essential you work with a professional demolition company to help you with this. 

Proper demolition is a must! DL Nagel Excavating Ltd. provides reliable demolition services in Southwest Saskatchewan. We have over 30 years of experience; therefore, you can rely on our experienced and professional team from start to finish. Contact us today!