What You Should Know About A Demolition Project
Commercial and Industrial Tampa Demolition Company
What do you picture when you hear about a building being demolished? Is it a bare Miley Cyrus swinging on a wrecking ball? Is it a show of explosions and blasts with skyscrapers tumbling down? The truth is, it’s neither of them and both of them (well excluding the Miley Cyrus part!). Demolition is indeed a project that utilizes wrecking balls to destroy and blasts to bring structures to the ground. But unlike the haphazard picture you just imagined, it’s actually a well-choreographed, systematic process.
Expert demolition companies know how to properly proceed with taking down a building. This means they know what things they can keep and recycle and what things they can destroy. They also understand that hazardous construction material, one popular example being asbestos, has to be removed first before the
building can be demolished. By keeping these safety precautions in mind, a good company will know how to protect the environment and people while carrying out their demolition process.
With that said, it’s now established that reputable and professional demolition specialists will know how to take a building down safely. This means they are also likely to know how to properly and safely execute a commercial or industrial construction project. While this job is for an entirely different class of workers, tips like those below from a reputable demolition company can actually be pretty helpful!
Words of Advice about Demolition Projects
As professionals in the demolition industry, there are a number of things you should be aware of when planning for a small or large commercial or industrial demolition project. Below are our top three things to ensure you have top of mind.
Stay protected from toxic chemicals and pollutants
Everyone knows asbestos can cause lung cancer and lead can be poisonous. When proceeding in a construction project involving an old building, residential building contractors are well aware of the dangers of these noxious chemical. In fact, they are pretty much illegal everywhere now so new homes constructed won’t have any structures or materials made up of lead metal or asbestos.
But these two aren’t the only harmful chemicals you need to be avoiding. There are a bunch of others that aren’t officially illegal but can cause some minor to major side effects in sensitive people.
Three Harmful Chemicals to Avoid
1) SMF or synthetic mineral fiber is employed in products for sound and heat insulation. Although considerably less toxic than both asbestos and lead SMF can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, nose and throat in some people. Plus, SMF is basically made up of a mixture of fiberglass, rock wool and ceramic; fiberglass has been found to be a risk factor for lung cancer. We recommend residential contractors to wear their safety equipment like eye goggles and respirators when proceeding in a place with SMF exposure.
2) The second is commonly known but not always expected to be found. Another exceedingly common but less potent irritating agent is wood dust that contains formaldehyde for preservation purposes. A good percentage of the population is sensitive to formaldehyde with some people more sensitive than others. This type of wood dust can, once again, irritate the eyes or more commonly the nose. It can pretty much irritate any mucosal surface. Respirators and protective gear should be adorned when dealing with wood paneling or areas where wood dust is in high concentration.
3) We already established that lead is a poisonous material which can even affect the brain if the poisoning becomes too severe. What many people don’t realize is that lead has an insidious way of finding its place in things that are apparently innocent and – in this case – colorful. That’s right: lead paint is a major health hazard that is overwhelmingly overlooked. Steel beams that have been coated with lead paint, when torched, release lead particles that can be detrimental to health. If you anticipate being on the job site with the demolition contractor you hired, you will be required to not only wear masks but also gloves and protective clothing when torching lead-coated steel bars.
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Understanding Fall Protection
Fall protection is one of the key precautionary measures a demolition worker will know of and strictly adhere to. The same physics of fall protection applies for the construction process.
This means residential building constructors must abide by the same safety rules as demolition experts. Any hole or opening deeper than six feet requires the worker to wear full protective body gear and restraints. A construction worker should also follow the same rule.
Learning How to Recycle Efficiently
Smart companies will be wary of the environment and adopt green demolition methods. One of the most important methods of staying green in their field of work is conserving recyclable material instead of incinerating it in a landfill. Construction workers can also find this information about recyclable products useful if they want to adapt to a greener working style.
Concrete, steel, doors and beans, and even sinks and toilets can be recycled and reused.
Here’s how it works: concrete is the basic foundation material in any demolition or construction project. In a demolition project, tons of concrete is yielded which can be put to good use. The concrete can be crushed to form gravel which can then be utilized in other building projects.
Steel is another example of a construction and demolition material that can be reused and recycled. The process of converting steel and similar scrap metal into useful materials requires skill and the right machines but it’s definitely doable. It’s a much better option that dumping it all in the landfill!
The doors and metal beams in the house are also made of salvageable materials. In fact, these doors and beams can even be sold to a prospective buyer if they are in good functional condition. If not, you can also recycle the wood in the door and the metal in the beams.
A construction company can learn a lot from a demolition expert in spite of the fact that the two lie on opposite ends of a spectrum. With the appropriate knowledge, skill, and two cents from a professional demolition company in the Tampa Bay region, a construction project is assured to have a higher rate of overall success.
Looking for a professional and affordable demo company in the Tampa area for a commercial or industrial demolition project? Look no further than PAW Demolition.
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