The process of taking down buildings and other man-made structures is referred to as demolition.
There’s a lot of metal and concrete that crash down creating a lot of rubble during demolition. Every
demolition project has certain characteristics that make them unique and different from each other.
This is what makes it necessary to analyze what methods should be followed and what equipment
should be used. The scale, local atmosphere, and venue decide the type of construction equipment to
be used.
Demolition projects are generally of two types—low and high level. Low-level demolitions involve single-
story buildings or other small structures being taken down, while the latter involves the demolition of
large structures like dams, multi-story buildings, etc. No matter what the category of demolition is,
certain types of equipment are required for their successful completion. Using these pieces of
equipment helps save time and gets the job done more efficiently. Despite the progress made in
technology, certain equipment still needs to be used. Let's look into them.
Excavators
These are one of the most critical pieces of equipment used in the demolition industry. With their
quickness and efficiency, they help in the successful completion of demolition projects. The various
pieces in an excavator indicate what they are used for. The most popular excavator components include
the cab, shoe, boom, bowl, and arm.
Excavators can be used for various purposes and that explains why they find a place in projects of
multiple types. They can be used for demolishing buildings, industrial units, mobile homes, barns,
wetlands, floors, modern inground pools, pits, etc. Since they are very versatile, excavators are used in
various sectors, not just demolition.
Shears
Shears are effective tools for demolition, especially in large projects. As the name suggests, these are
giant scissors that can cut through almost anything and everything. Their major use is breaking up steel
beams and other large parts of metal. It’s possible to place a shear on an excavator or a material
handler.
Not only are shears perfect for taking down buildings, but they are also important for recycling as they
help cut and process steel. They help make the most out of a demolition project as they help recycle
large portions of the structure being demolished that are of steel.
Backhoe Loader
Backhoe loaders come with an adjustable shovel and there’s a bucket in the back. They are used
extensively in small and medium projects. Great for doing backfill work, this machine can also be used
for gravel pushing and installation of tubes. Since it moves on tires, it can be used within metropolitan
zones and in trenches of various widths.
Backhoe loaders can operate in small spaces as well. A variety of tool accessories can be used to equip
these loaders. The most common of such accessories are buckets that are used to take away debris from
a project site. The hydraulic breaker is another very handy accessory used for cracking hard materials
like rocks or concrete.
Cranes
Cranes are meant for high-level demolition jobs. A heavy wrecking ball is often attached to a cable that
the crane swings from side to side to bring down large buildings. Three-dimensional weight movement
with a single piece of equipment is possible only with a crane.
A crane has wire ropes or chains, sheaves used to lift, move, and lower materials, and a hoist. Cranes are
of various categories—mobile, tower, overhead or gantry, traveler, stationary, or derrick cranes.
Dozers
A lot of material needs to be removed in every demolition project. Dozers form the backbone of these
projects. It’s because they can be used for ripping, bulldozing, scraper work, land clearing, grading, as
well as many other tasks.
These machines are extremely powerful and they come with a large frontal blade controlled by hydraulic
pistons. There’s also a ripper in the back. There are various tire and track configurations available.
Pulverizers
With their cleverly angled bulks, pulverizers are very effective in separating rebar from concrete. The
straight design of a pulverizer means that it’s perfect for primary as well as secondary demolition. They
are also suitable for reinforced and non-reinforced concrete structures.
The massive jaws of a pulverizer when attached to an excavator are very effective for tearing down
concrete slabs. The impact of the jaws helps crush concrete and separate it from the rebar. That makes
it easy to separate the concrete from the rubble.
Dump Trucks and Articulated Trucks
A place to drop materials is a must for crews involved in demolition projects. Articulated trucks come
with a secure bed that helps hold plumbing pipes, rocks, support beams, tree branches, and other items
found after a structure is brought down. The segmented build makes it possible to maneuver articulated
trucks in limited space. That’s why these trucks come in handy when relocating scrap as they can move
in and out of busy sites with ease.
Dump trucks may be needed for transporting recyclables and loose materials in larger projects. Hours of
manual labor can be saved as the automatic controls of these heavy-duty vehicles can empty heavy
loads fast and efficiently.
Grapples
Excavators can be transformed into equipment with astounding digging capacity with grapple
attachments. Grapple attachments offer multiple options at demolition sites helping carry out tasks like
sorting trash and moving loose material that helps clean the site quickly.
Grapples can turn excavators into the perfect machine to raise the productivity of demolition site clean-
ups. Grapples are of various types including orange peel grapples, forest machine grapples, trash
grapples, and contractors’ grapples.
Conclusion
Using the equipment listed above wisely can help complete demolition projects with greater efficiency
in less time. The right size of equipment and attachments needs to be identified for the most effective
use of them. That’s how equipment can be used to its full potential. The first step is to determine the
needs of the demolition project. It’s the needs of a demolition project that decide which equipment
shall have to be used.
