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Techniques and Equipment Used in Concrete Demolition

By / concrete safety / No Comments

The demolition of concrete varies according to counties, countries, regions and municipalities. In this article, you are going to discover different techniques that you can use to demolish concrete and also the equipment involved. 

This blog will help you to compare options before picking on any technique. Apart from uncovering the techniques and equipment, you’ll also learn more about safety measurements and warnings against possible disasters that may occur during demolition.

In Which Circumstances Should One Demolition Concrete?

People try to fix cracked or damaged concrete by, for example, doing a decorative topping, or by using resurfacing products. This can be a good solution if the damage is a little crack. But there are circumstances or conditions where even if you try to repair or fix damaged concrete the problem won’t disappear completely.
Examples of such circumstances include;

  • Deep cracks

These types of cracks generally occur because of the weight caused by huge trucks, deterioration or incorrect preparation of the subgrade, among other causes.

  • Sunken Concrete Slabs

This damage occurs because of several reasons. For example, the cause may be a subgrade that was not properly prepared, especially if loose dirt was used for the subgrade. If this is the case, the dirt sits or stays down because of aspects like rainwater and sprinklers running under the concrete. As a result, the concrete becomes unsupported and later sinks. Another reason is the huge weight being subjected to the concrete.

  • Concrete that Exhibit Signs of Frost Heave

Frost heave occurs in areas that experience cold weather conditions. In such areas concrete is usually pushed upwards as a result of the moisture found in the ground being frozen.

It is under the above-mentioned circumstances that one has to demolish concrete. Concrete that is in such conditions should be removed or demolished and replaced instead of covering up.

Techniques Used in Concrete Demolition

  • Pressure Bursting

This type of technique is used in projects where one preferred a dust-free, less noisy kind of demolition. Here both chemical and mechanical pressure bursting is used. The split concrete is normally removed by hand or with the help of a crane.

Difference Between Chemical and Mechanical Pressure Bursting

Mechanical Bursting

  • Affordable
  • Less noise
  • No vibrations

Though the method is affordable, in some situations the expense can be a little exorbitant if the diamond-tipped core machine is used.

Chemical Bursting

  • Little or no dust at all
  • Quiet
  • No vibration
  • Expensive
  • Pneumatic Hydraulic Breakers

This kind of technique is commonly used in the demolition of foundations, pavements or driveways and bridge decks. In these types of projects, the most used equipment is a boom-mounted or handheld pneumatic or hydraulic breaker.

The amount of work to be done using this technique depends on the amount of the steel-reinforced, the strength of the concrete, hammer size and the working conditions.

  • Dismantling

Here the process is done by cutting through concrete. The concrete cut is later removed using a crane. The impact that this method has on the environment is minimal in terms of noise and dust.

This technique can be carried out in  different ways, 

Thermic Lance

  • Works perfectly in the presence of a reinforced steel
  • No dust and noise issues
  • May cause fire or smoke threats

Water-Jetting

  • Reduces the risks of fire threats
  • Minimises dust
  • Good for cutting straight and contour lines
  • The Ball and Crane Technique

This is one of the most ancient techniques of demolition. Here a ball weighing around 13000 to 14000 pounds is used on a ball and crane to demolish concrete. The ball is either dropped or swung onto a surface that has to be demolished.

Bottom Line

Explosives are used to demolish large amounts of concrete. There are a lot of techniques and equipment that you can use to demolish concrete, but before you demolish get a government permit first.

Concrete or Cement: Know the Difference

By / Uncategorized / No Comments

Cement and concrete are terms that are repeatedly used interchangeably.

Cement

Cement can be defined as a binder used in construction sites.

It can be used solo to build some structures for smaller projects. Nevertheless, it can also be put together with other materials. When blended into other materials, the cement hardens and sets everything together.

For example, it can be mixed with aggregates to elicit paste used in masonry. Still, for example, cement is mixed with gravel and sand to produce concrete.

In short, we can say that cement is one of the ingredients needed to prepare concrete.

Components of Cement

Below are the common materials used to manufacture cement;

  • Iron ore
  • Slate
  • Limestone
  • Marl\chalk
  • Silica sand
  • Shale
  • Calcium
  • Aluminium
  • Iron
  • Slated
  • Gust furnace slag

Of course, there is a procedure followed when mixing the materials but when all are combined they are heated at a very high temperature to produce a rock that we now call cement.

Advantages of Cement

Cement is;

  • Robust and very useful as a material in structural construction
  • Flexible and easy to use
  • Simple to mix
  • Adjustable
  • Very affordable

Drawbacks

  • Irresistible to pressure
  • Not easy to maintain
  • When it comes to mixing, balancing should precise
  • Not environmental friendly
  • Not durable

Concrete

Concrete is a hardened material made from a mixture of cement materials.

Components Concrete

Concrete consists of the following elements;

  • Portland cement in powdery form
  • Water
  • Aggregate this included sand, rocks and broken gravel

The type of cement used to make concrete is Portland. Concrete is used in the construction of bridges, roads, columns, pillars, beams, foundations and slabs.

Advantages of Concrete

Concrete is;

The most used material in the construction, both in commercial and residential projects

Globally available. Concrete can locally be manufactured within a radius of 160km of the construction site.

All-weather, concrete will always stay in perfect condition no matter the rain, the sun, or the snow.

Very versatile, can be moulded in any shape and size. This allows the designers to be more creative and comes up with imaginable structures.

Durable, it gets more stable as time goes by. Concrete lasts for decades.

Resilient, it doesn’t deteriorate, scorch or corrodes. This in a way makes it very cost-effective.

Safe, its resilience makes it the best material to use in construction. It’s the ability to resist fire, corrosion, decay and earthquakes that make it safe for human use.

Very cost-effective, thanks to its ability to last for a long time, low maintenance cost, energy

Recyclable, it can always be recycled as sub-base material (aggregate) in the construction of parking lots, gabions, roadbeds and shorelines.

It is sound insulating, mild to the environment, easy and cheap to maintain.

Facts about Cement

  • Can be used as grout when mixed with water
  • Was invented in the 19th century in a kitchen belonging to an English bricklayer
  • To create a smooth surface finish, when it is mixed with water plasterer
  • Though can be used singularly, it is prone to cracks

Fact about Concrete

  • The water that is supposed to be used during the mixing process must be very clean.
  • Aggregates, when contaminated with things like hummus can jeopardise the stability of the structure
  • 75% of concrete is the aggregate used

Bottom Line

The main difference and the reason why many confuse concrete for cement and vice versa is that, when mixed with water, cement forms a paste used in smaller construction projects.

The paste is formed from a mixture of cement and water, when things like sand and stones are thrown in, it forms the concrete that we see all around us.

A Guide On How To Cut Concrete

By / concrete safety / No Comments

 

  1. Mark The Area To Be Cut

The first thing you need to do is layout the piece of concrete that you want to remove. You can use a box and chalk line to mark the area of the concrete that you want to cut. When cutting the concrete, make sure that the blade stays on the straight line marked by the chalk line.

  1. Use 150-amp Circular Saw That Has Abrasive Blade.

This is the best blade you can use to cut concrete that is not too deep. However, when using the blade, make sure that you set the depth of the circular saw at 50.8 mm which is 2 inches. Once you have adjusted the depth of the circular saw, you can proceed on to cutting the concrete by starting from the edge. Slowly follow the line you had drawn using the chalk line to make sure that you get perfect results.

If you are working on concrete that is deeper than four inches, it is advisable that you use a more powerful cutting tool to get the job done.

A good example of such a tool is an electric power cut-off saw. This precise saw can penetrate concrete that is six inches deep and can cut through without any problems. Besides, using a different blade to cut through such concrete, you will still use the same method to get the job done.

The above graph shows that the concrete cutting industry really only exists in western countries such as England, Australia and America.

Conclusion

There are different types of blades you can use to cut concrete, but the one you chose will depend on the depth of the concrete that you need to cut. Furthermore, it is also advisable that you try and keep the blade wet when cutting concrete to reduce dust and also to keep the blade cool.

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Different types of concrete blades available today

By / concrete sawing / No Comments

There are different types of concrete cutting blades available in the market, and the type of cutting blade you choose to use will depend on the depth of the concrete that you are cutting. Even though concrete cutting blades all serve the same purpose, some are durable and reliable for quality work than others. This article will discuss different types of concrete cutting blades that exist today. You will also understand why some of these blades are powerful than others and also when to use each type of blade.

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Blades Designed For Cutting Concrete

Turbo-Rim Blade

Turbo-rim blade is one of the common blades used to cut concrete. These diamond blades are designed with a serrated rim which cuts through rough and hard material such as concrete and bricks. Another reason why most professionals prefer to use this particular concrete cutting blade is that it is more aggressively than other brands which are designed with continuous rim blades. However, even though the turbo-rim blade is reliable for cutting concrete, it does not leave a smooth finish because of the serrated rim.

Segmented Blades

Segmented blades usually rely on their diamond edges to cut through tough objects. Moreover, this particular blade is designed with a rim which is divided using gullets. Segmented blades are considered to be powerful and easy to use because of the segments that it possesses. Furthermore, these segments also cause the blade to cut through quickly than other types of blades meant for cutting concrete. Apart from cutting concrete, you can use this particular blade to cut other tough material such as bricks.

Abrasive Blades

Another type of blade use to cut concrete is the abrasive blades. You can also use the same blade to cut other materials that are hard such as bricks and even metal. However, you also need to understand that abrasive blades do not have segments or teeth like other types of blades meant for cutting concrete, but instead, they cut through tough materials using an abrasive material such as silicon carbide or aluminum oxide.

Circular Saw Blade

A circular saw can be used with an abrasive blade or diamond to cut through tough objects such as concrete and bricks. However, it is advisable that you set the depth of the circular saw before you begin cutting. A circular saw does not only cut through concrete, but it also leaves a smooth finish.

Concrete Cutting Blades Must Suit the Work That Is Expected from Them

It is not easy to cut through concrete. Cutting chases in concrete or dismantling concrete is often necessary for improving the use of any working or living space. You may need to cut through walls, floors or other structures. This process of cutting concrete becomes much easier if the right blades are used with the equipment that facilitates the process.

Blades are mounted on motors that impart a high torque and spinning force that enables the blades to bite into the concrete. They can be made of corundum or use diamond tips to give the necessary hardness that can cut the concrete. Corundum blades are used mainly for masonry, but can be utilized for cutting concrete of low strength or that which is green and has yet to achieve its strength. These blades are relatively cheap, but will require more effort and will wear out quickly. The cutting process creates a lot of dust and makes the edges very hot. Their economy comes from limited use where shallow cuts are required.

Diamond saw blades are the most efficient in the cutting of concrete. These blades have a steel disk that has a rim that holds the diamonds. The diamonds are held in a metal bond that also wears away as the concrete is cut. The diamonds used in these blades are synthetic. The diamonds that are exposed at each segment of the cutting edge slice through the concrete, when the blades are rotated at high speeds. Blades can have hard metal bonds that ensure that the diamonds are thoroughly worn out before the blade becomes ineffective. These type of blades are used for cutting uncured or green concrete. Where the cutting is required to be done on hardened concrete, it is better to use blades that have a soft bond, so that the eroding diamonds continually expose newer diamonds in the matrix.

 

Aggregate size and the type of sand used in the concrete can also have a bearing on the right blades that are needed for cutting concrete. Blades wear out faster when the aggregate size is small, though cuts will be easier to make. Larger aggregates take a longer time to cut through but are not so demanding on the diamonds. Crushed sand is more abrasive that river sand. High temperatures are generated during the cutting of concrete, and it is not uncommon to find cutting equipment that has facilities the cooling of blades with water during the cutting process. This water reduces dust and also extends the life of blades, as the blades remain cooler during the cutting.

Concrete cutting blades must be selected depending on the material that has to be cut. This action can ensure economy and efficiency of the blades.

Conclusion

These are the different types of concrete cutting blades available in the market. If you are planning cut your concrete using any of these tools, you might be required to buy the one that meets your needs or rent from a home improvement shop.

 

Controlling Dust When Cutting Concrete

By / concrete sawing / No Comments

 

Dust created when cutting concrete can have mild to severe health consequences depending on the extent of exposure. These health consequences may include:

– Asthma

– Silicosis

– Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

– Emphysema or Lung Cancer

– Other acute or chronic respiratory, pulmonary or cardiovascular conditions.

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Measures should therefore always be taken to control dust when cutting concrete and to minimize exposure. The following two methods are the most successful:

 

  1. Wet Cutting

 

The use of water while cutting concrete is a very effective means of minimizing dust emissions. There are different methods that are used to employ wet cutting techniques:

 

– Water is showered onto the rotating cutting blade while in use.

– Water can be pumped directly onto the cutting area while the saw is in operation.

– Water jets can be released over the general area to reduce dust.

– Water can be sprayed in the air to cause concrete dust to settle quickly.

 

Pressurized water tanks are necessary in most of these techniques. A ratio of 1/2 a liter of water per minute is considered the standard or ideal rate of release to reduce dust emissions. Increased rates have not been found to be more effective.

 

Portable tanks hold around 8 liters of water and are therefor effective for a period of 16 minutes of cutting when the tanks will need to be refilled. These are not ideal for use in all types of constructions settings.

 

  1. Safety Gear

 

There are statutory regulations that control the safety measures that need to be taken in order to reduce the risks associated with dust from cutting concrete. These normally involve the provision of safety gear. Safety gear should include:

 

– Breathing masks for the concrete cutting saw operator as well as any other workers or person’s in the area. It is important to select a mask that is specifically designed to provide protection against concrete dust. Also be aware that mask filters will become blocked after a specific period of time and will need to be replaced regularly when performing concrete cutting for an extended period of time.

– Protective goggles are essential to prevent dust emissions from entering the eyes. This can result in mild irritation but could also damage the eye.

 

Employing both wet concrete cutting techniques as well as using the necessary safety and protective gear in conjunction with one another will provide the greatest level of dust control.

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