Murieston Crescent Edinburgh
Dem-Master were appointed as Principal Contractor to carry out the Asbestos Removal, Soft Strip and a combination of hand-deconstruct and machine demolition at 27-29 Murieston Crescent, Edinburgh.
The site comprised 2 adjoining, but structurally independent buildings. The former engineering workshop to the West and the Masonic Hall to the East. A minor outbuilding in the form of a prefabricated office lay to the rear of the former engineering works. At the high level zone of the site at the top of the railway embankment there were 2 No derelict steel structures. The steel framed shed immediately adjacent to the main Edinburgh Rail line was in a poor dilapidated condition with an asbestos cement sheeted roof which had partially collapsed and the shed had been vandalised with the asbestos debris strewn across the site immediately next to the railway. A temporary stair access scaffold had to be designed, provided and maintained in the rear courtyard for access from the ground level at the rear to the upper area of the site. This was to allow continuous access for our operatives, the Network Rail engineers and representatives at all times during the works.
The 2 storey buildings were of masonry construction with timber floors and flat timber roofs. The buildings adjoined a four-storey tenement property which was fully occupied. Close liaison was required throughout our works between our management team and the neighbouring block. Prior to commencing, our Community Liaison officer visited each of the neighbouring tenants to inform them of our works. As the deconstruct had to be carried out from scaffold erected to the rear it was imperative that the neighbours were kept informed throughout the works.
The Site was bounded on 3 sides by the Network Rail, Shotts Line to the West North West, the Western Approach Road to the North and Murieston Crescent to the South.
The partially collapsed shed building which was formerly a railway sidings shed also formed part of this contract and had to be removed in strict accordance with Network Rail BAPA requirements. The building was removed by hand during 2 no overnight shutdown and partial track possession, due to the work being carried out in proximity to the rail line. The first possession allowed for the demolition and clearance of the asbestos cement sheeting and all broken and loose sheeting and debris. The second possession allowed us to demolish the remaining steel framed structure and clear all the debris to an agreed line back from the rail lines. This allowed the debris to be cleared at a later date out with the necessity for a Network Rail possession.
The building was immediately adjacent to the main Edinburgh – Glasgow rail line. We arranged with Network Rail a series of possession dates and attendance requirements. This was spread over 4 weekends to ensure that the asbestos removal works were safely cleared and the demolition of the building was completed and all debris moved back outside the 8 meter exclusion zone. This was previously agreed with Network Rail and defined on site with an additional line of Heras fence.
Hand Demolition Works
Scaffolding was erected to the front and rear elevations of the two storey Masonic Hall Building, allowing safe access for operatives to carry out the hand demolition and separation works from the adjoining tenement block. The wall line at the front indicated that this was a joint / mutual gable wall and required to remain as checked on site. To ensure the safety of our team and members of the public, a Banksman was situated behind the boundary fence of the adjoining tenement block, ensuring the works were paused should anyone enter into the back court area.
The Masonic Hall Building was deconstructed by hand, forming a clear separation away from the neighbouring tenement. We were required to work in conjunction with the stonemason working off the front scaffolding for the detailed hand unbuild of the date and decorative stone plaque which the Client required, through Planning, to retain and carefully lay aside for reuse / incorporation in the new build. A detailed task method statement was supplied and approved before this element of the works was carried out by our specialist stonemason. He was able to work off our scaffolding during the progress of the demolition works. Detailed photogramatic survey of the original stonework plaque was taken for pre and post dismantle as a record of the condition of the ornate stonework plaque both prior to and during the works to dismantle same.
Following the separation works, we installed temporary weather proofing protection using 38 x 19mm double battening screwed to the existing tenement stone gable with a layer of visqueen sheeting protection between the battens to secure the protection. This was required to protect the existing gable from the elements prior to the commencement of the new build development by others.
