High Rise Blocks, Fullarton Street, Irvine

Following a competitive tendering process, Dem-Master were appointed by North Ayrshire Council as Principal Contractor to carry out the Asbestos Removal and UHR Machine Structural Demolition of the 5 Nr - 14 Storey High Rise Blocks in Irvine.

Asbestos:
Our in-house team of licenced asbestos removal specialists were required to carry out the removal of ACM’s within the 5 blocks in the agreed / approved sequence for the follow on demolition. AIB Wall Panels were identified within the cupboards of each flat (275 flats). The material to be removed contained chrysotile and amosite (approximately 700m2 in total). Our team carried out ‘intact removal’ of AIB using mist spray and shadow vac techniques within the constructed enclosures. The works were processed progressively through the various levels of the Blocks for clearance and to allow the completion of the soft strip operations in preparation of the structural demolition.

Soft Strip:
Our team of operatives carried out the full internal soft strip of the buildings in the preparation stage of the blocks. To facilitate the removal of the soft strip materials our squads stripped flats at each level and stockpiled same for the transfer of various materials. We then introduced our crawler crane with a suspended skip to safely deposit the materials at each of the upper levels and then systematically lowered the skips of debris to ground level. This efficiently maintained a good production of the movement of the debris from the soft strip materials in particular and thus we managed to avoid working in adverse / windy conditions which is always a higher risk activity on demolition sites in the migration of wind borne materials. This was a much more controlled and safer operation.

Demolition Method:
Due to the proximity to local residential and commercial areas and with the adjacent main Irvine Shopping Centre, a careful approach had to be taken to the management and execution of this whole project. The buildings were gradually dismantled using modern and efficient standard and ultra-high-reach excavators, with controlled attachments and site water suppression systems minimising dust and noise pollution. Plate bearing tests were carried out in the areas of ground prior to mobilising our heavy plant to determine if any additional platforms, 6F5 / plate protection or matting was required in certain specified areas where we felt services needed the additional protection. All ground / platform test results were sent to our structural engineers to compile reports to submit to our client for verification of our method statement and risk assessments on all blocks.