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Introduction

How to Drop a Building


Keys
• Test Blasts
• Gut unnecessary structure
• Undercut the building:
– Basement or ground level
– Repeat every five stories or so
• Sequence delays so:
– Structure rips apart
– Drops structure in planned direction
• Use of cables
• Protection of surrounding structures
• Public safety
Test Blasts
• Do not trust design
specifications
• Select
– Typical columns
– by themselves will not bring
structure
• Drill and load
• Shoot
– determine if sufficient amount
explosive or too much
Gut Unnecessary Structure
• Non load bearing walls etc may impede
collapse and in some cases prevent
collapse
Undercut Building
• Blowout entire support column
to give good drop
• Repeat every five stories or so
This is what happens
when you don’t do it.
Sequence Delays
• Use LP delays to
provide enough time
for leaning
• Use first delay on the
side you want the
building to drop
• If you want the
building to drop in on
itself, shoot out the
center.
Use of Cables
• Ensure detached parts of building are
pulled in the right direction
• Attached to early falling parts of structure
Protection of Surrounding
Structures
• Threat
– concrete
– shrapnel
– airblast
Concrete Pillars
• Exposed pillars wrapped
– chain
– geotech to contain fly
Shrapnel
• Mostly from
shaped charges
cutting Steel
– box
– water/gel blankets
– avoid kicker
charges
Shrapnel Catch
• Drape nearby
buildings with
geotech at a
standoff to catch
small stuff.
Ground Vibration and Airblast
• Airblast will be large
• Ground vibrations
– insignificant from explosive charges
– sizeable from building collapse
Public Safety
• Everyone wants to see it
• Need crowd control
• Coordinate with police
• Shoot early in the morning
or on weekend (Saturday)
to avoid crowds and traffic
• Make sure everyone is far
enough away
• Avoid hyped event, invite
media and keep quiet
Final Note
This is only a brief overview of how
building demolition is done. This
presentation could be expanded into a full
course. Being good at building
demolition is a combination of common
sense, experience, attention to detail and
of course good luck!
Questions?

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