With all the advancements in technology, the world today has become more industrialized and urbanized. This leads to an increase in the number of construction projects happening in cities across the world. In order to accommodate all these new buildings, developers often choose to demolish existing buildings and replace them with new ones. However, demolishing an old building and constructing a new one requires a lot more time, effort, and money than simply renovating it. This is why many cities and towns are considering the option of renovating old buildings instead of demolishing them entirely. The main reason for this is that buildings with outdated architectural designs are more prone to suffer from problems like water leaks, falling debris, and poor indoor air quality. In such cases, renovating the building would be cheaper and easier than constructing a new building from scratch. However, renovating an old building is not an easy task. It requires more time and effort than demolishing it and then constructing a new one. There are several ways in which you can prevent ground disturbances during the renovation process so that you can keep construction costs low and make sure that construction workers are safe at all times during construction.
Identify the hazard before demolition
Since the goal of a renovation project is to preserve the existing architectural design while improving the functionality of the building, you need to know what exactly needs to be replaced or updated. This way, you can identify the hazards in the building and then focus your efforts on preventing them during demolition and renovation. You can identify the hazards in the building by conducting a hazard assessment. A hazard assessment involves inspecting the building and analyzing the architectural design, materials used in the building, and the surrounding environment. This will help you identify the hazards in the building and how they can be prevented.
Proper planning and demolition procedures
It is important to have a well-planned demolition procedure before you actually start demolishing the building. This will help you reduce the risk of fatalities and injuries to construction workers. You should also make sure that all the demolition equipment is in good working condition before starting the demolition. The demolition should also be carried out during the day when there are no nearby residents. This is because loud noises such as heavy machinery and explosions can disrupt the peace and quiet of nearby neighborhoods and put residents at risk.
Properly dispose of hazardous materials
If you find any hazardous materials in the building, you need to properly dispose of them. Doing so will help you comply with local laws and prevent the materials from entering the environment and posing a risk to people. Hazardous materials include asbestos, lead, and mercury. If you find any asbestos in the building, you need to take extra safety precautions and protect yourself from the fibers. Lead paint can be a hazard to construction workers if it is not properly removed. If you find lead paint, you should wear a lead-protective suit and follow strict EPA guidelines for lead abatement.
Adequate ground reinforcement
If the building is above the ground level, you need to reinforce the soil to prevent it from collapsing during the demolition. This is because the soil may shift due to the weight of the building above it. You can reinforce the soil by injecting it with cement or concrete to increase its strength. It is important to properly reinforce the soil around the building to make sure that the structure is safe during demolition.
Protection of utilities and utilities close to the building
If the demolition involves cutting into the building to install new utilities, you need to protect the utilities and the surrounding environment. This can be done by using fencing and covering the area with tarps. It is also important to properly protect the utilities that are in the ground around the building.
Conclusion
When renovating a building, you need to ensure that construction workers are safe at all times. This requires adequate planning, careful demolition procedures, and proper ground reinforcement. It is also important to properly dispose of hazardous materials and protect utilities and utilities close to the building.