ABSTRACT
During the past decade, c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t y i n the i n d u s t r i a l i z e d world has i n c r e a s i n g l y concentrated on r e p a i r and refurbishment. The a l t e r a t i o n s which must be made i n e x i s t i n g b u i l d i n g s i n v o l v e l o c a l i z e d c u t t i n g and p a r t i a l demolition of the loadbearing s t r u c t u r e . At pres e n t t h e r e i s no method which i s i n a l l r e s p e c t s s u p e r i o r t o the oth e r s . The choice of the r i g h t method or combination of methods i s , t h e r e f o r e , an important i n i t i a l stage i n work of t h i s kind. F a c t o r s which are of e s s e n t i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e i n choosing the method to be used f o r l o c a l i z e d c u t t i n g and p a r t i a l demolition are
- the st r e n g t h of the s t r u c t u r e - t r a n s p o r t f a c i l i t i e s i n the b u i l d i n g - r e p a i r needs a f t e r c u t t i n g - s e n s i t i v i t y of the surroundings to disturbance - the extent of the work
At present, b l a s t i n g i s used only to a very l i m i t e d extent and mainly f o r foundations and s i m i l a r elements of c o n s t r u c t i o n . The method i s , however, f a i r l y o f t en used f o r the demolition of e n t i r e t a l l b u i l d i n g s . I n a r e f i n e d and s u i t a b l e form, however, i t can a l s o be used f o r l o c a l i z e d c u t t i n g and p a r t i a l demolition of most l a r g e elements of c o n s t r u c t i o n i n a b u i l d i n g .
