One thing about putting up beautiful buildings and homes is that eventually they are going to age or be damaged to the point that demolition is necessary. If it goes up, it has to come back down some time. And while a demolition doesn’t always mean demolishing the entire structure, it does mean knocking down walls and tearing up floors and ceilings, which can bring about a lot of dust, debris, chemicals and even hazardous materials that the environment and demolition crew will be exposed to.
Sometimes, a building demolition may be required in an otherwise vacant lot or away from the public, but there are situations in which interiors or entire buildings require demolition in populated areas. Naturally, there are several environmental considerations when this type of work is done.
Environmental Considerations
Legally, different municipalities may have slightly different environmental considerations to follow during a building demolition, but you’ll probably see the same ones for the most part. Here are some important considerations from the City of Toronto:
- Has there ever been industrial use of the site?
- Are there any fluid storage tanks above or below grade on the site?
- Has the Ministry of the Environment or the Ministry of Labour issued any orders for this site that are outstanding?
- Does the site contain any PCB’s?
- Are there any hazardous products on the site as defined by WHMIS?
These are just a few of the questions you will have to answer when it comes to environmental considerations for a building demolition. Issues regarding mold and asbestos will likely come up at some point, as no one wants them released into the environment as the structure is being torn down.
It is very important to follow the bylaws of your community closely, and to ensure the demolition crew and people in the vicinity are safe. As with any project of this magnitude and importance, it’s usually a good idea to defer to the experts.
An expert demolition crew will have all of the latest technologies and tools and techniques to pull of even the most dangerous demolitions safely and within all of the legal parameters. Dust, noise, neighbourhood vibrations, toxic exposure…it’s all taken care of. And in the end, there won’t even be any evidence that we were there at all.
It’s no secret that the environment takes enough abuse on a daily basis just from regular living. The potential avalanche of dangerous toxins that might be released from a standard building demolition is mind boggling, so if you’re unsure, give us a call because we can help!
