Delicate work fells Rolls Royce factory building…but contractor can’t show anyone
Imagine undertaking the delicate demolition of a four-storey administration building owned by one of the world’s best known engine brands. Imagine that the building to come down was just ten metres from a sensitive neighbor, meaning that a unique scaffold needed to be affixed to the façade to protect that neighbor from dust and vibration. And imagine that this contract went off without a hitch, earning plaudits from the client and the main contractor. But then imagine that the sensitivity of that neighbor prevented you from showing people just what you’d achieved.
Welcome to the world of Chris Doyle, contracts manager with Nottingham-based CMEC Demolition, who has just completed precisely that contract, taking down an administration building at Rolls Royce’s marine engine facility, located next door to a Ministry of Defence (MOD) nuclear facility.
“Working with main contractor Clegg Construction and the MOD, we developed a safe system of work to ensure operative safety, whilst ensuring that the nuclear facility could remain in use,” Doyle says. “We then set about developing a safe method of demolition, utilizing a Volvo high reach excavator to cut the building down a section at a time. To further minimise dust and vibration, each section was lifted to the ground and then removed from the demolition area. All arisings were then put through our crusher and left on site for use by the client; both Rolls Royce and Clegg Construction were very happy with our work.”
Thanks for that Chris – Just a shame there are no photos of what sounds like a fascinating contract.
