Construction Demolition Equipment
Controlled Demolition Incorporated (CDI)
CDI is one of the leaders in the demolition by building implosion industry. The company has experience demolishing buildings, bridges, radio towers, and offshore structures. One of their biggest accomplishments was the demolition of the Villa Panamericana & Las Orquideas public housing complex in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The project involved the demolition of 17 buildings simultaneously which earned CDI a place in The Guiness Book of World Records. More information about the company can be found here: Controlled Demolition, Inc.
About Explosives
Blasting Caps
One of the tools used during controlled explosive demolitions are blasting caps. Blasting caps are the primary explosives that are typically used to trigger the detonation of larger, more stable secondary explosives such as TNT, dynamite, or plastic explosives. There are several different types of blasting caps including: non-electric caps, electric caps, and fuse caps. The electric caps are most commonly used for construction demolition because they can be triggered from afar. Blasting caps can sometimes include "boosters" which give the explosive more power to provide a more reliable trigger for the secondary explosives.
Controlled explosives are one of the most important tools for large-scale demolition jobs. Building implosion is typically a last-resort option for demolition as it can be extremely dangerous if not performed correctly. Building implosion is a relatively fast and cheap method of demolition. Controlled explosives are placed at designated locations typically near supports on the lower levels. When the charges are set off, the building should collapse into its own footprint which protects surrounding structures from potential damage.
Why Explosives?
Detonation Cord
Detonation Cord is another tool that is commonly used in building implosion projects. It is a flexible plastic tube that is filled with an exploding substance called pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). For building demolition, det cord is usually wrapped around smaller columns and walls that don't require larger explosives. This allows the contractor to save money and make the project slightly "safer."
TNT, Dynamite, & Plastic Explosives
These are the main components that make building implosions possible. These are large secondary explosives that are typically very stable so they don't explode unexpectedly if dropped or bumped during preparation. Consequently, primary explosives such as blasting caps or detonation cord are required to set these types of explosives off. Dynamite can be used for building demolition, however, it is primarily used for mining projects. Plastic explosives such as Semtex and C-4, TNT, and nitroglycerine are typically used for building demolition projects. Cavaties are drilled into major supports that are set to be taken out. The explosives are then placed into these holes.
