demolition | Rafferty Steeplejacks

91.5m High Concrete Chimney Demolition

July 5, 2019
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Rafferty’s have been awarded and are well underway with a contract to demolish a 91.5m high reinforced concrete chimney in St Helens, UK.

The demolition of the chimney will be carried out in a piecemeal fashion using our innovative sliding band scaffold platform, which enables the scaffolding to be lowered as the demolition proceeds.

Our team of steeplejacks have been working tirelessly and are on target to finish the project ahead of schedule.

Rafferty’s remain one of the country’s leading companies able to address and overcome the difficulties involved in major industrial chimney demolition and dismantling contracts, particularly within sensitive densely populated and `live’ situations. Our expertise in controlled demolition and dismantling of brick, concrete and steel industrial chimney structures is regularly called upon by clients throughout the UK, Europe and the World.

Due to the demanding and high risk nature of this sector of industry, the experience of the specialist contractor is crucial to ensuring safe completion of the project. With 70 years’ experience and hundreds of industrial chimney demolitions to our name, a client can feel complete comfort when appointing Rafferty’s for high risk projects such as this.

August 16, 2017
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Rafferty Steeplejacks, Brick Chimney Demolition

Rafferty’s have recently completed the demolition of a brick chimney for a valued client in the North West, UK.

The brick chimney stood 57m high above ground level and measured 7.4m in diameter at the base and 5m in diameter at the termination point, a colossal structure.

The bulk of the demolition was carried out by our hardworking team of steeplejacks in a piecemeal fashion, depositing all rubble down the inside of the chimney. Access was in the form of specialised modular frame scaffolding which was installed at the termination point of the chimney and is designed to be lowered in conjunction with the demolition. The bottom approximate 20m of the chimney was demolished using a high reach machine.

The contract was successfully completed without any safety incidents and ahead of schedule.

Our clients lead engineer for the project had this to say;

As always, I am very happy with the work that you and your guys have carried out, and a pleasure to have them on site.

Thanks once again to your senior team who work hard behind the scenes to make sure that all aspects of the job come together when they should, your company has demonstrated an exemplary work ethic on a job that has been very much in the spotlight.

October 27, 2014
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Complete Demolition of 100m High Reinforced Concrete Chimney at Bellozanne EfW Plant, St Helier, Jersey.

In January 2014 Rafferty’s were awarded a contract by the States of Jersey to carry out the complete demolition of the decommissioned reinforced concrete chimney at Bellozanne EfW Plant in St Helier.

The chimney structure was constructed from reinforced concrete and stood 100m above ground level with a respective base and summit diameter of 6.57m and 5.63m. Internally the chimney housed 3 No. brick and steel constructed flues which were supported on an array of 10 No. reinforced concrete floor slabs. Other than the bottom 20m of the concrete windshield, which was demolished using a high reach machine, the full height of the chimney was demolished in a piecemeal fashion. This mammoth task was carried out by a select team of highly trained and experienced steeplejacks over a 22 week target schedule.

To provide safe and suitable access for the demolition, a specialised modular frame scaffold platform was installed at the summit of the chimney. This scaffold platform is designed and installed in such a way that it can be lowered as the demolition proceeds. However, before the chimney could be reduced in height all internal components, such as the 3 No. brick/steel constructed flues and 10 No. reinforced concrete floor slabs, would need to be demolished first. This was carried out using a man riding winch complete with steel gondola for access. To view the removal and final descent of the upper most concrete floor slab please click on the video below.

States of Jersey Demolition Video Clip

With the chimney void now empty the demolition of the main concrete structure could now commence. This procedure was carried out in a piecemeal fashion. Rivet busters were used to break away areas of concrete to expose the steel reinforcing. Once exposed the reinforcing steelwork was cut with flame cutting equipment, allowing a panel of concrete fold in and gravity to take effect, with the concrete panel falling to ground level within the void of the chimney.

The contract was successfully completed ahead of schedule without any safety incidents and to the full satisfaction of the client. Mr Peter Wilkinson, Principle Engineer on the project for the States of Jersey was kind enough to write a letter of commendation following completion of the works. To read the letter please click on the following link Letter_Rafferty 230914 reference.

We would like to personally thank Peter and all involved for their support and allowing Rafferty’s to be of service to them and the States of Jersey on this contract.

The following photographs show various stages of the demolition.

January 16, 2014
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Rafferty Steeplejacks have been awarded a prestigious contract to completely demolish a 100m high decommissioned reinforced concrete chimney at Bellozanne EfW Plant in St Helier, Jersey.

The demolition contract is due to commence on 3 February 2014 and will be completed in early July, transforming the St Helier skyline forever.

October 13, 2011
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A valued customer based in Gloucestershire UK has awarded Rafferty’s a contract to carry out external and internal maintenance works on a 30m high brick chimney during the Christmas period.

The external maintenance work includes pointing of fractures and re-painting of external steelwork. The internal maintenance work includes a washdown and partial demolition and re-building of the internal refractory brick lining. The internal brick lining repairs are crucial to the sites production for the new year so a strict planning schedule has been implemented to ensure that the shutdown dates are achieved.

Finally, when you are enjoying the festivities this year please spare a thought for the steeplejacks working up high amongst the soot of the chimneys around the UK. For these hardy men it will definitely not be a white Christmas!

November 11, 2010
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UK Oil Refinery 2009/2010 Shutdown.
Inspection and Repairs to 151.3m High HPBH Reinforced Concrete Chimney.

History

In 1989 Rafferty Steeplejacks carried out an inspection of the 3 No. brick liners within the 151.3m high HPBH concrete chimney. The inspection revealed that the brick liners were found to be in a structurally poor and unsafe condition and a substantial demolition, engineering and construction project was therefore required. The 3 No. brick liners had to be demolished piecemeal and replaced with new steel liners throughout the full height of the chimney internally. Such was the faith in Rafferty’s construction and engineering capabilities, the client awarded the £1.65 million contract on single tender. All elements of this contract from piecemeal demolition of the original brick liners to the manufacture and installation of the new steel liners was solely carried out by Rafferty’s, offering the client a full turnkey project from start to finish.

Present Day

Rafferty’s have been involved in every major shutdown on this oil refinery since 1974. In 2009/2010 we were contracted by the client to carry out detailed inspection and maintenance works on the 3 No. steel liners within the 151.3m high HPBH concrete chimney during the 2010 planned shutdown period.

Health & Safety is always the first consideration of every contract undertaken by Rafferty’s. Careful planning and documented method statements and risk assessments were issued to cover all aspects for the safe execution of this contract. To gain safe access to within the concrete chimney windshield there are a series of internal floors and at the top floor level a series of winch arrangements were specifically designed, tested and installed within the chimney windshield. One winch was used to hoist all plant and materials and the other winch was used to hoist our operatives to the top floor level of the chimney windshield. Please see the following photographs below showing the winch lifting arrangement.

Once access was achieved, the inspection works could then begin. Within the concrete chimney windshield at the top floor level, scaffolding was erected and fully boarded out to enable the insulation and cladding to be removed from the steel liners at required locations. A thorough inspection of the liner steelwork could then be carried out. Above the roof of the concrete chimney windshield at 151.3m above ground level, the internal liners protrude for a further 3.7m. The liners above roof level were originally constructed from 316 stainless steel and are wrapped with mineral wool insulation and cladding. A thorough inspection of the liners above roof level was necessary and required the removal of the insulation and cladding throughout the full height of each liner. In order to achieve safe access to the full height and 9.1m circumference of the liners above roof level, a specialised multi lift scaffolding arrangement was specifically designed for this demanding task. Once the scaffold access was in position, the cladding and insulation was removed and a thorough inspection of the liner steelwork was carried out. At the levels inspected the liners were found to be in a poor condition with large areas of metal reduction and perforated steelwork evident. Due to time constraints the replacement of the liner sections was not possible and therefore structrual over-plating works was determined as the only viable option for a suitable repair.

The aforementioned project was successfully completed within the required shutdown period, without any safety incidents and to the complete satisfaction of the client. Please see the following photographs which detail the inspection, defects and repairs carried out the liners above roof level.

Inspection