DEMOLITION OF BUILDINGS

Every structure is designed for a specific life period. The existence of the structure after the service life period is very dangerous to its occupants and surrounding buildings .The building act usually contains provisions that enable local authorities to control demolition works for the protection of public safety and to ensure adjoining premises and the site are made good on completion of the demolition. Demolition of a building means tearing down or falling down of a building with the help of equipments or explosives. For small buildings, such as houses, that are only two or three stories high, demolition is a rather simple process. The building is pulled down either manually or mechanically using large hydraulic equipment: elevated work platforms, cranes, excavators or bulldozers. Larger buildings may require the use of a wrecking ball, a heavy weight on a cable that is swung by a crane into the side of the buildings. Before any demolition activities, there are many steps that need to take place including but not limited to performing asbestos abatement, removing hazardous or regulated materials, obtaining necessary permits, submitting necessary notifications, disconnecting utilities, rodent baiting, and development of site-specific safety and work plans.
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strategy is to undermine the building while controlling the manner and direction in which it falls. The demolition project manager/supervisor will determine where undermining is necessary so that a building is pulled in the desired manner and direction

Large buildings, tall chimneys, smokestacks, and increasingly some smaller structures may be destroyed by building implosion using explosives. Imploding a building is very fast the collapse itself only takes seconds and an expert can ensure that the building falls into its own footprint, so as not to damage neighboring structures. This is essential for tall structures in dense urban areas.

It takes several weeks or months to prepare a building for implosion. All items of value, such as copper wiring, are stripped from a building. Some materials must be removed, such as glass that can form deadly projectiles, and insulation that can scatter over a wide area. Non-load bearing partitions and drywall are removed. Selected columns on floors where explosives will be set are drilled and high explosives such as nitroglycerin, TNT or C4 are placed in the holes. Smaller columns and walls are wrapped in detonating cord. The goal is to use as little explosive as possible; only a few floors are rigged with explosives, so that it is safer (fewer explosives) and less costly. The areas with explosives are covered in thick geotextile fabric and fencing to absorb flying debris. Far more time-consuming than the demolition itself is the clean-up of the site, as the debris is loaded into trucks and hauled away.

IMPACT OF LIGHTING ON BUILDINGS AND ITS REMEDIAL MEASURES

Lightning is one of the more spectacular and awesome weather phenomena. Lightning comes in various types and forms. Usually the intricacy of lightning is not visible to the human eye; because it happens so quick; but time-exposure photos catch and reveal the beauty of lightning very well.

Lightning is dangerous, but without lightning, there might not be life on this planet. The National Board of Fire USA reports that lightning is the number one cause of farm fires. Lightning is also responsible for more than 80% of all livestock losses due to accidents and millions of dollars in damage to farm buildings and equipment annually. A system that protects the family, livestock and farm property from lightning strikes prevents or significantly reduces these dangers. Lightning protection systems should be installed only by qualified individuals who have the necessary credentials and equipment. However, a working knowledge of the principles of lightning protection will help to communicate with these experts and oversee the proper maintenance of the system once installed.