We were working for the demolition contractor Lancashire and Cumbria Demolition on the 25-acre site, which was used as a treatment centre for solvent recovery and contained a mixture of single and two-storey office space, laboratories, workshops and storage buildings. The site's main sections included the recently installed thinners tank farm, solvent tank farms, and infrastructure.

Phase 1 was with Tradebe and consisted of the marking and tracking of the pipes from the inventory tanks to the discharge pipes once the primary cleaning sequence was completed by the client.

The pipes were checked with a laser to ensure they were level with any deflection sags areas identified and marked before being cold drilled to prevent the material from pooling at low points and creating hazards. The pipes were then unbolted at the flanges to prevent the build-up of gasses and to aid in monitoring the cleaning stage.

Phase 2 was with FCC Environmental and was the demolition phase of the contract.

This site was challenging as the client changed during the process, delaying what was initially a cost credit contract by around six months. As the second phase started, the scrap markets dropped, impacting the overall value of the credits and disrupting the flow of information as the handovers took place.

Some of the infrastructures were to be retained, and the concrete slab and spill bunds were to be left undamaged, which resulted in reducing the workable area around some of the storage vessels making the methods of removal difficult.

As regularly happens with this type of work, some vessels, and pipes, while being cleaned and checked, were found to have material accumulated in the tank requiring secondary cleaning under hazmat conditions.

Site overview video:

We were appointed as the demolition consultant for the project by the contractor, but we advised the client on the decommissioning strategy, the sequencing of the demolition phases, and the correct demolition methods for the project.

Our roles included checking the Principal Designer’s supplied PCI to ensure it was specific to the decommissioning and demolition phases and helping to create the Contractor’s Construction Phase Plan (CPP).

Assist in selecting the methods of demolition and compiling the Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS) for the project before the works commence.

Supply a full-time project manager for the initial phase to ensure the cleaning and air gapping were carried out correctly and to the agreed RAMS.

Throughout the project’s period, we carried out bi-weekly audits to ensure the demolition works were being carried out to the RAMS and to ensure the highest standards were always maintained on-site. At points in the programme, which were identified as higher risk, such as crane lifts, cut and pull collapses, and asbestos works, our project manager was on site full time to ensure the highest standard of safety was maintained during the processes.

• Assist in the development of the demolition specification, including the decommissioning sequence.
• Check the Principal Designer’s supplied PCI to ensure it was specific to the works.
• Facilitate the creation of the Construction Phase Plan.
• Attend all the meetings, from pre-award to post-contract.
• Have a full-time site manager on-site during the enabling phase.
• Facilitate the creation of the Risk Assessments and Method Statement and issue a report.
• Carry out the pre-start CDM site audit and issue a report to all stakeholders.
• Carry out site audits and issue a report.
• Ensure the Health & Safety File was completed and issued to the client.