Dust and Vibration Public Awareness for the Former ASARCO Smelter Chimney Demolition Event

Texas Custodial Trust, Brandenburg Industrial Service Company (General Demolition Contractor), and Dykon (Explosive Demolition Subcontractor) would like you to be aware that on Saturday, the 13th of April 2013 near sunrise (approximately 6:30 a.m. – 7:00 a.m.), two chimneys at the Former Asarco Smelter Facility will be demolished with explosives.

Explosive demolition is a process where a small amount of explosives is used to remove a portion of the chimney structure allowing it to fall like a tree. The Blaster has used this explosive demolition method to fell more than 100 chimneys during his more than 40 years of experience in the explosive demolition industry.

Click on the image below to see full figure.

Dust is a byproduct of all types of demolition. With explosive demolition, dust will be released over several seconds, but may, depending on weather conditions, linger in the general site area for 10 to 15 minutes. While we do not anticipate significant amounts of dust to leave the site due to extensive dust suppression efforts, we do offer some general guidelines to reduce the potential for dust to enter your home or business regardless of the dust generation activity (natural or man-made).

• Close windows, doors, and any other openings that might allow dust to enter your apartment, condominium, house, business or building.
• Turn off exhaust fans, air conditions, and heaters when you anticipate dust being generated and for a period of about 30 minutes thereafter, as exhaust fans might draw air into your building through cracks in walls, doors and windows.
• If you find dust uncomfortable or irritating, or if you have any respiratory conditions that would be aggravated by dust, it is advisable to stay indoors for 15 – 30 minutes after the demolition.

Click on the images below to see full figure.

An independent third party vibration monitoring consultant will place seismographs on- and off-site to measure the vibrations generated during the demolition. Historic data demonstrates that the vibrations generated during this event will be well below levels that could cause structural damage to buildings on- or off-site. The vibration levels are anticipated to be below even the threshold levels for cosmetic damage (flaking of paint in a pre-existing crack). You may, however, be able to “feel� the vibrations from the demolition depending on your proximity to the chimneys at the time of demolition. In addition to the demolition event itself, a few days prior to the demolition, a test blast will be performed on site. Depending on your location, this may sound like loud thunder or fireworks.

A dust monitoring system will be used to determine that harmful amounts of dust have not been released.

Click on the image below to see full figure.

The best place to view the chimney demolition is in the comfort of your home on television.

Should you have any questions, please direct them to Roberto Puga, Trustee, via the website www.recastingthesmelter.com or directly at rpuga@projectnavigator.com.

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.