The circular economy serves as a guiding principle
Features - Circular Economy Perspective Series
Through lean manufacturing and a well-established recycling program, Armstrong World Industries has shown a commitment to creating less waste and is encouraging contractors to do the same.
Armstrong World Industries, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has participated in the circular economy for more than 17 years. Some say it is the new buzzword, combining the thinking from cradle to cradle, closed loop or extended producer responsibility; but it incorporates a very important change—the elimination of waste altogether.
Armstrong World Industries is committed to this opportunity by eliminating waste through our lean manufacturing processes in all of our 21 facilities around the world. We have not only redesigned our products, but also our processes to make less waste and be more efficient. This also makes good business sense.
Since its inception in 1999, the Armstrong Ceiling Recycling Program has recycled more than 173 million square feet of reclaimed commercial ceiling panels globally. This represents more than 86,500 tons that have been diverted from landfills since the program began.
Our ceiling recycling program enables commercial building owners and contractors to salvage ceiling panels removed during demolition and renovation projects and return them to the nearest Armstrong plant as an alternative to landfill disposal. Armstrong uses the reclaimed ceilings to make new ceiling panels in a closed-loop manufacturing process. The new panels are designated as Ceiling-2-Ceiling products.
By participating in the program, a demolition crew is able to place the salvaged ceiling panels on pallets or in containers. When the material is removed and ready for pickup, a recycling contractor transports them back to its facility where the ceiling panels are made ready for pickup by Armstrong.
The streamlined process enables a demolition crew to remove used ceilings from 12 of the 18 floors of a project in one week (saving time and money on labor), increases safety and helps maintain a clean job site.
By Anita Snader
Speedy removal of the old ceilings also allows the mechanical contractors open access to the plenum. They are able to identify which materials need to stay above the ceiling and which need to be removed without having to deal with the ceiling panels. It creates a more efficient and quicker demolition process.
One example of savings on one large demolition project in Chicago, the developer had sent 220,000 square feet of old ceiling panels back to Armstrong World Industries for recycling, diverting roughly 110 tons of construction waste away from the local landfill.
This process also saved up to 30 percent on container costs and landfill fees and contributed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits for Construction Waste Management.
The Armstrong Recycling Program is a truly closed-loop process which reduces the use of virgin materials and also reduces the footprint of our products by using recycled streams. We also have set up a separate recycling center to handle customer information requests, registering projects, review and approval of buildings and materials, and setting up the logistics to return the ceilings.
It really starts with building owners to include the concept of recycling in their construction practices and to make it mandatory for all members of their construction team.
Our participation in the circular economy is a major commitment to our sustainability platform, the Armstrong GreenPrint. Our GreenPrint focuses on people, process and product. The end of life initiative touches on all three of these important areas.
Since 2008, we have been practicing life-cycle assessment methodologies, design for the environment practices to optimize our products by reducing their impacts, eliminating toxins and chemicals of concern and incorporating design for disassembly so the end of life for the product can participate in the circular economy we created.
Our industry’s mindset is currently in the take, make and dispose of model. Buildings account for 40 percent of the materials used and 30 percent of total waste. Most of these materials are recyclable, including steel, brick and wood. However, it is difficult to instill a change in habits or processes.
Challenges remain, including making the internal business case for it, updating antiquated public policies to promote circular strategies and educating our industry about the benefits. It really starts with the building owner to include the concept of recycling in their construction practices and to make it mandatory for all members of their construction team.
Ultimately, it’s about making a choice to do your part for the environment. We do have some pull with state and local ordinances that set a mandatory diversion rate on construction projects.
For example, California’s Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) requires the diversion of at least 50 percent of the construction waste generated during most new construction projects. This is a great model with numerous tools on CalRecycle to aid in incorporating recycling into codes and implementing it in projects. This certainly has room to grow nationally, as well as has room for adoption locally.
Just imagine, a different state, where everyone is participating in the circular economy, and not producing waste or pollution. This would definitely lead to a brighter view, as well as being restorative and regenerative in both our processes and in the design of new products.
The author is environmental sustainability manager, Armstrong World Industries Inc., Lancaster, Pennsylvania, www.armstrong.com/recycling.
Demolition
Departments - Industry News
Recent news from the C&D recycling and demolition industry.
Two pier implosions to remove the piers remaining from the old Bay Bridge took place in October. Crews hired by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) conducted a test blast on Oct. 7 in preparation for the two pier implosions.
Pier E5 was imploded at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 15 and the implosion of Pier E4 took place Oct. 29.
The same “bubble curtain” method was used to implode the piers as was used in November 2015 to remove Pier 3. The method was designed to absorb the shockwave created from the blast from hundreds of small explosives placed within the concrete.
Thirteen remaining pier structures still need to be removed. Six of the piers are slated to be removed next fall. The remaining seven piers are expected to be removed in 2018.
Demolition work planned at closed Indiana munitions plant
The Associated Press is reporting that work is expected to start in the fall on tearing down dozens of buildings from a closed military munitions plant located in southern Indiana.
The River Ridge Development Authority has awarded a $1.3 million contract to Louisville, Kentucky-based Cardinal Demolition for demolition of about 30 buildings that were once part of the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant.
The agency is converting the 6,000-acre site in Charlestown into an industrial park and wants to have all of the former ammunition plant’s approximately 700 buildings demolished by the end of 2018.
The plant manufactured gunpowder during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. During its height, it employed some 27,000 workers.
The facility closed in 1992. Congress declared the property surplus in 1998 and authorized 6,000 acres of the property to be conveyed to the River Ridge Development Authority for economic development.
Crews implode Phoenix power plant
Crews imploded a water tower and two stacks at an APS power plant in Phoenix.
The structures were built in the 1930s and were part of the old oil-fired steam units at this power plant. At one point, the power plant was one of the largest energy producers for the city of Phoenix.
The implosion was closed public viewing due to safety concerns.
The power plant was decommissioned back in 2001 and has since sat silent. The implosion marked the end of a nine-month deconstruction project of the old plant.
In 2015, the seven generating units at the West Phoenix Power Plant generated nearly 560 percent more electricity (almost 1,000 megawatts) than the former version of the facility, using cleaner natural gas along with more efficient combined-cycle units.
While West Phoenix is producing more energy than ever before, it has also lowered emissions, significantly reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by 92 percent, sulfur dioxide emissions by 99 percent and carbon monoxide emissions by 96 percent compared to the former plant.
APS’ overall generating portfolio has nearly half of its energy coming from carbon-free resources. Today’s plant continues to provide safe and reliable energy for nearly 250,000 homes.
When the original plant was built, Arizona was home to 435,573 residents. The plant, put into service by Central Arizona Light and Power Co., supplied 18 megawatts of power—enough electricity to power all of Phoenix at the time.
ABC files suit against Department of Labor for overtime rule
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and a coalition of business groups filed suit against the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division’s final overtime rule.
The legal challenge was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
ABC has been a vocal opponent of the overtime rule and submitted comments along with more than 900 ABC members opposing the rule.
ABC supported legislation that would prevent DOL from implementing the rule and submitted comments as a member of the Partnership to Protect Workplace Opportunity as well.
“The Department of Labor overstepped its statutory authority by dramatically increasing the minimum salary for exempt employees and by automatically updating the salary threshold,” says Kristen Swearingen, ABC vice president of legislative and political affairs.
Swearingen adds, “The unprecedented automatic indexing provision circumvents the intent of Congress under the Fair Labor Standards Act and is particularly problematic for construction business owners who often need to project costs and workforce needs over multiple years for projects managed by exempt employees.
She continues, “These projects often last longer than three years and are meticulously planned in order to stay on time and budget. This rule will create uncertainty for contractors and their employees.”
DOL released its final overtime rule on May 18. The final rule states that employees who earn $47,476 per year are eligible as hourly employees rather than salary and will be paid overtime compensation for hours worked over the 40-hour limit.
This new rule will also update the salary threshold every three years based on wage growth over time. The rule is scheduled to become effective Dec. 1, 2016.
ABC says the rule will impose overtime payment requirements on employers of more than 4.2 million employees who are classified as executive, administrative, professional and computer professional employees and have historically been considered to be exempt from overtime.
“Additionally, the rule’s unprecedented increase in the salary threshold fails to account for disparate income levels in different regions of the country,” says Swearingen. “This will result in an unreasonable, one-size-fits-all mandate, which will have a vastly different impact on employers in regions with a lower cost-of-living.”
World Demolition Awards winners honored in Miami
Winners of the 2016 World Demolition Awards were honored during a banquet, which followed the World Demolition Summit, Oct. 14 at the Marriott Biscayne Bay in Miami.
The event, hosted by U.K.-based KHL Group, featured a shortlist from which winners were chosen. Winners in each category are:
Civil Demolition: Priestly Demolition, King, Ontario, for the Nipigon River bridge demolition on Lake Superior.
Industrial Demolition: McMahon Services Australia, Dry Creek, Australia for the demolition of bulk handling and other heavy equipment at the North Yard of Nelson Point iron ore facility in Western Australia.
Urban Demolition: Despe, Torre de’ Roveri, Italy, for removing cinemas, theatres and shops at the Sporting d’Hiver development in Monte Carlo, France.
Explosive Demolition: Fábio Bruno Construções, Barra da Tijuca, Brazil, for the demolition and implosion of the seven-story Hospital Oliverio Kraemer in Rio de Janeiro.
Safety & Training: AR Demolition, Nuneaton, U.K.
Recycling & Environmental: Hughes and Salvidge, Portsmouth, U.K., for a major decommissioning project for Versalis in the south of England.
Innovation – Plant & Equipment: Liebherr Group, Kirchdorf an der Iller, Germany, for the R 960 and R950 high-reach demolition excavators.
Innovation – Tools & Attachments: Remoquip, Lawrencetown, Ireland, for its remote control interface module.
Contract of the Year under $1 Million: Liberty Industrial, Glebe, Australia, for removing a 229-foot bridge over the Duck River near Sydney.
Contract of the Year over $1 Million: Keltbray, Esher, U.K., for demolition of Earl’s Court exhibition centers in London.
Collaboration: Kiewit/Manson, the California Department of Transportation, COWI, ESA and Ventura Consulting for a major foundation removal on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge east span.
2016 World Demolition Award: Priestly Demolition for its work on the Nipigon River bridge demolition.
Making the breaker
Features - Equipment Focus // Excavator Attachments
Finding the right breaker for a project’s needs is important from several standpoints, including equipment longevity and safety.
Out of all the tools and machines that make construction and demolition possible, one of the most commonly used is the hydraulic breaker. That’s because hydraulic breakers have high levels of breaking forces to power through materials quickly. They also require minimal routine maintenance, which makes them a cost effective option with minimal downtime.
Breakers that can be mounted to a mobile carrier range in size from those that can be paired with a carrier weight class of 26,000 pounds to a carrier class of 99,000 pounds. After initially using a large, heavy breaker to begin the demolition process on construction sites, smaller breakers can be used to break down the concrete materials prior to screening and crushing. Then, the materials can be recycled or reused.
The total number of hydraulic breakers can vary from site to site depending on production levels, the type of material being demolished and the entire scope of the operation.
Without hydraulic breakers, workers rely on alternative practices that can effect production rates and project costs. For instance, hydro demolition produces a significant amount of wastewater that may be expensive to dispose of due to special treatment measures required.
Other options of expansive agents or abrasive jetting are time consuming and inefficient, especially when you consider how many times material might need to be reduced. This can lead to a significant amount of downtime and substantially lower production rates.
RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BUY
Heavy equipment dealers are ususally very knowledgeable about demolition equipment, including breakers, so they are a good resource for finding the best model for your carrier, which is usually an excavator or stationary boom system.
More than likely, they will have specifications and information about various sizes of breakers to help gauge what model is best. But familiarizing yourself on what to look for in a breaker can streamline the selection process.
The best places to look for breaker information are in the manufacturer’s brochure, website, owner’s manual or catalogue. First you will want to carefully review the carrier weight ranges. A breaker that is too big for the carrier can create unsafe working conditions and cause excessive wear to the carrier.
An oversized breaker also transmits energy in two directions, toward the material and through the equipment. This produces wasted energy and can also damage the carrier. But using a breaker that’s too small puts excessive force on the tool steel, which transmits percussive energy from the breaker to the material.
Using breakers that are too small also can damage mounting adapters and internal components, which considerably decreases their life.
BREAKER OUTPUT
Once you find a breaker that meets your carrier’s capacity, check its output power, which is typically measured in foot-pounds. Keep in mind that foot-pound classes are a generalization and are not based on any physical test.
Often the breaker’s output will be documented in one of two ways: as the manufacturer’s calculated foot-pound class or as an Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ (AEM) measured foot-pound rating.
Foot-pound class ratings can be deceiving since they are loosely based on the service weight of the breaker and not the result of any physical test.
The AEM rating measures the force a breaker exerts in a single blow through repeatable and certified testing methods. The AEM rating, developed by the Mounted Breaker Manufacturers Bureau makes it easier to compare breaker models by reviewing true figures collected during an actual test procedure.
For instance, three breaker manufacturers might all claim their breakers belong in a 1,000-pound breaker class, but AEM testing standards could reveal all three actually have less foot-pound impact. You can tell if a breaker has been AEM tested if a manufacturer provides a disclosure statement, or if the breaker is labeled with an AEM Tool Energy seal.
If you cannot find this information, contact the manufacturer. Manufacturers also often supply estimates for production rates on different types of aggregate material.
MOUNTING PACKAGES
In addition to weight and output power, look at the breaker’s mounting package. Two things are crucial for mounting a breaker to a carrier: a hydraulic installation kit and mounting components.
Breakers need hydraulic plumbing with unidirectional flow to move oil from the carrier to the breaker and back again. A one-way flow hydraulic kit is sufficient enough to power the breaker as long as the components are sized to properly handle the required flows and pressures. But you might consider a bidirectional flow hydraulic kit if you plan on using the same carrier with other attachments that require two-way flow.
Hydraulic flow and pressure specifications also need to be considered when pairing a breaker to a hydraulic system. If the carrier cannot provide enough flow at the right pressure, the breaker won’t perform with maximum output, which lowers productivity and can damage the breaker. Additionally, a breaker receiving too much flow can wear quickly, which reduces its service life.
For the best results, follow the hydraulic breaker specifications found in owner’s manuals, catalogues and brochures. You’ll find out if a breaker has additional systems that might require additional servicing.
Some breakers feature nitrogen gas assist systems that work with the hydraulic oil to accelerate the breaker’s piston. The nitrogen system’s specifications need to be followed for consistent breaker power output.
As for mounting components, brackets or pin and bushing kits are commonly required to attach the breaker to the carrier.
Typically, they are bolted to the top of a breaker and are configured to match a specific carrier. Some manufacturers make universal mounting brackets that can accommodate two or three different sizes of carriers.
With the adjustable pins, bushings or other components inside these universal brackets, the breaker can fit a range of carriers.
However, varying distances between pin centers can complicate hookups to quick coupling systems. In addition, loose components, such as spacers, can become lost when the breaker is not in use and detached from the carrier.
Some carriers are equipped with quick-coupling systems, which require a breaker’s mounting interface to be configured like the original attachment. Some manufacturers produce top-mount brackets that pair well with couplers.
MANUFACTURER SELECTION
Reviewing manufacturer and dealer after-sales support also can help narrow down breaker options.
As part of their after-sales support, some dealers and breaker manufacturers offer on-site or factory training on installing, using and maintaining breakers.
TOOL VARIETIES
It’s also a good idea to check which breaker tools are available through the dealer and manufacturer. The three must-haves for any operator who does a considerable amount of demolition are the moil, chisel and blunt.
The moil point is shaped like a pencil and is ideal for breaking hard concrete reinforced with rebar and demolishing brickwork. Operators can place the point’s narrow tip into cracks and between the rebar to separate material.
A chisel point looks similar to a screwdriver and will give you the best splitting action. It’s available in standard and wide widths. The blunt point features a flat face with more surface area to deliver more impact when breaking slab concrete.
EXTENDING BREAKER LIFE
Regular breaker maintenance is necessary, yet it’s one of the biggest challenges for construction and demolition operations. Breakers need to be lubricated with adequate amounts of grease to keep the tool bushing area clear and to reduce friction. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Adding grease before properly positioning the breaker can lead to seal damage or even catastrophic failure—and too little grease could cause the bushings to overheat, seize and damage the tools.
Manufacturers advise using high-moly grease that withstands working temperatures greater than 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Some breakers have automatic lube systems that manage grease levels, but those systems still need inspections to ensure there is adequate grease. Shiny marks on the tool are a good indication the breaker is not properly lubricated.
As part of their after-sales support, some dealers and breaker manufacturers offer on-site or factory training on installing, using and maintaining breakers.
You should inspect the unit’s retaining pins, look for oil leaks and any loose or damaged bolts, which can quickly turn a minor problem into a major issue.
For long-term maintenance schedules, consult the owner’s manual to find the required regular service intervals so you can avoid unnecessary downtime.
A RELIABLE TOOL
Your construction and demolition operation will have a dependable tool for years to come if you understand how to select the suitable equipment.
Picking units that won’t break your budget with maintenance costs and expensive downtime is the key to maximizing profitability.
Matt Franzel is the product manager of hydraulic attachments for Atlas Copco Construction Equipment, Parsippany, New Jersey, and is based in Southern California.
By the numbers
Departments - By the Numbers
A look at regional or national pricing figures for some of the most commonly produced C&D materials.
Copper - LME Pricing: Source: London Metal Exchange, www.lme.com
Aluminum - LME Pricing: Source: London Metal Exchange, www.lme.com
Stone and Aggregate Pricing: *Index is based on 1982 average price as 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Wood Scrap: Source: North American Wood Fiber Review; Detailed pricing and analysis for California and other U.S. regions is available by subscription at www.woodprices.com.
