First IDE Ball and Chain event is a success.

Birmingham Frankfurt Market in Victoria Square

The first IDE Ball and Chain event was held in Birmingham over the weekend of 11/12 December and was enjoyed by everyone who attended.

The event started on Friday evening with some of the Council of Management joining IDE members at the Shakespeare pub for drinks before all moving to Mister Wong’s restaurant at Summer Row for a Chinese Christmas banquet.

The food was superb and the seating in the restaurant of one large round table led to chat and discussion of all things demolition related whilst some of us were “star spotting” the TV personalities who were also in the room. Following the meal some of the party went on to the Armac Christmas party whilst others returned to the real ales of the Shakespeare and further discussion.

Saturday morning was spent, around the Birmingham German Market where crafts and German foodstuffs were on sale, and in the Bull Ring for Christmas shopping before we all met at Brindley Place for drinks and the canal boat trip. 26 members and guests went afloat on a 2 hour trip around the centre of Birmingham before travelling out to Edgbaston and back on the Staffs and Worcester canal which gave everyone a different view of Birmingham. A buffet was provided during the trip with all drinks sponsored by Kocureck excavators.

Free time for all followed disembarkation then all met again at the Shakespeare for early evening drinks before walking the few hundred yards to Milan restaurant for an excellent Indian Christmas banquet.
During the meal a tenner in the drum draw produced the sum of £200 as a donation to Breast Cancer Research (the charity supported by AR Demolition, one of the event sponsors).

Congratulations go to Adrian McLean and Lee Binyon who worked so hard to organise the event and raise sponsorship that meant that the whole event was provided at no cost to the members who attended.

Photo of narrow boat courtesy of Roger A, Panoramio

More CSCS Demolition Engineers

J Anthony Hewetson, Sellafield Ltd, and Craig MacWilliam, MacWilliam Demolition Ltd, are the latest members to have their applications for the prestigious CSCS Demolition Engineer Card authorised.

Many congratulations Anthony and Craig, you have proved your competence.

Coast to Coast!

Institute Member David Wall MIDE has presented over one and a half thousand pounds to Macmillan Cancer Support after a high speed dash across the country. With four friends he biked coast to coast, 147 miles from Workington to Sunderland, in less than 24 hours – a day less than the average for the expedition.

David, Commercial Director with Ron Hull Demolition, seen handing over the cash to MacMillan's Sarah Herrett, watched by Nigel Hull said: “The  trip was something of a personal challenge for us but we decided that we should make it hard and do it for a really good reason. People rode for various charities. I chose Macmillan for family reasons. They looked after my grandmother and I think they do a wonderful job. I have enormous admiration for them. The big shock on the trip was the hills, particularly for someone who had done all their training in Lincolnshire!”

“I live in the Isle of Axholme, which is about as flat as it gets. We’ve only got one little hill in the area and it really wouldn’t rate a thought on the coast to coast. In early morning training we rode up and down it 25 times in an hour. Gargill on the other hand was so steep that you couldn’t bike straight up it. We had to traverse. Just when you thought it must end you would turn a corner and it went up again.  It felt like somebody was really taking the Micky! Hartshead just went on climbing forever, five miles of it.  Amazing. On the plus side, going down the other side of some of these hills was breathtaking. The fastest speed that anyone clocked was 42 mph.”

David added: “I’m pleased the event has raised such a tidy sum of cash for various good causes. I would particularly like to thank Nigel Hull for the generosity of the company and their support throughout.”

Macmillan’s Sarah Herrett said: “We think it was a fantastic achievement. Ridiculous but absolutely brilliant! We are of course delighted that David chose us as his charity. The donation is very much appreciated. Far from hanging up their bike clips the boys are planning to do it again next year  . . . this time non-stop!

For further information please contact David Wall at Ron Hull Demolition on 01709-524115 or 07595-781777 and send a comment - howabout "congratulations" - by clicking on the icon below.

Demolition comes to the iPhone

Mark Anthony, Press Officer for the NFDC writes, "You know how it is: Christmas lunch is over for another year; the Queen’s Speech is an hour away; and you’re sat on the sofa wearing a new sweater that looks like an explosion in a textile factory that was bought for you by one of your nearest and dearest.   And the one thing that you want, that you really, really want, is just a little bit of demolition to help pass the time.

Well, for anyone with an iPhone (or who is lucky enough to get one as a gift), you can have just that without leaving the comfort of your sofa."


A new iPhone app, Implode, allows users to ply their explosive demolition skills on a number of increasingly complex 2D structures, earning money for the level of demolition achieved.   Additional money can be earned by using explosives more sparingly.

Mark has been using the app for the past few weeks and has racked up a total of $121,365 and achieved Craftsman status; not bad for someone who just writes about demolition but surely beatable by someone who actually knows what they’re doing!

iPhone users wishing to help pass Xmas Day orchestrating their own 2D blowdowns or who merely want to show Mark how it should be done can download a “Lite” version of the app free or can purchase the full version for the princely sum of 59p from the Apple App Store.

We’d love to hear how you get on.

(Courtesy of Demolition News /NFDC)

Report on NW Regional IDE Meeting held jointly with the NW CDM Duty Holders Group at Lymm, Cheshire Monday 30 Nov 2009

Report by Brian S Neale Hon FIDE and Wayne Bagnall MBE MIDE

The Institute of Demolition Engineers held a successful North West Regional meeting attended by over 30 people including 10 Demolition Engineers.  The topic was the BS6187: 2000 Code of practice for demolition and the possible changes incorporating more on structural refurbishment.

This meeting was opened by Steve Haycock, current Chairman of the CDM Group who welcomed everyone and quickly covered the topics including:

• Minutes & matters arising from the previous meeting 28/9/09
• Future CDM Group meetings and call for future topical subjects
• Events & knoblings (HSE enforcement action etc)
• Welcome and introduction for the IDE NW regional meeting

Brian Neale provided an introduction to the aims and objectives of the IDE after giving apologies for Terry Quarmby and John Woodward. 

Following a short break Brian presented an update on the revision of BS6187: 2000, including:

• Background to the review, and the review decision
• The BSI process for development of codes
• Mention of a new draft prepared by a consultant to speed the rewrite process, including some salient points
• The next steps for the development of the draft

Following a lively discussion, Wayne Bagnall gave his presentation which included an overview of demolition in refurbishment when he acknowledged the input from Jan Andresen - HSE Specialist Inspector for some of the examples kindly provided.  The presentation included:

• Health & safety drivers (statistics & trends)
• Current code of practice BS6187: 2000
• CDM 2007 duty holders and responsibilities for competence etc
• A couple of illustrative projects involving partial demolition (good & bad)

A further interesting discussion took the meeting to its close when the Chair for the afternoon proposed a vote of thanks for both Brian and Wayne.

Footnote:
The background to the CDM Duty Holders Group was formed when The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 1994 were first introduced in March 1995; funding was available for the group following a successful pre-CONDAM  (CDM) national seminar held in Huddersfield in 1993 organised by the HSE, Ian Crowe and Wayne Bagnall, approximately 300 persons attended generating in excess of £17,000 profit seeding the NWSI .

Acronyms
'CONDAM' was changed to CDM shortly after the introduction of the new regulations
'NWSI': North West Safety Initiative (links to 3 safety groups NWCSG, MCCSG & CDM)

Special offer from a Roadshow Speaker

IDE members and guests were very interested in John Campbell's presentation at the 2009 Roadshow and appreciated the time he gave to speak at three different locations.

The CadnaA noise prediction software has proved very popular for the demolition and construction industry.

It allows accurate prediction of sound levels and gives advanced presentation possibilities for wining and managing contracts.  Current users include Keltbray, Cantillon and Balfour Beatty

The CadnaA software is sold with full training and Campbell Associates can assist on a project by project basis if required.  The purchase price of the software starts at £3,522 which includes a 30% discount.  This offer we are pleased to extend until the March 2010.

Podcast interview conducted with demolition news with a reference from a company of Demolition Engineers using the CadnaA software.

Campbell Associates supply sound and vibration measurement equipment for sale and hire and can also provide measurement services.

Any Questions please call

John Campbell
Campbell Associates Ltd
Sonitus House, Unit 5 Chelmsford Rd. Industrial Estate, Great Dunmow, Essex CM6 1HD
Tel 01371 871033     Fax 01371 879106
Sales:- www.campbell-associates.co.uk  Hire:- www.acoustic-hire.com

North West Regional Meeting - a great success

The CDM Duty Holders Group invited the IDE to join them at their meeting on 30 November.

Brian Neale Hon FIDE and Wayne Bagnall MIDE led the IDE contingent and made presentation during the afternoon.   They are compiling a report which will be available shortly.

Steve Ashcroft, CDM Duty Holders Group Secretary said, "The event was a great success with good attendance from both groups.  There was plenty of active discussion and debate from members of both groups throughout the afternoon, several attendees giving excellent feedback.  It was good to see members actively networking during the break and afterwards too."

Fancy That!

A team led by IDE Member George Brabham has demolished a Victorian railway bridge  . . . sixty-six years after it was attacked by the Luftwaffe . . .  and with a dispute still raging about the incident!

Built in 1895, the 90-ton Doughty Road Bridge in the centre of Grimsby was removed and replaced with a brand new structure in less than 48 hours. The main Grimsby to Cleethorpes railway line and the road under the bridge had to be closed to allow the work to go ahead.

George and his team from Ron Hull Demolition of Rotherham were brought in by main contractor Spencer, a Humber based civil engineering company, to dismantle the historic structure. Members of the team cut the bridge into three slices that were then lifted clear by a 1000-ton mobile crane.

George said: "You have to hand it to those Victorian engineers, they certainly knew how to build. Despite being hit by numerous high-sided vehicles over the years and being attacked by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War, not to mention enduring more than a century of normal wear and tear, it remained in astonishingly good nick."

"The project involved a number of specialist teams, including Network Rail, who lifted the track for us, through to Ainscough, the crane firm, and the main contractor Spencer. At one stage in the operation there were 120 people working on the site."

"It went very smoothly and we had the bridge out on schedule, which allowed the new bridge to be put in place and the track laid and reopened for the trains to begin running again - on time!"

Meanwhile George's team has cleared the way for local historians to settle the big question: Was the bridge bombed in 1943 - or was it strafed?

At the request of the local authority the holed section of the bridge side was cut out and is to be preserved.

George said: "One group is absolutely certain that the holes were caused by bombing or shrapnel during an air raid, whilst the other is equally sure that the bridge was shot up, possibly by a Messerschmit that was attacking a train."

"We found that the holes were neat, in pairs and in a line. It looked to us as if they were bullet holes, rather than the random damage that would have been caused by bombs or shrapnel. Either way it did not impact on the use of the bridge. The damage was cosmetic."

The main structure of the bridge has now been transported to the firm's site at Mangham Road in Rotherham where the steel will be recycled. Meanwhile other materials recovered at the site are being recycled and used in the local area.

For further information please contact David Wall at Ron Hull Demolition on  01709-524115 or (mobile)  07595-781777

Thank you from the retiring Hon Treasurer

18 November 2009

Dear Terry,

Just a few lines to thank you and Institute Members for the marvellous annual luncheon and in such a majestic venue. Kay and I had a most enjoyable time, which we shall remember for many years. Your very kind words and compliments to me at the presentation were very much appreciated by me, thank you very much.

Before we left John asked me to open the box of glasses to ensure that I liked them, on sight of a unwrapped glass the word exquisite sprung to my mind immediately, They will be such a wonderful memento of my years with the Institute. Please convey our delighted thanks for such a lovely gift.

Yours sincerely,
John McGregor Hon MIDE Hon. Treasurer

Nick takes Maylarch to the top

Nick Williamson AMIDE, Managing Director of Maylarch Environmental Ltd, is proud of his staff who have enabled the company to walk away as winners from the 15th Annual Thames Valley Business Magazine Awards.

"The committment and hardwork shown by all Maylarch staff," says Nick, "has let to the company retaining its Investor in People status to a higher level, together with ISO14001:2004 accreditation for environmental management systems and ISO 17020 UKAS accreditation for on site surveying."

We noticed that Nick's colleague, Simon Ward, who is seen receiving the award, was not an IDE member.  We sent an application form by e-mail and Nick promises that he will encourage all staff who qualify to apply for membership.   Download an application form

What Is and What Isn’t Waste?

IDE President Terry Quarmby takes a timely look at the definition of waste.

The 2009 series of Seminars and Road Shows touched upon the subject of waste. I was reminded that the UK Construction Industry produces around 100 million tonnes of Construction, Demolition and Excavation waste per annum and that only 50% of this material is regularly recycled with the remainder going into landfill, spread on exempt sites or used as quarry fill. The UK Governments ‘Waste Strategy for England 2007’ sets out critical objectives for waste reduction and resource efficiency and these include to:

• provide the drivers for the sector to improve its economic efficiency by creating less waste from design to demolition
• treat waste as a resource, re-using and recycling more and asking contractors for greater use of recovered material
• improve the economics of the re-use and recycling sector by increasing demand and securing investment in the treatment of waste

Read the rest of the article at Demolition News

Pushing the Button for Cancer Care

In appreciation of the wonderful care his wife, Kellie, received for breast cancer at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, Richard Dolman AMIDE decided to use a chimney blowdown to raise money for the Breast Care Centre.

The project, undertaken by Richard's company, A R Demolition Ltd, was to demolish two massive chimneys at the Desford Steel Tubes factory.  Hundreds of people turned up on a Sunday morning in September to watch the two chimneys, each measuring 150ft, eventually crash to the ground.  An unexpected surprise was the opportunity each viewer had to buy a chance to press the button to set off the detonation.

As the chimneys came down so the amount raised went up, eventually to £7259.33 which was presented by Richard and Kellie on 18 November.

Richard said: "I'm obviously thrilled to raise that much money because I only thought we'd get half that. I'm pleased that we've managed to get something good out of a bad situation and it's certainly raised awareness of breast cancer among people around me. If you're in a position to be able to put something back then it's the least you can do really."

Debbie Adlerstein, Fundraising Manager at Leicester Hospitals Charity, said: "The money raised by the Dolman family and AR Demolition Ltd is fantastic and will go to make a real difference to patient care, helping to support the fantastic work that already takes place at the Breast Care Centre."

Full Members congratulated at the Annual Luncheon

Thirteen new Full Members of the Institute received their certificates from IDE President, Terry Quarmby, at the Annual Luncheon on 13 November.  We give below a line up of some of them.

Associate line up at the Award Presentation

We offer a line up of some of the 20 members who received their certificates of Associate membership at the Annual luncheon on 13 November.  Congratulations to them all!

Taking the gloves off!

While chatting recently with the National Secretary about the next examination session, Enrolled member, Stephen McCann of Forth Demolition Ltd, let it slip that he is a Kyokushin-kan Karate instructor and had taken part in the World Championships in Budapest in October.

Stephen comments, "Kyokushin is full contact so you need to win by knockout or a decision, similar to boxing but with no gloves."

The pictures show Stephen taking part in the championships and also the McCann family with Semmi Schilt, three times K-1 World Champion. "Nathaniel looks tiny in Semmi's hands." says Stephen.  Semmi is 2.11 metres tall!!

We hope to bring more news about Stephen after his annual visit to Japan next year for the camp which international instructors attend for gradings and updating on any changes to the syllabus.

Prizes won in the Annual Luncheon Raffle on 13 November 2009

    * Model of JCB Car won by Roy Brown..
    * Model of JCB Digger won by Joe Ready AMIDE.
    * Champagne won by Alex Mellor AMIDE.
    * WBA tickets won by Mick Kelly
    * Beer won by Toby Comley.
    * Case of Wine won by Stuart Accleton MIDE
    * West Ham tickets won by Trish Cuddy.
    * Wayne Bagnall course won by Richard Comley FIDE
    * Case of Rioja won by Christian Jones AMIDE

Source: John Woodward FIDE

TAKING ON HISTORY AT FARNHAM CASTLE - Preservation not destruction

Richard Comley FIDE, and his company, Comley Demolition, are taking on the task of removing the 168 tonne concrete slab that covers the historic well on the Keep plateau of the historic Farnham Castle in Surrey.

Thanks to a grant of over £700,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, improvements can now be carried out on the Castle's Keep which dates from the twelfth century, to turn it into one of the top attractions in the South.

Richard, himself a Farnham resident says: "We are delighted to be involved in this project which we believe will enhance the Castle as a tourist attraction, which in turn will bring more tourists into this architecturally fascinating town."

"I understand we were chosen as the preferred contractor as our plan of works caused the least disturbance to the Castle's administration and visitors and does not involve any unsightly scaffolding."

The work began on 9th November and is expected to run for four weeks. They will deconstruct the 300 mm thick slab using 360º mini excavators equipped with specialist demolition attachments and arisings will be loaded into rubble bags and craned off the plateau.

The demolition works are part of the greater restoration scheme which will reunite the Bishops Palace and the Keep under one management team. The Keep has been cared for by English Heritage since 1984 and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The 225 sq metre reinforced concrete cap itself, which was placed in the 1950's, is possibly adhered to the ancient stonework of the Keep meaning Comley's skilled operatives will exercise extreme care whilst removing the cap, under the watchful eye of the Castle's own archaeologist.

Richard continues: "We will have to take great care when removing the concrete that may be adhered to ancient monument. I have every confidence that we will be able to separate the concrete without causing undue damage to the keep."

After the work has been completed, the concrete will be replaced with grass and a new stairway and viewing platform will enhance the illuminated well, which will be covered by a 'traditional oak cupola.'
One of the technical difficulties that Richard's team will have to overcome will be installing a safety deck to the underside of the cap to allow the safe removal. This will involve constructing both a hanging scaffold from the viewing gallery to the bottom of the well, which will then in turn be replaced by a birdcage scaffold, constructed from the bottom up.

The scaffold constructed in the well by Comley Demolition will be left in place to allow further work to be carried out over the well safely by other operatives. Work on the scaffold is expected to be completed this week.

The restoration programme of the castle is expected to finish in Spring 2010.

For more information please contact Jennifer Comley on 07881 845817 or email jjcomley@hotmail.co.uk.
Richard may be contacted at Comley Demolition on 01265 702178 or through the website at www.comleydemo.co.uk.

Apple of her Daddy's eye

Stuart Accleton MIDE, of Erith Group Ltd, has written to tell of his and Katie's delight on the birth of their daughter, Rosie Ellen, on 22 October.   Our good wishes go to this new family.

Member mentioned in his company's magazine

 Anthony Hewetson achieved Full Membership of the IDE in August and was the subject of an article in Energise, the Sellafield monthly magazine (page 7).

In the article he said: “I am proud to have achieved Full Membership. The final assessment, where the President and Vice-President interviewed me about my portfolio was fairly informal, but the questions were structured to ensure the supporting portfolio was my own work and that I was suitably and sufficiently competent to become a demolition engineer.

“My status as a qualified demolition engineer has coincided with a change of appointment at Sellafield. I would encourage people with suitable experience to join the Institute of Demolition Engineers and enhance their knowledge and formal qualifications so that the companies for which they work  have sufficient qualified resource to manage the demolition tasks which arise.”

Anthony calls attention to the video of the construction of Sellafield

25 years of outstanding service rewarded

John McGregor Hon MIDE gave his last financial report at the AGM last Friday, 13 November.  For 25 years he has given sterling service to the Institute as its Hon Treasurer and members will miss the familiar figure giving them more goods news than bad about its financial situation.

On behalf of the Institute, President Terry Quarmby and First Vice President, John Woodward, presented John with a set of crystal wine glasses and a decanter at the Annual Luncheon to help him pursue his hobby of wine appreciation when relaxing after golf or amateur dramatics.

David Turner, Fellow and Past President, was unanimously elected to be the new Hon. Treasurer.

What Price Sustainability…?

Anyone with even the most tenuous link to the demolition business knows that demolition contractors are the undisputed world leaders in the recycling and reuse of materials, a fact that has put this industry at the very forefront of the drive for sustainability.
However, as this exclusive audio podcast reveals, this leadership comes at a cost.
What follows is the raw audio recording of a presentation by Terry Quarmby, president of the Institute of Demolition Engineers, in which he suggests that all is not rosy in the sustainability garden.

Visit Demolition News to read more and view Terry's podcast

The Big Bang

Dick Green MIDE, who has kept delegates enthralled at a number of IDE Seminars, invites you to visit
Exec Digital (page 22) to read an interview with him about his extensive experience and work as an Explosives Engineer working in demolition.
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