Demolition of a former residential building

In Pirmasens, the demolition of a former residential building on the premises of a building materials company was planned on behalf of the property owner. During the preliminary waste investigations, the visually inconspicuous plaster on the EPS thermal insulation composite system was found to contain asbestos. The adhesive patches of the EPSW panels were also identified as being contaminated with asbestos fibres. Findings of this kind have become more frequent in recent times.

As part of the tendering process, the special occupational health and safety and emission protection measures were defined in consultation with the responsible authority at SGD Süd (Struktur und Genehmigungsdirektion Süd) and the suitability of the potential bidders was checked.

To remove the outer shell, the building was fitted with a levelled scaffold and access to the work area was through an airlock, where the protective clothing was put on and taken off. A negative pressure unit (UHG) connected to the interior of the planning area captured the asbestos fibres released during plaster removal and fed them into a filter system. After the work was completed, the entire work area was cleaned with special hoovers and sprayed with fibre binding agent. Indoor air tests for asbestos fibres subsequently confirmed the success of the cleaning measures.

Once the scaffolding had been dismantled, the building was mechanically demolished and the demolition waste disposed of so that the construction site could be prepared for the subsequent construction of a storage area.