PROJECT OUTLINE

When Tata Steel (UK) Limited decided to rebuild Blast Furnace 4 (at a cost of £185m) with a view to boosting steel making at their Port Talbot plant by an additional 400,000 tonnes of capacity per year, they targeted a safe and timely decommissioning, deconstruction and rebuild in record time. NFDC Member Walters Demolition were engaged to undertake the safe removal of the numerous structures forming part of the existing Blast Furnace on this prestigious fast-track scheme.

PROJECT DELIVERY

Site works commenced with the deconstruction of the Engine House, a 75m long reinforced  concrete and steel frame structure ranging in height up to 15m. Access to this area was severely restricted and Walters worked in shifts 24 hours a day to deconstruct this programme-critical structure in a safe and timely manner.

Walters involvement grew to eventually include the demolition of the steel-frame slag pool walls, the deconstruction of the 25m high Granulation Plant, the deconstruction of the 20m high dust-catcher heavy steelwork and the reinforced concrete “15m level”. Walters mobilised a range of demolition plant and equipment to complete the Works including a Volvo EC 460 26m high reach, a Caterpillar 350 demolition specification rig, a Caterpillar 325 17m high reach and 3 x Komatsu 240 demolition specification machines.

In all, the Walters demolition team worked over 8,000 man hours in shifts, 24 hrs per day for six weeks to complete the project. They did this without any injuries, lost time accidents or RIDDORS.