Napier House

Background

This landmark five storey former model lodging house and tenement dating back to 1897 had held special memories to the residents of Govan for generations however decades of lack of maintenance meant the building had become structurally unsound and required to be demolished

 Solutions

• Unsafe buildings present their own challenges due in part to their unpredictable nature. The building was unconventional in design with a mixture or masonry steel frame and unreinforced concrete floors.


• Careful planning and structural assessments were required to ensure the building could be taken down ensuring safety at all times to our operatives and members of the public.  


• A full structural engineer's survey was carried out to the building to ascertain the demolition methodology which could be employed.


• Decontamination of bird guano infestations


• Removal of asbestos


• A full height scaffolding was erected to front and rear elevations


• Internal concrete floors were propped to allow safe down taking works


• A full height manual separation of the building was carried out where it adjoined the neighbouring occupied tenement


• Sequencing of the hand separation to allow structural steel ties to be fitted to the adjoining gable as the works progressed.


• Design supply and installing of structural steel ties to the gable end of the occupied tenement


• Liaison with the occupants of the neighbouring flats to ensure minimal disruption while the structural steel work was installed.


• Builder's work to install blockwork infill within the basement to support the retained gable butts.


• Traffic management to allow the closure of the surrounding roads during the demolition works.


• Demolition of building utilising variable height long reach excavator