Demolition of Tun Room

Background

Cameronbridge, one of the largest grain distilleries in Scotland, has been undergoing major upgrading works and as  part of a major refit of the site, the existing Tun room required to be demolished following the commissioning of new Tun tanks elsewhere on the site. 

Solutions 

Working within an active C.O.M.A.H. site requires careful assessments of methodology and risks associated with the works.  

The Tun room was attached to three building which required to remain live including a still house with its potentially flammable gasses . In addition to the attached buildings live pipework essential in the distilling process was suspended above and through the building. 

Hand demolition techniques and protections were required to ensure no damage was caused to the pipework which would cause an unacceptable delay to production.  

• Full height scaffolding and roof edge protection was erected to all exposed gables. 


• Structural props and crash deck protection was put in place above a live control and pump house within the basement of the Tun room. 


• From harnesses and crawl boards the roof was de-sheeted by hand. 


• A combination of manual and hand held pneumatic tools were used to separate the building from three attached buildings. 


• An enclosed man basket suspended from a crane was used to cut down the steel roof trusses. 


• Oxyacetylene thermal lances were used to remove the lids to the steel tanks facilitating machine demolition. 


• The external walls were demolished by machine before the tanks were lifted out and folded for transportation off site. 


• The structural steel frame adjacent to the still house was disconnected utilising thermal cutting equipment before being lifted to ground level by crane. 


• The reinforced concrete plinths in the basement were broken out by machine utilising pneumatic hammers.