In demolition work, heavy iron often gets the most attention. The larger the demolition project, the more visible to the general public and the more attention it could get from equipment suppliers and rental houses.
A significant number of equipment providers, however, design and manufacture machinery catering to contractors working jobs that require interior demolition in the early stages or that are simply smaller projects situated on a tight-fitting lot.
Whether contractors engage in interior dismantling, need to recycle or move materials in buildings before they come completely down or just don’t need large equipment, manufacturers are making machinery in the right sizes to accommodate these requirements.
Finding the right fit
Regarding demolition project size, at the other end of the spectrum from the implosion of a stadium or the dismantling of a former power plant sits a range of more modest projects within a larger jobsite.
Zac Evans, product manager with Grand Rapids, Minnesota-based Yanmar Compact Equipment North America, says the firm’s mini excavators are used in many standard demolition applications, such as breaking apart a foundation.
“Smaller equipment models, such as our SV08 and ViO17 mini excavators, can be extremely effective for interior and early-stage demolition if access and weight limits allow,” Evans adds.
Takeuchi-US, based in Atlanta, makes a range of compact tracked loaders and excavators that National Product Manager Lee Padgett says “are helpful for clearing sites for new construction, especially where underground utilities need dismantling and replacement. Because our machines are compact, they can often work safely near existing infrastructure without disturbing it.”
Padgett also lists residential and commercial remodeling, concrete and asphalt removal and environmental and landscaping demolition as applications where compact equipment can find a home.
One advantage provided by smaller machines is the ability to access interior jobsites. Evans says the Yanmar SV08 mini excavator features a retractable track design, allowing it to narrow down to a 27-inch width, making it capable of fitting through standard doorways.
The larger ViO17 mini excavator can pass through gateways and double doors in situations where larger models might be unable to fit. “In both cases, the use of a mini excavator as opposed to manual breakers or other tools speeds up productivity and reduces fatigue,” Evans says.
Larger machines still can provide help, Evans says. “Some larger contractors can also use a crane to lift and lower a mini excavator to an area that is unable to be reached by other equipment.”
Padgett says smaller loaders, excavators and material handlers can maneuver more easily through doorways, narrow hallways and around tight corners to avoid load-bearing beams or support structures. Smaller equipment also allows operators to target specific walls, floors or ceilings without risking unintentional damage.
Calculating which machines are the right ones for a small job can involve contractors sharing information with equipment sales or rental company employees.
“We look at how limited the available working space is and the ground conditions to ensure the machine will ‘fit’ best,” Padgett says. “The machine’s operating weight will also be a factor as heavier models may not be suitable for a more fragile or delicate surface. A machine’s weight also impacts whether it can be trailered to a jobsite without requiring the truck’s driver to have a commercial driver’s license.”
Evans adds, “Balancing machine size and power is highly dependent on the jobsite and the size of the area you are working in. ... A larger machine typically means more breakout force and more hydraulic horsepower, which generally equates to more productivity because you can rip through and break material more quickly.”
Safety as a priority
While demolition tasks require force and create destruction, that does not mean safety takes a back seat, according to equipment manufacturers.
Manufacturers of all construction and demolition equipment have been making safety a higher priority in recent years, while specialty producers of remote-controlled and robotic equipment say they offer an advanced form of worker safety.
Robotic or remote-controlled units offered by companies such as Brokk Inc., Monroe, Washington, and Olathe, Kansas-based Husqvarna Construction North America allow work to be performed while machinery operators remain out of harm’s way.
“Remote-controlled equipment can remove hazardous material like asbestos and lead paint, while the operator stays a safe distance from dangerous inhalants and falling debris,” Brokk Vice President Jeff Keeling says.
Keeling says Brokk’s units can perform demolition tasks including crushing, breaking, cutting, sorting and moving material and host more than 20 different attachments, such as breakers, buckets, grapples and shears.
“These robots have hitting power on par with machines many times their size, and they can fit into passenger elevators or climb stairs,” he continues. “Some of our smaller models are even narrow enough to access a building through a standard doorway—and they are electric, eliminating emissions.”
While the operator of a Brokk unit could be up to three football fields (984 feet) away, Keeling assures he or she is very much in control.
The control box of Brokk’s latest SmartPower+ line of robots features tilted joysticks and the Brokk QuickSwitch, which Keeling says “allows operators to swiftly change from controlling the boom system to controlling the tracks and outriggers. Fast and simple settings, an increase in sensors, as well as the addition of individual tool presets, all contribute toward a more user-friendly and efficient operator interface.”
Joyce Kara, a product manager for demolition robots with Husqvarna, says its DXR line of robots can perform a large variety of tasks where partial or precise demolition is needed, such as pipes, staircases and ceilings or where there are confined, hard-to-reach areas with small openings or narrow shafts. These machines also are beneficial in hazardous areas where the operator could be exposed to collapse risks, smoke, dust or heat.
She says the DXRs “are ideal for interior demolition work in improving operator safety by keeping them at a distance of up to 984 feet in conditions where there may be a collapse risk, risk of falling debris, a fall risk, excess dust or vibrations.”
In addition to safety features similar to those Brokk’s Keeling cites, Kara says the Husqvarna DXR remote units come with “a waist belt and a shoulder harness to hold the remote comfortably in front of the operator so they can focus on the job.”
Because seated operators are necessary or preferred, Evans says Yanmar’s excavator models are designed to include four-pole canopies with standard falling objects and rollover protective structures.
“Our mini excavator operator stations are built with the operator in mind, with maximized visibility, suspended seats, foldable foot pedals, ergonomic controls and more,” he says.
Yanmar and Takeuchi-US both point to operator visibility as a key safety consideration. Safety is enhanced by backup cameras and advanced stability controls that help operators manage tough terrain.
“The cabins are designed to reduce noise and vibration, creating a more comfortable working environment,” Padgett says. “These features combine to keep operators both safe and comfortable during long workdays.”
Keep it moving
Demolition work generates debris or materials to be recycled or hauled away, a task that Toro Co., based in Bloomington, Minnesota, has focused part of its product line.
“Equipment that operates with zero engine exhaust emissions opens up an entirely new world of interior demolition applications,” says Sam Dando, senior marketing manager at Toro.
“Jobs that previously relied almost entirely on manual labor, either because of indoor conditions or noise ordinances, can now look to battery-powered equipment to bring efficiencies to the jobsite,” he adds.
Toro’s product line includes compact utility loaders (CULs) such as its eDingo 500 and the electric Ultra Buggy for material hauling.
While the Ultra Buggy is focused primarily on hauling, Dando says the eDingo 500 can be equipped to handle numerous tasks.
“Battery-powered CULs bring versatility and compact power indoors, improving efficiency and eliminating manual labor with their vast capabilities,” he says. “Everything from interior demolition, commercial flooring applications, material hauling and more can be accomplished with a battery-powered CUL.”
With the proper attachment, the Toro eDingo 500 can take on the work of once-manual tasks like shoveling, breaking up concrete, floor scraping and moving materials, Dando says. The electric Ultra Buggy can help partially automate work that formerly relied on pushing a wheelbarrow.
“Operators won’t have to worry about hauling heavy materials to and from the jobsite, plus the narrow 31.5-inch width allows it to fit through standard 3-foot doorways,” Dando says of the machine’s ability to be deployed in interior demolition work. The machines are powered by electricity and batteries, he adds.
“Contractors don’t have to worry about ventilating when using these machines indoors,” he explains. “The battery-powered engines produce zero gas emissions. Battery-powered machines also require less regular maintenance and no gas—which can help lower overall operating costs.”
Workers and neighbors also appreciate the quieter sound output of electric machines. “Another benefit of the battery-powered engine is that it is much quieter while operating,” Dando says. “This can allow contractors to accept work in noise-sensitive areas such as residential neighborhoods and near schools. It also allows for contractors to move projects ahead on active jobsites without disruption.”
Towering, heavy machinery always will play a part in demolition work, but there’s an increasing role for smaller models designed for specific tasks. The benefits are numerous, Padgett says. “Using compact equipment in interior and early-stage demolition can speed up project timelines. They’re generally easier to transport, set up and operate within tight areas, which reduces downtime and minimizes labor requirements.”
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