With the chimney located close to an oxygen tank and gas cylinder store, the demolition had to be carefully planned to eliminate the risk of fire or serious explosion should debris from the demolition fall outside the defined drop zone.

Before demolition began, extensive scaffolding and safety canopies were put in place for protection. Demolition began with operatives working from a skylift platform. They carefully demolished the chimney brick-by-brick, dropping the bricks inside the chimney. When the height of the chimney had been significantly reduced, the remainder was demolished mechanically. Some flame cutting work was required to dismantle the high level ash hopper structure, but this was undertaken in a tightly controlled way due to the close proximity of the oxygen tank.

“Health and safety was the critical aspect to this contract. We were extremely pleased with the solution J Freeley came up with in terms of both demolishing the chimney and the buildings.”
- NHS Trust Project Manager