Equipment for Demolition Operatives

A demolition contractor uses cutting and drilling tools, demolition hammers and chisels for concrete, masonry and asphalt. The collection includes diamond blades, demolition bits with SDS Max shank, core drilling machines and scarifying machines. For cleaning up you also need rubble sacks and vacuum cleaners. The choice of tools depends on the material to be cut and its thickness.

The blade must be chosen to suit the material: reinforced concrete needs diamond blades designed for concrete, while asphalt needs different ones. Check that the diameter is compatible with the machine you are using and the maximum speed stated by the manufacturer. Always cut with the guard fitted and the blade in good condition, because a cracked blade can break during work.

Bits with SDS Max shank are only used on hammers that take this type of fitting, so check compatibility before buying. Flat, octagonal or angled chisels are used to break away and finish masonry. Chrome-vanadium steel blades, or blades with a carbide insert, last longer on abrasive materials. Replace worn bits, which work less well and increase vibration.

Demolishing concrete and masonry produces fine dust, which may contain silica. Dust masks are classified FFP2 or FFP3 under standard EN 149 and should be chosen according to how much dust is produced. The mask must fit the face well, and the filters should be replaced when they become hard to breathe through. The employer assesses the risk under D.Lgs. 81/2008 (the Italian Legislative Decree on workplace safety).

D.Lgs. 81/2008 (the Italian Legislative Decree on workplace safety) sets out specific measures for noise and vibration, and anyone using demolition hammers must reduce exposure through breaks, staff rotation and machine maintenance. Use ear defenders or earplugs complying with EN 352 and, when the job requires it, anti-vibration gloves. Worn bits and chisels increase vibration, so replace them in good time.

For demolition dust you need industrial vacuum cleaners with a filter suited to fine dust and, where possible, a direct connection to the tool. Battery-powered models are handy where there is no mains supply, but their run time is limited. Choose the airflow according to the amount of dust the job produces, and check that the filter is replaceable and compatible with the model.

It is used by demolition contractors, bricklayers, renovation firms and technicians working on concrete, masonry and asphalt structures. It is needed to knock down partition walls, open up passages, scarify floors and prepare the substrate for new work. For core drilling in walls and floors, choose the machine and the bit according to the diameter of the hole and the depth required.