TORONTO – The condo boom in Toronto has been a boon to demolition companies as dozens of the city’s old buildings are razed to make way for soaring glass towers. But why are these unwanted buildings torn down instead of going “boom”?
Implosions are common in major cities all over the world but the technique is rarely used in Toronto. Instead of bringing a high-rise down quickly and then hauling off the debris, demolition crews spend weeks or months knocking it down.
At a conference of explosives engineers in Las Vegas in 2002, speaker Brent Blanchard called building implosion an “efficient, economical – and often spectacular – way to demolish structures.”
According to Bruce Hawkins of the City of Toronto, there’s nothing in the Building Code Act preventing demolition companies from blowing up a building. “The methodology is a decision of the engineer who is to advise what method they are proposing,” he explained. “Requirements vary dependant on the type.”
Before bringing a building down, companies must submit a detailed application to the city accompanied by plans, specifications and other documentation. One of the questions on an online checklist for companies seeking demolition permits is: “Will there be any explosive or lasers used during the course of demolition?”
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Sean Teperman of demolition company Teperman said implosions come with serious risks.
“Buildings (in Toronto) are too close together and there is a subway system beneath the city and underground piping such as gas, water, high speed cables, etc.,” he explained. “The owner and the company performing the work is responsible for any damage and, due to the nature of our system being old and not well-maintained, it can cost the contractor a lot of money.”
Teperman said his company has used explosives to bring down industrial buildings in Mississauga and Hamilton. “If there are no obstacles then to use dynamite is not a problem.”
In 1997, a building implosion in Australia went horribly wrong, sending large pieces of debris into the air. One person was killed and nine were injured.
Watch a compilation of building implosions:
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