Nelson Hospital Chimney Demolition

Our Nelson based team are currently undertaking another challenging and unique project.  Following the Nelson hospital’s transition from an old coal boiler system to an environmentally sustainable electric boiler, the 36-meter concrete chimney tower that previously served the coal boiler has become obsolete and requires demolition.

We understand the risks of working on a live hospital site and ensuring demolition work is completed safely and without disruption. The 36-meter tower has been enclosed within a scaffolding system, completely wrapped in protective plastic to contain all demolition debris. The project’s complexity required us to develop a unique demolition approach; we have engaged Smith Cranes to position a 110-tonne crane on-site to handle the upper section of the chimney structure. Our team engineered a custom solution by modifying our excavator’s processing head attachment, enabling it to be crane-mounted while remaining under the control of our experienced operator positioned on the scaffolding platform.

As the concrete tower is systematically broken down, debris falls through the internal chimney shaft. We’ve constructed a purpose-built ramp system that directs concrete waste toward the chimney’s base opening to control demolition debris as it lands. The debris passes through a specially designed rubber door flap that reduces impact and maintains controlled waste flow. All waste materials are then efficiently loaded and removed from the collection area. We have implemented an extraction fan system that draws demolition dust into a designated wetting area, effectively preventing airborne dust particles.

Our team are doing a great job onsite, and the project is progressing very well. We have the scaffolding team on standby, ready to progressively dismantle the scaffold structure as we work our way down the chimney. When we have demolished the tower down to 7m, our methodology will transition to an excavator demolition to complete the remaining structure removal.

Keep up the great work team, your progress is very impressive!