What is Hydrodemolition?
As its name suggests, hydrodemolition is the controlled cutting or removal of concrete using high-pressured water jets. This increasingly popular method of concrete alteration is cost effective, environmentally friendly, accurate and efficient.
Highlights of Hydrodemolition:
- Safe
Hydrodemolition is one of the safest forms of concrete removal due to several factors:
- Hydrodemolition robots can be operated via remote control at a safe distance away.
- No harmful silica dust is produced.
- No vibrations are exerted while using hydrodemolition equipment, therefore, the chances of contracting hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) are not just reduced, but eliminated.
- Environmentally Friendly
Hydrodemolition has many environmental benefits:
- No harmful gases are released into the environment.
- All waste water is treated in the Siltbuster, ensuring that it is clean and free from debris before returning to the environment.
- Accurate
Hydrodemolition is an incredibly accurate art. Thanks to recent advancements in water jetting technology, hydrodemolition robots can now be programmed to cut geometric shapes of all shapes and sizes at a variety of depths.
- Cost-Effective
Completing projects using water jet robots can help you to save money:
- Safer to use, therefore, there are less costly injuries in the workplace.
- Thanks to the Aqua Spine, there is no need for scaffolding, saving you time and money on buying and erecting/dismantling scaffolding.
- 30% more effective than traditional methods of hydrodemolition, water jet robots get the job done quickly, saving you money by reducing downtime.
Hydrodemolition Equipment
From hand lances to ultra-high pressure water jetting robots, every piece of equipment we use at Hydroblast is state-of-the-art and manufactured by water jetting specialists, Aquajet. In our arsenal, we have a range of apparatus suitable for jobs of all shapes and sizes.
For large-scale projects: Whether it’s the small and agile Aqua Cutter 410a Evolution or the powerful Rotolance, when faced with a large project, we use our hydrodemolition robots.
For smaller projects: For smaller projects, we turn to traditional hand lancing hydrodemolition. Although this process takes longer, our talented operatives make sure that the job gets done and gets done well.
For hard-to-reach projects: Have a project at the top of a 120m pylon? Need to cut concrete under water? All kinds of inhospitable and hard-to-reach areas can be reached using the Aqua Spine.
If you’ve got a project coming up and would be interested in learning how to handle water jetting equipment, we offer a range of water jetting training courses. Alternatively, if you would like a member of our team to complete the work for you, contact us for a quote.
What is Hydrodemolition Used for?
Although hydrodemolition appears to be destructive, its central purpose is to protect and preserve concrete structures. How does hydrodemolition do this? We’ll tell you.
- It prepares concrete surfaces for repair.
As highlighted in June 2017’s edition of Concrete Magazine, nothing lasts forever, not even concrete. There are three main factors which can compromise the state of concrete structures; the passing of time, repeated use and exposure to the elements. When damaged, it is important for the concrete to undergo repair, as its functionality decreases, it begins to look unattractive and our safety becomes compromised.
To successfully repair a concrete surface, it must first be prepared using a hydrodemolition technique called scabbling. This technique roughens the surface of the concrete to leave a sound, rough and clean surface for the fresh concrete or overlay to bond to.
- It doesn’t damage the structural integrity of the concrete.
When removing or cutting into concrete, it is important not to damage its structural integrity. Many traditional methods of concrete removal, including jack hammering, do more harm than good by causing microcraking to occur. Although these microcracks are naked to the human eye, they can and often do develop into larger cracks.
Unlike its traditional counterparts, hydrodemolition is capable of removing unwanted layers of concrete without compromising the integrity of the layers underneath.
To read more about hydrodemolition and the hydrodemolition equipment we use here at Hydroblast, check out our blog.