Asbestos is a nocuous substance that requires a skilled methodology to prevent detrimental consequences to people and the surrounding environment. Few would recognize that many of the places people work, live, attend school, or shop are often occupying space that contain some form of asbestos.
I have yet to have a week go by on a non-related business outing where I have not been able to visually spot some form of suspect material. Be it the floor tile and window caulk of my parish school, tranite panels on a number of industrial buildings throughout Chicago, or the roof flashing on nearly every older home in my neighborhood.
To a certain degree, albeit a controversial statement - which I fully acknowledge, in most cases, ignorance in bliss during these routine encounters; left undisturbed and in good condition, many of these casual contacts with asbestos proves not harmful to person nor environment.
The pendulum swings to a differing level when our demolition crews are wrecking a building and uncover hidden asbestos. Such was the case recently during demolition in downstate Sheffield Illinois at the former Sheffield school.
Competently trained CESI personnel identified transite when breeching a wall. None of the asbestos material was broken thereby restricting the release of any asbestos.
While another company was hired to perform asbestos abatement prior to our demolition and an environmental consultant previously surveyed the entire building, the transite went unnoticed. This is not uncommon as evidenced by recent – similar situations at the Kenosha Inn and Renaissance Shell projects.
Once again, further proof that Champion Environmental Services fully adheres to our motto that “the safety of our workers and those around us will guide the decision making process.”
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Rambler visa via S. Johnson
Work at the former Kenosha Inn is finally back up and running after our workers discovered non-abated asbestos. The “hot” material has been properly abated allowing demolition to advance.
The façade removal at the Renaissance Shell continues to move along successfully – this is another project hampered by unknown asbestos discovered during the project. It is essential that demolition firms ensure that their work force is properly trained in asbestos awareness so as not to danger workers, the immediate public, and environment. While these situations are frustrating to owners, the best practices of any reliable company should have an established proactive “safety always” mentality.
Champion Environmental Services, Inc. is preparing to mobilize for a City of Monona project; a commercial property and residential structure will be demolished. The two structures have been properly abated of all environmental hazards and we are awaiting utility disconnects and final demolition permits to be issued.
The seasonal nature of our work is apparent for this time of year. Bid opportunities are starting to gain momentum. An encouraging note is the uptick in private work. We are sitting on over 2 million square feet of private bid prospects with optimistic words from the owners only to recognize the tiring mantra repeated over the last three years – “ check back in another 30 days. . .management is trying to determine the best course of action. . .any day now we should have the go ahead….” Ad nauseum.
Certainly, the key decision makers are tasking away at a strategy to maximize the allocation of every penny. Even when a project warrants the ability to be performed pro bono, clients’ synaptic nerves begin toying with the notion that they are sitting on a literal gold mine. The revelry reaches a hypnotic pulse when you actually have the ability to buy the job.
Lost in translation is the owners’ ability to recognize the special circumstances surrounding such rare opportunities in the current market. The fluctuation of key commodity pricing is a compelling area few understand – how well can one forecast where diesel prices will go? Steel, copper, and other precious metal pricing is often contingent on what we can promise to our buyer within an allotted time to maximize return. What we get for structured steel is not necessarily what another contractor would garner due to our long standing relationships. Timing is everything – an offer to perform demolition for free, given a variety of factors, can easily turn into a million dollar bill when a prospective client becomes gluttonous in the merriment of fictitious fortunes.
My good friend Mark Anthony over at Demolition News continues to record and report the nauseous bid spreads that continue to defile our industry in the US. Over the years, I have warned municipalities and private entities about “promises” that certain demolition contractors will make in order to win a job – for clarification, these were in general terms regarding specific projects, I never “called out” a company by name. With satisfaction, I relay news on a project we were in line to bid in Wilkes-Barre, PA on behalf of a developer. Following months of providing extensive due diligence information on our company and the assurance that our bid would be welcomed along with a short list of three other approved companies, I was told that a local firm negotiated to do the job for free.
I warned my contact about the “rip and run” mentality in these situations; rip and run is where a company guts a building of all the scrap metal and then leaves the site in ruin. Mark Anthony reported on this specific item last month titled, “Developer fined after contractor vanishes… Contractor leaves developer in lurch after stripping site of steel and copper”. A link to Mark’s entry with the story can be found here: http://www.demolitionnews.com/page/7/
I was unaware that there were many closeted fans of Immanuel Kant who take his theory of perception on a literal a priori proposition.
The façade removal at the Renaissance Shell continues to move along successfully – this is another project hampered by unknown asbestos discovered during the project. It is essential that demolition firms ensure that their work force is properly trained in asbestos awareness so as not to danger workers, the immediate public, and environment. While these situations are frustrating to owners, the best practices of any reliable company should have an established proactive “safety always” mentality.
Champion Environmental Services, Inc. is preparing to mobilize for a City of Monona project; a commercial property and residential structure will be demolished. The two structures have been properly abated of all environmental hazards and we are awaiting utility disconnects and final demolition permits to be issued.
The seasonal nature of our work is apparent for this time of year. Bid opportunities are starting to gain momentum. An encouraging note is the uptick in private work. We are sitting on over 2 million square feet of private bid prospects with optimistic words from the owners only to recognize the tiring mantra repeated over the last three years – “ check back in another 30 days. . .management is trying to determine the best course of action. . .any day now we should have the go ahead….” Ad nauseum.
Certainly, the key decision makers are tasking away at a strategy to maximize the allocation of every penny. Even when a project warrants the ability to be performed pro bono, clients’ synaptic nerves begin toying with the notion that they are sitting on a literal gold mine. The revelry reaches a hypnotic pulse when you actually have the ability to buy the job.
Lost in translation is the owners’ ability to recognize the special circumstances surrounding such rare opportunities in the current market. The fluctuation of key commodity pricing is a compelling area few understand – how well can one forecast where diesel prices will go? Steel, copper, and other precious metal pricing is often contingent on what we can promise to our buyer within an allotted time to maximize return. What we get for structured steel is not necessarily what another contractor would garner due to our long standing relationships. Timing is everything – an offer to perform demolition for free, given a variety of factors, can easily turn into a million dollar bill when a prospective client becomes gluttonous in the merriment of fictitious fortunes.
My good friend Mark Anthony over at Demolition News continues to record and report the nauseous bid spreads that continue to defile our industry in the US. Over the years, I have warned municipalities and private entities about “promises” that certain demolition contractors will make in order to win a job – for clarification, these were in general terms regarding specific projects, I never “called out” a company by name. With satisfaction, I relay news on a project we were in line to bid in Wilkes-Barre, PA on behalf of a developer. Following months of providing extensive due diligence information on our company and the assurance that our bid would be welcomed along with a short list of three other approved companies, I was told that a local firm negotiated to do the job for free.
I warned my contact about the “rip and run” mentality in these situations; rip and run is where a company guts a building of all the scrap metal and then leaves the site in ruin. Mark Anthony reported on this specific item last month titled, “Developer fined after contractor vanishes… Contractor leaves developer in lurch after stripping site of steel and copper”. A link to Mark’s entry with the story can be found here: http://www.demolitionnews.com/page/7/
I was unaware that there were many closeted fans of Immanuel Kant who take his theory of perception on a literal a priori proposition.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
West Lawn - Phase II Milwaukee, WI
Champion Environmental Services, Inc. was awarded the hazardous material abatement, building demolition, and site clearance for Phase II at the Westlawn Housing Development in Milwaukee, WI.
The project involves 29 multiunit buildings. The initial phase will be dedicated to the abatement of asbestos containing floor tile/mastic, fittings on fiberglass insulation, transite panels, window caulk, paper duct wrap, and sink undercoating.
After the apartments are properly abated and receive final air clearances, the demolition crew will proceed with wrecking the units. Champion Environmental Services, Inc. anticipates a recycling rate of nearly 97%.
This effort is part of a larger initiative by The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). According to a press release by WHEDA on December 3, 2010, the project will evolve into “ . . .the North End - Phase 2 development to construct two, five-story apartment buildings totaling 155 units of rental housing. The program requires the property to set aside 20% of its units for low and moderate income residents. Specifically, 31 apartment units in North End - Phase 2 will be set aside for households at or below 60% of Milwaukee's County Median Income”.
Phase I of Westlawn was recently completed by Champion Environmental Services, Inc.
The project involves 29 multiunit buildings. The initial phase will be dedicated to the abatement of asbestos containing floor tile/mastic, fittings on fiberglass insulation, transite panels, window caulk, paper duct wrap, and sink undercoating.
After the apartments are properly abated and receive final air clearances, the demolition crew will proceed with wrecking the units. Champion Environmental Services, Inc. anticipates a recycling rate of nearly 97%.
This effort is part of a larger initiative by The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). According to a press release by WHEDA on December 3, 2010, the project will evolve into “ . . .the North End - Phase 2 development to construct two, five-story apartment buildings totaling 155 units of rental housing. The program requires the property to set aside 20% of its units for low and moderate income residents. Specifically, 31 apartment units in North End - Phase 2 will be set aside for households at or below 60% of Milwaukee's County Median Income”.
Phase I of Westlawn was recently completed by Champion Environmental Services, Inc.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Milwaukee Smokestack
This morning, in an unforgiveable subzero wind chill, Champion Environmental Services, Inc. mobilized to start the controlled dismantlement of 186’ smokestack. The proximity of key buildings, nearby rail lines, and above ground industrial service pipes dictated that we rig a robotic Brokk to a crane and work our way down in a top to bottom fashion.
Aggressive winter wind proved frustrating for the crane operator, yet, in time, we were able to sequence an approach that clipped the pace to an appropriate tempo.
The succession of pictures is the raising of the Brokk into place and subsequent production within a half hour. If the winds cooperate, the stack will be down in five working days.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Winter Forecast
A faint optimism stirs within the US demolition industry while an implosive European debt situation keeps the flow of cash in check.
My dim sanguinity emanates from an unusual trend of tighter bid spreads on large private and public bid opportunities. Many firms over the past year left incalculable sums of money on the table in a desperate effort to keep machine moving.
In the cyclical trade tide of everyone waiting to get paid, the following has been a constant factor: demolition contractor fronts hundreds of thousand of dollars to get a job(s) started – subcontractor(s) dutifully perform work – client(s) sits on money owed to demolition contractor – company cannot pay subcontractor(s) - multiple entities enter into threats of liens, collections, and lawyer involvement as weekly payroll difficulties ensue.
When proposals on a million or multimillion job reflect a tight group of companies within $150,000 to $225,000 range and one guy sits at a margin 45% to 75% below the next low number. . .the winner here is essentially absorbed in an act of self inflected attrition.
The unlearned inculcation eventually reaches a critical point; the hemorrhaging of cash is unstoppable.
Incredibly, the few who stood their ground are the few left standing. Equitable competitors are staying tight on the numbers while the low-ball apparitions are starting to fade.
Nonetheless, the overall confidence within one industry contradicts unresolved European debt. The Dow Jones flitters over and under the 11,000 mark (The NIKEI around 10,000 and FTSE has a 200 point ebb/flow) over the last five days like a listless distance swimmer desperate to keep their head above water - the conservation of energy versus the necessary power to move forward is an enigma. These unknown factors dictate that essential-available reserves are kept in check for the foreseeable future.
The collective PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Spain) have worked through Greek liabilities and as of late, the former Celtic Tiger has been revealed to be a kitten that casted a large shadow. Little ink has been vested on financial predictions concerning Portugal and Spain.
“. . . it was the epoch of incredulity . . .”
My dim sanguinity emanates from an unusual trend of tighter bid spreads on large private and public bid opportunities. Many firms over the past year left incalculable sums of money on the table in a desperate effort to keep machine moving.
In the cyclical trade tide of everyone waiting to get paid, the following has been a constant factor: demolition contractor fronts hundreds of thousand of dollars to get a job(s) started – subcontractor(s) dutifully perform work – client(s) sits on money owed to demolition contractor – company cannot pay subcontractor(s) - multiple entities enter into threats of liens, collections, and lawyer involvement as weekly payroll difficulties ensue.
When proposals on a million or multimillion job reflect a tight group of companies within $150,000 to $225,000 range and one guy sits at a margin 45% to 75% below the next low number. . .the winner here is essentially absorbed in an act of self inflected attrition.
The unlearned inculcation eventually reaches a critical point; the hemorrhaging of cash is unstoppable.
Incredibly, the few who stood their ground are the few left standing. Equitable competitors are staying tight on the numbers while the low-ball apparitions are starting to fade.
Nonetheless, the overall confidence within one industry contradicts unresolved European debt. The Dow Jones flitters over and under the 11,000 mark (The NIKEI around 10,000 and FTSE has a 200 point ebb/flow) over the last five days like a listless distance swimmer desperate to keep their head above water - the conservation of energy versus the necessary power to move forward is an enigma. These unknown factors dictate that essential-available reserves are kept in check for the foreseeable future.
The collective PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Spain) have worked through Greek liabilities and as of late, the former Celtic Tiger has been revealed to be a kitten that casted a large shadow. Little ink has been vested on financial predictions concerning Portugal and Spain.
“. . . it was the epoch of incredulity . . .”
Former Kenosha Inn
For Chicago-area vacationers who make their weekly pilgrimage to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, the former Kenosha Inn is an unassuming site that many have passed coming off of I94 for the scenic trek down Highway 50.
Champion Environmental Services, Inc., has been retained by a private client to demolish the structure in preparation for future development. CESI facilitated a schedule to allow the local fire department and SWAT team to conduct training exercises at the property prior to equipment mobilization.
The project should achieve a recycling rate of 98%.
Champion Environmental Services, Inc., has been retained by a private client to demolish the structure in preparation for future development. CESI facilitated a schedule to allow the local fire department and SWAT team to conduct training exercises at the property prior to equipment mobilization.
The project should achieve a recycling rate of 98%.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Remnants In Wonder Lake
The final vestiges of the Wonder Lake water tower can be viewed below; this morning, a crew dismantled the bottom of the structure support and removed eight concrete footings. Tomorrow’s work will involve loading out the steel scrap, site restoration and sealing the fire hydrant.
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