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THE
TASK
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Olshan
Demolishing Management was selected by Lockheed
Martin’s general contractor, Hensel-Phelps, to
dismantle and remove the two towers. The original
plan called for Olshan to pick the towers down
piece by piece. However, the construction schedule
had already been pushed back over six months,
partially due to investigations into failed Titan
IV launches.
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As
time progressively became a more critical factor
on the project, Olshan looked into the idea of explosively
felling the two towers. They concluded that this
method could accelerate the completion schedule
by several months.
Another deciding factor was safety. It was calculated
that explosive demolition would reduce worker exposure
by as much as 300%. Instead of having demolition
crews working hundreds of feet in the air, ground
based excavators fitted with mobile shears could
be used in conjunction with cutting torches to safely
remove the steel.
After careful consideration, Olshan Demolishing
contracted with Dykon to bring the towers down with
explosives.
During Dykon's initial site visit, they concluded
that the shorter, more narrow Umbilical Tower could
be 'rolled over' using explosives. The Mobile Service
Tower, on the other hand, was found to have a very
complex design with non-standard framing and massive
X-bracing. Both towers were heavily reinforced to
withstand the blast from Titan rockets as well as
hurricane force winds often found in Florida. |
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Viewing
north from inside the deteriorated MST towards
Shuttle pads 39A and B, one can see why
the Air Force was initially concerned about
blasting.
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Dykon’s
first task was to sell the job to Lockheed Martin
and the Air force. Lockheed quickly agreed that
explosives were the way to go on this project. The
Air Force and its safety officers, however, were
another story. They were very reluctant to let blasting
take place on their base. |
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| Dykon
analyzed the structures and formulated a blasting
plan, engineering calculations, and an impact study
for the Air Force to review. After several meetings,
Air Force officials decided that these reports,
combined with Dykon’s 25 years of experience felling
structures, made blasting an acceptable alternative.
For the first time in 23 years, the U.S. Air force
approved the use of explosives for demolition purposes
at Cape Canaveral. |
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