Total demolition of contaminated storage tank in 3 phases

Recently we have been working on the demolition of an empty storage tank. Before this tank became empty years ago, it contained a fertilizer product. This product is no longer produced and the tank became empty.

The product that was in the tank caused the wall and bottom of the tank to become contaminated. This was largely cleared before we began the demolition. We carried out the demolition process in 3 phases, which we also described in a predetermined demolition plan.

Phase 1: demolition to 50cm above ground level

In the first phase, we systematically dismantled the roof and walls. Using a crane (High-Lift) with an extra-long boom on it (24 meters including iron shears), we made a notch just below the tank roof. The hole created there ensured that the tank wall always fell inward during cutting. Then we stepped up the tank wall from top to bottom in sections.

Phase 2: machine assisted cleaning

However, the bottom and the bottom 30 centimeters of the tank wall could not be cleaned properly in advance. Therefore, we temporarily stopped dismantling about 50 centimeters above the bottom. This allowed the last 30 centimeters of contamination to be cleaned, where we were able to assist mechanically.

Phase 3: demolition of residual wall and soil

Finally, we were also able to demolish the remaining tank wall and bottom. In addition, we disposed of the released materials.

In short: we took care of the complete project from A to Z. The work took a total of two weeks. Thus, this project was also carried out efficiently.