Operating inside a structure during partial demo/renovation?

[gmoney731]

Hello,

I am working on the structural/architectural rehabilitation of an 80 year old 30'x60' building. CMU walls, and steel joists (from the 1930s) with some type of built-up roofing system that bears on the joists.

The roof is intended to be replaced. So, a full demo of the built-up roof, the steel joists, and other associated elements. They will need to fully-grout all non-grouted cells, and provide additional wall reinforcement too. As a result, the wall may also need to be partially demo'd for them to access open cells from the top.

The client needs to maintain Operations inside this structure. My question is, is it an established practice to continue Operations inside a structure if the roof/walls are being demo'd? Is there any temporary construction (I am thinking some type of metal "container" on the inside of the building that protects the workers while the work overhead happens. I know it sounds silly from a life safety standpoint, but I just want to know what options I have. We would need to ensure that the building is operable, weatherproof, and watertight, as demo goes on.

Thanks for your time.

 

[milkshakelake]

You could potentially add steel plates.

 

[jerseyshore]

Instead of building a smaller building inside this existing building, what about building a slightly bigger building all around if you have the room?

Keep the existing building as is and operational and do all new construction around it. Then you can do a staged demo process of the original building once complete.

 

[BridgeSmith]

Instead of building a smaller building inside this existing building, what about building a slightly bigger building all around if you have the room? Keep the existing building as is and operational and do all new construction around it.

Now that sounds like a winning proposition!

Then you can do a staged demo process of the original building once complete.

Why demo the old building? It's an extra expense for no real gain, and it has most of the same problems (safety concerns, etc.) that rehabbing the building has, minus the weatherproofing issues.

 

[kipfoot]

A variation of the idea to leave the existing building in place:

1) verify foundations
2) add reinforcing and grout to masonry walls
3) add a course of block, if necessary, to the top of wall
4) place 12" hollow core plank over and above the existing roof.

 

[gte447f]

milkshakelake, the "Tenant Protection Plans" you mentioned for New York sounds interesting. Definitely applicable to this discussion, and the need for a process like you describe came up in the thread about the Davenport Iowa apartment building collapse.

 

[milkshakelake]

@gte447f Agreed, it should always be done when the building is still occupied. I don't like how incredibly strict the building department is in New York; it's like night and day when I do stuff in an adjacent state. But the tenant protection stuff is one thing I agree with 100%.