Utility Safety During Demolition

Demolition in New Jersey requires considerable planning when it comes to utilities. Before R. Baker & Son begins a project, multiple above-ground and below-ground utilities must be considered and identified, and may need to be shut off, disconnected, and/or relocated in order to perform demolition.

Prior to starting demolition, each utility company must be contacted. Local representatives or field engineers will be assigned to the project and may require submission of drawings, applications, and/or permits pertaining to the individual utilities. For example, electrical lines will need to be shut down, relocated, tested, and reenergized under the supervision of the electric company, who may also need to notify nearby customers of power interruptions. Similarly, water lines may require that valves be shut down and verified that they hold, and pressure taken off the line and locked out for worker safety. Gas lines may need to be shut down, pressure relieved and purged of all residual gas, and verified before work can commence.

Fiber optic cables and cable TV also require coordination with the utility companies. Fiber optic cables carry significant amount of data, and a severed line can affect service to thousands of commercial and residential customers. Damage to TV cables can cause outages for numerous customers as well.

Utility representatives will mark where underground utilities are located with paint and flags to prevent accidents and unnecessary interruptions. The most common method for locating utilities is using a tick tracer or sensitive metal detectors to locate piping or electrical lines.

Though drawings and as-builts are valuable aids in locating utilities, it should be noted that there may be inaccuracies, and sometimes these drawings have been misplaced and can’t be located. Also, easements that give utilities a right of way to exist are often unmarked, and as NJ is the most densely populated state, there is an increased chance of accidental damage to utilities.

Lastly, when removing utilities during demolition, it is important to preserve all meters and return them to the utility company. For more information on utilities during demolition, please contact R. Baker & Son at 732-222-3553.

About R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services, a  Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)  in business since 1935, is a premier specialized contractor operating in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, with over one hundred employees and an exemplary safety record (we have been directly involved in four sites that received VPP OSHA Safety Awards). R. Baker & Son is financially strong, with bonding capabilities over $10 million. Capabilities include industrial and commercial demolition, rigging, machinery- and plant-moving, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and equipment relocation, interior demolition, selective demolition, warehousing, wrecking and razing, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, salvage, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, and investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Demolition.Rigging