Compact Equipment & Attachments for Demolition in Tight Spaces

Smaller demo jobs are becoming more prevalent — here's how contractors can find a better fit within the constraints of tight spaces.

The latest generation of Brokk robots, the SmartPower+, are designed to make crews even more efficient.
The latest generation of Brokk robots, the SmartPower+, are designed to make crews even more efficient.
Brokk

The approach to large demolition jobs is relatively straightforward. Contractors can tear down buildings and structures with large excavators or cranes and haul materials away using dozers and articulated trucks.

However, when it comes to small- or medium-sized demolition jobs — which are becoming more prevalent — contractors may have to be more strategic to fit the constraints of tight spaces.

The demand for smaller demolition jobs has been increasing alongside the demand for residential and commercial development.

“As the new housing startups aren’t picking up as much as is needed to help satisfy the housing demand, there’s been significant amounts of tear down and demo for new homes on lots,” said Ryan Anderson, product manager, subcompact equipment, CASE Construction Equipment, adding that these jobs can require equipment ranging from midsized excavators to larger mini excavators. “Residential demolition is something to be very, very cognizant of.”

Alongside residential demolition, contractors are also seeing a rise in interior demolition or refurbishment, where they are tasked with removing interior walls or structures for residential or commercial remodels.

This increasing demand for small-scale demolition provides demolition and construction contractors alike with opportunities for new business. However, interior demolition jobs often come with challenges and requirements that extend beyond tight project schedules. Fortunately, compact equipment manufacturers continue to provide contractors with plenty of solutions.

Compact Equipment for Compact Demolition Jobs Bobcat is no stranger to compact equipment, says Fitzgerald. The company's smallest machine is the Bobcat S70 skid-steer loader, which weighs under 3,000 lbs. and will fit through a 36-in. wide, 72-in. tall doorway when equipped with a standard bucket.Bobcat is no stranger to compact equipment, says Fitzgerald. The company's smallest machine is the Bobcat S70 skid-steer loader, which weighs under 3,000 lbs. and will fit through a 36-in. wide, 72-in. tall doorway when equipped with a standard bucket.Bobcat

With every new job, contractors will go through the process of determining the right equipment and resources to meet the requirements of the project tasks, environment and schedule. When it comes to small-scale demolition — especially interior demolition jobs — the biggest and most obvious consideration for equipment is size.

“For interior demolition, contractors look to smaller, more compact equipment that will fit into tight spaces,” said Mike Fitzgerald, marketing manager at Bobcat Company. “Some applications, such as multistory buildings, are limited by weight restrictions they have for floor loading.”

Bobcat is no stranger to compact equipment, says Fitzgerald. The company’s smallest machine is the Bobcat S70 skid-steer loader, which weighs under 3,000 lbs. and fits through a 36-in. wide, 72-in. tall doorway when equipped with a standard bucket.

Whether the operator is removing a wall for a home remodel or breaking down concrete in an industrial facility, the first obstacle is getting through the door. That’s why Bobcat’s E10, E19 and E20 compact excavators come equipped with retractable undercarriages.

For example, on the Bobcat E10, the operator can retract the tracks down to 28-in. wide to get through a doorframe and expand them to its standard 43-in. stance when through and ready to work. The mini excavator also comes with a foldable tip-over protective structure (TOPS) the operator can fold down to fit the machine through shorter entryways.

Another consideration when it comes to equipment size is reach and dump height.

“There’s no point in having a machine that fits through the door if the excavator cannot reach whatever you’re going to dump the material in,” said Greg Worley, market professional for Caterpillar, which also offers retractable and expandable undercarriages on its 301.5 through 302 mini excavator models. “It’s going to come down to access and what they require.”

Evaluating Power in a Small Package

According to Worley, another reason contractors are turning to compact equipment for small demolition jobs is the power they provide. Compact equipment, whether a mini excavator, compact track loader (CTL) or skid steer, serves as a powerful and safer alternative to jackhammers.

“Sometimes it’s really not about the space or the weight of the machine,” he said. “It’s about the fact that you can run the hammer on the machine rather than the person running a hammer manually. Handling a hydraulic or electric hammer is not a person-friendly activity.”

While manually operating a jackhammer can lead to operator fatigue and safety risks, Worley said, compact equipment can provide more than enough power for small-scale demolition “when matched to the correct hammer.”

However, when compared to a large excavator, compact equipment may take longer to complete certain tasks, such as breaking concrete.

“That’s going to require some additional levels of hydraulic power depending on the attachments that you’re going to be running,” said Anderson. “So, you have to be very cognizant of the hydraulic power and output that you’d be able to get.”

Contractors should ensure their machines have sufficient rated operating capacity or tipping load, as well as breakout force, to handle heavy material like concrete or broken rock.

Meeting Fresh Air Requirements with Electric Vehicles

One obstacle that contractors looking to tackle interior demolition jobs may encounter is a restriction or preference against diesel-powered machines. When such machines operate in confined spaces, the limited air flow can result in prolonged exposure to dust and machine fumes for crews or others residing indoors.

Fitzgerald worked with a contractor who had such restrictions when handling demolition for a new clinic addition. The client worked after hours and used an electric mini excavator with a hydraulic breaker and grapple to remove concrete. Bobcat now offers two electric-powered compact excavators, the E10e and E19e, which are powered by two lithium-ion batteries that provide a total capacity of 11.5kWh and 17.28kWh respectively and zero emissions.

“If it’s a hospital, clinic or food processing facility, then contractors may have specific restrictions,” said Fitzgerald. “If it’s total demolition of a building, they may have already removed windows. There would be good air exchange, and then internal combustion engines could be used.”

CASE has been expanding its electric vehicle (EV) portfolio with the addition of two mini excavators and a small articulated loader, each unveiled at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023. The CX15EV and the new CX25EV, which will be available in the coming months, provide four to eight hours depending on the type of work, while the CASE SL22EV articulated loader can operate four to six hours depending on the application, roading and hydraulic use.

Anderson expects the move to EV and alternative fuel machines will gain more momentum when it comes to interior demolition, because of the benefits it can offer crews.

“This change can help make sure that the operators are safe in their working environment,” he said, “with improved air quality and reduced noise pollution and many other safety aspects of the jobsite that some people forget.”

Caterpillar offers a hybrid mini excavator, the 300.9D VPS with HPU300. The mini excavator can operate either from its diesel engine or from its separate hydraulic power unit, with no loss of performance.

“It’s a desired opportunity to run EV type machines indoors, but the technology has to meet the customer’s expectations,” said Worley.

“When it comes to demolition, particularly when using a hammer on the machine, you want the machine to hammer for eight or 10 hours a day. The technology and power supply are not there on this size of machine.”

Until the technology advances, Worley said, “diesel is going to be an important part of the construction industry.”

Those sticking with diesel engines have alternate options for accommodating fresh air requirements. Caterpillar and some of its competitors have equipped recent machines larger than four tons with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) for reduced diesel emissions. Contractors can also add scrubbers to their machines to remove more harmful NOx fumes.

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