Building construction encompasses planning, erection, conversion, maintenance, and the orderly deconstruction of buildings and structures above ground level. In the urban context, precise methods with low vibration levels play a central role—especially for interventions in existing structures, repurposing, and inner-city densification projects. In concrete demolition and special demolition, tools such as concrete pulverizers and hydraulic rock and concrete splitters are used, alongside supplementary hydraulic power packs, combination shears, multi cutters, steel shears and cutting torches. Darda GmbH is anchored in these fields; the focus is on operational safety, protection of adjacent structures and predictable execution during ongoing operations.
Definition: What is meant by building construction
Building construction refers to all construction activities related to buildings and structures above grade. This includes residential, office and industrial buildings, schools and hospitals as well as vertical extensions, additions and façades. It is thus distinct from civil engineering such as earthworks, foundation engineering and infrastructure construction. Load-bearing systems in building construction consist mainly of reinforced concrete, masonry, steel or timber construction as well as composite structures. In addition to erection, building construction also includes fit-out, building services, structural repair and—when required—selective deconstruction, for example using concrete pulverizers, hydraulic wedge splitters for stone and concrete, or cutting tools as part of building gutting and cutting.
Construction and deconstruction processes in building construction: structure, methods, equipment
The life cycle of a building construction project extends from design through shell construction and fit-out to refurbishment or deconstruction. In new construction, formwork, reinforcement and concreting processes as well as masonry and steel erection predominate. In existing structures, precise interventions are gaining importance: ceiling openings, wall openings, elevator shafts, load transfer and structural reinforcement (e.g., CFRP laminates, steel beams) require controlled interventions in reinforced concrete and masonry. Here, concrete pulverizers prove their value for structure-friendly removal, and hydraulic wedge splitters for stone and concrete provide separations with low vibration levels and no spark generation. In addition, combination shears, multi cutters and steel shears are used for reinforcing steel, trapezoidal sheets, beams and built-in components, and cutting torches for dismantled tanks in plant rooms. Hydraulic power units supply these tools with the necessary energy, including in tight existing environments where low-emission, quiet and flexible equipment is required.
Structures and materials: reinforced concrete, masonry and composite constructions
Building structures combine compression, tension and bending actions. Reinforced concrete forms slabs, columns, walls and cores; masonry is used for walls and infill; steel and timber elements supplement as beams, purlins or vertical extensions. Interventions in the structure require a coordinated approach: shoring, step-by-step unloading, controlled separation and deconstruction in the direction of load transfer. Concrete pulverizers enable close-to-material work on the component, while hydraulic wedge splitters for stone and concrete define cracks and split components without impact and vibration peaks. This protects adjacent structural elements, installations and façades—particularly crucial in inner-city existing buildings.
Selective deconstruction and building gutting in existing structures
Selective deconstruction serves material separation, protection of the surroundings and preparation for subsequent construction phases. In building construction this often concerns changes of use, fire protection upgrades, service routing or logistics openings in existing structures. Building gutting and cutting are coordinated with structural analysis, fire protection and building services.
Concrete pulverizers in ceiling openings
For ceiling openings in reinforced concrete, for example for stair flights or shafts, concrete pulverizers allow stepwise removal of edge areas down to the final contour. This minimizes vibrations, reduces dust and facilitates subsequent rebar cutting by steel shears or multi cutters.
Hydraulic wedge splitters in structure-adjacent zones
In areas with sensitive load transfer—for example at shear walls or column heads—hydraulic wedge splitters create defined separation joints. The method is low vibration levels and has proven itself for work during operations, in hospitals or office buildings with ongoing use.
- Wall openings in masonry without large-area breakout
- Edge cuts on slabs and beams with low vibration transmission
- Removal of upstands, parapets and bearing areas
Equipment in building construction: gripping, splitting, cutting
Tools for concrete demolition and special demolition in building construction can be grouped by function. Decisive factors are accessibility, residual load-bearing capacity of the existing structure, emission requirements and the intended material separation.
Concrete pulverizers: structure-friendly concrete demolition
Concrete pulverizers grip the concrete, crush it locally and expose reinforcement. Advantages include good controllability, little secondary damage and reduced noise and dust compared with percussive methods. In combination with steel shears, exposed reinforcement can be separated quickly.
Hydraulic wedge splitters for stone and concrete: a low-vibration alternative
Splitting cylinders generate high, directed forces in boreholes and split rock or concrete along defined lines. This is ideal for confined spaces, sensitive neighborhoods and components with limited residual load-bearing capacity. Follow-up work is done with light cutting and prying tools.
Hydraulic power packs: energy supply on the construction site
Hydraulic power packs feed concrete pulverizers, hydraulic wedge splitters for stone and concrete, combination shears and multi cutters. For interior areas, quiet, low-emission power packs are advantageous; hose lengths and couplings are planned to avoid trip hazards and minimize pressure losses.
Combination shears, multi cutters, steel shears and cutting torches
- Combination shears and multi cutters for mixed deconstruction materials, sheet metal and profiles
- Steel shears for separating reinforcement, beams and built-in components
- Cutting torches for controlled cutting of tanks in plant rooms
Selection criteria
- Accessibility: door widths, ceiling loads, transport routes, crane use
- Site context: limits for noise, dust and vibrations
- Component parameters: thickness, reinforcement ratio, bond, moisture
- Material separation: concrete, steel, masonry, composite layers
- Safety: emergency stop, remote operability, load transfer, shoring
Planning, structural analysis and construction sequence in building construction
Work in existing structures requires close coordination with planning and structural analysis. Before work starts, load paths must be clarified, temporary shoring defined and construction stages calculated. Construction sequence and logistics account for debris removal, intermediate storage, crane or elevator use and fire protection. Permit and notification requirements can vary by scope and region; early coordination with the authorities is recommended. The procedures and information are general and do not replace a case-by-case assessment.
- Preliminary investigations: rebar location, material analysis, utility detection
- Construction stages: stepwise removal with deformation control
- Interfaces: building services, fire protection, noise control, dust protection
- Documentation: measurement logs, waste management chain records, photo documentation
Occupational safety, emissions and environmental protection
Work in building construction—especially during ongoing operations—demands a high level of safety and health protection. Tools and methods are chosen to minimize risks, for example by splitting techniques with low vibration levels or controlled gripping with concrete pulverizers.
- Dust: dust extraction, water spray systems, encapsulated work areas
- Noise: quiet power packs, work time windows, noise control
- Vibrations: splitting instead of percussive methods, monitoring
- Loads: safe slings, certified anchor points, lifting devices
- Hazardous substances: proper handling, segregated disposal
Sustainability, resource conservation and circular economy
Selective deconstruction in building construction enables clean construction waste separation of concrete, steel, masonry and fit-out products. Concrete pulverizers expose reinforcement that can be separated with steel shears; hydraulic wedge splitters for stone and concrete create sharp break edges with little fines. This increases the recycling rate and enables high-quality recycling products—for example from recycled concrete. Short transport routes, reusable building materials and precise construction logistics support climate targets in the construction sector.
Typical applications in building construction
- Ceiling openings and shafts in reinforced concrete with concrete pulverizers and subsequent rebar cutting
- Wall openings in masonry using hydraulic wedge splitters for stone and concrete, low-dust and low-vibration
- Deconstruction of balconies, parapets and upstands in confined courtyards
- Dismantling of steel sections, pipe bridges and trapezoidal sheets with steel shears and multi cutters
- Plant rooms: cutting tanks with cutting torches and controlled disposal
- Refurbishment during ongoing operations: night and weekend windows with quiet hydraulics and reduced emissions
Special operations and confined conditions
Special deployment scenarios in building construction include listed buildings, dense urban quarters, hospitals or production buildings. Here, low-vibration, precise and quiet methods are required. Hydraulic wedge splitters stand out for low system loads and controlled force application; concrete pulverizers enable small-step dismantling even where crane operations or heavy equipment are not possible.
Quality assurance and documentation
Robust quality assurance includes pre-mock-ups, trial areas, monitoring (e.g., vibrations), condition reports and seamless documentation of waste and material flows. Qualified teams and tested tools are decisive for execution. Regular maintenance of hydraulic power packs and visual inspections of concrete pulverizers, hydraulic wedge splitters for stone and concrete as well as shears increase operational safety and availability.