Interior demolition is the precise dismantling and selective deconstruction within existing buildings. The aim is to remove components such as walls, slab areas, shafts, foundations, technical installations, and built-in components in a controlled manner without affecting the remaining structure. The focus is on low-emission, low-vibration, and material-separating methods. Tools such as precision concrete crushers and hydraulic rock and concrete splitters from Darda GmbH are established in this context because they enable controlled cutting, crushing, and splitting of concrete, masonry, and natural stone with high dimensional accuracy and low immission.
Definition: What is meant by interior demolition
Interior demolition refers to the orderly, mostly selective deconstruction of components within an existing building. It includes gutting, dismantling, cutting, splitting, crushing, as well as the single-grade separation and haulage of the arising materials. In contrast to complete demolition, the surrounding structure remains; load-bearing capacity, use, and building function must not be unduly impaired. Methods are carefully selected due to confined spaces, protection of neighbors, noise control, and vibration limits. Hydraulic concrete crushers, stone and concrete splitters, combination shears, multi cutters, steel shears, tank cutters, and associated hydraulic power packs from Darda GmbH are frequently used.
Tasks and objectives in interior demolition
Interior demolition aims to remove components in a controlled and economical manner, separate material streams cleanly, and protect the remaining structure. This includes creating wall openings, slab/ceiling penetrations, shaft enlargements, dismantling foundations and machine bases, removing reinforcement, lines and beams, as well as exposing areas for conversion and new construction. A central objective is to minimize dust, noise, vibration, sparks, and water consumption while ensuring high occupational safety and reusability of materials.
Typical construction tasks and application areas
Interior demolition overlaps multiple application areas of Darda GmbH, because methods and tools are tuned to different materials and boundary conditions:
- Concrete demolition and special deconstruction: Deconstruction of reinforced concrete walls, slabs, downstand beams, and foundations with concrete crushers or by hydraulic splitting.
- Strip-out and cutting: Dismantling drywall, masonry, installations, beams, and tanks using combination shears, multi cutters, steel shears, and tank cutters.
- Rock excavation and tunneling: In underground existing areas (basements, adits, service corridors), rock or natural stone can be split precisely where vibration must be avoided.
- Natural stone extraction: Know-how from splitting natural stone is transferred to massive natural-stone masonry in old buildings and heritage contexts.
- Special operations: Work in sensitive environments such as hospitals, laboratories, or live operations where low-noise, low-vibration methods are indispensable.
Methods and techniques in interior demolition
Mechanical separation with concrete crushers
Concrete crushers break and downsize concrete and reinforced concrete in a controlled way. The jaws apply high compressive forces locally, allowing the structure to be removed piece by piece. Advantages include low vibration, reduced dust generation (in combination with dust extraction/wet cutting), and the ability to expose reinforcing steel, which is then cut with steel shears. Typical applications include wall openings, edge demolition at slabs, removal of topping layers, and dismantling of column heads.
Hydraulic splitting of concrete and masonry
Stone and concrete splitters and splitting cylinders use splitting forces generated in boreholes to open components along guided cracks. The method is very low-vibration and thus ideal for sensitive structures, listed fabric, and areas with strict vibration limits. The sequence: set core drill holes, insert splitting cylinders, build splitting pressure in a controlled manner via compact hydraulic power units from Darda GmbH, remove fragments.
Cutting and shearing of metals and composite components
Combination shears, multi cutters, steel shears, and tank cutters separate sections, lines, reinforcement, sheets, tanks, and plant components. In potentially explosive atmospheres, low-spark procedures and clearance measurements are mandatory. Tank cutters are used when decommissioning vessels in existing facilities, for example in boiler houses or production areas; preparatory draining, cleaning, and inerting is carried out by specialized contractors.
Complementary methods
Depending on the task, cutting techniques (e.g., wire saws/chain saws for mineral building materials), core drilling, manual dismantling, and temporary shoring are combined. The coordinated sequence is crucial: Separate – Stabilize – Remove – Downsize – Haul away.
Equipment systems and components
Hydraulic power packs supply concrete crushers, splitters, combination shears, and steel shears with the required working pressure and flow rate. Decision criteria include power, weight, transport dimensions, power supply, and emission behavior. Compact power packs from Darda GmbH are designed for confined spaces and can supply remote work areas via hose bundles so that the power pack can be operated outside sensitive zones.
- Concrete crushers: For reinforced concrete, slab edges, walls, downstand beams.
- Stone and concrete splitters / splitting cylinders: For low-vibration deconstruction of concrete and natural-stone masonry.
- Combination shears and multi cutters: For mixed materials and strip-out packages.
- Steel shears: For reinforcement, sections, and beams.
- Tank cutters: For opening and dismantling vessels and pipelines in existing facilities.
- Hydraulic power packs: Energy source and control, decisive for tool performance and metering.
Planning, structural analysis and construction logistics
Survey of existing conditions
Before starting, review drawings, material build-ups, reinforcement layouts, load paths, built-in components, and service runs. Probes, detection, and trial openings reduce uncertainties. Hazardous substances (e.g., asbestos-containing materials) are identified in advance.
Structural sequence and load transfer
The deconstruction sequence follows the load-bearing structure. Temporary shoring and phased removal prevent uncontrolled load redistribution. Concrete crushers allow gradual reduction of cross-sections; splitters open components along predefined lines, increasing control.
Logistics within the existing structure
Transport routes, load paths, lifting equipment, protection of traffic areas, and dust and noise enclosure are planned early. Downsizing with concrete crushers facilitates internal haulage and single-grade separation.
Safety, health, and environmental protection
Interior demolition requires systematic hazard assessments. Dust, noise, vibration, hazardous substances, falls, falling objects, crushing and cutting hazards, as well as fire and explosion risks must be considered. The following measures have proven effective, without claim to completeness and always in compliance with applicable regulations and manufacturer instructions:
- Dust reduction through wet cutting, local extraction, and enclosures.
- Prefer low-vibration methods, e.g., splitters instead of impact tools.
- Plan separation steps with concrete crushers so that residual load-bearing capacity is maintained.
- Safe hydraulic handling: pressure relief, leak checks, protective clothing.
- Isolate, drain, and clean before working on tanks and pipelines; observe explosion protection.
- Implement noise control and hand-arm and whole-body vibration protection both organizationally and technically.
- Plan handling of water and wastewater; treat discharges properly.
Material separation and recycling
Single-grade separation is a central quality feature. Concrete crushers expose reinforcing steel, which is then cut with steel shears and can be weighed separately. Splitting methods create fractures along natural planes, increasing the purity of mineral fractions. Metallic inserts, cables, pipelines, and tanks are systematically dismantled with combination shears, multi cutters, and tank cutters. The goal is a high recycling rate with minimal secondary damage to the remaining structure.
Project examples and typical detailed tasks
- Wall openings in reinforced concrete: Pre-drill, split along the opening line, finish with concrete crusher, cut reinforcement.
- Slab openings: Shore, notch out edge areas with concrete crusher, split and lift panels.
- Foundation removal in basements: Core drill, set splitting cylinders, separate blocks and reduce to transportable sizes.
- Dismantling of machine foundations: Combination of splitting and crushers for controlled block formation.
- Deconstruction of tanks and pipelines: Secure, drain, clean, open with tank cutter, section with steel shears/multi cutters.
Selection criteria for methods and equipment
- Component thickness and reinforcement: Thickness and reinforcement ratio govern the choice between splitting and crushers.
- Vibration and noise limits: In sensitive areas, prefer splitters and low-noise crushers.
- Accessibility and weight restrictions: Use compact tools and modular hydraulic power packs.
- Sparking and fire load: Use low-spark methods and tank cutters with appropriate protective measures.
- Cleanliness of material fractions: Align crusher and splitting strategies to single-grade separation.
- Speed and sequence: Stepwise, controlled removal rates with sufficient buffer for disposal and logistics.
Step-by-step: workflow in interior demolition
- Clearance measurements, isolate, and disconnect services; erect enclosures and protective measures.
- Strip-out prior to deconstruction: remove non-load-bearing components and installations with combination shears and multi cutters.
- Surveying, marking, and installing shoring.
- Separate components: depending on the task, deploy concrete crushers or position splitting cylinders in core drill holes.
- Downsize into transportable pieces, cut reinforcement with steel shears.
- Haul-out, intermediate storage, weighing, and documented material flow management.
- Check the remaining structure, touch up, clean, and hand over to subsequent trades.
Capabilities and limits of the methods
Concrete crushers excel at controlled edge demolition, openings, and the stepwise removal of reinforced concrete; splitters play to their strengths with very thick, massive, and sensitively supported components. Cutting and shearing tools complement the mineral methods when metal content dominates. In areas with the strictest vibration or noise requirements, a combination of splitting and manual dismantling may be necessary. Every measure must be planned project-specifically; binding statements are only possible on the basis of a project-specific concept.