On a Sunday morning, when most people would still be in bed, a large crowd was gathered at Kodak Park in Rochester, New York. Dads and moms, kids of all ages and grownups of all stages…they were all there to witness, from a very safe distance, the implosion of an obsolete Eastman Kodak Company building. The weather cooperated, and masses of blue and yellow balloons, tents with food and refreshments, commemorative hats and other paraphernalia lent an air of festivity to the event. Coworkers chatted, retired Kodak employees shared memories, and the press took notes. And there were nine seconds of pure awe, as the perfectly orchestrated implosion took place.

An implosion is one way to complete a demolition, and according to Bianchi Industrial Services, the Syracuse, NY company in charge of the project, when done correctly, implosion not only allows for demolition to be faster but it also provides a safer way to complete it. What does the term “implosion” mean, and where does “implosion” fit within the range of demolition methods?

First, a definition. Strictly speaking, a real implosion occurs when something collapses inward because the external atmospheric pressure is greater than the internal pressure. In the demolition industry, the term implosion is used to describe the collapse of a building down to its footprint; but in the case of a building implosion, it’s gravity, not atmospheric pressure, that makes the building collapse.

When is implosion used?
In general terms, the method of demolition used depends on the site characteristics, building construction, owner’s requirements, and allotted timeframe. A sledgehammer may be the choice to take down a stonewall, while excavators and wrecking balls are going to be a good bet for leveling a three-storied building. A skyscraper is too tall for an excavator, so you’d use explosives. And if the skyscraper is surrounded by other buildings? Then it’s probably implosion time.

And now a question that inevitably pops in your mind when you first hear the term implosion – how can it be considered a “safer” method than a regular explosion? According to the experts at Bianchi Industrial Services, when prepared and executed properly, implosion reduces the risk of injury due to premature collapse and it removes workers from the most dangerous building components when they are taken down. It also allows for more extensive removal of building components, which can be reused or recycled. Are there negatives, then? Not really, but it takes tremendous preparation and planning.

Managing Partner, David Bianchi, explains that Kodak Park is a self-contained industrial park with excellent controls and security. “We work with local law enforcement and public safety officials to close off streets and protect homes or businesses located within a protected circle around the site, and nearby occupants are asked to leave the area for a few hours on the day of the implosion,” and Bianchi adds, “we can always rely on our long history of success with previous implosions to calm any concern.” Precision, not guesswork, also plays a role here – the size of the safety area can be calculated based on the size of the building and the amount of explosives used.

More than 140 workers put in thousands of hours preparing the building for the July 1st implosion. The crew included representatives from the International Union of Operating Engineers (Local 832), and the Laborers International Union (Local 435), as well as Bianchi’s specially trained team of experts. One of the first steps in the highly engineered process was the removal of lead, glass and asbestos-containing material and specially trained and certified workers were called to carry on those tasks.

To the neighbors of Kodak Park and the people in the immediate area, it means an enriched environment. "The building footprints will be turned over to green space, putting some park back into an area of Kodak Park manufacturing complex that was very congested and creating an attractive buffer to the neighborhood", states Kodak’s Veronda. To local businesses, it could mean attractive expansion possibilities, because more space will be available to current or new tenants of Kodak Park.

Choosing your partners
If paying close attention to your associates is important in any business venture, it becomes a top priority when the project involves a major undertaking such as large - scale demolition in an urban area. Kodak representatives stated that safety was the top priority in this work. According to Veronda, "A contractor must have a demonstrated record of safety excellence and have maintained that performance during their work for Kodak," and he adds, “Certainly cost and a solid and successful portfolio are important, too.”