Vale canada limited

Copper Cliff, Ontario

PROJECT SERVICES

Abatement, Asset Recovery, Demolition, Recycling

PROJECT CATEGORY

Industrial

PROJECT DATE

May 2022 – December 2023

CLIENT NAME

Vale Copper Cliff

The project

The project requires extensive planning, engineering, and close collaboration with smelter personnel in order to facilitate on-going operations. Due to the presence of asbestos in the tar coating on the masonry bricks and friable asbestos in the flue expansion joints, the project specifications indicated that all masonry was assumed to be asbestos contaminated. Other hazardous materials that were identified as being present in the flue were lead and other heavy metals as well as silica and flue dust.

The only safe method to access and isolate the flue from other smelter operations was to install scaffolding along its entire height. The scaffolding was erected over a five (5) month period by a qualified subcontractor, to permit safe access to the various levels of the flue, while ensuring continued access for plant personnel to live services, utilities, and process equipment.

Delsan-A.I.M. undertook a major, labour-intensive, selective demolition project that involves the complete removal of the M Floor Roaster Flue at the Vale Copper Cliff Nickel Refinery. The flue is located within an operating smelter in an area of the building that is approximately 24’-8” wide by 107’-6” long. Extending between four (4) levels of the building, it consists of a large duct with a cross-sectional area of 20’ wide by 26’ high. It was constructed using approximately 588,000 lbs. of structural clay tile and 700,000 lbs. of refractory brick and is supported by structural steel that ties into the main building framing.

Over the next 3-1/2 months, Delsan-A.I.M. installed an enclosure around the scaffolding using polyethylene tarping to prevent dust from leaving the work area, while decontamination facilities were set up in preparation for the Type 3 abatement work.

Delsan-A.I.M. is presently undertaking the dismantlement of the flue under challenging work conditions with the entire crew donning full-face powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) and full asbestos-fibre protection. The debris is being placed into rip-proof polyethylene bags, which are decontaminated; removed from the work area via an existing freight elevator; and loaded into disposal bins for on-site disposal in accordance with the site-specific waste management program and standards.

The scope of work includes additional tasks, which are being completed by a qualified subtrade, that involve the re-supporting of various utilities and structures connected to the flue components as well as the removal of redundant piping and the making safe of newly created floor openings.

After the removal of the clay tile and refractory, the enclosure will be dismantled, and the balance of the supporting structure removed in pre-defined sections by continuing to work from the scaffolding or by means of elevated work platforms. Each section will be rigged; separated from adjoining structures using torch-cutting equipment; lowered to the level below using hoisting equipment; and removed from the building.