Project Details:
In early May 2017, Aclagro, in a Temporary Trade Association (TTA) with SBMI and Laurenty, embarked on the Solidaris project in Brussels. The TTA was awarded the dismantling, demolition, and asbestos removal works as part of the comprehensive renovation of the 'House of Solidarity' office building.
The 'House of Solidarity' focuses on providing better language and computer knowledge for the underprivileged. The offices are located in the heart of Brussels, between the Grand Place and the Sablon. The complex is divided into three sections but will have a unified appearance after the renovation.
Dismantling is carried out by a subcontractor, while the other works are performed by the three parties within the TTA. Each company in the TTA has approximately 10 asbestos removers working on-site.
Various types of asbestos are present in the building and will be removed using different methods, including simple handling, hermetically sealed zones, and containment bags.
The construction site is located in the center of Brussels, which poses logistical challenges. There is limited space for site setup and loading/unloading of trucks. Everything must be done within a very confined area. Additionally, the CitySightseeing "hop on hop off" bus passes by the construction site, and its route cannot be Bloked at any time of the day.
What is Asbestos Removal in a Hermetic Zone?
When asbestos removal needs to be carried out in a hermetic zone, a tent is first constructed around the area where asbestos needs to be removed. This tent consists of double-layered plastic sheeting. A personnel and material airlock is also installed, providing a secure passage for staff and materials to and from the work zone. Once the "zone" is set up, large extractors are placed to create negative pressure within the work zone. This causes air to flow spontaneously from the outside (clean air) to the inside (potentially containing asbestos fibers). The extractors are equipped with a special filter to prevent asbestos fibers from being released through the air exhaust. After everything is set up, the hermetic seal of the zone is verified. During the work, a laboratory performs air quality measurements to ensure the safety of the operations.
